The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-11-16
3 -PREAcHERs-

standard upon the territory Of the Southern
States, wickedusSS 20 much abounded, or
V%illiany was 90 Systematically and success
fully prosecuted within them, as in the DAYS
Of The rebellion. The foundations Of society
were upturned, law subverted, liberty I'M
chained, morality and religion totally ignored
and insecurity Of life and property %uniVer-
sally prevalent. The thief, the rObber, and
the incendiary piled their diabolical voca-
tons without hiadSrance, under thu broad
license Of general Generalization and dis
honesty. Buoyant and hopeful youth we're
sacrificed by scores Of thousands, to accom-
plish the conspiraeiOs Of causeless hate and
wicked ambition against the interests and
welfare Of society At home and abroad IN
hridled lust Invaded the chamber Of maiden
beauty and Innocence, transmitting itS light
into "0Stsr daykassS Tits happiness into in
consolidate woe, Old age, trembling upon
the hr:ak Of is sepalchre was wantonly rob-
bed Of its few remaining days. Murder, by
day and by night, with its gore-erusted
steel rioted Unfortunately upon human
life. The land ErOaned and walled under
the visitation Of unheard-of calamities Of
war. Into such an aSysS Of anarchy, chaos
and destruction was The South precipitatsd
by the diabOlism Of those who arbitrated her
destiny. Who are guilty of this appearing
Of the universal peace, and thiS inundAtion,
lawlessness and crime2 Vine are 20 be ad-
jadgsd to suSs. the penalties Of this Oitra-
geOus violation Of all laws, human and di
Vinsf Facts will show.
When the convention, which carried South
Carolina ont Of the Union, was considering
the question OF secession, 1, seemed to be
paralyzed for a time by the fear that the enor-
nous a.rceity Of the step would shock the
moral sentiment Of even the Southern people,
and they would refuse to cooperate IN their
sebeme Of national disiategTation. This fear
was d~issipated by a dtliversnce Of the Old
School Presbyterian Synod Of South Caro-
tirs, then in session at Columbia, giving
sanction 10 the capacity Of a ministerial
court TO the withdrawal Of tha State, and as
snring the convention that by this means
they would deliver its people from the yoke
Of Federal bondage. Moreover, the ordi-
nance Of secession adopted was drafted by
Rev. Dr.. Thornwell, one Of the leading spir-
its Of The Synod, and forwarded TO the Con-
Tenticn with strong sntreaties to pass il
Withou. generalization on any account,
Vhiet was done. A manifesto was Issued to
the people Of South Carolina, and one Of the
leading justiheationS Of the action OF the
convention was the promptiiude and una
Rimity with which this reverend body adj
yised and urged Il. With mnch more po.
tsney Of argument and broader Latitude Of
ground eonld South Carolina appeal to her
sister Southern States to join her in the mad
aad reasonable attempt 10 dismember the
Union, since her minia.y bad hrSt hOis,ed
the Dag Of rebellion, and prayed for It's sue
cess. so il may be said that this Synod Of
reverend traitors was the generator Of thHt
demoniNe Of insanity which pauperize1 its
people, made hundreds and thousands OF
widows and orphans, and the S.aih 4 battle
held and almost a burying ground from the
Potomac to The Rio Grande. With but a few
honorable and PraiIe-Worthy exceptions, the
whole Southern clergy plunged head-ionE in
70 the rebellion, aad manifested more parti-
sAn zeal aud sectional acrimoDy than even
the politicians. By their impious prayers
and sermons, repiets With fierce diatdbeS and
Passionate i~adulgeness against the Govern
meni and loyal people Of the North, they
P%roiansd he nnetiiy u the pulpit by their
shameful manner Of Hfs and conservation.
they lowered the dignity asd honor Of the
clerical o%ieei aud "eruci6ed the Lord Afresh
and pat him 10 an open shame Ia bis OWn
SanelaaIy.' Practically denying the essen
tialnc5s Of he neg birth" TO Salystiou, they
openly and by implications taught the doc
trine that death 10 the Confederate service
was q 'ure pasSPOr, to the mansions Of etsr-
nal gnsy. A great many Of them ven. so
Tar AZ 20 say, Ibey would as soon ssrmouizs
from a Bible printed 10 bell, as one printed
norm Of NAsoO'S aud DiGon's line.
9 sueh was the Ubiquitous eOndue. Of the
Southern clergy. The teachers Of she peO-
pie, the examples II public morality ard The
berald' Of fsdsuPtOu, their oontrOl Of The
pebble mind vac sOmPlsts and irresistible.
tbis houndlssS influence was directed To
sac seeonPBlhzsns .of the sassss, most
Wietst, snd Hsa1n-OEsndius designs that
vere ever eonsos,sd ~ ibS unressusrsts
nisd q uaa. "a visv of the suoeious
eri1'' ana bafsariilss which ebarastsrssd
tAs r'sslioa 90 uhleh ihsTsSsl eisry are
almost sasiisly rsspousibls, stubborn Aruih e
- e1F ada "a .s,rins lbat hey are no bet.
~ nsa, either By natur. or practice, than
slaa Arab OF ths desert, who piandep apd
sss'F'J' TIE sArlTsaS, the sspoy Of isiis