The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1861-03-23
no. 81.

and ,eas oaiy iufsHf on oJegiH9 H. And who srs
We thai IN our modern wisdom presunm TO set
aside the Word Of God, and scorn the example Of
| the divine Redecmrt, aud epurn the presiding
and the conduct OF the apostles, and Invent for
Ourselves higher law than thoss holy Scrip.
lures which are given 20 Us IS light 70 our feet
| aud 4 lamp 10 our paths" Ia tho darkness Of
| sinful and polluted world Who ars we, that
virtually blot out the language ~ the sacred re-
cord aud dictate 20 the Majesty Of Heaven what
lie shah regard sin, aud reward as duty
who ere wetlat are ready 20 tfarips 90 the doe.
hine fthe Bible and tear 20 shrcds The Consiitn.
ton Of our country, aud even plunge the land 10
% the untold horrors Of civil war and Yet boldly
pray 70 the God Of Israel 10 bless onr very acts Of
| rebellion against hs own soverelgn authority
Woe 10 our Uui0n when tbs blind become the
h,adrrs Of the blind Woe 70 the nisu who dmef
10 strive against his hakcrW
Yet do not mean 20 chargc the numerous and
respectable friends Of this popular delusicn with
willul ~ conscious opposition 10 the truth. They
age eeduced doubtless in the great majority 0f
easei, by the fcrliaRs Of false philanthropy,
which paiiints. II il cannot excuse their danger.
GUS sfror. Living fir away from the Southern
6iatas with no practical experience offhe inslisu.
tons, end accustomed from their childhood, 20
attach an inodinatc value TO their personal ilbm.
Nv, they are naturally disposed 10 compassionate
the negro racr and 70 believe that The slave must
BE- sipfemely wrclched In bic bondage. They
pre under no special indneemert 70 search tho
scriptures" on this particular subject nor are they
Ia general, Am sorry 20 say, accustomed TO study
the Bible half as much as they read the newsps.
pers, novels aud magazine There they lind
| many revolving pictures 81 slavery. They do not
stop - ask the question whether they are Just and
faithful Perhaps fugitive comes along who
las Aed from his master, and who 10 justification
OF himself Will usually give very distorted state
rnent Of the iacis, even II be- does not invent them
idt0,ether, aud lhe-e good and kind-hearted poo
pie believe II implicitly, bout eyer remembering
Tho rule about LsariHg b0h sides kcforc wc form
our opinion OF cO,rss they tympathize warmly
| With the poor oppsssed African, aud are gencr-
Ousy excited 70 hate the eysicm Of tlaycry with
| all their heart. Then tho oloquen preacher
chooses II for the iavoh,e. topic 81 bis orniory.
The theme Is well adapted 70 ronse thc feelings,
and Il i usually By 30 means difficult 70 interest
and crafty The andicnce when the supposed sins
Of others which they are under no temptation 70
commit, are made the Object 81 censure. In due
| time, when the public mind il sufficiently heated,
the politician lays hold Of the subject, and makes
the 'anii-slayery movement the watch word Of
party And finally, the Press follows IN the wake
81 the leaders and the fire II industriously famed
until II becomes perfect blaze while the admir-
my throng surround il wilh eHultstion, and fancy
! Is lurid light to be- from heaven, until the hai1rs
begin to threaten their own property,
Such has been the pcrilgus course Of our north
rn sentiment on tie subject q siagery Tbs
great majority 10 every community, ars the crea-
| tuns OF habit, Of association and Of impulse, and
every allowance should be made for those euof4
which me committed in ignorance, under gem
erous sympathy FOR what they suppose TO be the
| lights Of man. / cannot, however, make thesaIns
apology for those who are professionally pledged
! 10 understand aud iuculcats the doctrines Of the
| Bible. On that clans of our public instructions,
| the present pcIilous crisis Of the nation casts a
icsrful responsibility. Soi'mnly bound by their
sac-ed Office to preach the Word Of God and %
follow Chris and iI.s Apostles II the heralds Of
" peace and good viii 10 men" they seem 70 ma
strangely regardless on tni important subject, Of
their highest obligations. Bu. il ic not for nle 70
1 judge them. 10 tl,r own Malt>r Jet them stand
or iaii