American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-04-27
Relation OF the Pulpit TO Poll
tsns


MEssRs. EDITORS Strange as it may
appear, there are many advocates of free
speech and a free press, who make very
bitter complaints, that the boosted rights
of American citizens have all departed
under the present administration, and yet
these self same sticklers for liberty, would
paddock the mouths of the occupants of
ali the pulpits of the land. Their doc
trines are clearly defined. ~ man has
right tosay lchat he pleases, tosay it 't!heas
he pleases, to utter it ,che.sc he pleases and
to speak it in the rag he pleases. Does
he desire to talk or write treason, no one
can dispute the right to do SO. Does he
choose to do it when the nation is strug-
Cling for existence, let none object. Does
he prefer to do it in the halls of the Ma
tional legislature it is only God-given
and Constitutional right, and let anathema
maranatha be written concerning him who
would fain deny him this right. Does he
manifest the same spirit exhibited by Reb-
els, as they retired from Congress to go
into rebellion, let no one deny him this
liberty. These are the tenets, promulga-
ted by the modern advocates of free speech
and free press. Holding such princi-
pies, it were indeed strange, that any
should presume to place an embargo upon
this liberty secured unto us by the blood
of our Fathers Truth 10 stranger than
fiction. Notwithstanding such is the doc
trine taught, yet they claim the authority
of instructing the Clergy how far they
may exercise this right-this great boon
of American Freedom The minister has
learned in his Bible, the lesson taught by
his Master, that it is his duty to "render
unto Caesar the things that are Caesars"
which is. simply obedience to, and respect
for the laws of the land, and yet these, on
whom alone, the mantles of liberty, have
fallen, the few to whom is committed the
fearful responsibility of expounding the
nature of true liberty, and, Of perpetua-
ting it to posterity, affirm that the Minis
ter may not expose to his flock, the wick
edness of this hell-born and hell-bound
rebellion against the authorities of these
United States.
The writer not long since, heard
lessonimparted by one of the liberty loving
fraternity to police Abolition preacher,
that indeed approached to sublimity.-
The Minister was approached with fear
and trembling" by an ardent advocate of
the liberty of speech solemnity was visible
on every feature of his countenancc, and
was addressed thus: Z" Sir, | know the
extent of your commission, and the natnre
of your calling very we'll 1t is to preach
to all. Glory to God in the highest peace
on earth, and, good will to men but yon.
have prostituted your calling, to preaching.
Glory to the nigger on high, and hell and
damnation for Democrats The effect was
APPALLING. We have not heard the said Di-
vine preach since, but we presume he was
sosthoroughly convinced Of his error, that
he will never dare again to repeat the Ian
guage Of our Fathers, by saying, "All
men are born free and equal, with certain
inalienable rights, among which are, life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness. -
We do not wish to be understood as feel
ing, competent to instruct the clergy of
our land. We think that they themselves,
should be the judges as to what their du-
ties are, under these trying circumstances,
but we will simply state what course, we
would perhaps pursue, were we thought
worthy to occupy so important position
in society.
/. We feel that his first and chief aim
should be to secure the salvation of those
with whom he might have intercourse, to
whom he is called to minister in word and
doctrine. To accomplish this great object
he would be expected, not only to be an
expounder of the fundamental doctrines
of the Bible, but to explain and enforce
the application of these doctrines to every
feature of human conduct Now we con-
tend that every principle of abe Gospel is
diametrically opposed to Slavery and this
Shareholders rebellion. The doctrine
taught in this passage, All things what
soever you would that men should do un-
to you, do ye even so unto them, if appli-