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This is a pretty fair specimen of the value which that class of men, who are ever harping about "political preachers," place upon their own doctrine. The sentiments preached are sufficiently "religious," if they are on their side; but they are wickedly "political," if opposed to their views.

NO POSSIBLE NEUTRALITY.

We commend the outspoken frankness of Mr. Hoyt, so far as seen in contrast with another class, remarkably reticent. In a time of treason, rebellion, and devastating civil war, it is every man's solemn duty,-clergyman or layman,-to show his colors. It is a sin to do otherwise. Neutrality, at such a time, is a sin against God, and a crime against the country. But there is, in fact, no neutrality, regarding this contest, in the breast of any American citizen. It is an impossible thing, and every man knows and feels it. He is either for the Government in this struggle, or against it. And yet, there are men in the Border States, and elsewhere, who have at least the form of manhood in outward appearance,―men, too, who hold a commission, as they declare, from God, to instruct the people in their religious duties,-who, in this contest between loyalty and treason, claim to be "neutral," to have "no opinion," and to deem it best that " a minister's views should not be known." We can only utter for such the prayer of the Judge for the culprit sentenced to the gallows, "May the Lord have mercy upon their souls!"

While we admire Mr. Hoyt's candor, infinitely better than that feigned "neutrality" which many Border State ministers pretend without practising, we place him in the same list of guilty responsibility for the treason and rebellion now desolating the land, with distinguished ministers in the Rebel States; with this marked difference, that he

REV. STUART ROBINSON, d. d.

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is living within the loyal district covered by the Government, while giving his heart and his preaching in the line of that rebellion which is seeking its overthrow.

REV. STUART ROBINSON, D. d.

We have already spoken of Dr. Robinson as Pastor of a Church in Louisville, at the beginning of the rebellion, and still holding a formal connection with it. For some two years he has been an exile in Canada, living in Toronto. The facts about his exit from his adopted country, and taking refuge under the flag which waves over the "swate isle” in which he was born, are about as follows:

During the summer of 1862, when temporarily absent from Louisville, such was the feeling entertained toward him by the military authorities in that city, as his friends believed, that they advised him not to return. He took their advice, and voluntarily betook himself to a place without the jurisdiction of the United States, where he has since remained. We have never heard what was charged against him, nor why his friends were apprehensive for his safety, in case he should return home. It has been said by some of them, that he would not take the oath of allegiance, and hence would not return, knowing that this would be required of him. Dr. Robinson himself has admitted, substantially if not directly, in what he has since written upon this express point, that he would not take the oath of allegiance to the United States Government. It may be, for aught we know, that this is the sole occasion of his exile. Even if this is all, it is sufficient proof of disloyalty with right-minded men.

But a question lies back of this. Why was such a demand made of him? What words, or acts, or other conduct, was he guilty of, that led the authorities to deem the oath requisite in his particular case? All ministers are

not required to take an oath of allegiance. But in special cases, such requisition has been deemed essential for public safety. A minister of the Gospel, above all other men, should so conduct, that he cannot even be suspected of being disloyal to the Government which protects him. And we venture to say, that there has been no case of arrest, or infringement, or threatening of any one's liberty or safety, in the loyal States, concerning whom there was not some good ground for the suspicion, at least, that he was in some way aiding the rebellion. But the simple fact that Dr. Robinson's friends thought, and his judgment and conscience approved the suggestion, that Canada was a safer place for him than Kentucky, is prima facie evidence that the case is against him; that his presence and influence in Louisville were deemed to be against the Government by the military authorities, and that it would be improper for him to return there without taking the oath of allegiance; all which is strengthened by the consideration that the Cominander of that Military Department at the time was Dr. Robinson's particular friend, and would do him no injustice.

HE EDITS A DISLOYAL PAPER.

Our object in referring to this case at all, is, that it furnishes a striking illustration of disloyalty to the Government, and sympathy with the rebellion, in a leading minister of a Border State, which, by successive votes of its people at the polls, has determined to stand by the Government and the Union. We need not go for proof to what he did, immediately leading to his exile. Ever since he has been in Canada, he has edited a paper, which is issued in Louisville, and widely circulated in Kentucky, from which the proof of his disloyalty and sympathy with treason and rebellion is patent to all who read the sheet.

DR. ROBINSON EDITS A DISLOYAL PAPER.

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This paper is called The True Presbyterian. It was published for some time before Dr. Robinson left Kentucky, and edited by him, and was at one time suspended by military authority; and afterwards, through the interference of a friend, the resumption of its publication was allowed. During the last year or more, its disloyal utter- i ances have been more outspoken than usual, though from first to last its whole tone and spirit have been pervaded with hostility to the course of the Government and sympathy with the rebellion. Its articles are spiced with a venom which is scarcely rivalled by the secular prints of Richmond.

The animating spirit of the paper is Dr. Robinson, safely housed in Toronto under the protection of the British flag, while the paper emanates from Louisville, protected in its treasonable influence by the flag of the United States. We have not the least doubt that The True Presbyterian is one of the most powerful auxiliaries for keeping alive the spirit of the rebellion among the secessionists of Kentucky.

In saying that this is a disloyal sheet, we do not speak at random; we shall give the proof. For the responsibility of its influence, its editors, publishers, correspondents, subscribers, and patrons, must be held to account, on any correct principles of judgment; though, as we have said, Dr. Robinson is the soul of the concern. For our individual self, as we have taken this paper from the beginning, our conscience is vindicated on the same ground that the late Dr. Emmons justified himself for purchasing infidel books. He said his library contained "the best and worst books in the world:" that it was necessary for a minister to consult infidel works such as he would not recommend to his people, for "they should know what the Devil is about." On the same principle, in this time of

rebellion, we by no means confine our reading to one side of the question, either in secular or religious literature. We consult papers and books of all parties, and especially those which claim to be of the "religious" sort. For this purpose we have taken, as long as the mails were open, several of the religious papers and periodicals of the South. On the same principle, if his Satanic Majesty should escape to the earth, and set up a religious or secular journal in some metropolis of our country, we should become one of his subscribers. But we seriously doubt whether he could carry out his designs more effectually through such means than they are now being executed by some of the servants he employs; of which The True Presbyterian is a fair specimen of the "religious" press, and indeed the only paper of any denomination that we know of in all the loyal States that is not openly and decidedly sustaining the Government in its efforts to put down the rebellion.

ITS DISLOYAL COURSE IN GENERAL.

We do not intend to wade through the entire files of this paper for our proofs, but will take a single number of a recent date as a sample of many more.

Before quoting it, however, we will simply note the leading characteristics of the disloyalty which runs through this paper, from the first number to the last, as must be well known to every loyal person who reads it.

It started out on the avowed principle that it was going to maintain a high tone of spirituality; that the necessity for this arose from the fact that the religious papers of the country had become secularized and political,-the best illustrations for which were, that they spoke out boldly in opposition to the rebellion, and in support of the Govern ment and the war for its suppression,-and that the

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