Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-06-27
n,.,.h.n charity.

such "Christians" as Stonewall Jackson. If
Jackson was not sinner, red with the blood
OF good men murdered by bis treason, and
black with the darkest crimes committed against
our country and humanity, then heaven only
knows where we shall find sinners this side OF
the internal regions. Benedict Arnold sought
TO crafty his malice and revenge by betraying
ON important fortress into the hands Of foreign
enemy, and he is execrated as 40 unmitigated
traitor, so base that the halter would have been
deemed mercy, compared with the claims OF
justice. Jackso after being fostered as a
favorite aud educated 10 the use Of arms that
he might serve his country as q loyal subject,
enters into base conspiracy with other trail
tors, to overthrow the government Of his coun-
try by plungiDg Il into one Of the most cruel,
fratricdal civil wars that ever cursed the world;
when, lol after death has laid the rebel 10 the
dust, suddenly he is canonized as an illustrious
saint, and his !: jured country called to admire
the manly virtues and eminent piety OF the
fallen hero OF the rebellion. Poor Arnold no
record was made Of bis prayers and ecclesiasti
cal standing, and no monument will ever bless
his memory. But Jackson's pious record and
immortality Is secured by the fact that:be was
an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, very
strict and devout 10 observing all the rituals OF
bis creed, and in saying bis prayers.
Now, Mr.. Editor have no desire to fix the
locality of Stonewall Jackson 10 another world.
or pronounce on his eternal destiny. If be-
tween his fall aud dying gasp he repented oil his
rebellion and found mercy, all good meu will re-
joice and adore he matcblcss grace Of infnite
compassion. But with Facio" do desire to
bear testimony against that pseudo sympathy
so prevalent in certain directions. The ten
dency is to impress the public mind with the
co nvcton that while Secession is wrong, "in
| Me a6strdct,r nevertheless the North is lighting
against some Of the best men in the nat on.
Indeed, while we are devoutly fasting and
praying at the North for the overthrow Of re.
beon, a vast amount OF piety and prayer at
the South is fasting and praying for its success;
so that a part of the nation is represented as
petitioning heaven for the perpetuity Of our
glorious Union and Republican Government
while large part as devoutly are entering their
protest and sending up their remonstrance
Permit me to say, that prayer is not always
proof of piety. nor does it ways sanctfy the
cause il processes to commend to propitious
heaven. Some Of old we're devout, and offered
money aud long prayers, yet their piety drew
forth no approval from the heart.searching Sa-
vior, but rather an exposure Of their hypocrisy
because it was a covering for their oppression
and cruelty!
When Mahommed went forth to convert the
world prayer and the sword were united 10 his
mission, yet Christendom offers no eulogy or
the piety of the False Prophet. When thi
Crusaders sought to redeem the Holy City
from the /" Infdels." heaven was besieged will
prayer that success might reward the sacriic
and piety of the multitude. yet Chrstendom
, hardly ready TO endorse that mission as :aE
!. proved Of God. Few causes arc so bad but whs
they have their relig ious devotees. Even tn
Southern COufederacy, conceived by the mos
corrupt politicians. born and matured into &C
tivity by PERJURY. treason, stealing aud untol'
hypocrisy, aud now reeking with the blood o
loyal citizens. proclaims its fasts and thanks
} givngs, multipes its conference and praye
meetings, and even informs US of religious
awkenings and of joyful converts.
Is the Hi; gdom of heaven divided as we'll q
the nation? Nay If God is with the Mort
in this struggle, then He is not with the S,uth
y and Stonewall Jackson's piety, in opposing th
; North, and that of his br ethren, must be a'
! corded TO something else than truth and th
: spirit Of God, for God is not the author o
confusion and ontlawry and treason.
But l wish to offer another reason in Opposi
tion to the course of the Independent upon th
subject. 1t fritters AMY the crime of treason
3 or renders it a comparative nulity-a mere civi
Il offense that scarcely affects moral character.
! understand government to be divine insttr
ton, sustained by the sanctions of all law, civ
;, and divine. A rebel. therefore, is sinnt
= y against God and his country. Can an INTEL
. gent man, them act the part Of traitor and liV
!, in fellowship with God a.? Pray, then, what il
t the name of common sense can be do to vitiat
IF his Christian character Will law and justit
,. doom him to the halter, while piety exalts biz
h to heaven If SO, what a colony may be Sci
g off to Paradise some day when JEFF Davis
Co. expiate their civil crimes.
But the subject is too serious TO indulge in
cheerful conceit. The Independent is wronl
Mr.. Beecher must revise bis code of charity
n The man 10 whose garments are found the bloc
y of legal freemen, shed by his hands while seel
ing to overthrow government ordained
N God and established for the maintenance c
ria liberty and justice, is not Christidn hero
At model of piety, whose rare Christian virtue
must obliterate from our minds all record c
past crimes. Let the South and the North n
1t member that good government lie ordained {
God, and is for the punishment Of evil door
At and they that resist shall receive to themselve
damnation. Human theories and creeds may fu
nish such anomalies as inward SAINTS sndoutwar
ID sinners, or pious praying generals lighting 70
oppression and rebellion, but the Good Boo
provides for no such complex characters. "E
their fruits ye shall know them," seems to
e' the rule of charity. All beyond is apocrapha
Nay, a false charity, which Saith unto II
," wicked, Thou art righteous. LOYALTY.
"a RESTORED Captain j. A. Dewey, 43
s. Ohio Volunteer Infantry of Ausinburl
10 ely dismissed the service on charge ,