The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-07-11
A Plea for tho Rebels !

train Of thoughts. for verify they are OF the
earth earthly but alas his expected furlough
was cut short in Is minutes and the very sub
jects best calculated TO disturb his peace OF
mind-the duties Of patriotism and our coun-
try'speril-were forced upon his unwilling at
tention. Cast down but not destroyed he seems
to have employed the remainder Of the service
with bottling up the walls Of his wrath which
he has now uncorked at the public expense
But though appearing in the character OF the
outraged deyotee he could not properly lay
aside that of the public censor and he grows
calm enough to listen to the atrocious senti-
ments Of the preacher that he may expose him
to the gaze Of the world and wither him with
sweep Of his quill.
The discourse was from the text "Render I'M
to Caesar the things that are Ceser's and unto
God the things that are Gods" 1t was, he
observes, of an intensely Federal sentiment
and character, and had it advocated, in fact,
the principles attributed to it we should agree
with the editor in saying it was neither good
politics nor good religion. But permit us to
say that the exciting state of his nerves at the
disagreeable, porIdly topics preached upon
was such as To- render him unit TO judge cody
upon the matter 50 that the spurious CON-
pound" really existed in his own brain. The
so-ealled political preaching of the North, from
the earliest days of the republic, has never ad-
vocated any such absurd fanfaronade us he has
inflicted on his readers. The nation is our Ce-
ssr and, as the Bible tells us. we are to render
the things that belong to il and nothing more.
In times like these its demands are great and to
be met with corresponding sacrifice. For
next to our duties to God come those to the
State which is Gods government intrusted to
men, and we protest that the Esprit in which
the American system was instituted" was one
that demanded the lives and treasures Of our
fathers in greater sacrifice than is called for
to-day. These statements OF the editor are cas-
lily made but glance at the sermons preached
since the outbreak Of the rebellion and for
years previous would as easily disproye them.
"But the preacher came unawares close upon
the truth" which, IL followed out by the insane
logic of the wrathiul editor would have OUT
ragged the sentiments Of any christian commu-
nifty in the North Had he been riss enough
he would have convinced his hearers that both
religion and patriotism demand that they re-
frain from taking any part in this bloody butch
cry. Listen U sagacious Seward TO the words
Of this christian patriot" while we examine
the remarkable "truth" which the preacher
came 80 close upon.
'Patriotism," said the preacher, sis Of the
nature of the family tie. leading one to seek
the best interest Of ALL" Carry out this idea
of patriotism 50, 5 the editor: sis there any
thing ia the family relation that obliges nu-
merous and widely scattered family to remain
forever. willingly or unwillingly, under the
same paternal government with a community
Of propertyr' Certainly. we answer /: for car
~ out the idea as far as the limited capacity OF
the editor will allow and the same unvarying
answer remains, viz "that one should seek
the best interest Of ALL" But he continues
.'do we not daily see children going out from
the old homestead, and, with their portion OF
the goods, setting up new families, free from
paternal restraintl' Now this is put neatly
and eogently IL the parallel were obvious and
must prove a precious morsel to those who
swallow such bait whole; but unfortunately the
the paralelism fails when we come to consider
that the ''dear children" who have let the old
homestead Of the Union, have not only stolen
more than their portion but turn about to pull
down the old house about our ears so that in
deed our family would be insane to let such
works go on at the risk Of their lives the
ckrisiidn answer we are told, Is found in the
parable Of the prodigal son, and we accept II
as afording brilliant example Of the effects
Of secession on the individual. "And he took
his journey into far country and there wasted
his substance with riotous living" See Luke
XIV. Whenever this prodigal son win come
back even clothed in rags and half starved. our
patriarchal President will gladly receive him,
but IL he comes back by night 10 burn and de-
stroy US, Wen give him no quarter
We quote again: "But though the preacher
Acknowledges the uation-the PE0PLE-to be
our Cesar, he seems to regard the agents Of
this Caesar the Administration at Washington
-as absorbing, for the time, all the prcroga-
tiyes of Cesar" and though the editor de-
murs from such conception of the relation OF
the par ties, we think that any one who has the
least idea Of the principles of Republican gov
ernmen, must know that the President stands
as the mouth-pie Of the people. Indeed he
,.,.,.. IL. 80 s..,, n - ovn worls. ,.Tha
people themselves and not their Srranis." &C.,
meaning, ofcourse. himself and cabinet. Stand
ing in this relation. and comprehending the
real needs Of the whole people, his voice is to
be obeyed implicitly in such an hour as this.
His wit Is better than his logic, but with oil
due respect to II, We must hold up to the aim-
ration Of all. the style Of Christianity advo-
Gated that has to be kicked into q decent 10y
atty.
The statement that the war followed as con-
sequence upon the decision Of Lincoln to main
tain the principles ON which he was elected. is
simply false, rs all acquainted with facts will
nj once agree. The Saco Democrat has often
attributed the unhappy state Of affairs to the
.cita,ions and political preachings Of the
North. and IL we accept this as the cause. we
can see only in Lincoln's election an occasion
for the outbreak Of q storm long gathering. III
"some concession" were all that the south re-
quires to end this rebellion. we might be willing
10 male Il. but the only demand Is the total
destruction Of our free government and pros
ttution Of the priuciples Of the fathers, and