Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-06-06
Bearing False Witness.

There is some excuse for the excitement
of the ignorant southern populace, who are
not permitted by their leaders to see the
northern newspapers or hear the truth. They
actually believe, IN some places, that the
present legal, eminently necessary and just
coercive attitude of the government, is only
an excuse for bloody abolition raid upon
the slave states. But their leaders know
this to be false, and ne crime can be blacker
than that of leading, or forcing those whom
they should rather disabuse, into wicked
and self destructive rebellion against the
government by such Misrepresentation
Inexpressibly wicked as their course is, it
will not surprise those who know the demor-
al:zing effect Of political ambition, that dem-
agogucs, like Davis and Stephens, are capa-
BILE of taking it. They may even succeed in
inducing some of the weaker members OF the
clergy to back them up, and so add the seem
ing sanctions of religion to th cir runscrupuleus
purpose. Bat there are clergymen at the
South who know better-men of education,
travelled men. men who haYs both read and
written books. men who have seemed to
stand dsservedly high in the Church, and
have had the confidence of Christian people,
at the North as well as the South-yet who,
to our amazement. adj the weight of their
higher authority to the falsehoods which
are urging an impulsive people to terrible
doom.
A "Southern Baptist Convention" has
been recently held at Savannah, of which the
Rev. DR.. Fuller, of Baltimore, was president.
In the capacity of chairman of the committee
on the state OF the country, he submitted
report, and certain resolutions, among which
was the following:
Resolred. That the lawless reign of terror
at the North, the violence committed upon
unoffending citizens; above all, the threats
to wage upon the South warfare of savage
barbarity, to odevastate our homes and hearths
with hosts of ruffians and felons, burning
with lust and rapins, ought to excite the hor-
Tor of all civilized people. God forbid that
we should SO far forget the spirit of Jesus as
to suffer malice and vindictiveness to iLsin-
uats themselves into our hearts but every
principle of religion, of patriotism, and of
humanity, calls upon US to pledge our for
tunes and lives in the good work of repelling
an invasion designed to destroy whatever our
do nestle hopes and epjoyments, whatever
ia essential to OUT institutions and our very
manhood, whatever ia worth Living or dying
for.
Now we care not a copper whe else was on
this committee, or concerning it coLcocting
these atrocious lies. But we know DR.. Full
Ter, and who and what he is, and we hold him
responsible for them before the world. This
gentleman-who is learned. pious, intimate
with northern people and feeling a light
among the Baptists, and who enjoys no small
reputation as q solid divine outside of that
acknowledgement these infinitely MIS-
chievous calumnies to go forth under the
sanction OF his name. DR.. Fuller knows, as
well as any man in the country, that every
word of this resolution is false. He knows
"t that there is no lawles5 reign Of terror at
" the North" no violence upon unoffsnding
citizens !" no threats to wage warfare of
savage barbarity," or to devastate homes
and hearths )" that we have no "hosls of
"rufians and felons, burning with lust and
"rapine ;" and thas there is not such q
thought in any northern mind as to destroy
all or anything that is DEAR" or sweet" "
or " essential" in the domestic hopes, en-
ioyments, and institutions" Of the South
Dr. Fuller, who was the chairman of the del
egation Of the " Baltimore Young Men 8
Christian Association" to Washington, few
weeks ago, has not only the general means
of information of these matters common to
men of his culture and intimate relations
with the North, but the particular advantage
of an intimate acquaintance with recent at
fairs in Maryland. He saw the Massachu-
setts troops-he witnessed their long suffer-
ing patience. their law abiding forbearance /;
he knows General Buffers characteristicals
ly prompt offer had moral effect to prevent
servile uprising that will be felt through the
whole war, and that ought to attract the
grateful confidence of the entire South. At
the head of his delegation he visited Wash-
ington aud was fully assured of the extreme
solictude and forbearance of the President
and all the officers of his government. Yet
this reverent miscbief-make er hesitates not to
20 to Savannah, where the fact that he came
from the immediate theater of action adds
such weight to his we'll known religious rep
utatiOn, and there append his name to the
lying document that we have cited. No
language is too strong to characterize DR..
Fuller's conduct in thus, with his eyes open,
against his perfect knowledge, and without
the excuse of young and hasty impulses,
bearing false witness against his neighbor, to
the inevitable misleading and destruction of
thousands and tens of thousands o. those
against whose delusions his voice should
have been lifted like trumpet.-N Y.
World.