The national Republican., 1861-10-08
FAST DAr' sonxs IN WASHINGTON

proclivities, by raising money from his con-
gregation, to send Bibles to the rebel troops,
who were In arms against the Government.
The Rev. Doctors Bible, teaches that slavery
is no sin and hence, the logical conclusion
that this slaveholders' war; Is right, because
Its object Ia to extend the area Of the peculiar
and God-like institution. It was right, too
that the soldiers who were brave and chivalric
enough to risk their lives in attempting to
break down the Union and the Government,
that DR.. FULLER's principles might be estab-
lished, should be properly cared for. As the
Confederate Government cared for their bodies,
1t was but right that the Doctor should care
his congregation, who gave him more money
than he required for the fret ins,almsnt but
the task Of sending packages and boxes Of this
kind of "aid and comfort" to the enemy was
more than the good Doctor could accomplish
without assistance, and 80 he divided the pleas.
ant and patriotic duty, with his secession bro
ther DR.. SAMSON, Of Washington, who, of course,
was supposed to be in communication with his
Richmond friends.
How these gentlemen succeeded In their en-
terprise, we have not learned, and we had al
most lost sight Of DR.. SAMSON, when be suddenly
loomed up, in the Union Prayer Meeting, on
our late fast-day, as described by correspon-
dent of the New York Times, as follows:
"The controversy to which now wish to call
attention arose on Fast-Day, In the L Street
| Baptist Church, of which Mr.. Samson is pastor.
Some seven or eight years ago, he was regarded
| as rather unsound' on the slavery question, in
the Southern sense of the word, and this i'm
preston may have been strengthened by the
fact that Mr.. Sumner lodged in his house at the
time Of the assault upon him by Brooks. Sub
ssquently. however, Mr.. Samson became presi-
dent of Columbian College, an institution To-
Gated on the outskirts of the city, which is
chiefly patronized by the South. Since his &C.
cession to this post, his views appear to have
undergone change, and In May he went down
to Richmond. This was regarded by many at
the time as virtually going over to the enemy;
but he nevertheless returned, after remaining
some weeks, and I have never heard that he
complained of his treatment while there, or
that he was compelled to leave. The college
under his control has itself been brought into
ssuspicion by bis connection with IL, and real or
imaginary rockets have been seen to emanate
| from that quarter. which were surmised to be
signals to the enemy.
"On Fast Day the Union prayer.meeting was
held in DR.. Samson's Church. During these
meetings 1t is the custom for those present to
address the audience briGy on religious topics
aud on the occasion referred to- Mr.. Hamlin, OF
Maine, (of Boston, Massachusetts, not Maine J
near relative of the Vice President, spoke
, upon the duty of confessing national as well as
, personal sins, In order to secure the forgive
ness and benediction of the Almighty. After
adverting to Gods dealings with the Jews he
proceeded to say:
Slavery has brought upon US this rebel.
, lion and war. On this point there can hardly
therefore o most appropriate theme for consid-
Grafton this day. That the sin of slavery is an
aaomination In the sight of God cannot be
questioned, aud that this nation, as such, Ia
guilty of 1t is equally clear. If, therefore. the
, people of God do not confess and deplore It
most deeply and sincerely, our beloved coun-
try may be visited with judgments as severe as
those Of the Jews, and the day Of retribution
may be near at hand
son; Uninterrupted the speaker, saying that he had
, introduced topic forbidden by the rules oi
, the meeting, and would not be allowed to &c
on. Slavery is recognized by the Constitution
and cannot, therefore, be discussed on this
a occasion.
Mr.. Hamlin, unwilling to disturb the so
i lemnity of the meeting, briefly rejoined:
i If slavery is recognized by the Constitu
ton, It is none the less SIM and 1t is none tht
2 less our duty to confess aud torsake It,
e Rev. Dr.. Peter Parker, late a missionar,
O to China, but now wealthy citizen of Wash
II ington, here interposed, and remarked will
!. some feeling, That unless these folelgl
II exciting topics were kept out of the meei q
e no good would be accomplished" An,
thus the gag la,o applied by DR.. Sam
D. son was sustained by DR.. Parker, and sla
!, very was sustained as an institution too 50
l. cred to be quesi oned. But learn from Nj
70 Hamliu that he was approached, after the SCI
/, vice was over, by cne Of the most distinguishe
o and talented ministers in the city. who assure
a. him that he had for some time been debatin
rs the propriety of speaking out on this question
Of that his feelings were entirely in coindenc
,r with those of Mr.. H., and that he with difficult
rs constrained himself to silence for the presen
As until favorable occasion shall arise for speal
ID ing out. Other distinguished clergymen, Pre-
byteran and Episcopal, are known to
strongly anti-slavery, and occasionally give n
uncertain evidences that they are heart an
e soul against the institution. OBSERVER"
Q, As the Times correspondent omitted some
At Mr.. Hamlins remarks, we have supplied then
,s that those who take an interest In this matte
may have all the words that fell from this goo
mans lips; and in this connection, we ma
a. further remark on the authority of" Observer,
e. the Times regular correspondent, that the stat
I'd ment of the Sar that the letter "was write
by one of the parties referred to-" is gratuitol
N and untrue. "Observer writes his own le
ar ters, and is responsible for them.
10 The Baltimore Clipper, in commenting on th
m ,me affair, says: " As to Rev. Mr.. Samson, there
a no doubt from his labors In the late Rreside
be tial campaign, that he is quite Southern In b
o' views y and 10 view Of the whole subject, v
be can only say that DR.. Samson would make
CT much better chaplain for his traitor frien,
ur confined in Fort Lafayette, than leader Of
;s prayer-meeting composed of loyal and Unio
he loving Christians in Washington City.
CANAL TRANSPORTATION.