hristian men.

In the outset of this examination, let me remark, that it is just and
proper, in a comparative estimate of the tendency of freedom and slavery
upon religion and morals, in these two sections of our country, that due
allowance be made for the moral and religious character of the materials
by which these two sections were originally settled. New England was
settled by Puritans, who were remarkable for orthodox sentiments in
religion--for high-toned religious conscientiousness, and a rigid
personal piety; while these five slave States were either settled, or
received character from Cavaliers, who rather scoffed at pure religion,
and were highly tinged with infidelity.

The stream does not, in its flow onward, carry with more certainty the
characteristics of the fountain, than does progressive society,
_generally_, the moral, social, and religious characteristics of its
origin. The five slave States, in this comparison originated in a people
of loose morals--strongly tinged with infidelity--and subjected, also,
in their onward progress, to all the evil tendencies (if any there be)
that are ascribed to slavery.

At the end of more than two centuries, we are comparing the progress
which these five slave States have made in religion, with the progress
made by six non-slaveholding States, whose subjects, when originally
organized into communities, were in advance, in personal piety and
religious conscientiousness, of any communities that had then been
founded since the days of the apostles--and that have been, in their
onward progress, from that time until this, free from all the supposed
evils of slavery. If infidelity and slavery be antagonistic elements,
almost, if not altogether, too strong for moral control in a community,
it certainly ought not to seem strange, that with this original odds
against them, these five old slave States should be found very far
behind their more highly favoured Northern neighbors in religious
attainments.

Religion being, at present, the subject of comparison, it may be
appropriate to remark further, that the _Christian religion_ is
propagated by God's blessing upon the observance of his laws.

The fundamental law of God, _for its propagation_ requires the gospel to
be preached to every creature; because, in the divine plan, faith in the
gospel was to make men Christians. The gospel was to be made the _power
of God_ unto salvation, to every one that _believeth_. _This faith_