have no idea of our rights?

Because we

have been so yielding to them, and let them · have their way in this thing and that thing, do they suppose we have no knowledge of our rights and duties? They must think so, and we have given them occasion to think so by our former conduct. We have truly sinned in that we yielded the rights of others to those oppressers, and now they have the boldness to ask for pur rights, and which the government by whom we are protected. This shall not be. We will never consent to the overthrow of our government. We are now sorry that we granted you so many favors. We will resist you to the death!" Thus spoke some of our leading and erring northern men, and the people said amen! Though the struggle was not avoided, yet the government was saved. All honor to the soldier, and to the memory of him who fell,

The true American Citizen will always

act from a good principle in all he does. He will not be just in one matter and unjust in another. He will not be pious one day, meekly saying his prayers in church, and wicked the next. He is not kind to one man, or one class of men, and unkind and cruel to others. Because, if he has in him the principles of justice and kindness, they will prompt him to be just and kind at all times, and to do good to all. A person may pretend to be very pious, and a very great Christian, yet, if he is an oppressor, or strikes hands with oppressors, and manifests no feeling for the rights of humanity, except in certain cases, he will fail to carry conviction to the hearts of the intelligent and good, that his pretentions are justified.

All good citizens must sympathize with each other, and act together, or the wicked and corrupt will bear rule. Men often do that which they know to be wrong, both as

individuals and as public officers, thinking that it will make little difference with community. Yet these very departures from rectitude, will, in the course of a few years, come upon us with an overwhelming force. The intelligent and good citizen is aware of this, and rigidly adheres to his integrity. Small beginnings of evil will often result in terrible calamities.

We are not one of those who believe in effecting reformation by radical and violent means, when it can be avoided. Yet, the advocates of truth and justice should not show cowardice in the face of the foe. If the enemy discover timidity, or want of faith in the principles we profess, they will certainly take the advantage, by advancing within our lines.

Though many evils may creep into the body-politic, yet it would be better to eradicate them by free discussion and moral force, than by violence and bloodshed.

Though slavery was a great evil, yet we never held that the country should be broken up, and the constitution destroyed to get rid of it. There were a few radical abolitionists who advocated a dissolution of the Union to get rid of slavery, and there were some who believed in actual violence. Those measures we held to be unsafe and unsound-not based on the principles of humanity or religion. Free discussion, we believe to be the appointed means of reformation in government, morals, or religion. Men must be brought to see the right, before they will do right.

Former political questions, which kept good men apart, should now be laid aside, and all act together, that the Union may be restored, and established forever, on the broad principles of liberty and humanity.

CHAPTER V.

THE CHURCHES AND PREACHERS.

JAMES G. BIRNEY some twenty years ago said, that the American Churches were the rottenist institutions on earth.

This denunciation, startled church members generally, and made them open their eyes with amazement. The more proslavery portion of them pronounced this false, and abolitionism to be infidelity.

But the more wise and pure saw that the expression was not without some foundation. Church members then traded in the bodies and souls of men. Most of those who held slaves and traded in them, lived in the Southern States, yet many resided in the North. And the greater part of those who were not slaveholders, both in the