The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-01-05
AFnst IVY sers,, o = !.

r w hon the President eMW bis Cabinet Laun-
ssllors bankrupting tho Treasury Of thaUni-
ted States and shipping arms to convenient
dspots in tho South, for the supply OF
traitors, instead Of doing bis own duty,
called Oh the people 70 put Oh sackcloth and
eat dirt, we felt no disposition to honor bic
Official hypocrisy. Learning, however, that
Rev. Mr.. Trapnell, Of the Episcopal Church.
designed to preach sermon appropriate to
the occasion, we concluded to take some
notes and print them for the benefit OF our
readers.
The subject announced BY the preacher
was, "The Duty Of American Citizens in
View OF the Present Peril OF the Country"
His chief topics we're Secession, Slavery and
Union.
His arguments against the right and ex-
pediency Of secession, drawn from the ear
~ history Of the country, from the circum-
stances attending the formation Of the Con-
stitution, from that instrument itself, and
from the nature of government, were able
and convincing. lie denied the constitu-
tional right Of secession and demonstrated
that there were no circumstances in the
present condition or past history Of the
country to justify it. lie insisted that the
election Of Lincoln and the principles Of the
Republican party on the subject OF Slavery
furnished no ground for dissolution Of the
Union especially 10 view OF the fact that
Mr.. Lincoln and the Republican party advo
GATED measures which had received the aanc-
ton Of Washington and Jefferson.
He then turned his attention to the Abo-
litionsts and the Anti-Slsvery Churches,
and, BY way Of moulding bis audience to
proper sympathy with his views, be charged
that abolition and the denunciation OF Slave
~ ~ morally wrong, was the natural result
Of tho principles and bgotry Of the Puri-
tans Of the 10th century.
Whatever the religious errors Of the Pu-
ritans, Hume himself, who was not favorably
disposed to them, says that England is in
debted to the Puritans for all tho liberty Sc
cured BY the Constitution and tho histo-
rians OF tho United States, and the world at
large, have not failed to recognize the pre-
vailing influence Of the principles Of the
liberty-loving Puritcns in our own free in-
situations. But, leaving tho defense Of the
Puritans to Webster, Bancroft, and such
lesser lights, We proceed to give the views OF
the preacher Of Buchsnan's Fast DAY Ser
mon.
lie felt II to be his duty to his country, his
people and the Church, to declare frank "
and fearlessly that Slavery was not moral
evil, Was not sinper Sc, but that 90 the CONTRA
~, it was relation in itself legitimate, and
Was 90 recognised by the Bible. 1t existed
before the food, and was sanctioned by the
practice Of the Patriarshs and BY tho laws Of
Moses, and it could not, therefore, have been
! sinful.
The preachers argument proved most too
much on this point, for polygamy was Sane
toned by the practice Of the Patriarchs-
BY David, the man after Gods own heart
and by Solomon, whom God enducd with the
spirit OF wisdom above any Of the hum IN
race. Besides. the preacher will remembe,
thnt the laws OF Moses sanctioned, .sbecause
OF the hardness OF their h.arts,n tho put
ting away oe their wives.
Slavery was universal in ancient times, th.
preacher said, captises in war became slaves
and poor men became slaves in payment oil
their debts 30 that in the days Of the Apos
/ thrn ~.
Roman Empire, and Christ and his Apostles
instead of condemning, approved Of it b.
cxhorting servants 70 obey their masters.
Here, again, We think the preacher over
shot the mark, and proved more than cal
well be swallowed: The Slavery OF that da,
in the Roman Empire Was mainly the slave
ry Of white men, who were made captives il
var or reduced 10 servitude to pay what the,
owed to their moro fortunate neighbours
Any argument, then, which is drawn from
the facts Of that day to sustain and iustif,
Slavery, sustains and justides tha slavery O
white men, and also justi6es reduaing cap
tivss 10 war and poor debtors to the condi
ton Of slaves. And IL the Apostles pro
cept "Servants obey your masters,'' jastife,
and sanctioned Slavery, then their precep
enjoining obedience to Rulers sanctions 90,
justifes the tyranny, oppression and blood
cruelty OF lerod, Nero and CaliguIa.
The Apostle Paul was eulogized as slav
, catcher, who sent Onesimus back to hi
master. Now, although that view Of tn
. subject seems to dignity the Apostle in tn
apprehension Of the Rev. Mr.. Trapnell, y
doubt whether the facts and circumstance
OF the Case cntitle Paul to tho full credi
claimed for him. Older and better DOM
mentators on the Scriptures insist that Ones
mus was not slave At al but the fact tina