The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1870-06-10
MARIETTA, GEORGIA.
Friday Morn. june 10, 1870.
THE LAST DEFENCE.

THE LAST DEFENCE.
Inasmuch as the sentiments and ac-
tion of the Northern Churches excited
the late war, tho question of reunion of
the Churches, North and South, is one
of profound interest to all classes of our
people and one upon which they all
have the right to form and express an
opinion.
1t is the business Of the Southern
Churches alone to determine whether
thew will re-unite with those who, in
voking any anti-slavery Bible, denounc-
ed them as the upholders of "thc sum of
all vilainies," and who, having accom-
plisbed their wishes and our disaster,
offer to receive them in an embrace
which must cover them with ignominy
and dishonor. But, it is another qucs-
ton, when nc look at the effect socially,
politically and morally. The day the
reunion is effected, if it should ever be
effected, will witness the Inauguration
Of new civilization in the South-thc
complete establishment Of the mental
supremacy of Puritanic motives, Puri-
tanic purposes and Puritanic sentiments
and the subordination to these of all that
is Southern in character.
We have suffered all the mischief a
division of the Churches can possibly
infict. There is no slavery left with
which the northern Churches can TO-
mont war against us and the power of
our Churches to mould the mind of the
future in accordance with Southern
spirit and Southern sentiment should
never be abandoned. Better for the
Churches and the country were they to
gather more strength from emulation
than from unity as, indeed, anything
would be better than the intolcrant
spirit of Puritanism brooding over all
the land.
The following extract we take from
the remarks of DIR. PALMER before the
Louisville General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church, on the ovcrtures
of the Northe1n. Church for reunion, a
proposition finally declined by the. South
ern Assembly:
"TIe paid an eloquent tribute TO the
Southern Presbyterian Church-thc on
" home he had left am a disfran-
chised man, he said. The boy who
waits on my table at twelve dollars a
month dictates to ME at the polls who
shall be my master. / have no vote
am an exile in the land of my BIRTH
Nv only consolation is that | have q
home in the church of God. | want
peace and do not, therefore, want to be
involved in any of these complications.
We have not approached them with any
disturbing pr position. Why should
they come and disturb us, and seek to
divide brethren who are unitedY Alter
referring to the encouraging progress OF
our church during the last nine years,
and of the noble work it is now doing,
he added that he believed that the ideas
of correspondence and union arc identi-
cal. and that either step will paralyze
y our efforts"
As to DR.. Rices remarks-"Both of
the Northern bodies have gone on and
reiterated this political action from year
to year; and now, without Withdrawing
them, we are asked to open correspon-
dcncc that will inevitably lead to union.
The principle can't be surrendered. Tho
~proposition carries us back to the very
= time and issue on which we divided, and
we must stand mp to them. We are few
in number-a "handful of corn on the
top Leb<s<s" We are weak, poor, i'm
\ poverishcd; but VIC arc strong in our
! principles. Our position is sublime in
~fhe eyes of the whole world. The mo-
-rnent we recede from the great principle
that separates Us, We are gone, gone
81 have been bearing reproaeh and igno-
\niny for nIne years. and l can bear any
amour, until die. hud consolation in
that an bearing i for christ.
Apostle.