The New York herald., 1869-03-07

SS's su"s eouiu 70 uono py tne iatlers. Incy
did not think slavery would last long, and they
would have gone, no doubt, for speedy aboli-
ton had they dreamed of Whtney's cotton gin,
Calhoun and JEFF Davis. Jefferson however,
had his misgivings, and they have all come
true. But now, with slavery abolished and
with equal rights provided for, except in the
matter OF the spoils, to reds, yellows, blacks
and whites, General Grant with clear con-
science may ask the prayers of the nation for
"a cemented Union" with the cement of
liberty, equality and fraternity" for is he
not to all of us now "a man and brother ?"
The third branch of our discourse is the pre-
sentation to General Grant from the American
Bible Society, on the 4th Of March, Of a splen-
did copy of the Holy Bible. The committee
consisted of Chief Justice Chase, Senator FREE
linghuysen and George Fl. Stuart, Of Philadel-
phia, the very mantle identical Scotch
Irish Presbyterian-wh poor Mcclure was
afraid had been singled out as the Pennsyl-
vania man for the new Cabinet. The Chief
Justice presented the Bible (magnifcently
bound in Turkey morocco), and in the name
of the society he expressed the hope that the
new administration would be guided by its
teachings. The General accepted the gift
with thankfulness, and promised to preserve
it and hand it down to his children in comme-
shadow Of doubt that, when puzzled and
worried out of his life by clamorous politicians
and hungry offce-seekers, he will turn to its
pages for enlightenment, and will be greatly
strengthened thereby. He will find in the
faith of Abraham and Isaac, in the great mis-
fortune Of Esau and in the treachery of Jacob,
in the trials and triumphs of Moses, the great
leader of Israel to the Promised Land, in the
vicisstudes Of Saul and David, in the gorgeous
reign of King Solomon, in the revolt of the ten
tribes, and so on, and in the wisdom of the
Proverbs and in the warnings of the Prophets
an invaluable fund of instruction; but, best
Of all, in the teachings of the meek and lowly
Nazarene, and in His power Of healing the
sick, restoring the blind and casting out devils,
will the President find comfort and encour-
agement.
We speak to congregation greater than
that which Moses led dry shod across the Red
Sea; and we would warn them that, in advo-
eating the payment Of the tiye-twenties in gold,
General Grant does not, like the High Priest
Aaron, when Moses was up in the mountain,
intend to set up golden calf as the god of
Israel. That calf already is the god of Wall
street, but it will be knocked in the head when
we come to specie payments. Our new Presi-
dent, to sum up, will give great impulse to
the cause Of religion, from the living principles
thereof which are fixed in his character and
from his outward manifestations as believer.
He may not come up to the mark Of the Massa-
chusetts Puritan, but he is welcome as
brother in Plymouth church. Most Of our
Presidents have been Episcopalians or Presby-
terians. Jefferson was a philosopher, Van
Buren, was Dutch reformer, and old Zack
Taylor, we believe, was hard shell Baptist.
The Methodists, with General Grant as their
champion, have now something over which to
shout hallelujah; but as the President repre-
sents all the people, SO he represents all the
Churches. He comes in, too, with the sublime
idea proclaimed with the star of Bethlehem,
which was "Peace and good will to men !" for
is not his motto the same-"Let US have
peace?"