Antevitatt pcolygteviatt
„.... ii triton_
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THURSDAY. JANUARY 31, 1361..
/OHN W. MEARS, EDITOR.
ASSOCIATED WITS
ALBERT BARNES. GEORGE DUFFIELD, JA.
THOMAS BRAINERD, JOHN JENKINS,
BEERY DARLING, THOMAS J. SHEPHERD.
CHRISTIAN EMIGRATION.
Why should active participation in the work of
Foreign Missions be limited to clergymen, their
families and those engaged with them in the spe
cific, work of evangelization? Why should we
send them forth, a feeble band, amid the limitless
wastes of heathenism, out off from all human sym
pathy? Why should personal exposure and self
denial in this work be regarded as their peculiar
business? Why, again, should practical, every
day Christianity be commended to the heathen
exclusively by those who ,are professionally en
gaged in its propagation? We doubt whether
these questions admit of a satisfactory answer.
They point, in great part, to that unwarranted
distinction between the clergy and the laity,
which, contrary to the spirit of the gospel and of
Protestantism, runs through the whole of our
Christian life. It is because of an inveterate
habit we have of regarding active labors for the
kinglom of Christ, too much as a professional
matter; a relic of the Popish habit of sa7ing our
souls and the souls of others by proxy. As we
are not ministers, we say, or ministers' wives, or
have no gift for any of the peculiar missionary
work, we need but stay at home end give our
money and our prayers to those whom Providence
has designated, and whom we may use as our
proxies.
Or, somewhat changing our position, we might
ask why shall the love of gain or commercial en
terprise alone, carry our laymen and their families
into remote heathen countries, and plant them
there for life; and yet zeal for the spread of the
gospel be insufficient to produce the same result?
Expatriation and the necessity of living under a
heathen government, are not considered insur
mountable difficulties when secular ends are to be
attained, then why when religious ends are in
view? The truth is, quite enough persons of ir
religious character emigrate for the sake of gain
from Christian countries into the vicinity of mis
sionary localities, to proSe a decided hinderance
to the missionary work. There are plenty of
white men ready to undergo exposure to the pes
tiferous miasma of the West coast of Africa for
the immense gains of the traffic) in slaves. Vile
creatures from nominally Christian countries infest
the coral islands of the Pacific, and resist the
planting of missions upon them. The baser pas
sions and aims of men are thus seen to be suffi
cient to carry them to the ends of the earth, if
need be, for their gratification. Why should a
holier zeal avail to carry only a few missionaries
to the same distance?
The principle of Christian emigration is already
understood and practised upon, within the sphere
of Home missions. Colonies of Presbyterians and
Congregationalists, and perhaps of other denomi
nations, have been organized, have joined_ in, the
purchase of a plot of ground in the new country,
; • • u -- vut - rrurcurtitauvLo
lightened Christianity bodily from the old to the
new, and have rallied around them as their cen
tral and leading peculiarity. Such a course could
hardly fail of producing the most desirable re
sults. A religions character is stamped upon the
community almost indelibly, and its influence
round about must be most salutary. It would
thus seem that, in the work of planting the gos
pel on the frontiers of our own country, Christian
people are not unwilling to bear a part with the
Home missionary. If the work of spreading the
gospel is not to be limited to our own borders,
why should such lay co-operation be limited?
Why, in fact, should we not be willing to follow
our missionaries wherever we expect them to go 7
While there may be parts of the heathen World
where the Christian workman, mechanic, farmer,
and capitalist would be unable to find a sphere of
activity wide enough for his support, there are
certainly others in which every branch of civilized
activity might find an opening. Some heathen
countries would, doubtless, be found to offer far
more inviting fields of enterprise than the crowded
communities of the more civilized regions, where
the capital, the skill and the industry of Christian
Men often go a-begging for employment. We have
not the slightest doubt, but that the most inviting
fields for such Christian enterprise are now open
ing. Dr, Livingstone has pointed out such open
ings in the south of Africa, and already a German
Missionary ,Society has set a dolen or twenty Chris-
tian families in connection with their missionaries,
to colonize that interesting, increasingly promising
field.
We conclude with a few remarks from the re
port made to the Liverpool Missionary Confe
rence on this subject, which has fallen under our
eye while preparing this article.
Why, says the report, should not the arts, and
agriculture, and mechanic skill of our British
Protestants be called to pay tribute to missions
through their own characteristic channels, in
rearing the foreign factory, cultivating the tea,
indigo, rice, sugar, and cotton; and by prosperous
industrial settlements, exemplify to barbarous or
half.civilized nations, the arts of Christian social
life? If a capitalist who has ten thousand at his
command, and business skill to use it in a foreign
field be desirous of dedicating his skill and -his
capital to the gospel, why should he be compelled
to turn himself into a preacher, and his capital
into a fund for the support of preachers, before he
can lay himself and his gifts on the altar? Let
bim go forth, and be encouraged to go forth, to
the mission work as he is, and gathering the
heathen around his African or his Indian' settle
ment, he will prove more than a pioneer of the
teaching missionary's work. He will be a choice
fellow-worker, embodying to the eye the results
of the word spoken by the ear, and more surely
than by words, training them to moral habits,
without which Christianity amongst a rude or
half-civilized people can have no permanence.
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION,
In a discussion with the Congregational Herald,
of Concord, N. H., the Christian Observer of this
city, in a late number, says:
"This statement is one instance of the impro
par manner in which the subject is often discussed.
The Journal's remark is slanderous. There is as
much free speech on the subject of slavery in the
Southern States as in the Northern. Scores of
New Englund men now at the South, would give
their testimony, if desired, to the truth of this re
mark."
To this the Congregational Jcnsrnol replies:
"We assert that there is not as much free
epeech on the subject of slavery, except in its fi
ver, in the Southern States as in the Northern,
and that scores of witnesses have in years past
given their testimony to the truth of this remark."
We think Prof. o.llf. Mitchell could give light
on this mooted point.
ANARCHY OR ORDER.
If we grant that the National Government is
a Government, then the arbitrary secession of
any one of its component parts is rebellious and
anarchical. Because. a State has, within itself,
nearly all the elements of a complete govern
ment, and because comparatively few-(though
highly important) powers have been delegated
to the national government, men are apt to
overlook the fact that oaf - country is a single
organized nation, responsible as such to the
other , nationalities of the world. The power to
make treaties, and to borrow money, for exam
ple, necessarily involves this. What foreign
nation would, for a moment, deliberate upon a
proposed treaty with the United States, if it
were an acknowledged construction of our Con
stitution that any one, or all of the States could
withdraw, at their option, from the Union, and
leaye a few, or none at all, remaining, to carry
ont , the provisions of the treaty ? What capi
talist would notice the' most tempting offers of
the government for his money, if he knew that,
before the first instalment of his interest was
due, he mighty be obliged to look to a mere frag
inent of the original borrowing party for his
pay ?
The doctrine of allowable secession is crimi
nal, because if> carried to its legitimate conclu
sions, it undermines all government based upon
the principles of confederation, and tends to
loosen all the ties which can bind a free people
together. If a, State may secede, at its option,
from the gene;al government, then what is to
prevent the application of the principle to the
component, parts of the States - themselyes, to
districts of States, to counties, cities, towns, and
even wards? Why is it not a signal for the-ut
ter breaking up of the system of national, state,
and municipal government, and for the entrance
of universal anarchy, preliminary to a monar
chy, or a despotism? In our , view, it is perni
cious and destructive to the last degree; a
Monetrum horrendum, informe gene, cui lumen ademptuna.
Its fruits are already showing themselves. A
Southern Confederacy has not yet been organ
ized, but when it is, the opportunity will be
given for their development on a grand scale.
A confederacy, whose primary principle is the
conceded right to go out of the confederacy, at
the option and ,caprice of the members, - will be
an object of curiosity, but not of confidence, to
its own members, or the world at large. As
says the Evening Bulletin: "A Southern Con
federacy, such as is proposed, must, necessarily,
have instability as its fundamental idea, if such
an absurdity can be comprehended. It must,
in its Constitution, recognise the absolute right
of secession, and that in no vague language."
But the fruits, we say, have already appeared.
The Mayor of New York city has seriously pro
posed to withdraw that city from the State, of
which it is a part. Ms proposal has, indeed,
been derided, and will never be carried out.
Bat it was well argued, and, at the bottom of
its exaggerations, there was a residuum of truth.
New York city does, doubtless, suffer some dis
advantages from being subjected to the policy
of a State, so vast, and with interests, so varied
as theirs. And here is the:very strength of the
blow given to government and social order.
The separate individuals and communities do,
. rm. u5....1.,•• —crtmirr
vantages, in forming a political union. The sur
render is mutual. New York State would be bet
ter off, in many respects; would have a purer po
litical system, better laws, less tolerated vice in
all her rural districts, if it were not for the in
fluence of the city upon her legislation. She
surrenders these advantages for the sake of
union. The refusal to make such surrender,
is the very essence of anarchy. Without it,
federated governments, or free governments of
any kind, or, indeed, social order at all, is im
possible. Mayor Wood, by insisting upon, and
exaggerating the disadvantages of a connection
between the city and the State, and by making
them a ground for a dissolution, has struck at
the key-stone of the arch—the self-sacrifice,
which is essential to the existence of govern
ment, and of order. He has blown the signal
trumpet to all the lowest and fiercest passions
of the mob, he has summoned up the demon of
self, and encouraged it to assume those swollen
proportions which are utterly incompatible with
the peace and order of community.
But as the South have raised this troublesome
spirit, it is not remarkable that they should al
ready begin to realize its workings in their midst.
In the Secession Convention of Alabama, the se
ceding and coercing policy have been partially
developed within the boundaries of the State
itself. Northern Alabama threatens to disre
gard the action of the Convention, if. it be not
submitted to the vote of the. people, while
Southern Alabama, under the lead of Yancey,
threatens to coerce the recusant section. And
if North Carolina and Tennessee abide by the
'Union, as is not improbable, this movement of
Northern Alabama may become serious. West=
era Virginia, also, is showing signs of restive
ness, in view of the secession policy of the East
ern section. It has been boldly asserted that
in the event of the secessionists carrying the
State, the Western portion will be detached,
and remain in the Union as a free State.
Who, previous to this crisis, heard of such a
thing as one portion of a State violently sepa
rating from the remaining portion; or who, of
a city declaring itself no longer an integral part
of the State in which it is situated, as if such
things stood upon the basis of acknoiledged
rights ? And what barrier can be raised, in the
practical reason, or moral sentiment of men, to
prevent an extension of this license still further
among existing social and political relations?
Is there any extravagance in the following lan
guage of a writer in the last Atlantic Monthly?
Henceforth let every unsuccessful litigant
have the right to pronounce the verdict of a
jury sectional, and to quash all prOceedings,
and retain the property in controversy, by se
ceding from the court-room."
The right of secession must, therefore, be de
nied in Coto. We must save posterity, if not
ourselves, from the awful consequences of a
precedent which would prove a shelter to anar
chy_ of every kind.
Bat here we are met by the fearful probabili
ties of war—civil war. If we do not admit the
right of secession, it is said, we cannot escape
this bloody result. And it is assumed that there
could be nothing worse than civil war. We
deny it. ' Bad as it is, there is something worse,
and that is the installation of the principle of
anarchy in place of federal republicanism.
That, of itself, contains the germ of a score of
wars. That involves the concession of the fail
ure of republicanism. That involves a denial
of one , of the'dearest convictions of -philanthro
pists, viz.: that in our history, as a republican
Atutrican rttolitteriait 6tittott (I.ritttgtliot.
nation, the world has made a positive advance.
That would deliver over the peoples, robbed of
hope, and spiritless, to the confirmed sway of
tyrants. That the American people, from fear
of war, should sit idly by, while traitors, unmo
lested, were rending their government to pieces,
would be a 'greater disaster to themselves, to
posterity, and to the world, than half-a.-dozen
wars. Hear where we already stand in the es
timation of the great exponent of British opi
nion, the London Times:
"Never, for many years, can the United States
be to the world what they have been. * * *
The President has dissipated the idea that the
States which elected him, constitute one people.
We had thought that the federation was of the
nature of a nationality—we find it is nothing
more than a partnership, if any State may, on
grounds satisfactory to a local convention, dis
solve the union between itself, and its fellows;
if discontent with the election of a President, or
the passing of an obnoxious law by another
State, or, it may be, a restrictive tariff, gives a
State the 'right of revolution,' and permits it
to withdraw itself from the community, then the,
position of the American people, with respect
to foreign powers, is completely altered."
REV. R. G. WILDER • AND THE AMERICAN
Mr. Wilder's card arrived so , late last week that
we could publish but a fragment of it; We now
publish again the action of Mr. Wilder's commit
tee on -the Kolapoor mission, .together with the
resolutions of Champlain Presbytery, referred to
in that action, and the more recent Minute of
the Presbytery adopted in view of the late action
?of the Prudential Committee of the Board. We
refused to publish the action of the Prudential
Committee when first sent to ns; but now, for the
sole purpose of laying the whole case before our
readers, we insert it in connection with , the docu
ments already named.
Missionary House, Pemberton Square;
Boston, December 11, 1860. S
At a meeting of the Prudential Committee of
the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions, it was ordered that the following no
tice be made public:H.
In view' of various representations, made both
publicly and privately, in relation to the case of
Rev. Royal G. Wilder, late a missionary of the
American Board, the Prudential Committee .feel
themselves called upon to state very briefly the
grounds on which he has been dismissed from the
service of the Board. They have, been extremely
feluctant to make such a publication; and they
do this now only in compliance with the' recently
made earnest requests. of many friends of the
Board.
The question of Mr. Wilder's return to India
was long under • consideration; it was referred at
different times to two different sub-committees.
The report of the last of these committees , agree
ing substantially with, the judgment of the first,
was made and unanimously approved in January
last. It was the result of a patient and thorough
examination of the facts in the case, including a
voluminous correspondence and oral statement
of Mr. Wilder • in a personal inteview with, the
sub-committee. The conclusion was that while
the Prudential Cominittee made no charge of im
morality against him, and were disposed to treat
him with all possible kindness, he was not, in their
.foreign missionary work, and that the funds-of.
the Board could not with proprietY be used to
sustain him. From this decision there has been
no appeal to the Board. , ,
!The continued occupancy of Kolapoor as a mis
.
sionary field, being a distinct question from that
of Mr:Wilder's return to India, was decided
against on the grounds set forth in the Report to
the Board at the meeting in Philadelphia in Octo
ber, 1859.
ACTION OF MR. 'WILDER'S COMMITTEE:
"Mr. Wilder and the Kolopoor Minion."
A card with the above heading, published by
the Prudential Committee of the A. B: C. F. M.,
has been some weeks before the public. We are
sorry to see it. This attempt to disparage Mr.
Wilder and to prevent the success of his mission in
that dark kingdom of toltipoor, which they had
voluntarily abandoned for want of funds, is en
tirely unworthy of them.
It is proper for the public to know that Mr.
Wilder is well endorsed and warmly commended
by two large ecclesiastical bodies—that the action
of Champlain Presbytery, given below, was taken
after a very careful hearing and consideration of
all the correspofidence and facts of the case, and
after Presbytery had corresponded with the Pru
dential. Committee of the Board during the in
terval between two meetings of its body, asking
them to come in person, or send further statements
to justify their action, neither of which they did,
_but declined any further correspondence.
.
. As a committee having an charge the Kolapoor
Min
Mission, and in view of all the facts in our pos
session, we feel it our duty to say that Mr. , and
Mrs. ilder are worthy , of entire confidence, as
faithful, efficient, and successful laborers in the
foreign field, and we are happy. to add, that this
judgment is confirmed by the written statements
of more than, two hundred of Mr. Wilder's bre
thren in the Ministry, includirt some thirty cor
porate members of the American Board.
W. U. WHEELER, D., W. POOR,
HIRAM HouroN, G. W. - A.lElms, .
ASEBEL PARIkIELEE, E. J. BOYD,
MOSES TEACHER, E. M. Rom.o,
J. R. YouNG, A. K. STRONG,
B. B. BECKWITH, J. W. MEARS,
HOLLIS BEAD, ''. C. RANSOM,
T. 11. LAUGHLIN, S. IL WOODRUFF,
LYSANDER •KELSEY, JOHN S. STONE,
J. S. CUMMINGS, RUFUS B. DEMING.
January 5, 1861.
ACTION OF THE CHAMPLAIN COMMITTEE REFERRED
TO ABOVE
"Whereas, from long and intimate acquaint
ance of some of us with the Rev.'R. G. Wilder,
and -in view of his present circumstances and his
earnest desire to return to his missionary field, we
feel it to be a matter of justice to him and to the
cause of our Lord Jesus Christ to express our
sympathies and sentiments, therefore,
1. Resolved, That we have implicit confidence
in the Christian and ministerial character of bro
ther Wilder, his strict integrity and exemplary
fidelity, while in the service of the A. B. C.F. M.,
[l5 years,] as well as in his assiduous efforts to
excite and increase in our home churches the true
spirit of Christian Missions.
2. Resolved, That we consider him possessed of
rare qualifications for the Missionary enterprise,
Ste.
3. Rev;bled, w That as Brother W's. health is
now so far restored that he deems it safe,.* * to
return to Kolapoor, * * * we consider it very de
sirable that the way be opened to secure this im
portant object.
4. Resolved, That we will cheerfully assist him
ourselves, and we cordially commend him to all
whose hearts the `Lord may incline to aid him with
their prayers and contributions.
STEPHEN H. WILLIAMS, State Clerk.
Chateaug,ay, June 20, 1860.
ACTION OF THE ST. LAWRENCE CONSOCIATION.
"Resolved, That having listened to the state
ments of Rev R. G. Wilder, returned Missionary
from Kolapoor, India, we commend him to the
sympathies, prayers and contributions of the
Churches of Consociation, and to ail who love our
BOARD.
Lord Jesus Christ, in the hope that he may be
encouraged and sustained in his, noble determina
tion to return and resume his labors among the
perishing Hindus of Kolapoor.
Attest, P. MoNTAkm, Register.
Madrid, June 27, 1860.
NEW ACTION OP THE CHANIPLAIN PRESBYTERY.
- In view of the reeikAea . rd published by the
Prudential Oommittee r `oe 4 the: A.B. C. F. M. dis
paraging Mr. Wilder, a' ember of this Cham
plain Presbytery, we., adeptand publish the fol
lowing
.
minute.
The action of the Prudential Committee
dis
missing Mr. Wilder from the Board, was referred
to us at an informal meeting lait spring soon after
it occurred. After a careful hearine , and conside
ration of all the correspondence and facts of the
case, members of Presbytery then: present unani
mously adopted the first three Resolutions of our
action as quoted in the "Appeal in behalf of the
Kolapoor MisSion." We then corresponded by a
committee of thre with the Secretary and Pm
dential,
Committeb of the Board until the next
&paler meeting of Presbytery. They having de
clined to be present vvith.tis , or send any further
statements to justify their a n, Presbytery re
affirroeti their previous ll awl s, and added the
_4th, comr i n V ery . .. / Mr. Wilaes,Wish and efforts to
ii
re-establis dolitissio: ''' Thai eutottiiked - Ye
went about it earnestly"` openly, and the Lord
blessed his endeavors, A 4 at in six months he ob
tained some $2OOO in and s6ooo,in sub
,scriptiOns, and though.lie.geedud some $4OO more
a year to meet the full e*ense of his mission for
five years, yet anxious to luts - ten back to his work,
he decided to leave at on . '
But being unavoidably ; delayed a few days after
the time announced in the public prints for sail
ing, this ungracious card appears disparaging to Mr.
Wilder, and calculated` 4Prevent the success of
his, mission. In view ofiethese facts, while we
are firm.friends of the American Board, we feel it
our duty to re-affirm our fOrmer action, and to add
the following, viz.:' . ,
1. Resolved, That we
,egard the said card as
public slander of a faithful and devoted mission
ary, and believe it deserves the , severe rebuke: of
all who love the American
2. Resolved, That we regard the whole prosecu
tion and dismissal of Mt4tid Mrs. Wilder nnjus
tifiable—a grievous wrong .in them, to the Ameri
can Board, and to thed4rof missions. :
3. Resolved, That the cOridnet of Mr. and Mrs.
Wilder under the, severe teti'd protracted trial in
volved in their treatment.by the Prudential Coin
mittee, has increased our estimate of their Chris
tian character, and , their special fitness to the work
to which they have'devoted their
S. H. WILWAIgS, Stated Clerk.
Champlain, N.' Y., Janualy 9,'101.
For the. .4terican Presbyterian.
GRATEFUL WORDS AND DEEDS.
To those who are laboring in connection with
the benevolent movements of the Church, nothing
is more grateful 'than wards of sympathy. Be
cause money is the neeessavy, condition of success
in these eflOrts,, men -afe 4 ready,to imagine that
money is the one thing of which they think.
This is not so. Apiointtd by; their brethren to
carry forward a-certain ente prise,they are cheered
and animated by every evtdenee of sympathy* on
the 'part of their Constitn The"warni words
of interest in t sir wo clitrie . tothenr are
received joy and H oitivltie'.' Sich;'ltirlli of
sympathy the Publicatidi Corrantlites and its
Secretary have abindantVaion to acknowledge
Nor is there less,. reason to 'acknowledge the
rnanifestation of a practical sympathy which is
carrying forward the work intrusted to them.
Trne, they feel burdened, ler lack of the means
needful for a proper discharge of their auty—bilt,
they have many efforts in their behalf to acknow
ledge. It is their fortune to_ have a cause most
interesting to, those who have the least money to
bestow—our Frontier's-men and Home Mission
aries. Suffer Me to give some samples of letters
rebeive' d at the Fresbyterian House.
A pastor in St. Louis, .110., sending a contribu
tion; writes : "I would. gladly send you a larger
collection, but 'thee times "are very hard, and my
people heavily burdened: They have a pastor's
library,. a Sunday school , library, (of course,) and
a library , of the young
.people's Christian Asso
ciation. I intend, sooner •or later, to have all
your books in these ditflitint libraries according
to their adaptation;:'4 • T value highly your
tracts for distribution2' , ,
A brother in. Ohio, with, a liberal ,collection,
says : " I earnestly hope you will get the $25,000.
I sympathize. with you in every fibre of my
soul."
A layman in New York, writes: "Enclosed
find draft for 11.—, for the Publication cause.
We have this year, for the first time, placed this
object among our regular list of causes to be, pre
sented to the congregation. We hope to do
better for you, another ,year, when our' people
more fully understand'the benefits to accrue from
a denominational literature!'
A pastor in Illinois, writes': "I have ever felt
a deep interest in your struggle to establish the
Publication cause on, a, firm basis.' I thank God
that he has given you grace to persevere amid all
the difficulties and diaeouragements with which
you have had, to coitteha. * And I Would give all
honor to those nobleeg ristian .men in Philadel
phia who have so, y stood in the breach.,
There are not a few, hOth ministers and churches
here in the West, who' feel the same interest, but
we are mostly poor, at hale a hard struggle to
sustain the means of grice, and consequently. can
do but little. But it *ill not b,e many years un
til the West will send up a power that will be felt
and respected."
A pastor in Pennsylvania, with a liberal `con
tribution, writes: "I herewith send you a draft
for S--. I am sorry it ia not a great deal
more, but the times 116,re are hard. I hale been
watching the acknowledgments, and begin to fear
that you will come far short of the $ , 25,000. But
do not be discouragetoil on for awhile, and
brighter days will dawn."
Says an Indiana pastor : "Be assured that not
a few of us appreciate the work you and the Com
mittee are doing for ay Church, and the difficul
ties you, have toer4unter. Better than this,
may you have dailthe 'well done' of the
Master himself, in eifitnat of the ample benedic
tion by-and-by?' (Aen I.)
A pastor in Northern New York sending a con
tribution, says: "The Publication cause is on our
docket for October. I think that the interest in
the cause is increasing in the church!'
An lowa minister,. to whom a donation bad
been' made, writes : "I received the bundle of
Tracts and Hymn Books you sent me. Please
accept my sincere thanks fof this favor. I have
found these tracts very useful in aiding me to
prosecute .my missionary Jabors in new places.
While laboring in, „Illinois, before coming here,
several important accessions 'were made to my
churches'in M— and N in a great measure
through their influence others, already members,
were enlightened and confirmed in their faith, in
doctrinal truth, and in Christian practice, by the
tracts on Infant Baptism and the perseverance of
the Saints. In this State, too, I have found those
tracts, and Others On Prifisbyterian history a 64
polity and theology, of great importance. I have
been a Home missionary the most of the time for
thirty-two years, in the States of Indiana, Michi
gan, Illinois, and lowa, and I never saw greater
need of such aid than I do now."
But these extracts must not be extended be
yond proper limits. Let them close, with the
whole of a brief letter from Ohio, in which every
sentence is to the point:
"Please put my name on your list, of subscri
bers for the Assembly's Digest. If the money is
to' be paid in advance, please send me a line to
that effect. I heartily wish you success in the
Publication enterprise. I shall take up a collec
tion for the cause in October."
We have heard from so many in- this Strain that
we know that this cause has many friends. Doubt
less it has many friends from whom we have not
yet heard, but from whom we ,shall hear.
. _ . For the American Presbyterian,
"ANNALS' OF THE FOOH."
There is one feature of our mission to:which the
attention ,of the public has, not, as yet, been di
rected; Permit me then, to-day,. to depart from
the recital of woes caused by the inability of our
people to get any work, to a short description. Of
one of the means we have Of administering help
at the same time the gospel is taught to the needy.
An enterprising lady teacher, as opportunity Oc
curred, procured, from different •persons, a' small
'fund of money; with which she purchased muslin,
and other.dry. goods-, and then taking the little
children of.the day school as guides, she went with
man crisis, says :
them to their mothers; and invited - them to join Considering the question what slavery is, and
, what it must be • considering the infinite evils
with her in a Beneficial Sewing Society. One
which it necessarily. engenders, will any one say
Friday afternoon, several weeks gone hy, they that the people of New England bad not a right
held their first meetings enrolled some:six names, to declare that it ought not to • exist within the
and adopted the folldifing plan;—as each person territories of the American Union; that the soil of
free people should be a free soil, teal' and that
world' have occasion t.C't4 a purchase dry goods; they . titution • -
an institution blemished the Union in the
were to procure, them from the Association, at sight of the world, should be abolished as soon as
the usual retaillprice, and low for th em, which prudence would permit, and confined to the mar
.
money would the , n be deposited in a Beneficial rowest limits possible until the time of that con
fund, to be procured bYany of their' number when summation should arrive? Nevertheless, that po
sitif, the NorthernS over
siekon o .tates is now utterl
. The membership has now increased froy
looked. The character of slavery as a national in
tosome twenty-four persons; all of whom at- stitution is left without a word of comment. All
tend the regular weekly: meeting, and sew up their # - the arguments proceed on the assumption that the
own garmente, .when. not prevented by outside { controversy is one between the North and the
South in which the South -holds one opinion While they are in session it is customary ;t' opinion and
-
for their officers to read a portion of . Scripture, the North another, each with equal 'mace •No
one thinks of asking whether the principles for
together, with any good book they m a y seie°t — which South Carolina is contending are adruissible
to guide the conversation, in deliberating upon in themselves.
the best - way of performing the various household Mr. Buchanan especially addresses
never himselfen
to
duties • and upon matters of morality, or religious the subject as if such a view of it had
tered his mind. He argues as if the difference
duty, or anything calculated to adrance the spiri- between the Northern and Southern States of the
tual, or temporal condition of the membership. Union, was simply a difference of tariff, or a dis
t
puled boundary, or a contested jurisdiction. He
There is, at 'present, great need of teachers to
carry on the 'operations of our Sunday-school... never givesa thought to the fact, that what the
free •States require they are morally justified in re-
Four new teachers could' now be employed, with quiring;_while, what the, slave Siates deMand,
great advantage—two ladies, and two gentlemen. they can demand only at the cost Of humanity and
'We hope that the servants of God, who are not right. He even goes the length of affirming—so
now employed - .in Sabbath-schools, will accept of strangely has the contest degenerated—that - the
our invitation , and Englanders have no right to discuss the ques
tion of Southern slavery at all. He says_ that the
and see us at no No. 1210 Shippen St., 2d and usages of the Carolinas are no more to them than
$d floors. R the institutions
,of Russia or Brazil; that theie
such isatic.rs - - E sestaisis- of--ipeetele
• N. B.=We hitt fiiirto announce the real - 1 I — i or - snr.aatlnrwitiA
hence. -, If thie, , be so we can, only 'say that the
the following slim*, to be flied in our Missionary, ' •
"Union of America must be so utterly unsub
effort—viz. W., $2O. 8., $2O. B. ! Mandel, that it may as, well be dissolved, at once.
If the people of Massachusetth are so absolutely
Isithout interest or concern in the'affairs of Geor
gia, that they have no title even to discuis' the
question of Georgia slavery, the, separation of the
two States cannot be much widened by a rupture
ofthe Federal Union. If the South really stands
to the North in the relation only of Brazil or Rua:
sia, matters will not be changed by the dissolution
of a nominal confederacy, for the States cannot
become more strange to each other than this
theory would represent theni to be already. But,
of course, we dispute'the fact. The people of the
American Union are, in the eyes, of the world, one
people; not only as springing from the "same - stock,
speaking the same language, arid owning the same
blood, tas acting under the same government,
and sailing under the same flag. Whatever affects
one - State in the way. of national reputation, affects_
no
all. Europe deeS t - discriminate between pro-
winces, either for praise or blame. When Attie
rice's greatness is spoken of; Massachusetts and
Mississippi 'share alike in &e respect which is
commanded, and when stories of slavery are cir
culated, it is on the national stars and stripes that
-the discredit falls. To say that one portion of the
American people have no right to ;concern them
selves with the acts of another portion on a ques
tion touching not only the eternal instincts'of mo
rality, but the character of the whole, is to aver
what it would be impossible to maintain.
As wehave taken up this case for an impartial,
though friendly judgment, we must, in honesty,
go one step further, and declare our conviction,
that even in the political agitation of the question,
the Southern States have sinned more than the
Northern. No stretch of fanaticism on the part
of. the North,has been so extravagant as the doc
trines now openly avowed by the South., The
slave States have long ceased to be content with
sufferance. In their passionate effrontery. they
have loudly declared that slavery, so far from
being a blemish, is a positive blessing to a country,
that it is the only true basis of labor' and-the best
cement of social, institutions. They have claimed
the right not only of preserving . it for the present,
but.ef perpetuating it for all time, and Of extend
ing it into every territory annexed to the American
Union.- One by one they have destroyed or set
aside all barriers in the shape of limits - or com
promises, and have driven their principle's by sheer
force down the throats of their opponents. As a
last resource they are preparing apparently to carry
out a menace of long standing, and to destroy the
-very fabric of the Union rather than recognise the
fact, that any other views than their own may pre
vail in the councils, of government. They cannot
profess to apprehend any, interference with their
" property." What they elaim is,- that no man
should be President of the United States who
does not regard this "property" exactly as they
do--that is, who does not acknowledge that a
black servant and a black portmanteau are chat
tels coming under exactly the same category and
description.
In this country we cannot - so entirely overlook
the original question as is done on the other side
of the Atlantic. We look at slavery as unlawful
and abominable. We know, and have repeatedly
acknOWledged, what can be said, if not precisely
on its behalf, at any rate, against the views of fa
natical abolitionists. We can understand that it
would be hard for an independent, and, spirited
community to hold their institutions under suffrage,
and by the tolerance, as it were, of others. We
can imagine that the Southern States were led on -
step by step, and under the impulse of unexpected'
successes, to change their
,ground and raise their
terms till the present height of extravagance' was
reached. All this we can well suppose and admit,
and the Americans may confidently assure them
selves that there is no party in this kingdom which
desires any, thing but the maintenance and pros
perity of the Union.. We are more disposed, in
deed, to advocate conciliation even at the expense
of principle than to stand up' for principle in the
face of such high political peril. But, for all
this, we cannot`disguise from ourselves that, apart
from all political complications; there is a right
and a wrong in this question, and that the right
ges
belongs, with :all its advanta, to the States "of the North.
THE SYNOD OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
We presume this Synod can take care of itself;
certainly it numbers among its' members some
of the ablest men in the other branch of the
Church; or, indeed 'of any Church, misguided
though they be. What course they will now take,
as to their ecclesiastical relations, is their own busi-
ness, not ours
The Editor' of an anti-slaveryr paper, now de
funct, roundly declared that our own Church was
so far from, anti-slavery, in character, that we
"would rejoice " to add the Synod of. South Caro
lina to our numbers. This was a mere flourish of
ultra anti-slavery rhetoric, scarcely designed for
serious acceptation. But what body of Christians
bearing the noble name of Presbyterian, would be
willing 'to receive that and other Synods of the
South, who are binding themselves indissolubly
with the monstrous system of American Slavery,
and perverting the Presbyterian Church to its de
fence Against the indignatibn of the entire Chris
tian-world; Protestant, Catholic and Greek? Is
there one? We think there is, and the evidence
is found in no remote quaiter. The organ of the
"United Synod," published in, this city, contains,
in its recent issue, an article whose purpose it is
to widen the breach between the Synod of South.
Carolina and the other branch of the Church, and
prepare the way for a union with the United Synod.
We are compelled, however, reluctantly, to believe
that no body of men can be too pro-slavery for th,ese
brethren. They will cheerfully prepare the way
for union with them, while nothing is easier
than to be too anti-slavery for theta.
A body- like ours, which, in the view- of the
Free Synod is pro-slavery, is in their view fana
tical dangerous and abolitionist. Here are a few
extracts, from the article referred to, beaded "The
0. S. Synod of S. Carolina." .
What then will our South Carolina brethren
do? They have favored the action of their State
in dissolving the Union, because of the abolitionism
of the Republican party. Will they then continue
their connection with a Church which the leaders
of the Northern portion of it. and their assembly
have declared upon an anti-slavery basis? * * *
We leg :our South Carolina brethren at least to
.be consistent. They justify their State in di
viding'the Union on account of abolitionism; while,
at the same time, 'they are willing to adhere to a
Church whichlas sustained as strong an abolition
document as was ever passed by an ecclesiastical
judicatory. For our part, we believe that it
would be better for the Church to be divided into
a half dozen branches for the sake of peace and
efficiency in its action, than for this Union to be
torn to pieces because of the wretched fanaticism
of the North. -
A VOICE FROM. DELAWARE
Mr. jno. M. Clayton; the late Senator from De
laware, in a speech in the Senate of the United
States, August 3, 1848, said:--
"Does any man expect 'that, from this tie
forth to the end of the republic, the North will
ever again consent to extend slavery by act of
Congress into any free territory, and thus increase
that alleged inequality of representation in the
other House, rising out of the enumeration of
three-fifths of slaves in the apportionment of its
members, which has ever been the` foundation of
their most bitter complaints? Try that question
when you may in that House, an overwhelming
majority will ever appear, against such an exten
sion. I haie never voted four such an act of Con
gress, because, in my deliberate opinion, it would
be wrong, and never could be justified, except as'a
Measure to be resorted' to in an extreme case, ib
volving the very existence of the Union.
"I am no advocate of slavery, or of its exten
s'on. Like say friend from• Maryland (Mr. John
son,) I hold no slaves, and I fully conctir„in the
opinion which he expressed a. year ago, 'that
slavery is a moral, social and political evil—to be
removed, however, only by those who are imme
diately intprested in it? These "are the delibe
rate opinidns of thousands, and tens of thousands
in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and Kentucky,
all slaveholding States. . . • Opinions go
far beyond ours in the Aon-slaveholding, §tates•
They view slavery as an ineradicable curse, and will
never consent, in any event, to its extension, un
less where the Constitution carries it.
"Sir, it is time the South understood her true
position. She can no longer control this question.
He who supposes that a threat of disunion will
alarm the potent men of the-North, labors under
a great mistake: To them disunion has no ter-.
rors..,
THE FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CITTMOH,
SPRING GARDEN.
'This church, formerly under the pastoral care
of Rev. A. A. Willitts, upon his removal to an
other scene of labor, called Rev. Mr• Smiley, a
, preacher in the Methodist connection, to fill his
place. The Consistory refused to endorse the call
on account of the Arminian tenets of Mr. Smiley.
The majority of the congregation who had joined
the call,.were dissatisfied, and persisted in their
purpose to secure Mr. Smiley's ,serviteS; and, if
needful, to -withdraw from- the—Reformed - -Dutch
Church, taking with them the property. Other
members of the church who were opposed to this
course, appealed to they Courts to interfere and re
strain them from 'such action. On 19th inst. Judge
Alfison delivered a decision, granting an injunction
to restrain the preaching in the church of any doc
trine not Calvinistic, which effectually cuts off Mr.
Smiley and his friends.
J. _W. __D:_:'_
IS THE NORTH RESPONSIBLE?
The London Times in commenting on the Awe-
EDITOR'S 'T.PLE.
•
EVENINGS WITH THE DOCTRINES. By Nehemiah
Adams, D. D.' Boston; Goulds Lincoln. 12m0., pp.
415.
If we mistake not,lhis volume supplies a great
want in our current literature, namely, that of a
simple; readable statement of the lending evange
lical doctrines ' devoid of formalities and technica
lities, enlivened by_apt illuktrations, and by brief
and iiithyrejiiinders to popular objections. The
well-known pastor of Essex St. Church, Boston,
gives us, in the volume, the substance of a nei n _
ber of familiar lectures, delivered on Tuesday even
ing-a, to his own.people. The topics are God, Re
velation, The Trinity, Deity of Christ and of the
Holy. Spirit, Man, Atonement, Election, Regene
ration, Perseverance, Christian Perfection, The
Intermediate State, Retribution. The style i s
easy, sweet, and perspicuous. One would hardly
believe, until he actually perused the volume,
that such grave subjects . could be treated in a
really captivating manner. We cordially com
mend the volume to our laymen, and to such of
the ministry as are desirous of acquiring similar
skill in presenting these difficult but important
subjects. For sale by Smith, English & Co.
MARION GRAHAM, or Higher than Happiness. By
Meta Lander,author of c. Light on the Dark River?'
Boston: Crosby, Lee, Nichols & Co. I.2nace., pp. 506.
This is a tale of love, duty, and sacrifice some.
what overwrought, marred with one or two scenes
of the coarse sensation order, scarcely as healthful
in tone as the writer seems to have intended and
wished. The aim of the book is to exemplify the
noble saying of Carlyle, - "Man can do without
happiness, and instead thereof find blessedness ;"
but while the characters and incidents, designed
to illustrate the first half of the sentence, are de
scribed with a skill, power, and pathos not often
surpassed, the latter part is but scantily realized.
The course of true love is as contrary as in the
Midsummer Nights' Dream, from the beginning
to the end of the volume. The various phases of
natural scenery are vividly and practically de
scribed, aid the criticisms of Carlyle, Schiller,
and Goethe are just and appreciative.
HISTORY OF LATIN CHRISTIANITY; Including
that of the Popes, to the Pontificate of Nicholas V.
By Henry Hart Milman, D. D., Dean of St. Paul's.
In Eight Volumes. Vol. IV. New York: Sheldon
& Co. 12m0., pp. 555.
We again call the attention of our readers to
the American republication of this standard work.
The volume before us completes half of the entire
issue. It covers the interestinr , period reaching
from the year 1094 to 1200, and discusses such
topics as the .Crusades, St. Bernard, Abelard and
Heloise, Arnold of Brescia, Thomas a'Becket,
&c. The paper, typography, and bindinc , arc all
of the first quality. Congregations could searcely
do better than present the series to their pastors.
For sale by S. McHenry, Agent, 406 Walnut St.
SINAI AND ZION, Or a Pilgrimage through the "Wil.
derness to the Land of Promise. Baßenj. Bauman.
With illustrations. Philada.: Lindsky & Blakiston.
12m0., pp! 543. $1 25.
A very excellent, readable and instructive book
of travels. in the Holy Land, written by a clergy
man of the German Reformed Church in this
State. Every traveller, as the author well re
marks; if he ha.s a mind of his own, will. observe
things and places from his own point of view, and
receive 'impressions peculiarly his own. Mr.
Bausman's point of view is eminently Scriptural.
He aims to instruct by combining, as plainly as
should always be done by Christian writers of
travels in the Holy Land, the devotional with the
descriptive element. We take pleasure in recom
mending the book as calculated to diffuse correct
and . enlightened views on topics that cannot be too
well understood.- For sale by the Publisher.
. PAMPHLETS - AND MAGAZINES.
T,RE. ATLANTIC! MONTHLY for February. A
- strong article on the state of the country, entitled
'Pluribus Unum," is the leading feature of this
number'2 It takes high ground as to the mainte
nance—Cif:The government, and enforces its views
• with illustrations at once novel' and convincing.
q'tterre,,*tews7ares:narefaity and- searchingty
done,;;,Mr
Mr. Dixon's late attempt at the defence of
Lord Bacon is.regarded as in the main successful.
TAB E6L'ECTIO MAGAZDiE Of Foreign Litera
tire. i W.. HI Bidwell, Editor and Proprietor.
Februaty,lB6l. The illustrations are very fine :
Robert Stephenson,Ahe great engineer, and The
Morning of the 18th Brumaire, (Napoleon about
to seize upon the dictatorship.) The selections
are of a very high character, embracing articles
mostly of a permanent value. Published at No.
6 Beekman Street, New York.
LIP ;EDUCATOR, by Rev. S. Findley, Pittsburg,
Pa.: We are glad to put this sterling Pennsylva
nia monthly on our'. exchange list. The topics
are: • The Pritasia.n• School System, Flame, Prayer
for Common Schools, The Classics and ae Modern
Education, &e.
SLA.VERY .SUSTAINED BY THE BIBLE, •by John
Richter Jones. Philadelphia, S. B. Lippincott &
Co. As the writer begins by charging on all anti
slavery men a neglect to examine the Scriptures,
and as he makes such men entirely responsible for
,originating the presenetroubles, we do not deem
',it - worth while to wade, through the rest
, DrNiatorin's ItanatoAp, GUIDE for January, has
been lying on our table for several days. It is
scarcely necessary to recommend a work so well
and favorably,knoWn to'the whole travelling com
rmunity. •
BLACKWOOD'S EDINBITRGII MAGAZINE,* No.
DXLIII., for. January, 1861. LeonardiScott &
Co., New York. W. B. Zeiber, Philadelphia. The
Year, The Purest Prayer-Book, Uncivi
lized Man, EngliSh Embassies to China, &c.
Arthur's Home Magazine for February. They
, er's Home Monthly. Hall's Journal of Health.
Catalogue of Hamilton College, (number of stu
dents, 160.) Catalogue of Chicago Theological
Seminaryi (d 5 students, 3 professors.) Religious
Statistics of Colleges and Theological Seminaries,
(reserved for future notice.) Fast-Day Address
of Thomas 11. Stockton. The God of our Fathers;
fast-day discourse of Rev. Geo. Duffield, Jr., (no
,tiee next week. "One of Them," by Charles
Wever. No.- 216 of Harper's Library of Select
Novels, for sale by Lindsay & Blakiston. Bvo.
_paper.,
BOORS RECEIVED.
•
Froui the Presbyterian House, 1334 Chestnut
'Street, PRIDE AND HIS PRISONERS, by A. L. 0.
E. Carters. 18mo. • GRAPES or ESIICOL, by J.
R. Maeduff, D. IX Carters. 3 fimo.
From Lindsay & Blakiston, CHILDREN'S BOOK
OF. QUADRUPEDS., Illustrated. .Harpers.
SALE OF STANDARD WORKS.—We are pleased
to learn that the.new and beautiful edition of Ba
con's Works, published by Messrs. Brown & Tag
(Yard of 'this city, has been veryfavaMblyreeeived
throughout the country. The'enterprise was such
an extensive one, that! the .English mode df pub
lishing voluminous works was. adopted, and sub
scriptions were solicited, but the demand has proved
so great, that the volumes might with success have
been-issued in the.usual 'manner. We have made
some inquiries of the publishers, respecting the
number, of subscribers obtained in different places
in New-England,: and for the information of the
public we give the items this query elicited: Bos
ton, 12 5'subscribers; Providence 7 20 Lowell, 18;
Lewistown, Me.,' 17; Worcester, 13; Lawrence,
11; Andover,-9;- Salem, 9; Northampton, 8; Ha
verhill, 8:- Portsmouth, 7; Exeter, 6; Burlington,
6;, Fitchburg, 6; Biddeford, Me, 4; Belfast,
Me., 3.. The prominence of manufacturing places
on this list will command the attention of ob
serving readers.- We see bya paragraph in the Troy
Arena, that in that not very literary town twenty
five copies have already been subscribed for. This
is well, but not at all peculiar, remarks the New
- York World. For
.in'Alhany forty-five copies
have' been taken, in Schnectady thirteen, in Ro
chester twenty, in Buffalo twenty-five, and even
in many of the, smaller 'towns from five to ten
copies are subscribed for. Thib is well for New
York state, although its periphery does not revolve
around the hub of the universe.
, THE' QUARTERLY.
The eTinuary number of the Presbyterian Quar
terly Review, with an inviting table of contents,
has been laid "upon our table. An extended no
tice will be given in our next.
Jam 31,
Boston Transcript.