The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-07
LETTER FROM REV. H. ]. VAN DYKE

LETTER FROM REV. II. j. VAN DYKE.
We have been permitted. says the Augusta (Ga. J
Sentinel to copy the subjoned letter from the Rev
II. j. Van Dyke to clergyman of this CITY, Mr.
Van Dyke the author ofthe sermon in defence of
the South and her institutions, which has been
extensively circulated and admired throughout the
country. His letter breattes the same patriotic
and fraternal spirit:
BROOKLYN, New York, Dec. 90, 1860
Your letter of the 18th ult gives me both plea
sure and painpleasure because amid the fierce agi-
tatons of the times, and the unnatural alienation
which has grown up between North and South
we may still call each other brethren, and svmpa-
thze with each other in efforts to defend s'the
name of God and his doctrine" and vet main in
expresslole pain, to hear you speak of dissolu-
ton of our National Union as a foregone concIr
sion. II in the light of history, could see anv
reasonable hope CT peaceful separation. though
even then would grieve to see the failure of this
most successful effort at free government the world
ever saw, still | could submit with comnorativo
composure. But be assured that disunion will be
the signal for disntegration and war-not merely
between North and South, but in the very heart Of
northern States. Is it right for our Southern
brethren TO precptate US, who still love them.
upon TINS fearful conflict? Do the facts in the case
Warrant and neceSsitate the dissolution of our
cul9n! Is there no other remedy? 1t is true,
hpoItIiohism seems to have gained political tri-
uuiph; but tell you, if Southern friends 7ril
| ohty stand By haze stood Jy them, it is a
triumph which will soon be their ruin; pride goeth
| before destruction" The party with which Abe
HtlonstS have co operated, and whose success they
no" appropriate, will Hrotg them off. And now
that tue election is past, and Christian men and
ministers can speak out without the fear of suspi-
cion OF partisan purpose, such doctrine as have
ehdeaVored to expound in my sermon will 'haye
| Tree course and be gl0riiied." The amazing ex-
citement which that sermon has produced. and tho
FAVOR with which it has been received even in
we" England, only shows that the public mind
was prepared for it. The party in power, and
which, 1T must be confessed derived its chiai
sueh2th from Abolitionism, succeeded not because
1t really has majority, bur because its opponents
| were unhappiy divided. There are three millions
OF voters in the Northern States opposed to Adolf
lionlsm and all its allies New York alone has q
majority of fifty thousand-if the election were
eaheh over again it would be one hundred thou
sano-on the conservative side
WIN these facts staring mem lii face, oa,noi
the South afford to 'wait little onger?" Mus
christian men and Christian ministers who, wheth
er North or South, or the salt of the earth throw
aheir influence into the rising tide of revolution
revolution which, if it shall be consummated
VIII rend asunder all the religious as well az m,
| governmental institutions of the land? Our beloy
ed and glorious church, which has stood IN unde,
GOD as great bulwark to breast the tide of fanat
| lclSm, cannot long Withstand the shrek of disu
mon. You and vii! not long have the pryileg,
OF meeting as we did in the General Assembly O
ls59. feeling that we are sitting together under
| the shadow OF vine which "sends out her bough
uuto ihe sea anu ner branches unto the river AL
our great ecclesiastical schemes for the evanpezs
tlon OF the land must wither and langush in tn,
heat OF this unnatural contest. Suffer me to beg
you, and through you any one who may regard
voice so feeble as mine, to reconsider the NATTER
say freely that unless the hostile legislation o
Northern States is repealed, and the violent an,
9nchristian agitation Of the slavery question pu
down, your State and all the Southern State
ought to break loose from government that will
not protect their rights, and from people who dis
regarded the plainest obligations of consanguini
ty and brotherhood But then | believe, befor,
God, that if we can only have more time, even
handed justice will soon commend to its own lin
this poisoned cup which abolitionism has mingled
for you. These religious demagogues have ha(
their day. "The prosperity of fools will destro,
Them" Tell your friends this as the testimony o
man born in Pennsylvania brought up in North
ern air, and now settled and sustained in the min
lstry OF Gods grace and the favor of his people i,
the city of Brooklyn.
will only add (and l do 50 from full heart.
that whatever may be the fate of our country
there Is union between such Southern men a
you, and such Northern men as | am, which eartl
and hell can never dissolve, for l am yours Il
| CHFtSt. HENRY }. VAN DYKE