Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-04-27

The fact is, the political affairs Of
the country have too long been left in
the hands and under the control of
reckless and unprincipled politicians,
and to-day we are reaping in sorrow
and mourning the bitter fruits of their
production. If we would have institu-
tions under which Christian man can
live, if we would have laws based upon
the principles of justice and Christian
ity, if we would have country stand
ing high in moral and religious char
acter, the good men of the country,
the Christian men of the country, both
ministry and laity, must meddle with
political affairs and see that the laws
are made in accordance with Christian
principles, and executed by men of
moral and religious character. In do
ing their duty in this respect they will,
no doubt, quite frequently find them
selves censurcd and abused by the
reckless, immoral, atheistic leaders of
the Democratic party, who .fght tie
ministry and Christian Church because
tie ministry and Christian Church, in
the great National crisis through which
zoe are passing, are loyal to the Govern
nent, and Of necessity against Tie Demo
cratic party That this is the true rea-
son for the bitter denunciation of the
Democratic press against political
preachingis is demonstrated by the eager
ness with which they lay before their
readers, with commendatory notices,
political harrangues or sermons in ia
vor of Slavery and Rebellion, or their
synonym, Modern Democracy, where
ever they can find one delivered or
preached by man, who, like MLToNs s
fallen angel has donned the livery of
Heaven to serve the devil in. Twice,
since the Shareholders Democratic re-
bellion was inaugurated, the leaders
of the Democratic party and the lead
ers Of the rebellion have been gratified
and entertained by effusions from min
listers of the Gospel that were worthy
of places in Democratic papers, and of
being commended to the careful con-
sideration Of Demo cratic readers. The
! first at the commencement of the Re-
bellion by the Rev. ViNDYKE, to prove
the Bible authenticity and Divine origin
Of Slavery, and the other at the close
Of the Rebellion, in aid of the rebel
cause and the election of the Demo
cratic candidate for President in 1864,
by the Rev. (!) MMICHAEL, in which
he takes ground that the rebel States
had right to secede; that the Govern
ment has no power to coerce State !;
that the "Confederate" States is de
facto Government; that it has been re-
cognized by God; that it is the duty
of the Southern Christians to render
obedience to it; that crime when com
mltted by large bodies of men is
not crime; he denounces as "revolu-
tionary measures" efforts to subdue
the rebellion, the abolition of Slavery
as war measure, the creation of the
new State ofWest Virginia, the Eman-
cipation Proclamation, the conhsca-
ton laws, the arming of Slaves, the
construction policy by which the
loyal people Of State are authorized
to establish State Government, the
adoption of Free State Constitution
by the citizens Of Maryland, the oath
Of allegiance prescribed for rebels be-
fore they can enjoy the rights of citi-
zens, and the adoption in Constitu-
tional way of an amendment to the
Constitution. He denounces the Presi-
dent as n tyrant, and proclaims that
resistance to tyrants is obedience to
God" thus advising the assassination
of the President; after all this de-
nounces the Presbyterian Church for
passing loyal resolutions, and the entire
ministry of the country as political
preachers for sustaining and upholding
the Government.
These sermons, or preachers speech
es, were not denounced as political
harrangues and their authers abused
as political preachers, because they
were uttered in the service of Slavery,
treason, secession and disunion, for
the benefit Of the Democratic party;
but every preacher--and, thank God,
the great mass of them are loyal and
true to the Government-who speaks
single word in favor of the Nation,
or in condemnation of the rebellion, or
who offers up prayer for the Presi-
dent or the success of the Union cause
is denounced without measure as an
abolition political preacher We feel
like rejoicing that the time has come
in the history Of political affairs, when
the clergy of the country, and the great