Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-12-16
W. II. LORD.

All the question, contained in Mr.. Lords com.
muniCaton can be answered in the affirmative,
without, as we thilk, removing at all the objection
we made TO bis sermon. A man may be patriot
without being partisan, and We made TO sug-
gestiOn against Mr.. Lords patriotism. We have
no desire that ministers should be partisans, but
we are quite willing they should be right. And
when .hey choose TO discuss national aG4grs ard
political questions and pu! their opinions in print,
they are to be praised or blamed just as anybody
else's lueubralions are 70 be discussed A diyines
condemnation Of conhscttion measures ia 70 more
likely to be right than the same condemnation
from Vallandigham, or Fernando Wood. Nor
do we think minstsr is under any obligation to
be SO extremely impartial in his rcbukss, that
loyal men, as well as traitors, must share in his
Objursations.
We agree that minister may bsur the whole
country in MS prayers to heaven, just as vs agree
that he is TO pray for sinners as well a, for
christians But be need not, on that account, say
that the sinner IS 10 worse than the christian or
that those who are doing their utmost to desro
the church, are no more worthy Of condemnation
than thoss who are striving to save it.
Now, We suppose NJ. Lord believes that tn
rebellion is arocous aud cluseess, and that those
who are maintaining it are committing the grayest
oHenc. known to the laws Of any country. Yet
one would seek in vain for the expression Of any
such sentiment in The sermon. They would,
rather, find an apology for the sin OF the South,
the "crafy Ah.hopheIs" being introduced as
'cape goats upon which the guilt Of the people
was to b. carried away, in season ior that GLORIOUS
bridal" with what John Van Buren, is pleased to
call our wayward sisters" And at the same
moment the sinful Norh-spoden Of by Mr.
Lord in the same strain Of condemnation which he
uses in reoukias the re5els-is to have It's sinspu,
upon :" the political Joabs," against whom the ire
OF the King Of the land is to kindle the same as
against the leaders of the rebellion.
And here We may add that We are not entirely
certain Of oeing right in our inference respecting
Mr.. Lords meaning, in the figure be introduces
Joab, we believe, was the leader Of King Dayds
army, and doubtless trusted and honored coun.
seor Of the King Of Israel. Ahilhophel was
the counsellor of Absaom, although his counsel
was not always taken, land also the counsellor Of
David At first we thought that ths leaders and
councillors most trusted by Mr. Lincoln were in.
,roducsd as Joabs," and those most trusted BY
jeff Davis as "Ahithophels." 1t is possible, how
ever, inasmueh as Ahilhophel's counsel was reject
ed in the final, fatal moment by Absaiom, thu,
Mr.. Lord meant under this figure to make sly
thrust at Buchanan, Fernando Wood, and the
Democratic politicians generally. On the whole
however, We are inclined to reject this interpreta.
ton, and to receive the text as we at first under
stood ii.
Now, perhaps Mr. Lord will pardon US for
adopting his interrogatiye style of argument Tor
moment. lsshe North equally criminal wi,