The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-06-18
Church or the Pur,tens.


Of persons present not large but this occasoned
by tho inclemency Of the weather, which prevented
many Of the congregation from attending The reverend
gentleman before beginning his discourse offered up
heightened prayer in the OF which expressed
hope that wisdom, prudence and justice would guide
the councils Of the nation that in all its actions the
country would adhere 10 the fundamental principles
tho constitution, which decreed to every free his
naenabe rights of suffrage and representation that II
would not deprive any man Of what justly belonged to
him as citizen account OF the color OF his skin, and
that all present would feel the solemn obligations that
were cast upon them in the present important crisis Of
the history OF the country. Dr. Cheever then
proceeded to say that there had proposed Con-
gress amendment TO the constitution 1t remained to
be voted oD and for the release but for OPP
preston Of the coored deprive them Of the right
OF voting This was handing them TO rebels; It
was working their moral assassination II
deprived Of the right Of voting by the Legislature
decision OF the judges It would DO highly wrong, but
how much greater would the wrong be If II done
thousands by enactment made FOR that very purpose
II the churches were silent this question they
sentod TO the wrong that about to be DONE The
blacks were hunted down on account Of the color OF
their skim and under the plea Of State necessity Tn
responsibility OF Congress- on this question great
and solemn Congress were executors in trust for the
colored race They had right TO leglsiate for the
blacks as blacks bnt citizens, with the right Of ct
zens and had ho right to legisate for them without
sulting thcm In all their investigations or seven
months had Congress gathered together the blacks in
not In all the apxietes OF Congress conciliae rebels
had they taken into account the feelings and opinions OF
tho blacksS Not at all They could not send them
back TO slavery. IL proposed TO deprive the blacks
OF the right Of voting and the Governors
were anxious to hurry through their Legislatures the
amendment proposed by Con2rcss-to summon the
Legislatures together and get tho passed be-
fore the close Of the session OF Congress- If possible
Congress had determined abandon the negro on the
suffrage question: because they said the reluctance OF
the whites on that matter was quite insurmounabe.
Had Congress taken tho opinion OF the blacks that
N al nj nJarx frnnv
son 10 representation There could be no taxation with
out representation there could be representation
without suffrage 1t held by eminent authority that
the slaves their right 10 representa-
ton would follow; for u declared that tho right
Of n esc a 1 @
unless they could alter that fundamental principle of the
constitution they must give the negroes tho right to
vote. They. therefore, now propose an amendment
which left IL in the power Of the rebels say whether
they will grant the privilege Of voting TO the blacks
Was that thing else but legislative fraud and robbery
on the mghtcst scale under the most exaspera,ng cir
cumstances and tho most diabocal means that any
ton on earth ever attempted The constitution, their
fathers had founded IT, gave the right OF voting every
free person, and now 1t was proposed to make this
State right, and give 10 each State the right Of saying
whether II would would not confer the right Of suf
frage on tho blacks The declaration that men
we're mol entitled TO representation on account OF tho
color Of hc skin was TO declare their moral assasna
ton. The committee of Congress reported that in
asmueh as the rebel States always governed the
blacks without representation, would be pcrlous to
that habit and therefore, TO avoid tho appearance
OF injustice they said lot the habit be continued by
the States and the constitution BIO amended accordingly,
and that this emincntly proper and Just method
Of surmoun,lng the dincnty. Language failed him to
describe the meanness wcxednes- cruelty and diabo
insulting free States and OF handing the negroes
again TO tho hands Of the rebel States. This was done
without consulting the loyal citizens OF the rebel states
II tho citizens transferred their right OF voting for
reprcs natives congress to the states they would
lose the double BIT they had now the Congress,
and, in place Of that, the Congress would have
a double bit on them. This the revolution
that was now going Onto hand the blacks over
10 the rebel States without representation. Con-
gress proposed TO put citizens in straight jackets
like lunatics and hand them bound hand and foot
10 tho states He hardly knew low TO characterze that
attempt IL was founded on violation OF the constitu
ton But they should not permit the constitution to be
violated II they did they would hardly deserve tho
liberty which Their fathers had fought Tor and given
them They should resist this despotic attempt the
part Of an olgarchy TO take men who were now free
from their position as citizensfrom The position de.
creed them by the constituon-and place thon where
they would not be free. As the constitution now
stood, no free man could be deprived OF the right
of suffrage. If such attempt made the
question could be tried IN the COURTS. And hc
senturcJ to say that the judges, seeing the law
before them and knowing exactly the meaning Of what
written In the statutes would DO compelled by
their forcc decide that this right belonged 10 every
free citizens OF the United States But let this proposed
amendment 10 the constitution &c. the statute
book let once find its place among the laws OF tho
United statesand he prayed 10 God most fcrven'iy IL
never woodland that moment tie colorcd population,
whose freedom had resulted from the woild in
gard to their political rights be let in the power OF the
states, which, by the proposed amendment had the
choice of saying whether the blacks should vote
Now what were they going TO do In the natter How
did they feel question: He hoped that when they
should talk Of II among themselves and among Their
friends and their best efforts TO prevent the consum
nation OF this cruel and unjust amendment
After the reverend gentleman had concluded his adj
dress Mr. GILnrRT lawyer who in OF the front
DR.. CHEEvus--1ertanly.
Mr. GILBERT having got into the pulpit observed that
they were DESTROYS Of taking aciion in the matter and
for that purpose had been arranged 10 print pam
pilot which would bring the whole question before the
attention of the public Already about seventy dollars
had boon collected meet the expense Of tho printing
bu, two hundred dollars would be required and those
who willing 10 subscribe might hand their contribu
lions TO DR.. Checver No time should be lost and the
pamphlet ought 10 be got out this week He suggested
the Rev Dr. Cheever That address had embodied the
great features OF the question The arguments u con-
tanned could not be refuted IL would be impossible TO re.
flute them The pamphlet should also contain the recent
address OF the Of Texas aud other matters that
bore directly The question ably handled by DR..
had 80 eloquenily uttered. lie fully concided In hts
views and hoped they would meet with general re-
Spouse They should not remain idle. They should cir
culae this pam hic the Governors Of States and
among the members Of Congress- no that tho latter should
read in II their own condemnation and become con.
WINGED that they had taken step against the liberties Of
the country Copies 81 the pamphlet would be left IN
church, thai those who wished could get any nun.
Der Of them they wanted II this proposed amendment
10 the constitution went through, he might say that
slavery would be enacted again. But they should
ssa shs. a,sr ,ssy had gone through war in which
| many Of their young mrn had been killed
which had hcapcd upon them debt o. four Thousand
millions OF dollars and which had almost driven thcl
commerce from the sea- there should be other result
TO all these sacrifices but the pcrpeuation Of slavery
IN favor OF the amendment he felt as radcalism had
been stabbed In the house Of Its own friends The caus
OF radcalism had boon betrayed serious blow had
l been inf,cted upon a. They could not expect muci
from the President. In the present emergency thcy
should look into the matter with thorough conviction
that great causc nj stake In conclusion Mr. Gil
bert again urged immediate action among tho conRrega
tou and said that with the permission OF Dr. Cbecvcr
collection would DO taken UP for the printing Of tn
pamphlet
| A collection was taken MP accord ngly.
Prayers having been said and the benedict Ion given
| the service brought 10 close
i Bleeeker street Uuiversaltss Church.
Yesterday being the thir,leh anniversary Of the ded
cation of this church. the services in the morning wer
| rotuu emorailve NJ that event Tho Rev. ID X Lee