y compromises; but
these compromises, in State and Church, especially in regard to slavery,
have so often been the sacrifice of principle to expediency that the
word has come to have a sinister meaning--implying such a sacrifice; and
they have so often proved failures as to show them to be unwise, even as
a matter of expediency.

A brief sketch of some of these past compromises, with their motives and
failures, may throw some light upon the compromise proposed for the
Congregational churches in Georgia.

POLITICAL COMPROMISES.

These have usually been made from more than one motive:

1. One strong plea is that the expediency is so urgent that a small
sacrifice of right is justifiable. In that celebrated law case of
Shylock the Jew _versus_ Antonio the merchant, so ably reported by
William Shakespeare, Esq., this reason was plainly stated. The
defendant's attorney, Bassanio, in order to avert from his client the
dreadful forfeit of a pound of flesh taken nearest his heart, appealed
to the judge:

"I beseech you
Wrest once the law to your authority;
To do a great right, do a little wrong."

The "wise young judge" knew the law, human and divine, too well to grant
this plea.

But that plea had its influence in securing the adoption of the Federal
Constitution. Among other difficulties in the way, a constructive
guarantee of slavery seemed necessary to secure the assent of some of
the Southern States. How strong the plea! Slavery was wrong to be sure,
but the terrible seven years' war was ended, and a great nation was
ready to come into existence! The compromise was made and the Union was
formed. But did the compromise save it? No! The "pound of flesh" was at
last the price. After a struggle of seventy-two years the crisis came,
Sumter was fired upon and the compromise was found to be a failure. "A
pound of flesh!" Nay, the flesh and blood of a million of men saved the
Union.

2. Another motive for a compromise is the expectation that while it is
all that can be done now, it will be a step towards the ultimate. This
was strongly urged in that first compromise. It was said that the
Declaration of Independence, the enthusiasm for liberty, and the
world-wide boast of equal rights, must work a universal consent to the
abrogation of slavery. Jefferson voiced the general sentiment when he
said: "I think a change is already perceptible since the origin of the
present revolution