Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-06-13
Our Country's greatest source
ofDanycr.


Our Country's Greatest Source
ofDangcr.
A year ago, tho April number Of the
Pacific Erpostor. contained the following
interesting sketch of an interview between
HENnY CLAY, shortly before his death.
and Rev,Dr Hill ofthe Louisville Prcsjy.
tertdn Herald. 1t was the warning voice oI
the great patriot toresecing what tho Ri
he Beechers of the Americen Pulpit would
vet bring upon our beloved land. The
terrible ordeal through which the Union
is now passing. gives fresh interest to his
prophetic admonitions We copy as fol-
lows. .-t
"a few weeks prior to the death of the
Hon. Henry Clay when he passed through
our city, on his way to Washington, at
the request of Methodist minister trcm
one of tho Northern States who hal
never seen tho great statesman, we called
with him to see him He was quite fee
bic. and spoke of his death as a probable
event within few months. He stated
that nothing but deep and abiding con
viction that the Union Of the States was
in imminent peril, could have induced him
iu his state OF health, to leave the quiet OF
his own home and go back to the Sen.
ate, the seat of SO many Of his struggles
and great achievements. Tho opinion
was expressed by one or both Of us that
the danger of disunion was greatly over
estimated, and that il it ever came to the
test it would be found that there were
very few who would be mad enough to
rush into disunion, either in the North
or in the South. He shook his head ON
inously and replied: "Gcntlemen, il
have studied any thing, it is the genius
and spirit OF the American people, both
in the North and in the South, and / tell
you thers is danger There is a spirit ri
sing up in both sections of this Republic,
which if not speedily quelled. will bring
about severence OF the Union of these
States, not in two, but half dozen lit
tle petty Republics, or despotisms as the
case may bo.' 1t was replied that on
several former occasions tho North and
tho South had been arrayed against each
other in bitter hostility, but that the
hostility had died away and the parties
restored to more than their former friend
ly relations. "Ah," said he, "that was
before the rise of modern dJ0iuiOntsm.--.
Fanaticism cannot be controlled, and cs-
pecialy religious fanaticism. The church
es of tho country then stood together
and in their great annual assemblies they
drew the bonds OF Union and brother
hood together. Now most of them
have been rent asunder, and they are act
ing as dividers rather than to bind the
Sn,I h,
are both Of you ministers of the Gospel.
and l tell you that this sundoring of the
religious ties, which have hitherto bound
us together, | consider the greatest source
Of fdanger to our country. flour religious
men cannot live together in peace, what
can be expected Of us politicians. very few
OF whom profess to be governed by the
great principle of love? Ii all the church
es divide on the subject of slavery,
there would be nothing to bind our people
together but trade and commerce. That,
said he, is a very powerful bond, ] admit
but when the people oitheso States become
thoroughly alenated from each other,
and get their passions aroused, they are
not apt to stop aud consider what it is to
their interest. 1t is against the interest
OF both parties in every contest to so to
war, but nations constantly do it notwith-
standing that fact. 1t is against tho in
terests ofmen to fight duels. but they Of
ten do it when they know that ruin, both
TO them elves and families staIe them
full in the face. 'So,' said he. men will
fight, il they consider their rights tram
pied upon, even il you should show them
that ruin TO themselves and familios will
DO the probable result. Besides, in time
tf high excitement, the violent men on
both sidos get the control of matters aud
moderate men are thrown in the back !
ground and their counSels go unhccdcd."
Finding tho venerable statesman had |
exhausted his strength in talking. we rose
10 bId nm adlen, as we supposed for the
last time upon earth. He shook the hands |
oi both OF us. and said, " il You preach
ers will only keep the churches from run
nIng into eXccsses and ianaticsm think |
the politicians can control the masses But |
The added yours is the hardest task .
end IL you do not perform it, we will not
be able to do our part. That consider
the greatest source of danger to our coun,
try.
A HchonlbOy HAVING ,ynnl NJ tnrnli,