Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1863-07-22
The Natural Turn of Abolition
ism,

so conspicuously in our country's ruin,
will startle at the rising spume of Aboli-
ton fanaticism. These frenzied bigots,
thinking the time has already come, have
thrown of the mask and are coming out
publicly in favor of the grand ultimatum
of their despotic designs. Having already
secured the annihilation of civil liberty
they now seek to strike death blow at
religious liberty. Abolitionism has been
the cause of all the calamities and inter
nal troubles which have lately befallen
our unfortunate country: it grew out Of
puritanism and the New England pulpit
and it is most natural it should end there,
or in the attempt to establish govern
mental religion, such as Massachusetts,
fanatics have dreamed of, by which every
man who will not think as they do, or
who exercises the liberty of his own con-
science, shall be ostracizcd or bastiled bv
the g touch of a bell," or the mere will
of such an abortion as now occupies the
chair of Washington. Those who cl;,mor
for war and sustain this Administration
in all its madness and unconstitutional
acts, in the hope that peace and liberty
will be restored, as it was once under the
old Constitution, will yet awake from
morbid hallucination to witness the fear
ful realities which are now being forshad-
dowed by the diabolical spirit so wanton-
ly manifested by those uppermost in pow
er, ostensibly for the restoration of the
Union. but in truth, for purposes, the
thoughts of which, make christian hu-
manlty blush, and the finer feelings of
civilized man to revolt. We speak not
idly, but refer in sorrow, to the many
midnight meetings and secret conclaves
connived for purposes similar to those at
which we have just limited; all of which
are now tending publicly to develope into
one great effort to crush the last vestige
of American liberty, so dearly established
on this continent. The PHILADELPHIA
Journal speaking Of one of these demon
strations, lately manifested at Pittsburr.
says:
g \ convention of ministers of several
Protestant denominations has been in
session in Pittsburg, with a view to have
the Constitution OF the United amended
by inserting in it some clause recognizing
" the beng and attributes of Almighty
God, the Divine authority of the HOLY
Scriptures, the law of God as paramount
rule, and Jesus the Messiah, the Saviour
and the Lord of ALL" They have Just ad-
Journed slne die, after appointing COM
mittee, with very large powers, to agitate
the subject by addresses to the people, and
TO call a national convention of persons
friendly to the object, whenever and
wherever, in their opinion, the end sought
will be promoted~.hcreby.
The present Constitution of the United
States recognizes no particular religion.
but protects all, Christian and Jew. Ma
homedan, and Mormon, Protestant and
IaSan, IN the free exercise of their religi-
Gus opinions and in the worship of the
Supreme Being, according to their belief
This is right, and no alteration of the
Constitution in this respect should ever be
made. Any alteration would be an en-
croachment upon religious liberty. An
amendment recognizing the Christian reli-
9lon would be unjust to the Jews, and
would lead to endless controversy and
troubles such as have prevailed in Eng
land where legislation has so long been
directed against the Jews and if the |
Constitution may, at the instance of a few |
Protestant parsons and fanatics. be alter |
ed so as to ignore or ostracize Jews. it is !
talr to presume that their next step would
be to have inserted clause defpino |
Christianity to be anti Catholicism. This |
class OF fanatics are ever restless and |
meddlesome with other peoples matters of |
and ever seeking by legislative
(or military means to coerce people into
their peculiar way of thinking and beIiev-
ing. The Maine Law, Know-Nothing
ism and anti-Masonry, all found their
high priests among this class of Clergvmen
generally New England bigots and TO-
noramuses; and, now that they SEQ .
general disposition on the part of the men
at the head of public affairs to disregard
the sacred obligations of the Constitution
as to ci'T liberty. they have concluded the
time to be favorable for striking a blow at
religious liberty, that they may eventually
be enabled TO bring the country complete
ly under the rule of New England-to
make the country swallow Yankee religion
as as well as Yankee philosophy and politics.
lhey have appointed a committee to s.oo;-
tate the subject by addresses to the peo-
pie, and, we venture to predict, nine
tenths OF the men, women and negroes
who constitute the Republican party. will
prove favorable to the movement. AS
mass, they never comprehended genuine
aifbar