Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-02-28

| cruel torture, just to get money from them
and all this, not as the result of occasional
and unauthorized e1cesses which may occu,
in any war, but as part, an ayowed part, Of
the mode Of 1oartaTe-we must on principle
stand aloof from the Christianity that can not
only find no word of protest against, but can
find words of exultation over such outrages
npon civilization and humanity.
(3.) When it is remembered that Ncrtherp
pulpits, Of every denomination, for the last
four years, have been, to a greater or less ex.
tent, turned into political rostrums, and that
Northern Baptists, like others, forgetting the
Apostles example to "know nothing but
Christ and him cruci6ed," have preached ha-
voc and bounded on the dogso war against
US, We cannot, ON principle, receive into our
arms and hug to our embrace these dear"
brethren. Perhaps Fifty years from now such
an embrace may be effected. But, in the
writer's humble opinion, not till then, if South.
ern Baptists preserve their self-respect. Char
ity and forgiveness are Christian virtues, but
not much understood.
(4) Northern Baptists maintain towards
as the air and tore and assumption of supe-
riority. Their civilization is higher, and their
christianity purer, than ours. The damring
ain of slavery has contaminated everything
here. The whole country presents anlinyit-
ing field for missionary efforts to enlighten
and evangelize. The Negroes, too, must be
taken under their special charge We of the
South have never done anything for them,
and if anything is ever to be done for them,
they must do it. In word, the North must
lift the degraded South into the light of q
pure Christianity and civilization. We can
not, on principle, cooperate with those who
act on this assumption. Ordinary sclf-res-
pect forbids it. We are bad enough. We
hope to feelit, end are willing to confess it.
We hope we do not indulge any of that spirit
which can thank God that we are mot as
other mean art" but rather that other spirit,
which can, gay, "God be mcrciful to MS sin
ners." Nevertheless, nothing could more
deeply wound our pride of character, than to
compare our civilization and Christianity
with that of The North. -
(5.) In the Examiner and Chronicle of the
l4th December, tits said edltorially, that no
dust-and-ashesn humiliation is required of
US as q basis of cooperation, but what is re-
quired is, that accepting the fact that we
have" an undivided free aud glorious coun-
try, zoe 90 for title country, the aoAole coun-
try and nothing but the country-soiM hear
ty and ssn,eau1ing loyalty. We'must give our
hearts to the Country" (The emphasis is
not minc.) Now, we cannot, on principle,
admit the application Of any political test as
8 basis of Christian cooperation, and even
if we could, we cannot, ON principle, admit
that test.
Let me not be misunderstood or Inisinter-
pretcd. We accept the fact of an "undiri-
ded" country. How Z" free and glorious" it
may be, we must be allowed to have our
own private opinion, whilo we chcerfully &C
cord to othersshe unrestricted enjoyment Of
their opinons. We accept the issues of the
war, and mean to abide by them, faithfully
and hcuorably. We mean to be good and
true esssasaw maintaining tHsa end aEa4a gEaa I'D
izens. But Our hearts are our own, to give
or not to give, as may be our private opinion
ofthe worthiness of the object demanding
them. We have no peans OF glory TO sing
to the country. In deep humiliation of soul.
our harps ars hung upon the willows. We
do not demand that Others shall hang theirs
up, and we cannot ALLOW Others to demand
chat we shall take ours down. And shall we
be anathematized for this Then let the fiji.
n'aations go forth. But, living or dying, our
hearts will assert the freedom Of
their own affections.
,ir. Editor, have written plainly aud can
sidly. 1t has seemed to noe, t!.at Norther,.
md Southern Raptisss ought to understand |
EACH other. The only way they can und;r-
stand each other, is by free and trank ex
'ression GU both sides of their views ard
ceilings. l have been waiting and hoping
hat some one would speak out, and frankly
:Ipress the views and feelings of Southern
3aptists generally. In the absence of any
me elso, IhaTe attempted it myself. 1t is
tated in your columns, that the Examiner
nd Chronicle is open 60 the frank expires
ion of the views and feelings of the differing
arties" upon this question of cooperation
AIN encouraged to hope that this '>frask ex
ression" may find publication. l beg to
ssure you that it is rot the expression oil
ae views ond feelings" Of the writer nero
7. There are thousands and thousands OF
outhcrn Baptiais Il will not say a large |
ejortty, because might bemis,aknn, though
think would not, ii were to cay sol who
'mpathize with the "views and feelingsr
ere expressed, aud will be glad to. sea their
terAnee in your columns, Letua be. can {
d With each other, and letall sides; be heard s
y all siaes. j
Wishing grace with all them that love t
lr Lord Jesus Christ insincerity," / am very |
spectlully, WIN. WILLIAMS. c
Grecnuils S. c., Dec. 20, 1866. a