The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-02

State out of tho Union" But, as we
said. the better class of citizens, both
male and female, stood sullenly aloof;
they were still Union people, believed
in the old flag, and many of them gloried
in displaying it and wearing emblems
of their native country, in opposition to
the cockades displayed by the young Sc
cessionists. 1t is quite certain that a
large majority of the business men and
people of wealth We're at this time bit
terly opposed to disunion, and had no
sympathy with the enemies of the coun-
try.
Thus matters stood, when, on the
morning of the 22d of February the
congregation of DIR. Palmer were as
founded to hear him proclaim from the
pulpit that he purposed to review the
great political questions of the day. He
entered into a history of the causes that
had led to secession, and fully justified
the action of the South-alluded to slave
ny as the prime cause, and con-
tended that it was of divine OIL
gina patriarchal- and noble insti-
tuition, and must be sustained at the
hazard of war, with all its fearful con-
sequences. He quoted endless passages
of scripture in support of his theories,
and ended by appealing to his congrega-
| ton to come boldly outin favorofa right
eous and Just cause, and uphold the
honor and interests of their State, and
the manifest will of their God. This
speech fell like thunderbolt among his
auditors, and had startling effect. The
cry of the crusaders of old otis the VIII
of God" was not caught up with greater
unanimity by the devotees of the holy
sepulchre, than were the rallying words
of DR.. Palmer, accepted as their future
rule of conduct by the influential con-
gregation of his church. Simultaneous
ly with this speech, too, the Rev. Dr's.
Leacock and Hedges, of the Episcopal
Church, and Walker, of the Methodist,
inspired by the same spirit, gave voice to
their feelings in sentiments of a like Sc
ditious character. The secession press
and leaders gladly clutched at these
straws, potent enough to save their
fortunes; and the sermons
were published in full, with elaborate
comments. The religious papers, too, en-
tered freely into the lists, and took up
the cry, that disunion was the only sal
walton for slavery and the South. Seve-,
raj hundred thousand copies of DR.. Pal
mer's sermon were published in PAM
phlet form and distributed throughoutthe
city and the South, and as there was no
one who dared to raise his voice to COM
bat its sophistries and errors, the public
may judge the effect it had upon minds
always susceptible of the latest impress
sions. The Doctors congregation came
over almost en- naasse to his way Ofthink-
ing, and he was soon the acknowledged
leader of the disunion movement. In
order to show that he was not afraid to
practice what he preached, he Joined a
military organization, appeared in uni
form in the streets, and daily drilled
as soldier-declaring, frequently, his
willingness to die for his principles.
Time passed, and General Butler cap
tured the city, aided by the fleet of
the intrepid Farragut Palmer fled with
the fugitive hosts of Lowell. He went
to Corinth, and attached himself to the
Washington Artillery; but the duties
were too severe for his delicate nature,
and he became chaplain, preaching to
Beauregard's soldiers each Sabbath
generally using mild and gentle lam
guage, and frequently showing that his
in the cause he had espoused
was on the wane. He soon retired from
the army, and accepted the pastorship
of some church in the Confederacy;
since which time the public had lost
sight of him, till he now appears in his
old pulpit, preaching again, as in the
earlier daysof his ministrations, "Christ,
and him crucified." He returns, it is
said, chastened by sorrows and affiic-
tons, both of private and public ma
ture--a wiser, if not a better man. If
the people of Louisiana can forgive him
the great wrong he inflicted upon that
State, by his Incorporate language and
wild course, we have no objections. We
have written this sketch of his acts to
show the important part the clergy of
the South played in the great drama
which has just closed
------------- $->~--
ut was either too hot or an anomal-
GUS spirit imbued that portion of the
genus homo whose natures are insepara-
bic to all militant impulses. "-Oid' Do
We give it up! That is huckleberry
ahead of our persimmon. Any man