New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-06-10
pR, RREGHErREpd:E.

The presence of the Rev. DR.. Breckenridge in
,hc Republican Convention was of itself al i'm
rortant and suggestive fact; but tho speech
which he made, excellently cogent in its style,
was slill more remarkable, coming as it did from
a Southern citizen and Southern clergyman.
We ike the fine logic with which DIR. Breckin-
iidge exhibited the criminal absurdty Of seek
ing reform through rebellion, under "a Consttu-
ton aIording every facility for a righteous
change. But we Ike better TO hear from such
"a source the declaration that " the whole power
OF the Government both Of peace and war
should be used I" 10 extingui3h Slavery" 81
unite myself" said Dr. Breekinrdge " with
those who believe that Slavery is contrary to
The highest interests of all men and Of all gov
eminent contrary TO the spirit Of the Christian
religion, and Incompatible with the natural rights
of man." These words, earnest aud explicit rs
they are, have a doublc value, proceeding as
they do from a leading clergyman OF Slave
State who comprehcnds, By actual observation,
the evils and the wickcdness of Slavery. Hers
is preacher who knows quite as much
Of the Bible argument for Slavery az any
Northern Doctor of Divinity. Here il q
man who could talk with certain degree
of authority about tho cursed condition OF
Canaan Here il n man who has some tempta-
ton TO tumble into slough of dialeciics. In
stead Of doing so, he says plainly-Sayery Is
wicked-is contrary TO the spirit Of Christianity
incompatible with the natural rights Of man.
Contrast This with the suffering, apologize,
shuaiias aud radically false uttcrances of some
Northern Divinity Doctor, who never owned a
slave, whose relatives never owned slaves
whose church members never owned slaves;
who is yet so in love with the system Of Human
Bondage, that he breaches long sermons in It's
defense, puts out thick books and thin books
with tie same purpose, rubs up bis Hebrew, if
he ever had enough 70 bear rubbing up, and
makes wild guesses at the meaning Of Greek
words in the same desperate enterprise OF
course the time is coming. and will soon be
here, when he will DO thoroughly ashamed Of
HIMSELF
The evils which such men have inflicted upon
this country, by their efforts to prove Slave
holding to be religious duty, are incalculable;
because mnltitudes have been content to think
their thoughts at second hand, and to fill them
selves with the dry husks of Judicial thcol-
ogy. But We appear 10 be outgrowng the
ancients. We ore finding out that this same
Slavery has political as well as moral aspects;
and that to us, in this our terrible struggle with
the incubus of belated feudality, it really does
not make any essential difference whether
Slaves were held in Athens or Rome or Jeru-
SALON or not. If We are not wiser than all
tho past, then our Constitution is a mere
farce, our Boosting only empty babble,
and our civilization q snare and delusion
Some men Of prodigious, not to say asininc,
obstnacy, Will refuse to the very last to be per-
shaded; and it is not impossible that they may
die in tho belief that q society without Slavery
is under the special ban and curse Of our Crca-
tor But the weight Of public opinion must be
the other way. Before many years this crime
against nature will come to be recognized as q
crime pure and simple. Our chief business now
should be to consider it as frightful blunder.
The world is hardly good enough to make away
with it because it is CONTRARY to the spirit of
the Christian religions" but perhaps even an
unregenerate world may be taught to consider
it as contrary TO the eighest interests Of all
men and all government"
.-----~-------1------s
Copperhead oracle, whose maignity usually
outweghs its folly, thus rails at the nomination