The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-05-23
A LECTURE
Not Delivered at Concord;a UuN, IN tie Git
Of Peru, on tie Oh dty 9f .Nay, 1863.

Of Peru, on tie Oh d4y 9f -Nay, 1863.
most lamentsble war, is being largely dis
cussed in our com immunity, and hardly half
q dozen men can be found who agree upon
the question. It is pretty we'll settled,
however, that the guilt rests either with
cur political demagogues or our pretended
| preachers of the gospel, who are at best
but pack of abolition pulpiteers. In or
der that it may be made known who Is
the guilty party, let Us submit few facts.
From the close of the American revolu-
ton TO A. D. 1861 with two brief excep-
! tlons, we were prosperous, happy and
contented people We were at peace with
this period we could freely express our 20
litical opinions, and freely discuss the acts
and measures of those entrusted with the
administration of our government and,
thanks to "old Tom JsHer. Oh, every man
could worship las own God in his own
wav, as his own conscience moved him
We believed, and had good reason 10 be-
lieve, we were the freest, bravest, most
independent and most powerful! nation I'm
der the sun Bat a great and startling
change came over our condition. One hal!
Of our proud states are in open bloody
war against the other half Our boasted
civil liberty and poltica! rights are trod-
den undor foot by political .demagosues
and upsta.t rnilitary aspiraats. Our re-
ligIous freedom is in the hands Of wild
fauatical pulpitee.s, would move earth and
Heaven in order to govern both state and
church Eyea the bpl.gcrent Presidents
are trembling in their boots with religious
fear.
No. long since President Davis issued :.
proclamation for fasting and PRAYER io-
the forgiveness Of national sins. But no.
by anv nleans to be outdoue in the way o.
proclan,at.ons, Mr. Lincoln Immediately
issued his proclamation, setting apart the
SOth day OF last month for fasting and
prayer for the forgiveness OF our natIona!
sins. Now let US suppose both these
Presidents in church, on these fast days.
each IN his own section, with that passage
Of scripture before them which commands
Us - pray for our enemies, could old jeff.
pray for the Pre-iiea. OF the United
States No. sir sho,ild he DO so his good
Episcopalian brethren would eXpei him
from the church. On tie other hnnd.
could old Abe pray for the President o!
the Confederate States? No, sir-ee
shorld he do so his wooiIy- -headed - brod
rem would expel TN. from the sable
brotherhood. Bu: w.'c. has oaesed this
great change? In answer TO tins cues
tioa let Us submit IA iew more facts. Some
twenty Ave thirty years ago John Bail,
Jealous of Uncle Jonathan $ growing
we~ltI, and strength, sent an abolition
eulissary over here TO weaken. 10y dividing
us, and getting up 4 quatrei between our
North aud South. !iis e.nis>ary told Us
" There Is uigher las than your cons!l
tu,Jon,--the law OF God. ashingioil,
jefferson, Madison, and their conp-er-,
IA, de a great mistake ia forming your
government; by LAls higher law the Negro
i, equal wIin The white n2n, and entitled
which vour constitutions guarantees 10 The
wnIte man. Nc., &c. uu.drr .he teach
iugs .! ;ais em.s>ary ala aGot!iiom school
ras es,atl. shed IA Pu!ltaulc AAs="chu-
sets, which has since spread ltseit Irto
most of the other states aud III lhla
school OF politics our Lincoln dy nasty MAS
educated. Sinee This DrItIsn eIu.o,aIy
caIae among us, nearly all Oi our puIp!ts
have been made Tree rosti uins ior s.Ooi!-
too stump speeches ana We rarely hear
from the sacred desa any thing but poii-
ties Of the bdsest sort Nor IS tnIs The
worst feature in tie case. Nearly all our
primary schools are under the guidance
and direction Of these sa,nc "iid fanatics
In these schools the young pupiis read ana
hear TOO much OF the cuIcaneiy cf Aealt-
I less political deiasoGue., and too !tI!e ci
! true patriotism! too Ihuch eta'r, Worn "ui
J MYSTERIOUS theology, anu too Iltiie lIatuiai
! common SENSE; too nueit traIt tl'nai ~
/ persIIIIon and absurd oIsOtry, aEd loo
| little lure aud unueh,ed religion In
! these schools the rnuinent the young
! idea begins 10 shoot, The young mind be-
I gins To lie poisoned, the pupil grows up Il
fanatic OF 4 blsUt aud Is very apt 10 le-
main such thruu.t iite. lhle /, our pres
! eut condition, and unless 1t separation OF
! cEurch and state can be had, and our
primary schools wre>teu from Ihe gasp oi
| these iauatIcal ruipiieers, We may ~Ai'ect
! soon 10 return 10 the blue LAWS ui uui
! GOOD old Couuecticut toreiatlIeis, under
! which men were lined for kissing theIr
/ wives on the sabbath; II beer Wa, iound
| working on that holy day 1t WAS spilled
/ in the gutter, and the vessel contdlninS IL
! DESTROYED a man OF Suinda VINO coui.H
believe in witches was transported a"d
| i,uprisoned,-;ts II hath OF li,i.. heen ni'ii
! here with democrats VINO co1'uu cs'e'e
4 "uircer is better than Il White hian'-
and utauy an innocent old wo!nan was
hung OH Suspicion OF beius "i'c". III
| those times il hail, errins wonian was 10
suffer the death penalty Tor Tie ciinls OF
| adultery. or some poor devil 10 be whIppe"
for some other iuiamu.is offence, the gal
lows or the whipping post must always be
in close proximity 10 the church, and the
| Governor and other diSntaries oi state,
| with the priest and his deacons, must
| ALWAYS superntend the interesting ceie-
MONIES.
Now, fellow citizens, comparing the
present with those G. od cid days, aui
driven to the conclusion, that our abolition
pulpteers have done more TO involve us III
this war, and are doing more Ia prolons
and perpetuate II, than any oiher CLASS u
our people Therstore il, as our iAsi uiss
and other signs o. tie times ses'a 10 IN
dicate, both OF our Presidents are oes"i-
ming to doubt their abilities 10 'n'anaee 81
gigantic "a war As oCrss- and af- anN'" w
shift the responsibility on to tie shoulders
IF ,l,, Gods. / suggest that they withdraw
,I,..;r ..n;i,,s from ihs fields aud their M
.;es tor, the waters, and LEI their gods
s.h, II out: and for one would net ob
lot to the Presidents acting as their sec
nnd, in the duel Should this plan be
sIonted, what an i,nnien.e saving OF hu-
r,an life, and an equal saving CT national
treasure.