American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1865-11-16


South, true to her characteristic magnan-
unity, will be no party to the deprivation
Of any other church of the same inalien-
able right. In view of such crisis, and
such a controversy, | would entreat all
Southern Christian people to maintain
their present separate status, letting the
fury of Northern fanatcism expend itself
in these disgraceful raids upon their &C.
clesastical neighbors, while they give
themselves 10 The work Of the ministry
and the feeding of the flock of Christ
Already the Northern Church stands up
a boasting political power in the United
States. Rev. Bishop Simpson boasts that
the church elected the late President
Abraham Lincoln. The Southern Church
never dreamed of toerating the idea of
80 gross departure from her holy mis-
sion of publishing the Cross.
Now, il this Northern Church, alone,
elected one President, how long would
it require ihe two churches combined to
elect another, and then another?
Animated by the political ambition,
and inspired with the idea OF gigantic
and overshadowing church, the two bodies
melted together, would, or to say the
least, could control the future admlnistra'
ton for all coming time.
So profoundly am l penetrated with
the impending perils menacing the land
in prospect Of the domination Of an apos'
tate Protestant hierarchy. that feel com
PEELED to warn my countrymen again st
giving encouragement to the consolidation
and solidity Of great ecclesiastical es-
adjustments, whose ambition on the one
side at least, has been so recently hater-
ed with the idea Of having ruled the des-
TIMES of the country for the last four
bloody years.
Are the American people prepared to
surrender the control of their political
fortunes to the unskiled hands OF Protes-
tant Prelates ?
Are they ready 10 surrender the chap
laipcies Of Congress, the army. the navy;
the Professorships and clerical offices OF
Annapolis and West Point TO one great
national CHURCH?
Press this unnatural church reunion,
and you encourage what may in the end
prove spiritual despotism that will make
America as intolerable to liberty as the
most despotic government that ever ruled
crushed and bleeding nation. For one
as desire the freedom of the press, the
freedom Of ballot, the freedom Of speech
and the freedom Of worship, | will stand
up in my place and demonstrate against
any other unicu of the two churches thar
that of fraternal sympathy and good will
which the South will not fail TO recipro
Gale when manifested. And then we o
the South will invoke all trae patriots
and christian people to lock on and ties
tify who best observes the spirit OF the
constitutional compact, the laws OF thu
country, and the obligations OF American
citizenship.
When the South ceased her confic
with the North, she surrendered to Goo
and the overpowering forces Of the Uni
ted States Government Thus far, Their
! she stands. But if naughty ecceslastlc
in the North attempt to subjugate US
a church, and demand our surrender
! capitulation to them, we beg to decline
1t is the last thing We shall do.
Nor do we deem this conduct antago
nistic to the interest. prosperity, future
t peace, union and happiness OF the Amer
lean States, but conducive iu the hlghe'
degree to those important objects.
In this view Of the matter, l conside
d it the worst possible policy to agitate th
/, subject Of church reunion. Let the sui
g ject sleep. Let arise men be ,carned' b
b ware of political ecclesiastcs. Beware
/. the pretensions of those who can max
h Presidents. They may, some day, III
g make something. Let the Soulher
e Church rest. No body has asked her
d be united in wedlock. She has not re
> iected any proposal. My individual oPir
e ion, however is. that none need be mad
n and further, if the American people, ou
ii side of oil churches. could view this III
n pleasant subject from my stanf Poln
6 they would unitedly join me in solem
e protest against any step toward the recoI
q struction Of these separated chrlstla
D. bodies.
r Doubtless some people in the Sout
3 may accept in a small way, n'iss'ondr'
;, from the Northern Church, and some
3 the North may desire once more to he'
: the Gospel after the manner OF the d.
'e parted fathers. Let each take the
course. The world is cur parish. Nj
? lions are perisbing-even under II
~ shadow Of christian churches-fcr wa'
&c of the bread Of life. Let Epbraim and )
E. dab cease to vex each other. II the Soul
D. with the sword in ber hand, could n
dissolve the Union, The Northern Net
y odist divines need give themselves
'e concern about the destiLies Of the natIo
y arising out Of the independence OF sou'
ern MstbOdism.