Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-01-11
Ul)e egree Ntea9
TIE PRESIDENTS FAST DAY
BULINGTON
FRIDAY MORNING, JAN UARY IL, 1851

THE PRESIDENTS FAST DAY
Was cbserycd in Burlington by the assem-
bling Of a soodly number of our citizens o
v,rious denominations at The lst Caly Cong
Church. where a sermon was preached by
Rev. DR.. WITnERsrooN of the NJ Church
The preacher took for his text Isaiah 59th
sth. The way of peace they know not and
there Is no Judgment in their goings" &c.
From this and the chapter containing it and
that preceding, be drew the lesson that with
out repentance and reformation Of our sins
individual or national, fasting is Of no avail
or value in the sight of God. lie proceeded
toinouire into the cause and cure of our
National difficulties, and taking the uniyer-
sal acknowledgement that the slavery ques-
ton lies in some way at the bottom Of them,
he discussed the nature Of American Slavery,
coming 10 the conclusion that it Is a sin
arainst Humanity and God, having its orr
gin in theft and violence crime repeated
IN the persougof every subject oft. Thisyiew
of the moral character Of Slavery he strength
ened by quoting the authority Of Wash
ineton, jefferson. Franklin, Pope Leo Nth,
John Wesley. Adam Clarke, Jonathan Ed
wards, and many others. lie rebutted the
charge that northern aboitionism has him
dered the cause of emancipation. showing
that the discussions on emancipation in Yir-
ginia, did not touch the moral question.
Emancipation was urged there because Slly-
cry did not pGy, and the changes which had
made slavery profitable had put an end to
the movement. The charge that the North
had stirred up servile insurrection at the
/ South by tracts, pictures &c, he pronounced
foolish and the thing impossible. At the
same time be maintained the right and duty
Of all American citizens to concern them
selves with the subject, because God has
commanded us TO remember those in bonds as
/ bouud with them because slavery disgraces
US people; because 1t is a pecuniary dam
age, bringing on a pecuniary crisis every
seven years, occasioning foreign and civil
wars, and now threatening the dismemb5r-
meut Of the Union.
The Reverend speaker believed that the
Remedy was not in compromise. The south
has changed the wages Of the north as many
times as Laban did those of Jacob but all
had failed. Compromises were the sources
Of our troubles. Our policy is to let Just,ce
be done, though the heavens fall.
! by Gods permission we keep the CON
tract inherited from our fathers, it is al that
can be asked Of US. We can yield nothing
further. We must live under the constitu-
/ tion and administer it on the side Of freedom.
Thus only can peace and prosperity be Sc
cured
The sermon was lorcible and excellent
in matter, though not very forcibly deliver
cd. \ prayer by Rev. \. P. Foster Of tie
Baptist Church concluded the services.
The sermon preached by Rev. d. II. BuEL,
at St. Paul (EpiscopaD Church, was from
Acts VII. Doth, "S,rs, &c arc brethren, 'cAy
DO Vs ,rrong. one to another" The preacher
brought to remembrance the national Sins Of
Sabbath breaking, intemperance, hcentious-
ness. tolerance Of false religions, &c, and
also set in special array the sins of the North
against the South. Without denying that
there is fault on tie other side, he charged
upon the people Of the North a spirit of un-
choritableness toward their Southern breth
remand a disposition to condemn the slave
holders, without regard to the fact that they
generally kind masters, and many Of them
as good christians as any at the North. He
believed that much of the alienation between
the sections is due to misc9nception,
caused in great measure by the incendiary
mischief making influence Of a great portion
Of the newspaper Press. He condemned
strongly the violent course of South Carroll
na, and considered it the duty Of the govern
ment to suppress the rebellion there, by force
If necessary. As remedies for the troubles
he urged the cultivation of a more fraternal
spirit on both sides the repeal Of obnoxious
laws at the North and the passage Of laws
allowing Southerners to bring their servants
with them and retain them in service on
their visits to the North, as in the early days
Of the Republic.
ASP. NJ, the bells commenced to ring,
and Col BowDIsH to fire a salute Of
thirty-threo guns in honor Of Major ANDEa
son, ana of the determination Of the Gov
ernment to sustain him, and maintain its
own honor.
Good for the patriotic Colonel.