New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-11
GOD I'm GOVERNMENT.


The late Message of the President IL as full of
illusions TO Divine Providence as the last dying
speech and confession Of Newgatc martyr.
That lie should, in the ultimate hour of his polit-
zeal and the penultmate hour of his physical
existence, thus open diplomatic relations with
Heaven, may strengthen enthusiastically the skcp-
teal and assure che pious. Death-bed repent
ances are not especially recommended by Doctors
of Divinity, and in all systems of theology are
esteemed rather o risky reliance; but we submit,
with the mOdesty becoming laymen, that the
President has been ali extraordinary offender and
should be allowed to exhibit his remorse IN an
extraordinary way. We have been told 80 often,
by so many snug Unon-savers that religion is
one thing and politics are another-that the one
is oil and the second water-that between the
two affinity is morally impossble-that any attempt
at Alliance must be followed by a louder explo-
sion and worse stencil than was ever heard Or
smelt in chemical lecture room-we have been
told all this so frequently and so earnestly, that
really we were beginning to question the com
patbility Of patriotism and piety. The President
has kindly treasured US in his Message. No pub
lie document of modern times has about it n
more agreeable aroma of religion. In the frank
est and handsomest way, Mr.. buchanan is pleased
n more places than one to acknowledge the
existence of God, and not merely of q remote,
Geld and unsympathizing Being, but of God
who takes IN interest in elections, watches over
Congresses, by the aid Of chaplans, and does not
dsdan even to inspire the composition OF an
Annual Message. 1t must have been this evil
denco of reyivng grace which induced DIR.
Spring, a good shepherd of this city, to visit
Washington, as we ore told that he is now
doing, that he may, by his advice, strengthen
the yirtuous and reclaim the maynard in these
times of trial We recommend the President to
his attentions for that Functonary is evidently
very neur q point at which the choicest wheat
whisky will do him no good whatever. This
is clearly the time to take him in hand-nOw
when he is talking in such an edfying way-now
when he is telling us that "sel-preseryation is
"the first law''-higher than any Law of Con-
gress, in fact, and simply the "hgher law
[" implanted in the heart of Man by his Creator
now, when he is excIaiming: "My prayer to
"GOd is that he would preserve the Constitution
land the UniOn"-nOw, when he is admitting
that Sovereign States are responsible to God
how when he is dilatiDg with christian
"charity" toward Mr.. Abraham Lincoln-now
when he is reminding us of " the solemn sane
tiODs Of relgion"-nOw when, in behalf of the
nation, he is offering grateful thanks to q mcr
"clul Providence" If DR.. Spring cannot bring
him to a solemn sense of his situation now, be-
would not believe though one should rise from the
dead.
We remember once to have witnessed the
admission into u certain Second Baptist Church
of Tenitent negro. This brand plucked and
black from the burning, sat apart in n sort of
gallery perch until the white sinners had been
taken into fellowship; when the excellent pastor
said, "John, come down" And John did come
down. The white neOphytes had been gently
enough dealt with, but John, being black caught
it severely. "John," said the pastor "you
have been a great sinner. You have been one
"Of tie worst thieves my brother, in this
"neghborhOOd you have been flthy-mouthed
"swcarer; you have been bcastly drunkard
" q kROW 1t, massa') You now profess repent.
'aDce; but great many people think you will
"backslide, and they have reason to think So
(Sanain, massa y However, we will give
"yOu a trial, &c. SO John was admitted, aud
retired TO his perch in flood of tears What
MADE matters worse was, that he resided during
tie next Winter in the House of Correction, in
consequence Of some mistake respecting the
prorrietOrsbip Of heB-rOOSt. This will be u
pretty story for DR.. Spring to relate to the
President; and we hope that he will take care
to dwell particularly upon the catastrophe
the chickens.
IL must be admitted that this access of rel-
gious iereor-they are praying, by the way
nightly in South Carolina-woud have been
quite as welcome several years ago as now. We
wish we had heard something Of this smory
Christian charity" when the Missouri border
crs were bringing back in Kansas worse than
Tho Old Indian bGibaIiiy. We should Lie 10