Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1862-01-01

THE HERALD.-Just previous 10 my start
ing from Hazel Green for Camp Randall
there was placed in my hands, 4 copy Oh
THE "Noatreal Gazette in which there
appeared anertraordinary letter, copied
from the british STANDARD, "a paper
published, / take it, il Perth Scotland
AZ | am indirectly, referred to, in the let-
ter, / think it not impairment to reply
Moreover, Others referred to, have depu-
ted me as their representative in the mat
ter. Before write more | shall giyo the
letter, 50 that II may speak for ITSELF,
and what ! may say in reply may be bet
ter understood. ! ask you Mr. Editor,
for myself, and others concerned, to give
place to the letter .stsef ~ Jul, also my
reply, which shall not be long. But the
letter:
ITO tie Editor Of the British Standard
Letter from a Clergyman IN Wisconsin,
,oho gas summartly dismissed By has
Coaqesqfon, fof speaking .chat he
thought the truth on IIanksgiuing
Day.
Sir,-Wlil you permit a fellow-country-
man residing iii the fal West, and in a
manner imprisoned in D country where
real freedom is interdicted, to express his
thoughts through your paper upon the
subject ofthe American Union and slavery
To DO so here is out Of the Question:
The voice. of reason is drowned by the
angry passions. have spoken once, and
my voice was Immediately silenced. Hay
inc taken occasion on the fast-day appoint
ed by the President to point out that tn:
| fast which God has chosen was 'to loose
the bonds Of wiekedness, to undo the heavy
burdens, to let the oppressed 90 free and
that ye break every yoke" and having en-
deavored to show that this is what the
United States have never done, nor wish
TO do, was Immediately waited upon BY
deputation from my church, and politely
informed that they had no father occasion
for my services.
The idea Of writing to you was suggest
ed by an article upon the American rebel
lion from the British Standard ofthe 18th
nit, which | saw quoted in the New York
| Erangclist With the sentiments express
ed in that article cordially agree, although
perhaps. some of them might be the better
for modification; but the Evangelist by
no means holds the same opinion. In its
eyes, and in the eyes Of the great majority
ofthe Northerners, the Union is thing
ofsuch surprising excellence as to justify
not only violation Of the Golden Rule by
giving real sanction to saveis but also a
Iloody and continuous war in rider 10 CO.
cree reyoIted millions back within its sacred
fold. I propose considering whether OF
not ii Is worthy Of she high opinion enter
tanned Of it by the Americans.
At the very outset Of the enquiry we
are met by the extraordinary fact, that the
Union, on the maintenance Of which, the
Americans tell Us depends not only the vel
fare Of this county, but the cause Of lib
erty over The whole world, is itself the rel
suit of a compromise between the antago-
nistic principles Of liberty and slavery -
The Slave States refused to unite with the
Free States unless Slavery was recognized
in the Constitution. and to this the Free
States agreed On the one side therefore
there was a resolute determination to yio-
late the laws Of God and the right Of man.
ard on the other side there was "a cove
nant with death, and an agreement with
he'll" for the sake Of certain political adyan-
tages. But when once the Union was
| formed, The Free States became accompi-
ces to the sin Of slavery, without having
any power to remove if, 81 even to miti-
gate It's exits. Ualike the British Parlia-
ment, whose powers may be said to be ON
nipelent, the American Congress has nc
power excepting what has been especially
bestowed upon it by the States; and nc
such power has been delegated to it in the
matter Of slayery,it follows that it can nc
more interfere with that institution in any
of the States than it can interneddle viii
i.in Cuba. Such. then, IS one Of the
leading features Of that Union for which
men. are wiling to fight knee deep in blood
and on tie maintenance Of which we arg
gravely told depends the freedom Of the
world. / am afraid twill prove a broken
reed to lean upon.
| Now, observe the POSITION ID which this
| Union Or rather the ilolatrous yeneratior
with which il has come to be regarded, has
placed American CHRISTMAS. The Unicf
/ binds tie thirty-four States together, and
| folms them into one great and powerful
nation, thereby strangely enlisting the ma
] tional synpathies on its behalf by impart
ling feeling Of national safety and fiaiter
/ ing national pride. But II does 50 aftei
the fashion 81 the old heather tyrant whe
bound together the living and Che dead
Against the loathsone connection Will
with slavery, the moral sense of the coun
trY has long reyolted. But what coul,
/ b done? 1t was felt that tho unity Of tht
nation justified the Indignation Of the woFlt
against a country perpetually Boosting o
its superior freedom, and yet nourishing
slavery within its own bosom; and il wa
I felt, too that the greater sin would inevi
tally bring down the fierce anger Of God
! Yet what could be done This division
softle country into number of innepend
eal soserei .nties paralyzed lis Christian
energies. The Northern States had n
more iightt interfere with the institutions
4 e.s. a .s,.t,.., Ge.ttae than (rtnaf l3rl1ial