The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-03-03

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Father, to deliver the world from all
errors, to keep off diseases, to avert
tamincs, to open the prisons, and Il
break all chains"
This is truly the pure spirit Of the
Gospel and of jesus Christ. Is it moi
thus that the divine Redeemer of men
announced his mission to the world
"The spirit of the Lord is upon me
said he, to preach the Gospel to the
poor, to console all who weep, to bring
healing to the bruised, proclaim deliv-
ance to the captives, and liberty tc
those who are in slavery"
And after the divine Master, is il
not st. Paul, the most fervent of the
disciples, who uttered before thepagan
world the sublime cry, There are nc
longer masters nor slaves, for we are
all brethren in Jesus Christ" All
well, today evenupon Christian lands
after the lapse of eighteen centuries
Notwithstanding these words of Jesus
Christ and this cry of st. Paul, there
are yet slaves"
Messieurs, it is for this miserable
and cruelty oppressed portion of the
human race, that come to ask you to
pray. Yes, pray; pray for the poor
slaves. And i'll feel pressed at this time
to recommend to you this sad and
holy cause, and to solicit your prayers,
it is because of this holy season, and
because of news which has recently
reached lis from distant lands, where
this grave question is griovously agi-
tated, and towards which tho attention
Of Europe is turned.
The truth is, both the old and the
new continents are moved; the poll
ticians speak for and against; COM
merce is troubled blood is shed in a
civil war. We, Mcssieurs, pray. In
the great social crisis, where We can
not remain Indifferent spectators, it is
prayer especially that is our great
duty.
Do not think, then, that | take part
|
in the lamentable quarrel which di-
vidcs the United States of America.
Some say that the North does not de-.
sorvc any more sympathy than the
South that questions of tariff or po-
litical predomincnce have had more
Influence than the question of slavery
apon the division which has resulted
in civil war. Some tell me that the
Abolition party has been rendered
odiousby its eNccsses, while the mas
tcrs arc in good faith and sometimes of
good heart. They tell me that the
Catholics are more numerous at the
South than at the North,* and that
there are citizens engaged in both
armies with equal patriotism, who
sincerely believe that they have justice
on their side. 1t is alleged that if the
Union were restored, the liberation of
the slaves is not certain, and that if
separation were established their lib
Grafton is not impossible. Some un-
dertale to show that the interests of
our manufactures are with the South,
and those Of our commerce with the
North; that We ought to desire to
maintain the unity of nation, which
We have contributed to establish, and
which serves as counterposc to other
nations or, indeed, on the contrary,
that we ought to fear the aggrandize-
mcnt of q people whose example and
spirit are q menace to the world.
/ know nothing of all this. But |
know that there are still four millions
of slavesin the United States, and two
millions in the rest of America-in all
six millions of slaves in Christian lands
eighteen hundred years after the cross.
know, also, that the horrors of war
have becn unclaimed by this formida-
bic question, and that the peace of the
world is mcnaced by it and already
disturbed. There is another thing
which | am happy to know-it is that
by recent important act, n message
Of the Sth OF March, sentto Congress
by the President of the United States,
and approved by u large majority, reg
ular, equitable, and pacific measures
have been proposed and adopted to
put an end to slavery. 1t is proposed
to give an indemnity to any State
which shall undertake the gradual
abolition of slavery within its limits.
No ono can toll what will be the re-
suits of this proposition, since they
depend upon tho response ofthc States.
No one is forced. A limit is assigned
to tho OWL, and an issue is opened to
it. 1t is the first time in sixty years
that the central power has taken part
in the matter, and engaged the whole
nation in vigorous effort against the
evil. The question, without being re-
solved, is at least taken in hand seri-
ously. One step has been taken, and
door rofhopo is opened. To me there
is the greater motive and necessity to
pray to God that he would deign 10
bless an enterprise, the pacific solution
of which, must be ardently desired.
Iknow the objections of those who
plead for slavery, but do not wish TO
discuss them at length.
Let no ono tell me that the slaves
are happy, and that accomplished facts
become legitimate by long continuance.
The slaves are happyl Yes, perhaps,
with the best masters, they eat, sleep,
and have moments of repose; perhaps
they can enjoy a little pleasure. But
have they the domestic hearth2 ? have
they the family circle? have they the
rights of paternity? have they liberty?
Poor disinherited ones of the human
race, they have lost not only the right