The weekly union record., 1864-07-02

the Oppressed of other lands, while We riyes
closer the chains that bind in ignorance and
serv.tude the oppressed Of oar own Outraged
Justice cries out against rs. Mercy scorned
reproves rs Truth belied condemns us. and
the chAstisements of the Almighty are falling
heavily upon g. These are The witnesses OF
our Iniquity; they laugh st our calamity. and
mock at our fear. let rs be wise unto our
national salvation We have the light OF the
gospel, and profess to be christian patton; as
such we made good profession of goodness,
and started forward IN the christian race, bat
were eocuubered with the weight OF many
s1perstitions and prejudices, sectional jealousies
and schemes OF unholy ambition. forgetting
that Pride gOed before destruction, and .
naughty spirit before fall
But ihe beseiting sin of this nation. and one
whose natural iesdeocy is TO destroy in our
hearts the love of dehocra'ic principles, consists
10 reducing to goods, cha,tels snd merchandise
the bodies sud souls Of men. The principle of
slavery is Incompatible with that of freedom.
Il contains within itself an element that will
ultimately set the captive free or destroy the
nation that enslsycs him. The time has come
when this weight must be laid aside for The
cause of freedom is marching ou" Let Us
divest ourselves OF every weight, and cloibe
ourselves in the pure garment Of christian love,
civil liberty and political equality, but let Us
avoid that loath, some sin which has multiplied
in our land mopgrel race, neither white nor
black, for righteousness e1alleih nation, but
sin Is reproach 10 any people.
As christian people. We are responsible for
our acts, their effects and examples-frst, 10
God. our Father and Sovereign Ruler second,
TO the community in which we live, each indi-
-. tNfr h,-- =,
and privileges are equal 10 our cwn; and
thirdly, 10 the government under which We live
an organized body polite, which We ourselves
have created Of our own voluntary free will.
and endowed with all the powers and attributes
OF personal existence among the national sover-
eighties Of the earth. The object of this gov
ernment is most clearly expressed. in our own
language, 10 the preamble 10 the Constitution.
as follows: We the People OF the United
States. in order 10 form more perfect union,
establish justice, insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defence, promote the
gene. al welfare, aud secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our pos,erity. do oriain
and establish this Constitution for the United
States of America" There is a fallaeious
opinion in the minds of many well meaning
persons that christianity and politics have 20
address Of Washington TO his countrymeu con-
tans this passage: "Of all the dispositions and
habits which lead 10 political prosperity, relig-
ion and morality are indispensable supports In
vain would that man claim the tribute of
patriotism, who should labor 10 subvert these
great pillars OF human happiness firmest
props of the duties of men and citizens The
mere politician, equally with the pous man,
ought to respect and cherish them A volume
could not trace all their connection with private
and public felicity. Let it simply be a,ked,
where is the security for property, for reputa-
tion, for life, If the sense of religious obligation
desert the oaths which are the instruments Of
investigation in the courts of Justice? And let
Us with caution indulge the supposition that
morality can be maintained without religion.
Whatever may be conceded 10 the influence OF
refined education on minds Of peculiar structure,
reason and experience both forbid Us 10 expect
that national morality can prevail in exclusion
of religious principles" But religion has been
scorued, the right Of universal freedom has been
denied, The right of :he people TO self government
has been discarded, and perjured traitors have
inaugurated civil war, 10 destroy the govern.
meut of the people, and build up q nation with
slavery as its chief orner-stone. for the bene6,
Of privileged order. Every American citizen
is placed as watchman upon the walls of our
political Zion. God and religion demand that
We preserve the liberties of the people. Out
OF their graves the voice OF the patriot dead
calls upon Us 10 transmit 10 posterity the
precious boon Of freedom which they have
handed down to Us. The oppressed Of all lands
at home and abroad, behold here their last
hope of earthly freedom. Shall We be false to
our trust, unworthy OF the gift bestowed upon
Us, unmiudiul OF our obligations to God, reig.
ion, humanity, the heroic dead, the valiant
living and generations yet unborn? Shall we
stand dumb on the battlements of freedom,
condemned OF God and humanity, while trai
torous foe take possession OF the citadel of our
liberties and transform it into a bulwark of
despotSm for the epSlavemeut of those who
dare assert the right TO freedom Of the entire
human race, or shall we sound the alarm, buckle
on the armor of truth and freedom, and rallying
around the standard of our national Union,
solemnly dedicatDg our lives TO our country's
honor, swear for her to live. with her to die.
Base indeed must be the heart of him who,
knowing, enjoying and loving freedom for him.
self alone, can seek to destroy this government
for the purpose OF ensaviug Others. Jaundiced
by prejudice, or blinded by ignorance. must be
the mind which can frame an excuse for the
perpetrators of a crime so Infamous as the
present rebellion against the government Of this
land and nation, for the purpose of establishing
a coufederacy whose chief corner stone entire
foundation, supersiructure and topmost pinnacle
are interviewer with violation of every natural
right that belongs to man. a return from civil
ization TO barbarism, the death knell of human
liberty, mockery to the name of religion and
an insult 10 the majesty of God. Truth is the
central sun of the mental and moral universe
Christianity its living light. 1t penetrstes the
darkened souls OF the children of men, and they
glow with the radiant beams of immortality
Faith, Hope and Love are warmed and quick
ened into life, and the mind, breaking away
from The thraldom OF sin and ignorance, seeks
the fountain of Intelligence and virtue
Eighty eight years of unexampled national
prosperity have demonstrated the truth that
man is capable of self government. Christianity
has opened the fountains of goodness in the
human heart while the vigor of mans intellect
has rendered the arts aud sciences sub>ervient
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