Year: 1861

We clip the following from the editorial Of one
Of the religious papers Of the Episcopal Church,
published in New York, which truly echoes the
sentiments Of the religious press Of the whole
North; e rf- on la


Never before in the history Of this ma
tion has crisis Of such momentous conse-
quence arisen. Its developments Of trial
for the people and Of results for the Repub-
lie are beyond the calculation Of man. In
difference to il is impossible. Neutrality
in il is equally so. The entertaining Of an
opinion is invetible. The free Inference of
that opinion becomes the right aud the OBJ
legation Of all. The Government of the
nation, constituttiopally established, has
been assailed by a rebellion against It's au-
thority, and threatened with a revolution
from its power, so extended and vital, as to
render uncertain the very maintenance of
the national power, and the continuance of
the ability of the people TO protect and con-
troll their own social rights. r t4


As paper, we have kept ourselves hab-
itually clear from political discussions, and
questions of mere temporary and national
interest. The present is no such question.
1t is fundamental question Of actual ma
tional being, and of universal social and in
dividual security. Tho reckless and vio-
lent assault upon the flag of the nation by
an armed multitude, so extensive in prepa-
ration and in purposes as this one has been,
involves the absolute maintaiance of the ma
tional authority, and the subjugation of the
rebellion which has led to it, or the alterna-
tive of universal submission to rebellion
and anarchy. In such a crisis, no citizen
can be neutral, and no paper can be equivo-
cal or silent.


We shall not enter into the circumstan-
ces or elements of the question for discus
sion. Whether all the facts on one side
are right, and all on the other side are
wrong, or in what degree the right and
wrong are mingled in the question, we
shall not stop to argue. The authority of
the Government must be sustained by all
the moral power of the appreciation of the
Just, and all the physical strength and ener-
gy ofthe strongand wealthy. When rebel
klion is subdued, it will be time to discuss the
claims which lead to it. There can be no
treaty or compromise with armed and
threatening rebels, consistent with the safe
ty of nation. We belong to Church
whose daily public prayer is, "From all Sc
dition, privy conspiracy, and rebellion; from
battle and murder, Good Lord deliver u.s."
A more causeless or manifest sedition, con-
spiracy, rebellion, or battle perhaps was new
er known; and shocking as is the contem-
plation of all the material and social evils
which may come from the exercise OF the
powers of the Government for the protect
ion of the people, the evils of an unchecked
revolution and universal anarchy are vastly
more fearful.


We feel it tho duty of the religious as
well as the secular press to maintain the
divinely- established authority of the Gov
ernment of the nation. And without any
reference to previous desires or disappoipt-
ments in the election of the present Chief
Magistrate of the nation, we can recognize
only the two parties in the present crisis
the law-abiding and orderly, whose duty it
is in every possible way to sustain his right
eous power; and the rebels and traitors,
whom it is the duty of the Magistrate to
punish, and of every good citizen to dis
countenance and disown.