The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-04-26

btVoS SoiAuPs'ou VI tuo po'Oihu'e"s aSN.'
and the cruel, incxorablo injustice Of its de
mands might not, after that corruption ant
that injustice had been clearly exposed. JUS
tify a forcible rcvolution,-providcd ther'
were reasonable prospect that by such mcan'
the cause of Righteousness would be cstab
lishcd, and these means wero clearly neces
sary to that end.
The ground Of the Apostle is that 1t isoui
religious duty to obey the existing Govern
ment. And in case the Government is mol
so corrupt and so cruelty wicked in its de-
mands upon the governed as to justify resort
to revolutionary reformation, then, accord
ing to the Apostle, 1t is the duty OF the
Christian not only not to resist such Gov
ernment, but to rise at his country's call,
and with all the power he is master of put
down such resistance. l say the duty OF the
Christian. I mean the Christian duty Of
every man that lives under such Government.
"Let epery SOUL" the Apostles language is,
"be subject"
Gentle and humane is the religion of the
Gospel. ." If thine enemy hunger, feed
him''-cherish, that is, no personal resent
ment. Sirs, ye are BRETHREN" tho Cos
pei says to all men. The burglar who
breaks our house by night the robber who
takes our purse upon the highway, and the
assassin who lifts the murdcrous pistol to
our bosom, are all our own brethren. Cher
ish against them, 50 far as they are enemies
to you personally, no personal ill-will. But
But the mode in which we are under Christ
ian obligations to deal with these our breth.
rem, depends upon tho circumstances in
which we are called to meet them. The
prisoner ut the bar is the brother, under the
Christian law, of the judge upon the bench.
1t becomes the duty Of the judge to sentence
him to the States prison. He is not obliged
to treat all his brethren under all circum.
stances that way. But ho is Obliged to
treat that particular brother under those Pc
culiar circumstances that way. five meet
a man who has fallen among thieves, II is
our duty to treat him in q manner suited to
his case. II we meet the thief 1t is our
Christian duty to treat him also in a man.
ner suited to his case, though differently.
If there is one who hates us, and is our
enemy, and we have an opportunity to do
him good, whether bya cup of cold water
or cup Of gold dollars, it may so be that it
will bc Christian duty to give It to him.
If there be one, (cnemy or friend to us per-
sonally) who is treacherously and rebcllious-
ly stirring up insurrection against the Gov
ernment under which we live, 1t is tho
Christian right of that Government to de-
mand Of me to give neither bread nor water
to such person while he maintains that attl-
tudc of rebellion, and it is my christian du.
ty to obey. I know no law Of God that
commands me under these circumstances to
dsobcy the law of my land, and take part,
no not by so much as cup Of cold water,
nor even by word Of my lip, with traitors.
The demand of the Government in such case,
is not demand against that spiritof human
ity which Christ cnjoined, but q demand Of
that christian loyalty of which he and his
apostles gave both precept and example.
Tell me not Of the obligations Of friendship
to him who has put himself in the attitude
of hostility to the country l am sworn and
bound to love and to obey. Ifhc were only
my enemy, and thirsted for water that I
could give him, I would put it, the grace Of
God helping me, to his lips. But hc who
thirsts for my oounirys blood, God forbid
the disciple of Jesus Christ to give him to
drink.
My friends, you know believe in peace.
Day and night l pray always for peace
peace in my own heart. and peace through.
out the world.
But shall the minister of God cry peace,
when there is no peace? Shall the imper-
illed body Of my country cry to arms, and |,
who am set as watchman upon this watch
tower to descry and guard against incoming
iniquity, proclaim peace? No! My voice
is not loud nor eloquent-but tho inspira-
ton trust Of righteous cause will nerve
it to say now and always to every ear that
will hear, "it must needs bc" that those who
have risen in rebellion against the rightfally
established Government of these United States
must be made subject. And whatever means
the Authorities determine to be necessary TOR
this purpose, must bc employed. My body
Is not much. But here for the powers that
be it is. Ny treasury is not large. But the
last farthing shall go-ayc, there is not the
piece of silver in my household but, however
dear in memory Of living and departed
friends, shall 60, and be dearer that It may
60, and brighter with the reflected gladness
Of my heart to part with it, and 50 to the
very last article Of earthly goods in my pos
session, in the service of that noble and
priceless cause for which the heroes OF our
nations freedom spent their oil. Property
will one speak Of in such an hour as this :!
What can we buy with money that is not
dross compared with liberty! All my prop
erty and the property Of all Of us We should
now feel is in the free, the existing Govern.
ment Of these United States-there to be
saved, or there to be lost. What mere
nothing were all we can call ours, in com.
parison with that rich inheritance to godown
whole and unimpaircd as wo received It to
our children and our childrcn's children!
Here, my friends. Is the solemn thought