The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-05-30

common sense; it is the devils appeal; he.
cries, Let me alone. He asks, "W hat
do you come here for to disturb me in my
dominion over the human family? /
want you to let me alone" He often
turns politician, and is then sure % cry,
fLet me alone Lrughter.
| have said that this rebellion origin
ated in d fnilacy-in what Whateiy calls
a non-logieal falacy, which is the assamp-
tion of a false principle and reasoning
correctly from it. ! have told my col
lege boys that false resoning consists in
creating fourth term; and the use of
doutle entcnare creates that fourth term.
The adage that religion las 10 hing to do
with politics is true in one sense; but
when yoa take it up in another sense
il ~ hIsc, and you have the fourth
term. which leads % a wrong conclusion.
1t is true the Eook Of Discipline says
ministers are not to iitermeddle with civil
affairs; and this is right to certain ex-
tent, but higher authority says, "Let
every soul be subjec. unto the higher DOW
CTS : that "the magistrate is the minister
Iof God for good;' and che beareth not
the sword in vain How can brethren
'expound any of these texts without in
tarneddling with politicsy DR.. Hodges
has said that the ministers Of tho church
have been grievously negligent in this
matter that if this scriptures had been
properly explained, very likely this wsr
would not have come upon US but by
saying religion had nothing to do with
politics, we have excused ourselves from
a duty the non-performance Of which has
left open the way for this rebellion. 1t
il the duty Of religion to do its part in
crushing out the rebellion, it is the duty
We owe tc ourselves, to our country, to
civilization, TO humanity, to the world,
and to God who made it. He has put in-
to oyr hands the death warrant Of treason
and rebellion, and woe be unto US If we
bear the sword in vain. The charter OF
human freedom mus. be maintained, If it
costs i hundred thousand lives, and hum
drecs of millions of dollars. In all the
discussions that | have seen on this sub
jeet, by those who favor the Southern
side, the fallacy has been assumed as true
that the e. 5. A. was government. That
Is an assumption-an assumption that has
desolated our land. 1t is analogous 10 the
assumption Of Calhoun tbs. the States
were independent nations before the Con-
stitution was adopted. His assumption
created South Carolina nullihcation and
this assumption has created the present
rebellion and war. If I can get this As
sembly to see wherein this fallacy lies, |
think no one will object to the adoption of
the paper requiring Presbyterians to re-
fuse allegiance to that bogus government,
and remain loyal to the Union. | repeat
that the G. s. A. is not government.
A member near the door interrupted
and said that a telegram had Just been re-
ceived that Richmond had been taken, and
jeff. Davis captured Upon this an
nouncement there Was very unanimous
clapping of hands and other signs of re-
joiclng.
Mr.. Breckenridge remarked that if the
information was reliable. he would move
that the Assembly join in prayer and
Thanksgiving to God ior the result. The
Moderator and Others thought it would be
premature When it was afterward an
noanced that no such dispatch had ar
rived, some one remarked privately that
it must have been . trick of some one, TO
test the patriotism of the Assembly. IL
so. he must have been abundantly salts
fed.
DR.. Junkin resumed: | repeat again,
that the G. S. A. is no government.--
Laughter and applause. It is combi-
nation to oyerturn a government. What
is government It is an ordinance OF
God. A civil government is an ordi-
nance OF God for civil affairs; and he says
civil rulers shall not bear the sword in
vain, in the punishment of evil doers,
and the praise Of those who do we'll. Is
this the character of those engaged in the
rebellion1 Why, sir, it has torn from my |
bosom my own children | cannot take
my own grandchildren in my arms /; they
have stolen my own wedding-ring--the
ring | gave my wife before marriage, and
they have the letters that passed between
Us. Here the old man was too much
overcome for moment to speak. Will
any man here say that this rebellion is al
ordinance Of God? No, no, not single
man. The whole question, then, is yield
ed, and ! need say no more. May God in
his mercy grant US understanding and
strength to do our duty.