The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-09-27
From the Northwestern Christian Advocate
To the President of the United States.

Hon. JAMES BUCHANAN.
President Of the United States :.
SIR,-There are times when the
humblest citizen may and should ap-
proach the Chief Magistrate with his
cause. Such is the present; and l ad-
dress you, not seeking any office, nor
interfering with the ordinary questions
which are thrust upon your attention.
/ write as a member, a minister, an
officer of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
You, sir, are 'public functionary,"
charged with the highest responsible
ties and the weightiest duties. The
matters 1 design to lay before your Ex-
cellency affect the life, the liberty, the
property of our people. They affect
their rights in the new states and ter
ritories; they affect the destinies of this
country for they must lead to the
practical solution of this question
Are the rights Of the citizen, asnder the
constitution, to be protected, or are they
held at the pleasure of the mob!
The history of the ''people called
Methodists" is not unfamiliar to you,
for it is part of the history Of the
country. We have been among the
pioneers of civilization and Christianity.
Our clergy have been among the first
in the wilderness. They have not
waited until roads were made, bridges
built, houses erected, and disabilities
removed. They have gone with the
woodsman, they have camped with the
hunter, searched out the cabin of the
squatter, followed the hardy miners of
the Pacific into their gulches, and gone
after the lumberman into the inexhaus-
piueries. Sir, we have won the right
of existence, and come to you to-day
demanding protection in the exercise
of our vested rights.
/ regret, sir, that I must write this
communication noac, while the political
excitement unavoidably connected with
a presidential election is upon us, but
there is no alternative. 1t is question
of life and death.
1 will state
/. The ground zoe occupy.
1. The Methodist Episcopal Church
is no political organization. It's func-
tions are spiritual and ecclesiastical.
Men of all political shades are in its
ministry, its oficiary, and its member.
ship. Its papers lend TO influence to
either political party, as such, nor dis
play the names of any candidates al
the head of their columns. Ihus far
our people have never been consolidate
ed into one political organization, fol-
no denominational interest has demand
ed it.
2. We have ever been a loyal people
We have bowed to the majesty of law
both federal and state. We have coun
seled no resistance to unjust laws
There is nothing in our doctrines or dis
cipline calculated to stir up strife OF
sedition.
8. These things being so, we claim
the right to go, under the constitution
of our country, into any part of oul
domain. We claim the right of free
speech and free printing. We claim
mark, Mr.. President, i do not say we
ask, we solicit }. no, sir, we demand
equal rights and privileges with Other
denominations. If our people violate
any law, let them be fairly tried, con
demned, and punished. Give them ar
impartial jury, an unbribed judge, and
competent counsel.
4. 1t cannot have escaped your at
tention, sir, that Methodism was early
remarkably successful in the Southern
States, but possibly you may not have
observed that it was thus successful a
a decided and al,acon,pronsising anti
slavery church. The present anti M
slavery tone of our Discipline and lit
erature is no new utterance. On
fathers spoke warmer words than we
and the warmest came from slave ter
ritory. You will be struck, sir, wit
the remarkable agreement of thei
words with those Of Washington, JET
ferson, Madison, Franklin, and, if