The foregoing sentences, to which many in a similar strain might be added, show the key-note thus early struck. How eloquent and earnest men become,—and the ministers of religion, too,-when pleading for "slavery" in the name of "liberty," and braving all the miseries of war for its sake!*

HE VINDICATES THE SECESSION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

South Carolina seceded on the 20th of December, 1860. Immediately after, Dr. Thornwell wrote his elaborate vindication of the act, reviewing the "Ordinance" and "Declaration of the Immediate Causes," &c., put forth by the Convention. It was published in the Southern Presbyterian (Quarterly) Review, for January, 1861. It was regarded by Southern statesmen as by far the ablest paper written on the subject, and several editions were published and sown broadcast over the South. In this article he says:

* An event showing Dr. Thornwell's animus about secession, occurred still earlier. The Presidential electors in South Carolina are chosen by the Legislature instead of by the people. The Legislature met on the day of election (Nov. 6th, 1860) to choose electors. Dr. Thornwell opened the session with prayer. We have this prayer, at length, as taken at the time from a Southern paper. In the midst of much that is excellent, these sentences are found, which, considering the time, occasion, and circumstances, are significant of what soon after became open treason and rebellion: "O God! the destiny of this country may turn upon the events of a few short hours." "Give wisdom to all our assemblies; give the spirit of a sound mind to the members of this Confederacy, and grant that Thy name may be glorified. If it be Thy will that a different destiny awaits us, we ask Thy blessing upon our Commonwealth." "We beseech that Thy favor may rest upon all those States that have a common interest with us. We beseech Thee that they may be bound together in the holy ties of truth, justice, and love. Give us, we beseech Thee, an honorable name among the nations of the earth." Dr. Thornwell avowed himself for rebellion even carlier than election day, by at least some six months. When the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church was sitting in Rochester, New York, in May, the news of Mr. Lincoln's nomination at Chicago, just then made, became a topic of conversation. Dr. Thornwell declared that if either Mr. Lincoln or Mr. Douglas were elected, the Southern States would inevitably secede; that neither was acceptable to the South; that secession was a foregone conclusion; and that the South would not and ought not to acquiesce in the election of either.

OPEN RESISTANCE COUNSELLED.

159

South Carolina has now become a separate and independent State. She takes her place as an equal among the other nations of the earth. This is certainly one of the most grave and important events of modern times. It involves the destiny of a continent, and, through that continent, the fortunes of the human race.

This fixes the writer's own estimate of the responsibility which he and his fellow-clergymen assumed in taking the lead in a matter so momentous.

He then proposes to declare "the causes which have brought about this astounding result;" declares, "that there was a cause, and an adequate cause, might be presumed from the character of the Convention which passed the ordinance of secession, and the perfect unanimity with which it was done;" that "it embraced the wisdom, moderation, and integrity of the bench, the learning and prudence of the bar, and the eloquence and piety of the pulpit," and then says, showing the cause to be what we have before stated, that it was "the universal sentiment of all, that the Constitution of the United States has been virtually repealed, and that every slaveholding State has just ground for secession." He then, in view of the fact assumed, "that the Constitution, in its relations to slavery, has been virtually repealed," says: "If this point can be made out, secession becomes not only a right, but a bounden duty." Such is the burden of the argument which pervades the entire article.

OPEN RESISTANCE COUNSELLED.

The following sentences will show still further, from the same article, how open resistance to the Government was urged at this early period by this stanch Churchman, and the responsibility which he, as an influential leader of God's people, thus voluntarily assumed:

Now, we say that this state of things is not to be borne. can never consent to their own degradation.

A free people *If, therefore,

the South is not prepared to see her institutions surrounded by enemies, and wither and decay under these hostile influences; if she means to cherish and protect them, it is her bounden duty to resist the revolution which threatens them with ruin. The triumph of the principles which Mr. Lincoln is pledged to carry out, is the death-knell of slavery.*

More exhortations to open resistance are found in this article:

If the South could be induced to submit to Lincoln, the time, we confidently predict, will come when all grounds of controversy will be removed in relation to fugitive slaves, by expunging the provision under which they are claimed. The principle is at work and enthroned in power, whose inevitable tendency is to secure this result. Let us crush the serpent in the egg. * * * We know it to be the fixed determination of them all (the slaveholding States), not to acquiesce in the principles which have brought Mr. Lincoln into power. * The evil day may be put off, but it must come. The country must be divided into two people, and the point which we wish now to press upon the whole South, is the importance of preparing at once for this consummation. Conquered we never can be. To save the Union is impossible. *** We prefer peace-but if war must come, we are prepared to meet it with unshaken confidence in the God of battles.

* * **

* * *

* *

CHARGE OF TREASON ESTABLISHED.

The foregoing is sufficient to show the influence which the powerful pen of Dr. Thornwell gave to secession, when it was yet in its embryo state, with the exception of South Carolina. If these utterances are not,-morally and before God, and by the Constitution and laws,-instinct with treason, then it is difficult to define the term. The Constitution of the United States (" to which," even Dr. Thornwell admits, "these States swore allegiance") says:

* We have shown in previous pages, by documentary proof, that so far from Mr. Lincoln having been "pledged to carry out" any "principles" which would interfere with the rights of the States over slavery, he was “pledged” to do just the contrary; by all the speeches he made and letters he wrote when a candidate, by the platform of the party that nominated him, by his letter of acceptance, by his Inaugural Address, and by all else he said and did.

DRS. THORNWELL, LELAND, AND ADGER.

161

"Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort." Dr. Thornwell's writings and speeches show an adherence to the "enemies" of the Government, and were a powerful incitement to the "war" now raging; were so used, and thus gave the most substantial "aid and comfort" to rebels in arms,—that of moral countenance and earnest support, the most essential element of success, and without which powder and lead and all other "aid” are worthless.

But how civil tribunals would regard such a case, is not with us the chief question. By the doctrines of religion, and before the bar of God, he was guilty of one of the highest crimes against the State,-God's own ordinance,which any man can commit. That he was sincere, we do not doubt, but that does not relieve his criminality. He was a minister of the Gospel, of the highest ability and influence. He is largely responsible for bringing the Church, -one of the most powerful elements of society,-to "aid" in the horrid work of treason, rebellion, and war.

DRS. THORNWELL, LELAND, AND ADGER, UPON THE STUMP.

In addition to the power of his pen, Dr. Thornwell gave his eloquent voice to the cause of treason, at a meeting held at the capital of South Carolina, to ratify her secession.

In the North Carolina Presbyterian, of January 5, 1861, is found a letter from "a student of Columbia Seminary," detailing the proceedings of "the great ratification meeting." held at Columbia, "which was called to indorse the action of the Convention." He says: 66 Many of the clergy were called on to express their views in regard to this important matter. Rev. Drs. Thornwell, Leland, Adger (all Professors in the Theological Seminary), and

Reynolds, and Rev. Messrs. Mullaly and Brecker, addressed the meeting." This shows how early, and how exten sively, the clergy of the South became the open advocates. of treason and rebellion. The writer then gives an account chiefly of Dr. Thornwell's speech, as follows:

Dr. Thornwell spoke at some length. He said that he had foreseen, and some time ago predicted, the course which our affairs would take, in case that Lincoln, or any other man with his avowed principles, was elected President. As to the right of secession, he said that he held that the election of Lincoln is equivalent to presenting a new Constitution to the States, and asking them to subscribe to it. Secession is only refusing to abolish the old and adopt the new Constitution now presented to us by the Black Republican party. The avowed principles of this party are not constitutional, and its success in electing the President of the United States upon principles which, if carried into effect, will subvert the National Constitution, and trample it under foot, and set up a sectional one in its stead, is equivalent to putting the question to the States, Will you submit to this new Constitution or not? Secession is the refusal to submit, and is therefore not unconstitutional. The Constitution to which these States swore allegiance has been wrested from us, and something else, gotten up by a sectional party, is presented to us in its stead. He advised that the State act with calmness, caution, and decision, and so demean herself towards her sister Southern States, as to secure, if possible, their co-operation with us. He believed that all our sister Southern States would co-operate with us, and that we would be permitted to withdraw peaceably from the United States. He hoped to see two Republics standing side by side, and becoming all the greater, by the honest rivalry that would exist between them. Rashness and temerity on our part would repel our sister States from us, which are one with us,-one in race, one in institutions, one in interest, and we believe that they should be one in a separate, Southern Confederacy. All the other speeches were of a similar tone, and breathed the same spirit. I think I can safely say, that this report expresses the sentiment of the people of this State.

Dr. Thornwell admits that "the States swore allegiance to the Constitution;" then they violated that "allegiance" by secession.