The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-05-13
gurtage On. gentotrat.
RAvENNA. OHIO.
wednesday,,,...-.....-,..may 1s, 1868
FAST DAY SERMONS IN NEwxoRK
p t-ez 81 a CITY. 5l4 t.te >

|, The following extracts are made from
| sketches N the Tribune. l.'s 2
In the Shiloh Presbyterian Church, Rev.
Mr.. Garnetsad -
/ Our Chief Magistrate, too, has proclaimed
! this fast, and while the language of his proc
lamation furnishes fruitful text for the pull
! pits of the land, it gives proof that he is
| drawing near to the irrevoeable command of
God "to undo the heavy burdens and to let
the oppressed go free, and that We brei:k every
| yol1e.'' In their fast, doubtlessly the AsSy..
| rians confessed all their SINS and especially
moutned over that particular one which they
had cherished, and which had invoked the
Divine displeasure. He would call upon his
hearers to decide in their minds what is The
great sin of fhis American people. Is it Tot
| the trading in the bodies and souls Of men!
! Yes, it is Slavery The Rebellion is a slave
/ holders Rebellion. Slavery has worked the
| widespread ruin which we behold It has
| shed every drop of blood that has flowed in
this war, and murdered every man who has
| fallen on our battle-felds. The fast which
! God demands requires that in connection
with itthis CORY monster shall be completely
destroyed. Had our illustrious magistrate ta-
ken one more step forward toward the stand
ard of Gods word and will, to-day this ma
ton, that is still fighting against God, would
have placed itself within the reach of his di-
vine favor. Surely there is no glory or hoaor
| which the world can give that can compare
with Gods great promise" for them that
| honor me will honor.' Mr.. Garnet con-
Guided with an earnest appeal to his hearers,
urging them to bcseech God to inspire the
hearts of their rulers to do justice, love mer-
| cy, and to let the oppressed go free !; and also
| to put on sackcloth and ashes on account of
| their own siIs. He said if we loved oppres-
sion, and hated our brethren, and regarded il-
| iquity in our hearts, God would not hear rs,
/ but even the solemn meeting wonld be in
iquity and we shall add to our already nli-
merous sins that of mocking the Almighty.
= In the Marble NJ, E. Church, Fourth street,
Rev. Mr.. Newman said 49, ts rs
This Rebellion is a sin against the rights of
| man.. 1t is an attempt tosoverthrow the only
! Government on earth where those rights are
constitutionally v and fully recognized and to
/ establish anotherin its place whose corner
stone is human bondage. The act of rebel
| lion itself is the highest crime that can be
committed against the State, but to found a
slave empire is crime against the universe.
| The contest is narrowed down to a struggle
between Freedom and Slavery. Happily it
I has been within tie limit of constitutional
authority to deal death-blow to the latter in
| putting down the Rebellion, andif all North
ern men are true to their great national mis-
sion, Rebellion and Slavery will go down to-
/ gether.
+ In conclusion, Mr.. Newman severely criti-
! csed the Presidents administration. He de-
clared the President had been lenient when
the public good demanded severity, and had
exalted mercy at the expense of justice The
Administration had failed TO appreciate the
inalignity, earnestness and uneonqHerable pur-
pose of the insurgents. Armed withthe sol-
4 emn authority of constitutional right and
sustained by the enlightened sentiment of a
Christian people, justice, humanity and relig-
| ion demanded of the President the single
motto death to Traiters.o 6 Such has
tbeer the dallianee with Border States, and
such the Difference to Southern opinion; that
4 the only man who has risen to. a true; ;concep-
\ ton of the proper treatment of the Rebels
i has been displaced, while one with softer
hands and sweeter disposition has been sent to
take his place. zg els lai aa.af4 sfss szq.E "a :
/ l;ss For the want of frmness in purpose and
energy in action, the available means placed
by generous people at the disposal of the
Government have not been properly employed
in the suppression of the Rebellion. Pos
sessing such means, Richmond, Savannah,
Charleston, Mobile and Vieksburgh should
have been captured and garrisoned with Union
troops. We ask the President to swear with
jackson, "The Rebellion must and shall be
put down. Then the leaves of Autumn
will cover its tomb. .fi.ya
In the Reformed Presbyterian Church
Twenty Third street, Rev. Mr.. Sloane said
+ We have sinned in permitting the Govern
ment to be administered in the interests Of
Slavery. Slavery is the Ph@ton that has
held the reins and driven the chariot of State
ever since we were a Government. - 5
We are now shining against God every day
in not making final end of this hideous in
J iquity In vain we fast for Sabbath breaking
for luxury, for political corruption, for pro-
fame swearing for any or all of our national
sins, while this great iniquity in unrepented
J of and unforsaken. se----z
why's the hand of the Senate held as i
in concealment over this fatal cancer, that is
eating ont the very yitals of the nation p
Why did they not call us to fast for the sir
of Slavery, and call upon the nation to up
hold them in the use of all possible means
for itsiextinction at once 2 Kentucky and
Tennessee are burden too great for us to
bear. Why is this unless it be that we are
not sufficiently humbled, and that God has
more terrible calamities in store for us than
any that we have yet endured. Has this lep-
rosy SO infected every stone Of The edifcs that