Year: 1861

the spirit in which abolitionism has carried
on its political warfare, an extract from a
journal which claims to have a larger circu-
lation than any other religious paper in the
land. l quote from the New York Inle-
pendent, of September, 1856:


"The people will not levy war nor inaugurate
a revolution, even to relieve Kansas, until they
have first tried what they can do by voting. Il
this peaceful remedy should fail to be applied
this year, then the people will count the cost
firmly which is the better way to rise in arms
old King George, or endure it another four years
and then vote again"


Such is the spirit-such the love to the
Constitution and Union of these States with
which no religious element has entered into
and seeks to control our party politics.


But we deceive ourselves if we suppose
that our present dangers are of birth so
recent as 1856. AS the questions now be-
fore the country rise in their magnitude
above all party interests, and ought at once
to blot out all party lines, so their origin is
found far back Of all party organizations as
they now exist.


An article published twenty years ago in
the Princeton Rcyiew, contains this remar
kable language:


'sThe opinion that slave-holding is itself a
crime must operate to produce the disunion OF
the States and the division of all ecclesiastical
societies in this country. Just so far as this
opinion operates, it will lead those who enter
tain it, to submit to any sacrifices to carry it out
and give it effect We shall become two ma
tions in feeling, which must soon render US two
nations in fact"


These words arc wonderfully prophetic,
and they who read the signs of the times
must see that the period of their fulflment
draws near. In regard to ecclesiastical So
cieties the division foretold is already in a
great measure accomplished. Three of our
great religious denominations have been rent
in twain by the simple questions, is slave
holding sin %


It yet remains to be seen whether the
American Tract Society and the American
Board of Foreign Missions, will be revolu'
tionized and dismembered by a contest which
we are told, is to be annually renewed. Ir
regard to the Union of these States there is
too much reason to fear that eve are alrea.
dy two nations in feeling" and to anticipate
the near approach of the calamity which
shall blot out some of the stars in our ensign
and make us two nations in fact.


Aud what has brought us to the verge ol
Eihis gress sf,iess eyi spirit has
put enmity between the seed Of those whom
God by his blessing on the wisdom and sa.
cri6ces of our fathers, made one flesh ?





ton between the North and South until dis.
union-that used to be whispered in corners
stalks forth in open daylight and is recog-
nized as necessity by multitudes of think.
ing men in all sections of the land? be.
Iieve before God, that this division of feel
ing, of which actual disunion will be bu,
the expression and embodiment, was begot-
ten of abolitionism, has been rocked in it,
cradle and fed with its poisoned milk, and
instructed by it's ministers until girded with
strength which comes not altogether o.
this upper world, it is taking hold upon the
pillars of the Constitution, and shattcrin2
the noble fabric to its base.


There was a time when the constitutional
questions between the North and South





of their differences in soil and production
were discussed in the spirit of craftsmanship
and Christian courtesy. Then such men az
Daniel Webster on the one side, and Cal
houn on the other, stood up face to face ant
defended the rig ghts of their respective con
stitucncy in words which will be quoted az
long as the English tongue shall endure, a!
model of eloquencc and a pattern of man
ly debate. But abolitionism began to creel
in. 1t came first as purely moral ques
ton; but very soon it's doctrines were EN-
braced by sufficient number to hold th'
balance of power between contending par
ties in many districts and States. Aspir
ants for tho Presidency seized upon it as
weapon for gratifying Their a1iitpiutv..
avenging their disappointments. Unde
the shadow Of their patronage, sincere aao
litionists became more bold and abusive il
advocating their principles. The unlawfu
and wicked business of enticing slaves fror
their masters was gushed forward with in
creasing zeal. Men who in the better day
of the republic could not have obtained tn
smallest office, were elected to Congress
upon this single issue; and ministers of til
Gospel descended from the pulpit to mingl
reli gious animosity with the boiling cauldro
of political strife. Nor was this process con
fined to one side in the contest. Abus
always provokes recrimination. So long a
human nature is passionate, hard words wi
be responded to by harder blows: And no.
behold the result! In the halls whcr
Webster and Calhoun, Adams and McDu1
fe, rendered the very name of America
craftsmanship illustrious and revived tn
memory of classic eloquence. we have hear
the outpouring of both Northern and South
ern violence from men who must be name
less in this sacred place and in the Ian
where such Shareholders as Washington an
Madison united with Hamilton and Hancocl
in cementing the Union which they fondl
hoped would be perpetual, COMMERCE AM
manufactures, and all our great industria
and governmental interests are trembling