Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-27
Governors Tod and Morton on the
Clergy, and the conscientious.

Clergy, and the Conscientious.
Governor Tod has decided that, in the draft
for troops about to take place, cergymen not
exempt. In this respect. we DO not feel inclined
to call in question the wisdom of our State TX
ecutiye. We fail 10 any reason for excusing
clergy men from serving Ia defense of ther conn-
try in the field OF battle, that would not Us well
apply TO members OF other learned professions.
Several gentlemen OF the clerical calling have
voluntarily laid down the surplice and taken up
the sword; which shows that, in their opinion,
there is incompatability The heroism and
patriotic devotion OF the Rev Colonel Moody
although. thus far. only displayed in a not
admitting OF grey personal risk, or requiring
great personal brayeFy-is, with us, almost a
household word.
Besides, our cergy-many of them--have n
disposition unusually militant TIE longest.
the loudest, harshest and most persistent war
blasts have been blown from the pulpit. The de
sire TO encourage others to take up arms could
not be otherwise than accompanied 10y vehe
ment willingness to do it themselves IL does not
seem morally possible that men anxious for
the shedding OF cOplCus blood, can have any Ser
Gus objections To taking part in the process
On the contrary, there ale good grounds Tor the
opinion that the practice OF excusing ministers OF
the Gospel from active participation in war, is
not Only mistaken. but the very reverse OF
the true policy. We arrive at this opinion
would seem TO be conclusive: FIRST in the
talents for war which clergymen evince,
as exhibited IN their Intense desire Tor its vigorous
prosecution, their digent attention To its events
and their bold and startling criticisms OF the policy
OF the Government the character and conduct of
the Generals, and the errors aud mistakes OF the
campaigns and, secoadty. from the fact, not long
since disclosed by the report OF a committee OF
the General Assembly ut Chicago, that when
employed IA chaplainS, not one IN ten of them
were OF any account 1t was good rule. winch
used to he Observ ell in the conduct of the educa
tIOnal system of New England that when IA man
was good tor nothing else, it proof that he
would make excellent choolmaster: and il
our ciergymen inefficient as they are rep
resented. 10y body of their own profession, IN
the work oi peace. is it lot good ground Tor the
belief that their talents lie in the direction OF
WARP
Governor Morton has, however, as it would
seem. taken different of the subject from
that OF Ex-Governor Tod Assuming that there
my be men OF such extraordinary piety, ATTY rs
well rs clergy, To be conscentioUsls opposed to
tile war, lie has opened a way Tor their escape
from It's perIlS and ITS temptations d w person,
conScsentlousiy opposed To bearing arms shall be
compelled to do militia duty but such person
shall pay an equivalent Tor exemption" This is
excellent. We hope Governor Morton, for whom
we entertain feelings OF personal regard will rot
=
enstments (; tut certainly this idea that the ne
pious and good a man Is the more reluctant he
viii be to hight Tor las country, Is capable OF Il
very unpleasant Interpretation.
We have been told all along that the rule was
quite the reverse and that ia this work the
Cause being indisputably good, the strongest
call was To the best men. This Is the view taken
OF il by the American Peace Society, which on
the breaking out OF the rebellion, puts its
principles into the hands Of receiver aud
although il admitted that 10 was opposed to the
war, declared that mo act of civil government
in Furnishing It's own subjects for the tranSgrcs
sion oi its laws ought to be deemed Il war,
and can Ouly be called So by isure of speech
The members of the Peace Society. therefore
although they DO cot propose to aid ia carrying
Ola the war, are ready To give their arms TO 1.-The
civil government IN furnishing It's subjects
for the tranSgrcssiOn OF It's laws - and Governor
Motion, before he issues another order, would
do well To take a lesson in "hgures OF speech"
from the American Peace Society," la which case
he may escape the difficulty into which he has
fallen. through want OF luil understanding
OF the power OF language.
But the orGer of Gov. Morton is curious from
another point OF view. Although he Is willing
TO admit that truly pious aud Conscientious
NAV have scrupies about going and
killing ms fellow creatures, 1t did hot see To
strike him that the sane piety and conscientious
ness might render him scrupuous about paying /
others Tor doing what he WAS unwilling To do I
himself. In short. there is in it that which looks
like general invitation to aageilaIe the arch /
enemy IN circullous manner; which II may be
doubted whether any of those who are really +
tender OF conscience may be inclined to accept.
Its effect will be. however. TO produce some
tenderness of conscience where tenderness of
conscience never felt before. Men will sud f
deuly tall uner conviction. and grow spiritually.
as many growing physically, soft in spots
where Soitne>s WAS never before suspected. la
this way Governor Morton, by his order, If il
does not help forward the work of aiding the
civil Government in Furnishing It's own subjects
for the transgression OF its laws" will do some
thing in aid OF the religious status OF the people
OF Indiana. and perhaps prepare the WY for
moral reformation, after the subjects nov in i
state OF ,raussression have returned to the path
of obedience
Upon the whole. we Ike the course Of Cover f
nor Tod Tie hest. There should he no eXemp
ton on the score OF proles>ions-prole-Sions of .
business or professions OF principles. Ii u man 5
principles ATE opposed Ia doing other peop.e I
are required 10 dn. lei him change them Our
neighbor OF the C0mnleSeiaI change his nru
ciple> IN twenty Jour hours, without order of
the Government. Power has done stranger things
than tliat Napoleon. by simple order. hqui i
fed the blood OF 81. Janaurus. who had been +
dead t~eniy thousand years. and shall il he /
said that Governor has no power TO quicken the +
ruby current OF men who are still hearty hall /