paim (SDNDAW ixoirraD.) W. FORNEY. li * sU sol/TH FOURTHSTREET. f r» ff - PRESS, * F» W»SfC, payoblo to too O wrier, f'"'“fibers on! o f too Olty «t 8« 00LLM8 J'OO* DOIUBS to* UIOHT RIOHTBS, ii to* Six Mosttbb— liiTarisWjr to «a- Ball 4 *" f*’ ordered. - ' *HS TBI-W EEKtY PRESS, . T « c Morlt)ora'Ont or too Olty at Tsmaa Dot-, lo ; ,j t Jl rm. tlilpA l, NOVEMBER 28,1862. DAY. Day was Observed in this City. jjfilllCES IN THE VARIOUS CHURCHES. , in-Kevs. Messrs. Ilutter; Crowell, jjPll? v i iiilH’rs, Eddy, Sntphcn, Seiss, Board- ffcv/lon, Carden', Barnes, J. W. niatlaek, Wylie, Darling, and ■. scenes at the Hospitals, on the f |W .. „ ' ‘ ‘ „i s *c., Asc- Sic* 1 ’ ,s(is something so hearty and universal of our Thanksgiving Day that Ural ha remembered for years to oome. Hot ‘"’b Pennsylvania, but in nearly every loyal lbs people of this'Republio united to give [(, (lod and honor to his name. The depress j' e jtof vat seemed only to sharpen and iriton jj'gonflrat fetling of devotion and good will our cite ns. The weather was exceedingly : ,nd ploasant—a fair type of a beautiful Ho d»y. There were vary few olouds and a of sunshine. In the morning the streets (lied with crowds oMevout ohuroh-goera, and Ksfiornoon bv gay and merry throngs of men, end children. Chestnut street seemed to ‘ ,i,sorted the combined population of Phila k,ftud our Quaker City, in prim and dainty poured along that highway a oeaseiess, lively multitude. ,;l oi our ohurohos there were large eongre ti asswbUd to take part in the customary The various ministers seemed to be fa iths groat theme of loyalty and nation ! $ Ihe addresses of the men of Q-od were 'iilfuiiy interspersed with noble and patriotic ijjKslj. The theatres were also largely at niri, wi thousands enjoyed themselves with e drama- We give in ■ onr paper, to-day, a fair mil of "tat uas done yesterday by our citizens ,js celebrating our Thanksgiving Day, and ibiufc it is a oause for congratulation among , tll p;e that there exists suoh a noble spirit of .jjiby with our oouutry and veneration for liriiyOod. . 5( soldiers bad a merry time. Their friond3 urnybody is a soldier’s friend) took a special pin ministering to their enjoyment. At -all isjspitals kind ladies overwhelmed them with a! and delicate food, and the number of tur itd chickens, not to speak of accompanying tstaU, which were sacrificed to martial ap ai!,ii beyond any moderate effort of the ima- The firemen drove them areund town in I'jjt'i!, and many, a private oitizen gave the i -ta of his chariot to wounded and oonva i! minors. Altogether, they bad a gay and cm, and they found in Thanksgiving a itvsrd for the toils and privations of the lie field, and the hospital, ffIMOK BT REV. E. W. HOTTER, • ; kicJ in tin' New-street Lutheran Church, 1, Via.i-lri'et Eulheran Church, the pastor, Bov. Inns, pi eacbed to a numerous and appreciative . Bla Ibt me was tbe appropriate one of •< Hong 10 lions Duties.” The text was taken from the tiitg ckoie of St. Duke, 24th ohapter, 47th verse, isiltt the simple words: '•Beginning at JimscUem.'’ imßtii : peafeur commenced his disoourse by re* 11 ;i v. the ppeclfio arrangement for the inaugura te Goiptl scheme in the" Jewish metropolis, was t& mogipts now accidental. Various reasons ettiiiiei for it, everyone of which might furnish to tin annd of the 8 ivitur. Tbe one mast largely m »es liile, viz: Tlut the oummand given to tbo litre, "to £.o into all nations and preach the Gospel Kf ersamre." uatorally would «xoite in the prlmi ’tiotca the lcfiiOßt: and Host self-sacrificing enthn- A ci-nmlieior, so vast and so comprehensive, 'with inch a sublime grandeur, involving as it igsfhiyp m iTi ment on distant peoples and terrf •• iceccp ible or perversion It might lead to a sht> rqnailj Important and etinsllr imperative c»i rming on the disciples nearer home, among .•aW/ftl aid people. The exuberant zoal of ; Ictl-Hans hence needßd to be kept within the tt white and sobriety The deßlga of the ar* si, to biffin preeohitig at Jerusalem, was to St (std the lesson should not be lost us) that tniiisi i,j Is .o Interpreted as to lead to asub ,dite utttnal affections it fa misinterpreted, and i lint!) ti much rather to elevate and roll bo them, list ibini, with delightful consistency, Into right- :>! cwisyMnanalva principle of home feeling, u July, settee the speaker as the basis for all the JMttia-ii-lV.wtd. He said, that in order to dia ocmsloot fir lomnt thank utterances lo the iy, It was not Eecaeary to asoet d on hfgh, nor to fete the rftejuor to prueecue pilgrimages to l afliiegea. if we would but open our eyes, we Itccnr dwt oar blessings .lie soattered in thick ililti iiroiiisinn at our very doors The outgush* sei thus ot thanksgiving should go forth, but iktde rake their rise* Jitff'eiwjce was to our bodie?, with their curl- Maf, au-3 taeir oi :t ad »pifttton td uUIUy and ***■ bad been kludl? preserved. No acci* • Mood, had despoiled them of their Sy-'/ibru ibcrnof their strength. Oshfra have ' »bir tifcri. nee Their bodies were either Mil their kindred dust, or else bearing the sot raitfe/alala of ravaging diseaso and desolating connection tbo preservation of ths mental tawioM fhoa'.tlea' was : addnocd. Neither the 'feta n, nor of Immunity, bad been obliged to l( l l:s hearers up In hospitals and asylums, but hKI competent to ohoaae and pursue the vari • U 3 inttllrctiif.l delights, ii print introduced was that of the Family, a aistn, the circle of so many endearments, nay, ail onrjoys and sorrows, and to which nwitotlons were described as subsidiary. Ths “! "ipsits terce to the plough I and the scythe, ‘Mdiusul ths ai b, were stated not to be mere •sis, Mr jet more love of gold, but the appeals sec Millin'!.. Tho audience was exhorted to ■mint iho hare homos—honsos to dwell in— if esa tot t, en eonsruried by fire, nor devastated ■f' 1 Dor hnwed by hostile feet. They should hi" lory were not wandering exiles, bat iwi wr, imbimllons, and many of them ban “l? stj ituiiptnoos boards, and slept nightly on ■ , ar ” t<is i and were being greeted constantly wai wfic-nta. 'Uvliiiich was referredfto—another Jerusalem, ■ uitteij aco»e. Whatever else of comfort and taken away, our- religion! tustitu ■ '•. tiipjjlj continued. Their eyes still eaw i.iejs aui oo4'a statutes were still their songs >i!? 1 'Mr pilgrimage. Despite all hindrances, T ? had seen the banners of King Im< ”tita fonvaid in triumph. The. prospects of (usecousregaiion were adverted to asds ,V, . t hsnSftilnese, on aooonat of the pros ;:!<*iifc Gm had bleseed them, ■ •'itset tte Country were next adverted to, and 6t'i>,'n™ er ’ 9 Wf l> , hoown warm devotion to the littv^ Whilst we had been favored with ilm,.- t *’ ftnd 6in *«lar exemption from epide ''“efe w « had once enjoyed light and peace, i'tI'** 1 '** darkness and trouble. The speaker »»notions,, that the . war, with all Its wo s ajndgment from Sod upon » ?:r.B e aonundiog wickedness of ita inhabl i */,**»' men never present war in a different I ( “ ,e tailed to perceive in it the bronsed ter »;eus;d Omnipotence, we would have to be n , 11 7 1,t ’ M iw moot emphatic inoalcationß. But •- fi ai h c uud, he said, there was aßilverltm 1 ivlsDged (he cheering oonsolonsness that the ■ t Of out aetking—that we had Implored irnobt upon hooded knees, to spare the nation “>< until misguided and infuriated asalots had ’>•' camion almost at onr door-sills,. Oar own 1 n noiatod State—-the keystone of the arch il a Penn, a Franklin, a Bittenhouss, and a * cttriPh with filial lore. Bn tare never had, ;;’'i annii, io contraveDtlon of all logic and ‘tfk to merge the greater In the lesser, * )nra dreamed of elevating onr State ’‘toon far lest rf placing a stiletto in her hand , !»ir(n to b-oime the nation’s bold and bloody riueni ri u«a bad sought to beleaguer this “ ni 110 alternative had Been left bui m beat them book To its, Mr. H. e to ihs tide me espouse—men of peace and I'-wlongs ii w consolation, worth more than a Ilf,, * tu ’’ ,!>a< we have not sent forth onr sons , . 'in soy errand of hate, or Inst, or conquest, , v,r , laondce, to preserve the Bepnblio , d Bnd valor of onr forefathers. Ultd i„ A ‘ terrible as they hod been, we were the n ° oli r-1 ‘ , > or ivnobly surrender the Snip of Hi h™’, 1 ’ 1 ' fl the storm. Onr mission had not i 0 i ! P “live; not to destroy, bnt to fai th,,l". “If righteous phariseelsm, but as a Ibtli tHihe claim that the voles of us ? l " ,re Period of onr history, wonld .4 ’ tteantio crime of having tom c Bin „' 1 I s dost the gorgeous banner of the u wsii ». , tl,s North had to answer for, of h sod a* „ of the South—sine many and '‘inaM o rf.f'Hog the penalty of them now. •Hiluu J-Vk 1 , 1,w * constituted ne part of onr till’v o3me the parricides of Liberty '■•tat , r '’wiids. Hie confidence in the tri -1 Sl i cadi, , 6 | "* s ’‘.““batedl Besting It upon lit L a Wtftet eiinlty of Jehovah’s moral lilt eld I , £i ' Jtl »fed, from his heart’s surcharged „ » aomsn maxim, «• Hover despair of the ;^J?H oa^ llDn >B l) >»tt<#> ! ’ waa now taken Stan, % ,! leB0 > likewise, .began at home . 11 Minin,,, Loa,>t, he> w (noted, who, when •tlotil,* 0 u ! 8 ca n*e Of the Greek*, then »«ur " re Phed, “ Madam, the Greeks are fr!’*'v 0w Scripture* told ns, that •ir-s n.„„ ‘, ur . h . is own hath denied the faith, s ! eftut?/'i tI S? eI A ’ Not that be would di«* ««t, ; 1 Gospel tonnevasgelizol n&« '•i»n'i T Wfl had our hands very full at k “> hi ), 1 , 8 , a o,rclfl oaueed by the Blogiag of water. It radiated from the oe, r ® the agitation was greatest*- 1 *'f/v 4 to tho field of its own ex* ?***«»■•»., *** hftd preserved dor bodies, we ' r , him, » living sacrifice. iFoor t! ;:f s ’- 1 ? been preserved, they sboaU bo st, .. and patriotic end*. It He had prc h*t,,' "'- l b rjooubled atol should wo pra? '.^inon.,""l,! 01 her extan don If we ha l tll li 0 j j, '■•O'tfti*, then Bhonld onr study be to [lir "' 1 '" If God had prospered onntn ."’'tiadanoe wo ehonld oommuriicate to s “*'s 1 1. , , con »try was in peril, tha more i'!i, |" ‘ llB Government, and tha charter on nj lnletry to the kick and wounded *a-iitjj. 1 Weary, deeming no Sacrifice ot ■ f t»d!ri» r Boai!8 ) in their behalf, too great. 18 Ms'* v “ “Ported, •* the dotlee of good £***, n.. 8 virtue* of the patiibf and the ~’h( n,,) ' ,?® ,9 f enemle* we have to fear are . !' W! "H'ini, ‘ tu 7, bnt lnxary > venality, idle i/httte t WbWi l" ‘he ond, to M >«ihtwl,? ’ d)Bgraoe ‘he nationalohsrao- Xr > genera! ruin. ‘O-Msv ~ So , Kl '-T. BE WITT TAEMAGE, b - S»!ll!! t fc l, ! !0 “ a Bclormert Dutcli Si( l[jte lth *lreet, above Brown; !lma honored naage, the three Bo •BUt,. of lhla olty nnU « a 111 totlr thanks- HII„ , " ! “ on *» pteaohed In the Second Cti < miration, Seventh street, above flliftll beat their swords ft ««Penter (nconrißßd the fold u ,.* vratketb with the hammer, him thjt that handle the pen of the VOL. 6.—NO. 101. The preacher announced as Ms subject, “The oon «naat# of the American plough, hammer, and pan." Under there heads he disoursed the agricultural, me chanical, and literary Interests of the oouatry. Thanksgiving Day hat come 1 diva ua a full organ to day. Pull ont all the glad-stops, and while we preaoh, and while we pray, and while we sing, « Let us mtke a joyful noire unto the Bock of our Saivatloi.” Gather your families together. Tnough other days be robbed o it, let your table to-day look like banqueting. and long absent boys come home to the fatted calf. r.Bt the chil dren bo apparelled In their best robes, and crown all the rases wilh garlands. In the moroing, let the temples of God ring with Boeasnab, and all yonr homes at night be filled with congratulation, laughter, and song. Turn on alllhelights—bracket, and ohandelior, and candelabra, Throw another armfnll on the hearth, and let the fire blazenp right cheerily, Thanksgiving Day has conm! Many thlnlc the proclamation for Thanksgiving inapt for times like these. But the whole uuivorse is not out of johit. The same fountains gush out from the rook to slake the wayfarer’s thirst, and pour dawn through eauednets to cool the throat of oitles. The same sky overspans ns, bright with flocks of fleecy clouds straying on heavenly pastures, and the night Btands Its sentinel stars on the outskirts of heaven—tho advanced pickets of a host which no man can number Tho winds are laden wilh balm and heatih, and li tempsred to the shorn lamo.” The corn of full ahoofcs 1* : tessing np from the hashing pegs, and the Bhcaf binders arc singing ‘‘Harvest Home " Hot* for the head, coats for tho back, shoes for the feet, mu fliers for lie neck,, staves for tottering limbs, and glasses for failing eight, and easy beds when eur limbs ache, and good doctors to take eare of ns wh*n we are slok, end friends to laugh with ns when wa langh and cry with ns when wo cry, and a whole world paokod inti of joy from the deepest cavern all the way up to the far thest star. The country has not utterly gono to ruin. There has been no recession of the seasons. The Apala chicola and tho Arkansas are not in battle with the Hud son and Androicoggin. There is no war between the Bine Mountains ana the idiroudac. The same waters which wash the Ohio wheat fieids go down to help grow tho Louelana sugar cane, The same groat mountain range la admitted Into Federal and Confederate linos. The storms go anywhere without flag of trace. Thus the most of the country is at peace, and while short lived perishable men jostle each other in combat, the moun tains, and the rivers, and the lakes are loya’; and, over all, in calm Altnightlooss, the Lord reigneth: let the earth rejoice. God is good. Eoraei.hiug higher than the American plough hath cultured tho harvests; something sharper than tho Amerioan axe hath hewn down the forests: something heavier than the American hammer built the cities. He who walked .Genesaret hath tra versed onr lakes. He who helped Simon Peter with hie Bet ha'h blessed our fisheries. He who plucked the ears of corn, rubbing them in his hands, hath heiped ga ther onr harvests. He who planned Jerusalem hath helped build onr cities. He who tarried at Bethany hath set all around about us the villages. Hot a ship’s keel but be helped set it, or a wheel’s tire bat he helped rorge it, or a buckwheat’s blossom but ho grew it, or a robin’s wing but ho tinged it. Let ua he hopeful. Ton have heard the tramp of a mighty host. From the granite hills of Hew England they came down an avalanche of strength and heroism. Tho West has flamed with enthusiasm like their own prali ies when autumnal fires blaze over them, and twenty millions of men, with thtir right arm lifted to heaven, lave sworn in the nano of Him that livsth for ever and ever that onr instllutiocsshall besnatohed from under the hoofs and gun- carriages of insurrection. Starry flag! Gloilong flag! Dear old flag! God bo praised that we’have a Burnside and a Banks, a Heintzelmah and a Hooker to oarry it. Forward may It march, and high may it wave, long after the rebellion, and insurrec tion,' and demagogulam, and fanaticism, and slavery bar e gone down In flat rain, as though all tho thronre or hell bad fallen in one wild crash! Go homo now to your sumptuous repasts. And, oh! as you gather yonr families together, if thero he one ab- Bint from you, and absent from earth, a chillish voice, that was moat gladsome last Thanksgiving day: or If you miss a father or mother from the circle, who always re joiced over .their children and grandchildren oneuch fes tal days, du not let the Borrow keep you from thankful ness; but when you are seated at the table, and merry ■pikes are lraßhed, and your heads are bowed for the blessing,“Oh, giye thanks unto the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy enduretb forever.” SERMOS BY DR WIIXIAM MORRIS, Delivered at tlie__AssemWy Buildings, Tenth and Chestnut streets. A discourse of characteristic power was preaolie4 yea today morning at the Assembly Buildings, Tenth and Oteitrnt atreets, from the passage jjf Scripture con tained in, Ist Timothy, It, 1-8, of which- the following is a brie! synopsis: The twelve apostles were “ ambassadors for Christ.” They received their commission from the risen Lord; and their credentials on tho day of Pentecost. Paul was the embassador extraordinary for Christ and His apostle to the Gentiles. He received his commission from the glori fied Lord; and his credentials were the same as those which attested the commission of tho ,twelve. Inspired by the Holy Spirit—and with the oloae of his own ministry in view—Fan! gave written tostructioas to Timothy the evangelist. These were for hlsguldausa In teaching the saints; and of these, the passage just read is a part. The relations of the passage are manifold. 1. The natural relations of all men towards God are involved. At first the relations in which God was known were those of Creator and moral Baler. After tne flsod, Ho was known in the additional relationship of the Pre server of men.” When Hoah had offered sacrifloe, God premised that the water! of a delage should no more go over the earth; and thdt, “while,, the ear,L remains, ■ seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and,night, shall not cease.” The token of that covenant is the rainbow— the hieroglyphic pledge of the foithfnlness of God to the absolute promise He bad made. The natural relations of man towards God include certain particulars: Men as the creatures aud the pre served creatures of God; the subjects of His moral go vernment, and the recipients of his providential mercies; without any deserving, and without the capability of making any return. Out of the natural relations of men towards God certain moral'obligations arise. Apart from all reference to grace, salvation, and eternal life, all men ought to confess to God thoir sinfulness, add their need of Hia mercies AH men onght to ask God for the bounties of His bund; which He has promised, and re ceive the snppltes of His providence wtch a sense of tra wt.rminess; giving thanks continually for the sunsljtne and the rain; for fruitful seasons; for every form of the .mnnsßcence of God: and for the preservation which His power affords. All this, and much more, all men ought to do. But ibis is what mankind does not They do not glorify God, as God; neither are they thankful. Practi cal atheism has *• ruled the ascendant,” from the days ol the tower In Shlnar to the present time Men’s natnral relations to God include the boundan duty of the nttlons, as such, to confess G)d and to glo itty Him. Kings and Presidents, and “ all who are in authority,” ought to confess and honor God; snDjscts and citizens ought to do the tame The nations, as such, ought to confess their iniquities, and the bountiful mercy of God. and His protective power, and, especially, His sovereign rule. But this the nations have not done. They have rather assumed a right to sunshine and rain and fruitful seasons. They glon in their resources, and, in effect, assert that Power is God. Ia effect, they say, with Pharaoh, “My river ia mine own;” and, with Nebnchadnezzep, “Is not this great Babylon that/have built lor the house of the kingdom and for the glory of tny majesty 2” All this was, from the beginning, known to God. In the ordered ways of His moral government, and in Eubi trvioncy to the purpose of His grace, God has given all dominion over the nations to Bis son, Jesus Ohrlat. "He is Lord of all.” Jeans Christ is King. Ho ha,not yet asserted His right to reign, but He will do so in due time. He will tike the kingdom. The world does not like to retain God in acknowledgment. 2d. Therefore, God has constituted his saints and sons the priesthood of this lower creation. AU tone Chris tians are priests—God’s priesthood—“a holy priest hood,” a 11 royal priesthood.” To deny this, and assert a clast priesthood instead, is virtually to den; the priest hood of Jean?, the Bon of God, the High Priest of his saints, whom He lias made “priests unto His God and Pettier.” All tone beiieverß in Jesus, “theOhrist, the Son of the living God”—true God and real man, in one person for ever—are priests by divine right. They are therefore to offer supplications, prayers, and thanksgivings, for kings (chief magistrates), and all who are in authority, aud for all men. God will be acknowledged on the earth. There fore He lias ordained His priesthood, and their priestly relatioi sand service. Priests are “ordained for men.” The priesthood of the s lints is heavenly; but they have an earthly history. They are pilgrims on earth, as Jesus was, While here, they are commanded of God to be sub ject to civil government. They are to be thus subject, on the principle tbat “the existing authorities are ordained of God,” :Thetr temporal subjection to civil authority ia involved in their heavenly priesthood.. Sedition, insur-. rection, treason, rebellion, on the part of a Christian, would be a great and daring Bin against God. Ho Chris tian, knowing hia priestly standing, and exeroisiag its functions, conid be a rebel against “the ordinance of G. d”—civil government. He could not pray, as Gad’s priest, far ail who are in authority, and at the same time rebtlagaiDßtthe existing authorities; and he could net refuse, thus, to pray, without disobeying God, and virtu ally disowning his heavenly standing and priesthood. Civil rulers have no right to command the children of Gcd and servants of Christ to pray for them, and for the support and maintenance of the civil government. That would bo a usurpation on their part. Bnt it would be a great Bin and shame to aChristlan to furnish a pretext, on the part of civil rnlere, for such a daring usurpation of the rights of God. 3 The spiritual and the temporal objects to be sought by prie«tly praj era: That God’s saints and priests * ■ may lead a quiet And peaceable life in . all godliness and ho nesty,'” Ibat, while exercising spiritaal TirtP.es, they may enjoy temporal and civil quietude; that, while en compassing the civil authorities, cities, and citizens With the protection of theirs, they may be under the pro tection of Goa’s ordinance, knowing it to be of Gad, and that they may please God by doing His will from the heart. •1. The moral and providential relations of God toward men, as Bis unthankful creatures and disloyal subjects, are sustained by the sole mediation ol His Son, ‘'the man Christ Jtsns,” All the manif.ld mercies of God’s providence to men and to nations are bestowed and con tinued through the mediation of Jesu3 Christ, and on the basis of the fact that He gave Himself an adequate ransom on behalf of all men to this end. This is “ the testimony in Its proper seasonthat is, whea the pre serving care and providential bounUfnluess of God are the theme. By virtue of his benevolence, God desires all men to be preserved, and to come to acknowledgment of the truth that He is the trne God and “the Preserver of men.” To tbit end, all saints are enjoined to offer np praieiß and thanksgiving. God, their Heavenly Father, commands His children, His priests, to “ pray every where, lifting up holy hands without wrath and dispu ting,” and to lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all god liness and honesty—doing good nnto all men, that they may be, manifestly, the children of their Father who is in Heaven. SJERMOS BY REV. X. J. SHEPPARD, The two congregations worshiping in the Buttonwood street (N. 8 ) Presbyterian Ohnrch, below Sixth', and the Central Church, on Coates street below Fourth, united yesterday morning at the lattgg edifice to observe the day, the sermon being preached by the pistor of the for mer, IPov.T. J. Sheppard. There was a largo congrega tion in attendance, and the sermon was listened to with interne interest throughout. The Bev. James T, Mit chell, pastor of this church, was also in the pulpit, and took a part in the exercises. i* The text of the discourse was Acts xxil., 25—29—the socccssfoi appeal of Paul to Boman nationality for pro tection from the suffering and shame of scourging. Upon this incident in the life of Paul. the preacher based a discussion of our country's nationality as a ground of thanksgiving, Be defined nationality as the spirit or life ol a nation ; the sentiment which hinds the many together and makes them one; the feeling of common interest and common sympathy wbloh takes form in com mon institutions. He showed this nationality is properly onrs i first, from the war of Independence; next, from the political institutions which, after the close of the war of Independence, the people, from Hew Hampshire to Georgia, framed; and next, from the still fragrant me mo) ies of those great men who achieved our independ ence and framed our institution*;' Coder this last point of the argument be adverted to the for midable attempt to destroy nationality now making, but contended that they who make the attempt and they who. resist it hold in equal reverence ’-the tames of Franklin, Adams, Hamilton. Hancock, Jifferson Madison, Morris, Carroll, Trumbull, But lidge, and, peerless above all, Washington. Be ex prrsnd his conviction Jhat there were few men, in all the land—South, North, Bait, West—who would not recite with equal enthusiasm tho story of *nr revolu tionary struggle, and who would not claim with equal pride tbo glory of descent from that brave generation which made our revolutionary struggle: a magnificent snocess. He argued from all that a genuine Bentlmsnt of i ationality is the common sentiment of the whole land 'tbo preacher then paastdto ft spaciflcalioa of tho uori live bet cuts of nationality. The first benefit, protection, was illnitrattd'by the esse of Korz’a, the Hungarian re fugee The second benefit, the stimulus which nation aliy give to a nation’s growth and greatness, was illustrated by our country’s history, since the memorable day when colonial dependence was th own off The tbiid benefit, the resistance which nationality offers to disintegration and decay, was illustrated by ihe daman hiratioia which the millions of loyal ones are now. making in opposition to the nation’s death or dismemberment; The list benefit specified, the imperative demand which natiovahtgmakeefor union, was illustrated by a num ber ot confederations bearing on the point, that two con federacies must of necessity be hostile ones; hit the censes making two confederacies would not cease work ing with two, hot would go on until the two were twenty, and that discordant States would fall an easy prey to Foreign Powers. In this connection, he quoted the striking words of Mr. Oobden, of tho BritLh Parliament, in a late speech to his oonatltnents. The conclusion was the utterance of a strong oonviotlon that the Nation would live and not die. SPEMOfi HI REV. 3. M, CROWELL, Delivered in the Penn Square, (0, S.) Presby- terian Churclii Broad st., aboVc Chestnut. Text —Kpheeians, if, 20.— •* Giving thanks alwars, for sit things, unto God (he (other, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ," The Bbtubh. —This annual occasion of Thanksgiving to God for the blessings and meroies of the year, finds us still under the shadow of dork and threatening oionds. As Ihe long and weary months have been rolling on, there hae been growing upon the minds ot the community at large the feeling of disaster and distress. Already have the people been gathered for the penitent confession ot sin, and for the humble acknowledgment of the hand of God in judgment, but the troubles that brought'them to gether arc silllupon them; the same dangers threaten, and the same perplexities yet surround our troubled land. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that as the re suit of this long-abiding calamity, the sentiment has been graduaily.tettling down into the naiads of maay. that tberors but little call for thankfulness ttf-day,in the midst of the evils which encompass us. The feeling of Eome is that the dirge of lamentation, and the sigh of fasting,-and the subdued strains of melancholy, ara more In keeping on this day than the jubilant songs of our gratitude or the glad voices of our praise I But the Word of God gives no sanction to such a thought as this- The injunction of the text prescribes, directly, that the giving of thanks shall be a part of the daily life. Anticipating the fact in human history, that its experience Is varied with alternate joy and grief, it then gives the specific direction that in all, and through oil, there shall be the giving of thanks to God. How wide-sweeping is the language: “Giving, thanks always, fer ail things.” Thankful all the . time, and thankful forallevmtsl It is to this Scriptural sentiment that I wish now to call attention, as we are met in ths house of God for thanksgiving. I would not dwell upon the oalamiHsa that-are upon ns. Alas! the eye of every one sees enough; and the ear of every one hears enough, and the imagination of every one conceives enough, of the was and bloodshed that have filled our land. Bather would •I inculcate the simple practical Scriptural duty of seek ing alter a eubdned and thankful eplrit, even in thess da' sox gloom. Bather would I urge upon your notice the injunction of Paul, in the text: “Giving thanks always, unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ ” Observe, then— I. The roas.ns for thanksgiving, whioh are afforded even new; and, II The desirableness of having the thankful spirit which tho text enjoins. As to the occasions for thankfulness, let us notice: 1. That the evils which we deplore are the direct result o/ human fin and infirmity God has led us, as a people, iromour earließt history, by a good, kind hand, giving us the virgin toil of this new continent, whtn the old world was sinking into feebleness, ami granting ns: a pure Ohristisrity, and a sjstem of govern meet framed under the light of divine revelation. And yet, in, re urn, we have only abused this divine kindness. Oar very pros perity has bred oc eruption, and its deleterious effects are felt tbre ugh our whole national system! # * * * We are not,:however, to blame Gad far this; and, there fore, even in the midst of our terrible national strife, we bavereason to give thanka to God. 3, then, on the other Band, when we turn to the tm. mediate gifts of Gtd'x great bounty ve find that they have been poured down profusely upon us: Lai ua not fail to count tor blessings, even in oar fiowning day. Jim as the sun is more beanttrnl when he glancisttp-rn na from cut the bloods of the wintry day, and just ag the starß gleam in brilliant glory amidat the darkness that cover all the earth, so tho mercies which have come directly tone from odd, should appear to naia a radianoe of beauty only made the brighter by tho darkness which we dread. (a ) Bow wonderfnlly, for example, have onr per eonal comforts been preserved to na amidtt all onr national turmoil! Axe we not leaaatnng and wounded to day, by these calamities, than we feared two years ago we would be ? Itlstrue the air has been laden with the groans of the dying and the criea of the wounded. Ths roar of cannon, the bursting of shells, the hail of bullet*, and the clash of steel, these have all been heard, but we have heard in them only the voice of divine retribution fot human sin, while all the time, calmly, peaoifnlly, steadily, God's golden harvests have been ripening The tramp of armed men has shaken the trembling land; but silently and with a steadfast majesty of glorious munifi cence Nature has brought her yoailr tribute rviih an overlavish hand to stock and crowd the bams and granttrifßCf undeserving man; * (S ) Then again; afar from the scenes of bloody war God has evoked , the beautiful spirit of benevolence! and started the tenderest sympathies of onr nature tn behalf of the brave and generous men who have been brought to our doors diseaeed and wounded, to be comforted, and healed, and helped towards Heaven. ' 1 (o ) And can any one fair to appreciate with gratitude the illustrations which have’been afforded, even in this melancholy war, of the moat generous spirit of seit stciifice among the tens of thousands who have gone away to suffering and to death? Ah! what multitudes of crave young heroes lie bnried to day In obscure and distant graves, where no loving friends can ever go to plant a flower or to shed a tear! And fn the ranks of the private soldier, as well as among officers of every grade, there have been examples of noble endurance such as the angels would admire, though the world should never know it. The pure spirit of patriotic devotion which has been manifested is certainly an exhibition of the better side of onr nature for which wo may be thankful. (d.) Besides this, has there not been a tendency in'all these calamities driving ns nearer to God’s throne, as the only-one that can help ns? Has He not been teaching ns lessonß which we should recognize as meant to do ns grod? Just as in the case of the commercial disasters »-f 165 T and ’6B. may it not be possible that onr whole na tion is swept by the eartbonake, and the storm, and the fire, only that we may hear God’s still small voice coming after it 1 Oh, may it not be that JSo imiownrHls mys terious providence openings new entrance for Ills truth, and new paths otpower for His spirit, so that wa may be blest—in a different way, indeed, but bleat for alt; so that out of the cloud, and the smoke, and the din of the struggle there may result a series of blessings which shell sanctify ns ail. - (e } And who shall estimate the countless mercies of pur boutehold and daily life? What shall be said of the abundant bitesing in the means of graoe, the sanctuary and the open tible, the place of prayer, the mercy of Calvary, and the hope of glory f Ob, we must not for get these uniet inlets along the shore, into which the storm-tossen waves have not been permitted to enter; we rjnst, we will be grateful for these mercies ofour shel tered Jives which the temprsts of national tumult have wholly foiled to toneb or blast ~ II But the text implies that a thankful spirit is a de sirable attainment. It is eo— 1 Because it is in harmony with that humility whisk becomes us all . If it be the trne sentiment of our hearts that ‘-it ts only of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed entirely,” then shall we not be thankful If, in stead of being thus altogether consumed, we are only somewhat harassed ard burdened? Lowliness of miad, hading ns to demand bnt little and to expect but little, will certainly tend to make us thankful for what we have. * * * # * # 3 A thankful spirit is to be desired because it draws us into a generous mood. It is the very contrary of that exacting Bpirft of r elfishness which takes as a matter of course every good thing in life, and then chafes and frets when one unwelcome element is mingled with the cup of blessing, *= # * * .. , 3 The spirit of perennial thanksgiving la desirable yot again, because it is such an effectual antidote to sadness. Sometimes this is the very charm 1-y which cares are driven away and tronbles are ended We all need to brood less over onr evil things, and to sing God’s praises more. Who of us has not discovered this secret, that if we take wbat seems to ns a painful trial, and lift it up so as to see it in ths light ot God’s countenance, it becomes transformed into a blessing? Oh, that we oonll extract the sting from sorrow by our happy, cheerful spirit of gratitudeland praise! 4. The spirit of thankfulness is to: be desired also as the best preparation for prayer. # # # 6. Ana in the last place, it is the best basis of faith and hope as to the future. Lifting up our song of thank fulnessrwben beneath the rod and down in the shadow, may we not cherish some glimmering of hops that God will yet remove His stroke, and lift us up again 1 Oh, If the heart of tbis tom and bleeding nation but repose its confidence in Him, He will show ns his meroy.: He on whose will tbs life of nations is suspended, and to whom all the shields cf the earth belong—onr fathers’ God—is Be not onr God, and shall we not trust Him, and adore Him, and love Him, and wait, with meek thanksgiving and in patieDt duty, for the day when He will deliver ns out cf all onr disircssee ? SERMON BY REV. ALBERT BARNES, Delivered nt First Presbyterian Church. The Church of Bev. Albert Barnes, Washington Square, was comfortably filled yesterday memlng, and an eloquent, earnest, and patriotic discourse preaoh edby the pastor. The Bermon was one to which no synopsis conld do jus .ice, characterized, as it was, by loftiness of eloquence and depth of thought. It was such a discourse that would be willingly listened to with interest and profit, were it ten times as long. He select ed no particular passage of Scripture for his text, but dwelt immediately ou the topics suggested by the day and the occasion. He truthfully remarked that there never .was a period in the history of onr country when so many topics and reflections euggested themselves to a speaker on an oc casion like the present. Involved In a war, such as has never been witnessed in any other nation, with nume rous enemies of the Government all over the land, with no manifest. sympathy in any portion of the earth, and while European countries are rejoicing at the probable breaking eown of our Government, under these circum etsnces this thanksgiving la held. We meet to- day to inquire what we are to be thankful for; what there is to encourage us Id our gloom; and what can yet be done to save our afflicted land. He would venture to make some suggestions, which occurred to his mind when reviewing the past, and considering the awfnl crisis of the present. Altheugh he had reached ah advanced ege, he still cherished a hope for his country, liberty, and mankind. He would venture to'diiate upon what seemed necessary for the restoration of peace to our land. Bis remarks would be loyat and free. He bad always been a warm friend of the freedom of speech. When that is destroyed liberly suffers. We have, he said, one of the best Constitutions in the world. Yet it has imperfections and evils, and until they are removed we cannot erjoy permanent peace. Our present war shows the extent of that evil; shows that it is necessary for ns to return to righteousness. The past of our wholo history., is secure. There are Saratoga, Princeton, and Yorktown, and there they will remain forever. * The world knows by heart the kind and character of the men who settled this country. We all know why the Pilgrims left old England. Neither Greece nor Borne, cor any other nation, can boast of such principles as thore which obtained in our land when we esta blished ourselves a nation. The War of Independence wBb not a war of barbarism; it Was not stained by bad faith or dishonorable deeds. No revolution has been weged to give so little offence or to shock the susceptibi lities of mankind. No clause of our Constitution was put there st the point of the bayonet In securing the adoption of the Constitution there was no vote given in its iupporton acoonnt of threats. That the Oonstitutiou could not have been made better it would be absurd to deny, for that same Constitution provides for amend ments to itself, The fathers clearly perceived that time m'ght render change necessary. It was one of the best ibe world ever produced. It has oreated us a great na tion. It bos mede the North what it is; it has made the .South what it is ; and what neither section would have been without it. lihaa stared us from border wars;,it hes lncreasid our commerce, added to our intelligence, and caused lidnstry to flourish. Mr. Barnes contrasted the course of ,our nation in re fefence to intei vemlor, as compared with that ef ether nations. We had never interposed in the wars of other nations. We have never interposed in their affairsi ex cept to relieve thtir sufferings and miseries. We inter posed when Greece was suffering from starve ion We Interposed when Ireland called for help in Per famine, end rendered that aid which Ireland never forgot, but which England has. The part is fixed, as to the growth and power of our own resources. We have shown the world that we are great in the development of untold wealth. No other nation has manifested inch resources—not England, not France, not Spain, not Greece, not Persia, not As; rla. No ancient or modern country can shew such progress as the world has witnessed in our laud. We inherited from England our great evil. It was forced upon the colonies without their consent, biavtry was introduced here in British ships, under British laws, and with British aid. Toe evil was en tailed upon ns. It struck Us roots deep, and we have i ot yet been able to remove It. Now,' when it is lisely -bat the removal shall be accomplished, England looks upon the spectacle with an enthusiastic pleasure. No word of syn pal by cornea to us from her, but rather a joy at our troubles. Yet it is consoling to know that to -day i hero is no land where there is so much peace, piety, and 'Trietianlly asinthis, We meet to-day, said the speaker, to be thankful for ell the blessings of the past-year. It has been such: a PHILADELPHIA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1862. ,j ear ns we never experienced before. It will give more wcik to the historian than all onr preview history. There have been deeds, indeed, to fill the land with sorrow. The central portion of our land Is one great hospital. If tbis were a d,y for fasting, humiliation, and prajer, we would probably see more about which to appropriately descant: But there has bsen much for which :we should be thankful. Our land, even In the deiolations of war, has yielded abundance; The fields have never yielded richer harvests., Sever In onr history has there been so great an export trade. The past year has been remarkable for Its health. Our land is still a prosperous and happy land, Our schools and seminaries of learning have not closed. Our churches are prosperous. There 1b not now, on the face of he'globe, aland whore there-are : so many evidonosg of prosperity and life. We have maintained peace with foreign nations. The Southern Confederacy had not yet been recognized by any of, the Powers of Europe. The power of the Government to sustain itself has been im mense. Notwithstanding odr reverses, the rebellion has not been succesefal. The North is still united. No par ties dare be formed here to raise, an issue of the over throw of the Government. The year just closing may be one ef the most remarkable of years. It will Bottle for ever the Question of self-government, and show to the world that republican institutions are destined to live forever. The year will be remarkable because it wijl brook forever the bonds of servitude,, and advance our nation etill further in the progress of the world. We hove Diready abolish'd slavery la the Dlatriot of Colum bia. The territories are free, and as territories are free forever. A blow has been.giyon to the dave trade this year which it never received before, and one man has expiated with his death that great crime. Hr; Barnes eloquently touched upon the progress of the national cause and I ho.victories of the national arms, and predicted an early and happy termination to the struggle for the Union. j- DR. SEISS’ SERMON, Delivered in St. John’s Lutheran Church, Race street, below Sixth. Text: Ex, xii, 26 —“ What mean ye by this service?*’ Dr. Btiss commenced his discourse by reading the Governor's proclamation, recommending the observance ol theday. He then said that a few reflections and eervations, in connection with the general objsots of thb proclamation, was aii that he intended to present. I Fint, he said, it was assumed intherooODMDendatioa of the Governor, and it was the desire of those respond* itig to it to witness the eftmo at their belief, that there certainly is a God, a personal Almighty Being, to whom praise and worst!p are one from ell States and alipeople. We cannot teli, he said, all that this God is, nor how He is, hot are satisfied that He is Wo feel that he mu it be, and, therefore, we believe it. The turning of the needle to the magnet pi ovee the existence of the magnet, and so the inspect which inclines universal man to the recogni tion ei some worsbipfnl superior Power atgoes the ex istence of inch's Power. Man, with all his wondrous at tribntesof body. heart and mind, could not be a mere accident, and this grand universe of worlds could nqt have been the result of > mere fortuitous concourse of things. There must be some First Cause , embodying in itself the force of all- causes, the Intelligence or all in telligences, the power of all powers, the good of all goodness, eternal, incorporeal, invisible, filling all space, supporting all ixistoncs, infinite, absolute, and forever unsearchable and unknown. Everything on earth—its mountains, its coeanß, its Islands, its continents, its high relations in the sisterhood of worlds, its eoniplix motions, its thousand million of human inhabitants, its ninety thousand distinct-orders of vege table productions, with their curious designs and unend ing beauties, tts countless kinds of animal orders—when cbnlemptatcd fills with adoring wonder at the inteUi ■ geice that contrived, the goodness that arranged, and the power that sustainsand directs all theße things. We look up, and the wonder increases, A. boundless ex panse surrounds ue, peopled with myriads of other mastive in sit?, more exalted In character; and donbtiesa more numerous and glorious in their popu lations—all moving, ail in harmony, all eubrorviont to: each other, and all woven together as one infinite, eter nal, living Poem celebrating some great Maker’s praise. The wing of thought grows weary in the attempt to sur vey it We are overpowered by thß very anblimity of our contemplalicn But above, before, beyond all this, and embracing it as the sea embraces the fishes that swim in it, there is a hidden Unit,, comprehending in himself the forces that produced, and tho wisdein,'goodness;-and pewer which built, arranged; supports, and governs,.all this vast, living, incomprehensible mention; -and, when we thus move ontinto the stupendous wllderaers of God head, we feel that we would be “/colt” not to' believe tfcat jHe is , and that there cani be no plainer duty,'no higher happiness, no snbßmer glory, than for States and nations great men and small, to oast themselves humbly at his feet, and cry bis name in fathomless adoration for 6ver and ever. • - Second, be said that it was in some Benae assumed in the Governor’s recommendation, and a scriptural truth, which it was intended to acknowledge in,these services, that government is an ordinance of God, and that He is the prater Governor among the nations. This,'he said, wss a great fact, often m-siaken. Political philosophers hsd attributed the origin of government to the efforts of mm to protect themselves against eaoh other. This was not Ibe exact truth. _ Man never, was that wild and iso latid. independent being which he is represented to'have been by some or our writers on law. History contradicts it. It Is a mere fiction. Man was made a social being, and had recial relations and responsibilhies from the be giißtog. His subjection to law was not a mero measure of expediency on his part, hnt,Uke his nature and his religion, it came direct from’God,- The Bible is our best authority and exponent in the matter. It traoas society, and an order to regulate it, to the Creator himself." The man isgo re ation involved rulership and subjection ; for it is ordained that “wives submit themselves to their , own hntbands ” The rcla-ian of parent and' child in volved the seme. and amplified it still further as genera tions widened, bringing forth the patriarchal rnlo, which presently resolved itself into the monarchical, whioh was limited again by revolutions; and so camo all pailticai rule snd government of all forms, in all the earth, down even jfot everything in.a'government ia divine. Man has power into evil forms, and.need Ivto bad account; belongs to God, it is under the control God. and we are under obligation to see tsodin It; - and to enbmit to it with all becoming piety and oboe diecct. The power is of God, the necessity for it, and the right to ejercUe h, assise the moral prlnstplaswhioh" are to govern both it and its subjects;'but the •precise mcdea in which its varied functions, are to be exercised are subject to many modifications that take ' their rise in the choice, passions, or peculiar eironos- 1 stances of men in particular, pieces and periods. The greatest misfortunes that hare ever befallen states and kixgc on.s have originated in absence of the propsrjreodg-' nil ion of God as the proper governor. He mu»t tho roughly pervade our public ministrations with His laiws and spirit; or they assume a character which dooms them to destruction. . Hence the wrecks of empires, and drifss ol broken greatness, and graves of kingdoms, thrones, and dynasties with which thewaysides of. time are strewn. Men have taken authority and ignored God, or set as 'de Bis rule, aidspeedy desolation wsb the result. If a people will snbmit to the government of God; and this world's rulers exercise their powers as from Him and in His fear, and states hold to Him ob the proper Herd, and Master, ■there is blessedness;'for “ happy is that* people whose ged is the Lord ” But tyranny, and usurpation, and the disregard of His supreme authority, whether in rulers or subjects, is the herald of certain ruin. It is a great mistake in subjects to suppose that they can disregard the public authority as they; please; and it is an egaaliy fatal mistake for men in office and power to suppose that the same moral laws do not bind; them officially which hind them in private life.. This having of a double moral code—Okie for the private conscience and another for po litical conduct—is 5 foul heresy, and the bane of liberty; it is the trtatnre-henseof national run. God’B law fa one as He ia one, and He must rule by that law, or there ia no other help. Third, he said, that it was assumed in the case of the Governor, end a truth which the observers of this ap pointment desired also to acknowledge with becomingde votion, that we have much reason for thankfulness for the blessings of government as Providence has dealt them to ns. Tbe apoßtlo Paul had given dlrection thatgining of thanks be made for kings, and for all that are in au thority ; that is, tor the blessings of government -There ate few g< Tenements which are not a blessing. What our blessings in this respect are, cannot be reckoned tip in words. They are as vast and great as civilization it self. Government is not the mere officer, hor the mere power with which he is clothed, nor the mere law which he istosee. enforced; but the whole,economy of appii atots, agreements, convictions and customs the community is pervaded, moved, and held together. It is not mere lawifhat determines our social life, makes us seeju-e in our pursuits, and breathes upon us the spirit oi harmony and happiness. Written codes and constitu tions alone could never do that. Wo are governed by traditions more than by statutes. There are histories, aod natural features of the territory occupied, and many hid den Bprings of influence which ente r into the composition of tbo government of a people, additional to what is writ ten in their lawbooks and official decrees, or embodied in thefr public arrangements. It is a ipirit, whichmoulds, distinguishes, and controls, by many secret workings, ,in the family, the neighborhood, the school, the church, the circles of holiness, the court, the legislature, up td the highest official authority. It is the written and the unwritten aggregate of the reason, faith, traditions, and common sense oi a people, determining as well their modes of business, and their manners, as their public ar rangements and national institutions. And, located as we are. in the very heart of the world’s progress, sur rounded with oil the best results of its great advance, rnentr, the blessings which have thus come to us are suoh las have seldom come to any people. We have hot been without minjiings of evil In our cup. There have been .errors, weaknesses, .wickednesses, disorders, andinierrnp tions td peace, breeding disaster, and thraatenihg"aaar cby; but, with all, we have had a good, government, competed with human governments generally. We have been er joying an elevated civilization, free consciences, and exalted privileges. Even with all the triais-that are upon nr, the sun shines not on a more highly blessedand •favored pit pie. We have to lament misunderstandings, and a schism which is entailing much pain, anxiety, be reavement, and gloomy apprehension upon many; still, our lot is in a pleasant place, end God has given U 3 a : goodly herilage. For what other would we exchange ii ! Bow long it will be continued to us, we cannot foretell. But, whether the etripes and stars are to fleet on in glory, or droop to be trampled fbreverin the 'dust, for the present we have’great reason for thankfulness. We still are free Odr enemies have. net been permitted to triumph over ns, or very materially to disturb the repose or our homos.; And it is due to God that we should give thanks and praise to Him for that good providence of bis to which we owe It all. There be those who Beem to think we have no causa for thankfulness; that, -when we: consider lho desolations which are on many portions of our landltheijijpujguds of lives and millions of : treasure'tnat are being eacrluctd, the amezing depletion that is going on in aft the re sources of the country, the unnumbered homes in mourn ing over their dead, their wounded, and their abßent ones, the failing of confidence, the fearful trial which is causing all the beams and timbers of the government to creek and bend as if ready for their fall, and all to no fur lher purpose than to show ns that we have reached the brink of a precipice whose dark abyss exhibits no bdltcm as yet, we have need to go and weep in sackcloth and ashes rather than Bing songs of praiss and gladness. But, if for nothing .else, ought we not to rejoice. that matters are no werjol “No cause for thenks I” And where, oh ungrateful man, : didst ihou obtain the breath for uttering sucffunhbly ! wordi 7 Who gave and preserved unto thee that beating heßrt. which i ceases net to send the warm life-blood ca reeling through thy body freighted with health and bless ing to every pi rtl Who hath lurnished thee with thy bread by day snd thy piece of shelter and rest by night,; and still upholds about thee the protecting pillars of so ciety and Government ! Who hath provided thee with-: thy Bible, with all its preoious consolations aud immortal hopes, and the blessed sanctuary and its privileges '! What, it thou haßt seen thy substance wasted, thy houses te nsntkee, thy income diminished, thy bnsinesa prostrated, snd thy husband, son. or brother, led forth to the battle field ! What if thy daily fare has lost some of its sumptu ousness, and thy gay, God-fargetting self-suffielonoy bro ken snd destroyed 7 What if thou hast been called to follow dear ones to the grave, and found the joy, or the prop, or ibe light i f tby house removed'! Is It not some thing that ihou still art here, with God’s pure heavens cv<r thee, and His good providence pledged lokeeptheoso long es thou dost cling to him 7 “ Ho cause for thanks !” Think how Almighty God has watched- over all tby steps; with wbat a careful eye has guarded thee fre m death; end shielded thee and thine from danger j bow, unseen to thee, His band has gnarded thy course through the wild and thorny way of youth, and led thee on in safety until now! Think how tempests oft have burst above thy head, and descended in blighting deed .latlou by .thy aide, whilst the same watching God has warded off the thunderstrokes of death, and kept thee walking, 10, these many years, upon’the beauteous earth, spanned with pleasant' skies, watched by shining stars, girt with mejestio seas, and visited thee every evening with gentle slumbers, and every morning with the day spring from on high! Gaust thou review all this, aad with it ell. and ten thousand blessings more confronting thee, aud ssy thou bast no cause for thankß f Look out and see bow earth’s many voices send up their ceaseless songs of grateful praise to Him who waked them into life; bow, morning, noon, and night, on every side around thee, swell the notes of joyous adoration; how the lake, the greve, the valley, and the Mil, add to the loud chorus; how unnumbered blessed harvest fields waving with golden grain, and barns and garners overflowing with the plenty of Jehovah’s kindly gifts; pour in their notes of thankful gladness; how the old Constitution of our blessed country, though threatened,' tried, and Bhsken, still waves its brilliant stripes and stars, keeping time to the glorious anthem; aud how the birds and flowers,' and all the handy , work of God around thee, each In its way, has lifted up its voice In sweet and • grateful joy In their common Lord, and say, oh, cold- hearted ingrato, la there still no cause for thankfnlneai for thee 1 Fourth, he said that it wsb assumed in the proclamation, and a truth which the people who observed this day do sired to realise, that it is a good thing to employ ourselves In the woik of devout thanksgiving and saorod praise. Festivals are foretastes of heaven—something of celestial life begun in the heart on earth. Litanies and penitential psalms belong to a state of imperfection and of sin. They oame with theTal], and are only foaad where its effects are felt. Praise is the worship of Heaven, and is the most perfect in the highest wor.ds. .The.moro we school ourselves to it, tlia more we imbibe of the spirit and joy of the glorified. And the homage whioh God delights in most, and that whioh all dispenfKtions and administra tion* here are meant to do for us, is to bring us forward, with ail the stints and holy ones, in one unbroken eucha ristic oblation to the sli glorious God—to the everlasting festival of thankegivtog end praise To live in the spirit of complaint aid sadness is a .subterraneous life, where the sun never gladdens and the breezes never fan; bat to live in tho spirit ef praise is a life as near to heaven as earth may rise. Nor is this spirit without: its relieving comforts, even under the greatest adversities of this world. lt is not limited to periods ot sunshine and pros perity. ;To the coarse, and s.ensual mlnd.it may be para doxlcal' to be glad In mißfortnne, and thahkfal under affliction and gloom; bnt to the soul that is taught of God, and has learned to seo a Father, in the All-ruling Power of Heaven and earth, no ! earthly misfortune can crush out the holy composure and spiritual peace in which it ever lives. Everything which sin has not utterly de stroyed is' full of the spirit of praise, and nothing can Quench it The heavens: declare Ihe glory of God, and lhe firmament showetb bis handiwork. Day unto day uttereth: speech, and night unto night ahoweth know ledge of Him The morning stars sing together, and all the sons of God sbdhtfor joy.' she mountains and tho hills point up to Him who crowns them with 'riouds add snows, and body forth in their magnificence the majesty and purity of His throne. • The Bowers in the valleys lift themselves up from the earth and even the humblest Ehruba and weeds copy after them and spread open their most beautiful tints, and wave their censers joyously be fore Him who' gave them . their being and their precious odors. The mighty sea preaches forever of the omnipo tence of God, 1 and in calm delight reflects upon its bosom the glories of His dwelling-place. The little birds of the weod seek the topmost bombs, and there sit and sfng to Him who keeps them every night and feeds them every morning. And even the little rills that jet over ths rocks laugh ana are glad in Him who giveth them their waters, and<flael£ willi every leap, some new glory to the praise of the great God ot ell. : And who that will put himself ' in the midst of this eternal harmony and bliss of things without if ding the trnth thrilling through all his soul, ihat “It.is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, end to sing ptaisCH unto the Most High!” : > . SEKM«S BY THE REV. DR. THOMAS, Deliver edlat the Fifth-street, M. E Church. The Fifth, street,, Bev. Dr, Kenney’s; the Twelfth street, Bev. B. W. Thomas’, and the Groen-street, the Bev. STr.ietephen’s, united In holding their relfgions ser vices. The beautiful church was comfortably filled in the lower floor, while the galleries also presented a very respectable appearance in respect to numbers. " The Bev. S. W. Thomas, pastor of Ihe Tweirth-stroet Ohnrcb, preichbd tie sermon, taking for his text the fifilh chapter of Job, 10th verse. - B e commenced by saying, that, In the strange events which surrounded ue as a people, it would be most like ly presumedly many that the causes of thanksgiving were not sufficiently great .to cause a public acknowledgment of the mercies we enjoy. The lines of Blihu to dob will best embody the feelings of the people of Gpd at the pre sent time. . .The scenes which enrronnd ns as we walk abroad and behold the works of the Almighty in the hea vens ere cautes of gtaitful acknowledgments from‘the true.Ohrisiian.... In them be . baholdß the evidences of a greater being than man, whose works are perishable, and through g contemplation of them*his heart is lid from the things of earth.to the contemplation of the goodness of Him who isthetoaker of every imperishable object Jobi in bis tfine, though greatly afflicted, gave evidence of the genuinenets of true religion as self-sustaining in the hour of trial; and, even amid all the difficulties of the times, could .find ample grounds of thankfulness; so should it be with the distiples of Christ at the present time, when things appear dark, and the presence of the Cord appears to hsve been withdrawn from thoOhuroh and the nation". Infidels may. laugh, yet it is a cheering fact that the President- tandß big her tc-day in the eyes of the world than be did before the late proclamation in reference to the" observance of the Sabbath. Good men hailed with joy the. announcement, aid from all oar land exclama tions of confidence rang from the Bps of the people. This is a cause of thankfulness. Wo sea in these national troubles events which; will ariose the loyal’men of the nation. . In. the Sonth, among the loyal men, are evi dences of future greatness for the nation. * The shackles of .the bondmen will toon fait, and the sir of Southern climes^will be filled with the joyonß exclamations of the liberated mattes. ' * ' ' - - ■ V * ' Tbe season of night gives songs to the believer. The psalmist, being thankful for the evidences of the good ness tf the Lortf, gave vent to his rapturous feelings in exclamations well defining his .position, as a:Ohriatian. Our own Mitchell, who has lately fallen in ihe service of his country, saw beauty in the workß of the Creator, and was often led,'!® expressions of gratitude whilemedltatlng on the greatness of the Creator, os displayed in hi, works ef.-goodliest to man’ifts they appeared In the planetary system. But the natural night is not tha only evidence of ibe goodness of God. The works of mercy as displayed in the Grose, in the sufferings of our Saviour, gave abundant evidence of, the goodness of God towards us. The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head,” .was a declaration of good news to man, which is being felt daily in the blessings he receives through the pur chase-made for him by the Saviour.* : This song in’the night hascheered:the:dyißgsalntas he looked forward beyond the freubhe of time to the scenes of the upper world. Wickllffe, Wiiberforce,Baxter, and Bunyan,<;with hosts of others,, bio now experiencing tha reaiities of the blessings purchased by the Saviour. In the political night God glved songs,'as is the case in our own history. -The night jhrdnah which we are passing will bj-tTWher us iote brtgßtsreffolgonoeornaUonal proi —2^»4ra^W^saheard in our land .... "The ills of life, laid the speaker, discipline the true Christian; to him in the dark hour of trlbnlation, when friend s ere few, end the prospects of the Ohurohand the State ase low, God appears more' prediouß, and the cbcraw 'of the Croßihave a greater beauty. ' We are now passing through a season of national trial. Let ns all stand hr the truth, hold up the OroS, and as good and losaUfitizeiiß ojpey the calls of humanity made on us by the events transpiring about us ‘ The channels through which we are passing are like clouds which send mercies. : The experience of Jobcomesdown to 11s to-day shcwihg. the bipefit reeniting from the sorrows .'of .-life. tEaith has her songs of cheer, even amid the tumult of ( tbe scenes which are now, surrounding us. ’ lb ihe'eMuia of spiritual despondaucy there comes to the Ckrtstian the remcmberancs of former scenes of de solation, when, after the dark cloud, came the bright Ejnsmne of proßperity. _We are the objects of God’s mercy ;■ end in :kindneas,eveh in our night of sorrow, God permits ns to have songs of joy and.gladness; ... • The speaker; in concluding his discourse, exhorted his 'hearers to go to God for consolation ia the hour of their grief. He would cause them to have songs in the night, ’and bring : tbem ont of all their.troubles. The season of , Thatkegiving is marked by much that is. the cause of gratitude. Our garners have been full, our religious services uninterrupted, and the health of our city unim paired. _■ ' .. . The services of this occasion were closed by the Her. Dr. Kenney, of the Fifth- street Church, who offered a fervent prayer for the blessing of God on our institu tions during Ihe coming year. The choir sang a beau tiful anthem; afier which the congregation were.dis missed with the benediction.; SERMON BY, REV MORRIS ,C. SRTPHEN, Delivered at the Spring Garden Presbyterian Church Ttxt: Pbiiliplaua iv. o—*» Be carerni for nothing; but in everjthing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, - let your reonegts be made known unto God.” .. .-.A, The Beverond speaker introduced his discourse with the remark that the text contains three injunctions ap propriate to the unhappy condition of our land. , First. That we Bhould avoid dis'reßßing and'distraet ing anxieties about the destiny of onr oountry. ‘ Second. That of idle and gloomy forebodings we should address ourselves to prayer in its behalf. Third. That onr snppliaations should be accompanied 'with thanksgiving for the Divine goodness. The speaker then annonneed that he woo'd confine himself to the lait of these injunctions, as being specially appropriate to the present occasion, and that he would consider— ' First: The essential importance of prayer, accom panied with thanksgiving, in securing the’ blessing of God. This importance he argued from reason, - Our own minds instinctively declare that the Almighty cannot consistently with our good, and His own glory, answer, favorably ucgratefnl prayers. Revelation, also, both by precept and example, deolares -that gratitude is necessary to secure the Divine favor. Instaocoa of prayers, accompanied with thanksgiving, were fuiriished from the histories of Moses, and David, and Solomon. Experience, it was urged, confirms the testimony of reason aod revelation on this point. In proof of this, alloßion wbb made to the first thanks giving, held in New England. Before the celebration of that day, the colonists were continually in want; after it, they were in constant and ■uninterrupted plenty. i' Having shown the Importance of accompanying our prayers to God with thanksgiving, the speaker announced as his ■: Second topic: The grounds which exist for such thanksgiving. Some might be'disposed to Question what national mercies we have to remember before God. The first cause which we have for thanksgiving Js the mercies shown in cMen time to onr fathers. The Jews were com manded to observe the Passover to all generations, in memory of their deliverance from bondage j and lu all their wanderings thi y fail not to keep this national fes tival, ho, even tbongh now we m ere languishing as poli tical outcasts in some foieign land, we should remember the wonders of old, and the years of the right hand of the Most'High The second ground for thanksgiving was declared to he the blessings which, amid onr trials, we are at present enjoying. ■ Thus, abundance of bread, and that while nearly a million of then have ceased to be prodneers, and while wgr is devastating'large portions of the land. While starvation is staring, other portions. of the world in the face,' We bfjvei-nongh.uot only to feed our immense isray.ssa our ten a of thousands of defenceless families at home, but also sufficient left to bring the tyrannies of Europe under an unwilling obligation to ns. ’ ’Freedom from,war with foreign nations is another blessing for which we shonld he thankful. Thridespotlsma or the Old W«!d are anxious to have demonstrated, In the overthrow of our republican insHtuHons, the impos sibility of a democratic form ,of government. , Oor freedenafrom collisions among ourselves is another grcriDd for thanksgiving. How terrible if, throughout the whole land, neighbor were arrayed against neighbor, brother against brother, and fathers against sons! Another cause for giatitnde is the magnanimity with which all paits of the. loyal North have rushed to the support of the Government. Had it not been for this noble response, our homes might have now been deso late, and we made to submit to a Government based on principles belonging to the barbarous ages of the world, and bnllt out of the ruins tf free institutions and human rights. . . , : , , , The third end last ground for thanksgiving was alleged to be the judgment! now abroad in the land. This war is not a calamity sent upon hs as an incorrigible, God • forsaken pi opie, but a chastisement intended to save us frem ruin. We should, therefore, be thankrul for it, and "even for'ibe ieverses%hich we have experienced in its < prosecution. The purposes of the Almighty have been rolling on, as well when onr army.waa fleeing in. dismay as when advancing to victory. Indeed, the cause of liberty and humanity has advanced most in our hours of deepest darkness: Our defeats will yet be seen to have Shortened our days of tribulation. If our army had been victorious at Manassas, in a few days the rebellion might hive been overthrown, but then we would have cried “ Peace, peace,” when there was no peace. In conclusion, the speakerurged compliance with the injunction of the text—namely, prayer to God for the de liverance of the land, accompanied with thanksgiving far our mercies, and especially those above mentioned; Then would our free Institutions be preserved a joy to future generations. The discourse was eloquently delivered, and was list ened to throughout with rapt attention. - SERMON BY REV. H. A, ROARDMAN, Delivered lit the Tenth Presbyterian O. S Church. *' This church was filled to overflowing by a largo audi ence, among whom were many of onr molt prominent and influential citizens. The reverend Bpeaker selected his text from the 19th chapter Beoond Ohronioleß, 6th, 6th and 7th verses. Subject—*• The Jndiciat System of the United States.' ’ After a few preliminary remarks, the speaker said, among the problems submitted to that assembly of great men. the convention-whioh framed the Constitution of -the United States, the question of the Judiciary-was ’found'peculiarly embarrassing. As there was no pre cedent for such a Union as they proposed, a confedera tion of States in principles which consolidated the people Into a single, compact, nation, without sacrificing, the independence of the, several constituent sovereignties, so •history failed to supply them with any model in framing a judicial system suited to the exigencies of so unifies a political structure It was indispensable that the judicial should be made 00-extensive with the legislative power. Its jurisdiction must comprehend the entire country, yet without interfering with the supremacy of the State uourts in their respective spheres. More than this, It was necessary toprovide. an umpire to whose authority the States themselves should do homage. They might Quarrel among themselves, as oh questions of -bondage, •i„i.. Jarlß i*J Uon ' .°r . of oggreaaion upon personal They might enact laws in ' contravention or _ the Federal compaot. In the absence of a com itlbu,n,Bl „ to adjudicate these controversies, both f j 1 to arms, and tlio Union would soon perish. The embarrassment lay in tho fact that the jndi ™ Bo so organized as to reach and oontrol rot lndividuale and corporations merely, but large and flourishing States, proud oi their traditions, j salons of !«? . nnder rostoaint. It must go Etill further than this. The government might be sub verted as well by its legitimate autboriUes.aa by tbe ac tion of the States. It was as needful to protect the Oon strtu Mon from domoaiio asfrom foreign invasion—from the usurpations of the legislative and executive depart ments at the centre as from the encroachments of the State Governments. There must be a tribunal clothed with power to annul the formal statutes of States and of Congress, and in certain cases to pass upon the constitu tional validity oftb'e acta of: the Chief Magistrate; To say that other nations supplied no example of such a judiciary, is to state but a part of the truth. No such tribunal was ever beard of. Every Christian country has its high courts of judicature. But,,however ample their powers,- they have no mission to Bit in judgment npon the acts of the crown and the legislators. Each is supreme in ilaown department. Grave questions may arise ,as to the assumes prerogative of the throne, or os to the assumed competency of the legislature to pass certato enactments.. But; it is not for the jadges tossy to them, this is constitutional and, this, is not; here the subject must obey, and there he is absolved from obedience. om»Oc*etitution herein is as much a novelty in the science of government as is tho court whioh ex pounds it. It is literally our fundamental law—as bind ing upon the President, upon Congress, and upon the Btatcs, es it is upon the youngest midshipman of the navy. < There is no power in the nation which may con travene it. It is tho embodied Expression of the will of the whale people, the entire population of the Union; and H is also a solemn oompaot between the several State* of the Confederacy. These two attributes make it our law of laws. ..They enthrone it within its sphere (which its own terms define) over ail other powers, and over alt per sons To explain and apply the principle* of this sab llme instrument is iho province of onr Sapremo Court of judicature, and cofuDotioss so august were ever before eonfided to ahuman tribunal. ' How much; we are all indebted under God to this ar rangement can be estimated only by one who is able to sum up the benefits whleh the Constitution of the United States has, to the course of seventy years, conferred upon onr country and the world. For it admits of easy de-" monalratk®, that the preservation of the Constitution, and by consequence of the Union, and all that the Union comprehends, is dns to the judiciary. 1 The Constitution is ihe depository and oharter of those rights and privi leges which; prior to the outbreak of this rebellion, had conductcd our country to an unexampled pitch of pros perity and happiness, and of the Constitution the judlol ary has been the faithful guardian. Numerous are' the instances In which its provisions have been violated, eometimes by sets of Congress, more frequently by the State Legislature, or the State Courts. And, if there had been no court of eminent jurisdiction to annul theao aots end decrees, the Constitution must havr long ago been scattered to the winds. The speaker dwelt at taegthupon thiabove points, and his discourse was listened to, all through, with marked attention. SEK WON BY KEY. DR. RICHARD NEW . • TON, •- Delivered at tire Church of the Epiphany. .The speaker selected his text from Job ii, 10.—“ Shall we receive good at the hands of God, and Bhall we riot re celveevil?” ; He commenced by say log this was Job’s reply to h's wife, after the bccoml blast of affliction's tomprst had swopt by him. He bore this, not only without murmur, but with a spirit of cheerful acquiescence. He was still again and again afflicted, but with his unbroken confl uence be still clings to hie integrity as a believing child of God, and nobly BBks, Shall we receive good at the band of Gcd; and shall we notreceive evil?” If we feel' as if we really deserved, aridhad a right to expect, all the rood things that can be showered upon us, then we shall be tempted to muimur if anything is withheld; hut if we feel that we deserve nothing, then we shall be thankful for whatever may be bestowed. Our annual day. of Thanksgiving has again come round. How sadly different are oor circumstances now from those which have, for so many long years, bsen wont to surround ns on the return or this gladsome day ! But still, amidst all our t'lsls, we have yet muchltft for which to be thankful. In dwelling on the words of the text, there are f»ur several points from which we may contemplate them. In the first place, they lead us to con template, in some of Its most striking aspects, the good which we, es a nation, have received. There is our no ble territory, not another on the face of the earth to com pare with it. Look at tho Government established, For the harmonious ndjusiment of its complex powers for the freedom it secures, at least to the free, and for the re spect it has compelled from other nations, it may well be reckoned as the wisest, the most enlightened, the moat iiberalitand, taken altogether, ihe best government, of mere human' organizatien, that the world has ever known., The speaker also alluded to pur religions pri vileges, and the gigantic stride, we have taken In our pro gress towards material manhood. The second point suggested by the text—the evils that ere row upon ns. As a nation,.we are now oppressed by fearful evils. Bebelifoh has lifted np its horrible -head in the midst of ns, and marched- with desolating strides over one- third of onr territory. The Bnpreme law of the land has been set at defiance, The Constitution which Washirigten’and ihe wise and goo* men of his day were the instruments of framing has been trampled in the dust; arid the glorious banner of our Union has'beenin- YTbia is si grem evu, txpoptuai ueimaon; me srrongest wmcn tbo annals of history dieeiose has seized upon the minds or a large portion of the nation. Our brethren at the South have tekej. np arms against the Government of the land as though it had oppressed and defrauded them, while jet they cannot put their finger npon a single act of that Government from which they have Suffered any wrong or oppression;".-' That they have had much to bear from the violence of partisan bitterness In the North cannot be denied But at .the bands of tbs C-OYOriifncnt, a,r„mst ■trbioti they havd arrayed theinsehred; they have sriffersd no grievance. And yet,’they have acted as though’th’ey had bee n the subjects'of the most overbearing and ont regßGUß tyranny. This is a sore evil. Between one and two millions of men are under arms. Among these are fellow-citizens of the same oountry, friends and acauain ‘tances, neighbors and relations, arrayed against each ether in mortal strife. Bants arid homes have been made desolate, - and- the, hospitals throughout our land are crowded to-day with, perhaps, net less than 300,000 slok and wounded sufferers. 1 Tbeie are our Burroundiogs to day. It reaches no argument to prove; that these are evils, i - . . -', 1,-..-.- Thirdly. Our sttention is dirooted to the Providential source of these evils, when it speaks of them as evils which are received from the hands of God, The speaker said that there never was any scene enaoted on this earth in which God’s creatures carried out their own designs and purposes with more perfect freedom than when Satan and . the powers of darkness combined with the blirided and infuriated rulers of the Jews to crucify the Son of God. And yet we are distinctly assured that iu every act and movement which-then took place they were only doing what God’s hand and God’s counsel had determined before should be done. And it was precisely so with the origin of evil in the universe. : He main tained that evil did not enter the universe because God had no knowledge of its coming, or no power te prevent it. Its entrance was by his permission. It formed part of his « eternal purpose.” God saw that on the whole a greater amount of good would eventually result .to' the universe from the entrance of .evil into it, and therefore He permitted it to enter. It is easy to think of nhmeieus contingencies any one of which might have availed to prevent this war. . Bnppose that Wash ington could have been in the council halls of the nation during the month which preceded the outbreak of the war, can anybody suppose that It would not have bsen avert ed 1 Or suppose that those noble patriots Olay and Web ster bad been spated a Tew years longer, arid that with aU the garnered wealth of their wisdom and experience, aod with alt the magic chorus of their eloquence, they could have thrown themselves into the breach, think you there would have been any warl Or suppose that the liori heerted hero of New Oilcans had been at the bead of our affairs when this rebellion began to raise its hateM head in that wilful, wayward, braggart capital of the proud Pal metto State; and suppose that he had come down upon it with vigorous, well, directed, iron-handed bio ws, as he was ready to have done thirty years before, can any one Bnppose that it would not have been orushed out at the very beginning! But here the-war Is upon us as an “ evil from the band of God ” And this prepares us, in the fourth plaoe, to contem plate the practical lessons we may gather from this sub ject.; It teaches us a lesson of quiet confidence for the present. In times of public trial and calamity it is especially desirable to have this feeling of trust brought into play. This subject also suggests a lesson or oheer icl hope for the future. We are strongly tempted to give way to the feeling of general apprehension and dis ■ quietude. And yet it is our special duty then to keep alive in our hearts the feeling of cheerful hops. We should hope not In ourselves, or in our soldiers, or our generals, or our statesmen, but in Gad , His hand has been on us for good thus far. Though the dark clouds have gathered in our sky, and are even now bursting in desolation npon us, still our dot; is, in the midst of ail that ti suspires, to cultivate the feeling of cheerful hope for the future. Quiet confidence for the present and cheerful hope for the iuture—these are the feelings which should fiU our hearts as we wait before God with ourgljd thanksgiving to-day. The speaker concluded by saying that peace and. prosperity would soon be restored, and spread . their cheering beams throughout all the'borders. SERMON BY REV. JOHN CHAMBERS, Delivered in the First Independent Presbyte rian Church, Broad and Chestnut streets. The church of which Bov. John Chambers is pastor, in Bicad street, near Chestnut, was only partially filled, by a very intelligent and attentive assemblage ofpsopie, y estxrday rooming. The services wore opened by sing ing a hymn, when the pastor read for instruction the 136th Psaim, after which he offered up a prayer of thanksgiving to the Almighty far His great mercy in Bpaiing our . State from the ravageß of the sword; from pestilence and famine; for success in our business pur suits ; in plentiiul craps; iu our ineli aliens of learning, science,literature ai-d religion; for the many Sabbaths we had enjoyed in the worship of God, and innumerable other blessings. The petitioner Invoked the blessings of God npon the Governor of our State especially, and upon all in authority generally. He implored forgiveness for our nstiorial sins. Bad we but obeyed our Oonstßußon, we would not have been in the trouble, affliction, and war, that is tow upon us. The blessing of the Almighty was asked for the frestdenaand all otherß in authority: upon the incoming Congress and that which is to meet during the coming week; that they might legislate for our country with much wisdom and prudence, to extri cate ua from our present woe; upon onr soldiers in the field; upon the great American, nation; church and heart; and upon Ml the people. He prayed; finally, that the day might soon come wheD Gcd would issue his pro clamation for “ Peace, Peace, Peace,” for our distracted country. The oboir sang after the prayer ihe hymn commencing: >• Great Gcd, beneath whose piercing eye ” After which a collection wob lifted in aid of the Doroaa Pociety of the church ; announcements were made, and Mr. Chambers gaye out his snbjeot, as the “ Duties of the Hour,” accompanying it with this text from the 4th verse of the ICOlh psaim : •’ Be ye thankful unto Him ” The duty of the hour was to'give thanks to Gcd for his many mercies and bletslngs to man. It was right and proper in the authoriiies to Bet aside some particular day to be devoted to extraordinary thanksgiving and pray er (although it is our dutj to give thanks and pray every day ), btcauie it Is a public recognition of God by those who administer the laws, as our servants in authority. We ate Indebted to Him ior all that we have and all that ve are, and onr thanksgiving should not he merely a lip offering, but should be impelled forth by and from the heart. We ought to give tbenks for onr health and pro sperity, and; for , the blessings God is bestowing in our families.' Our minds ought to be fixed continusliy on the happiness of our own homes, anti' every individual man and every community of men, were happy and contented just in accordance as they recognize God in his many mercies by continual and hearty thanksgiving and praise. Bnt we tco often write the report of our blessing upon the Sand, and onr affiio’lons ripen the rock, with the doubly-steeled stylus! We for get the first, and prate continually In mournful strains of the latter. We are not grateful tor the pros perity, health, happiness, and content around us. We can neverforget to sorrow and complain that God has bereft usof a dear relative, but we beed not bis mercy in leaving with us in health and happiness, the many that we love and cherish. The farmer sows his Beed, and reaps fine crops, and forgets to-pour out his soul in thanksgiving to.the Giver.of the increase and plenty; if .behasbad crops, he grumbles, arid hla complaints come forth continually; and with a remarkable earnestness. Not one-twentieth of the population or this great city are giving thanks' to-day. Nineteen-twentieths of the people were: disregarding the: proclamation of Governor Curtin, and neglecting God. The speaker declared that this was anirißUlt to our Chief Magistrate, apart from the grievous: Insult it was to the. Almighty. V Although a .public servant, we owe to the Governor ail due respect and obedience; and in neglecting to accord this, we merit, .and will receive, the just chostfsement of God TWO CENTS. Our policy ef action should bo ohanged; wo Bhould write ourbl«.i D g B indelibly upon the rook, and tnr afflictions KL.SThe testimony of St Paul was, that his Obnauanity taught him to be contented and happy in whatever condition or state he was placed. We should not . meddle with, or complain of, the operations ot the oontrclliog power. To-day, the speaker Hafd, this would have Mboon a great, happy, end peaceful nation if we had left the principles which oontrol and govern ns atone! Rations werelonlyblessed as. they progressed in the light of the Word But we oughtto bo thankful to God for plenty in these times; for tho Church of Christ, tor Christianity, and tho eifeoßion of its iofluenoa, but, abova alf. for the Saviour. Wo want earnest prayer and zealous Christian action to btieg our country together again, never to ba disunited, if it Ib God’s will. , Tho sermon was followed by an eloquent prayer for the Almighty to come to our relief la our present national afflictions* that we might soon have peace with our pros perity. After the prayer ft hymn was sung* and the con gregation was dismissed with the benediction. SERMON BY REV, R. A CARDEN, Delivered at - the Church of Intercessor (Episcopal) Quite a large congregation assembled In Bev. R, A, Carden’s ohurob, Spring Garden street, above Thirteenth, yesterday morning, to listen to that minister’s annual Thanksgiving eermon. After the thanksgiving exercises of the Episcopal Church were concluded the reverend gentleman said bis text would be found in Deuteronomy, chap' xxiv, y„ 19: ** When thou cutteth down thine har vest in thine field and ha&t forgot a sheaf In the field, thou shalt not go down to fetch ii ; it ehail bo for tho stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the Lord thy God may bless tbeo in all the work of thine hands.” . Since our last Thanksgiving Day, said the speaker, we have witnoEsed many end sights, many scenes of woe, and our thoughts, have bo been engrossed in these that we have scarcely had time to think of any thing, else. This was natural; but God grant that wo may never have to do so again—that we will have a speedy eampafgn, an honorable and permanent peace, and a glorious and ever lasting Union. A day of thanksgiving is hot a day of hilarity and mirth, but one of solemnity. While we have been called together by the civil authoritiei, we are not expected to dheuss politics, or deeeciste the pulpit by criticising tho Administration and its subordinate officers, and cavil ling at its measures, but instead, to render thanks to the Almighty God for his mercies during the past year, and toe bieeslngs showered down upon ua. It witlbeadtnifc* ted by evtry believer in region, that God moves not only in a mysterions way in cases of individuals, but also of nations ‘ The same power that rules the glory also oontrols its downfall, and be that raises it to the highest pinnacle of fame, can reduce it to the smallest degi ee of degradation. The providence of Godwin case of nations, is often lost eight of In the discussion of political affairs, and for the din cfconflict. There iB no nation that has not a provi dettial as well asa national hißtory, and we do well to ponder on the former in times like this. The history of the Revolution proves that our email oolohy waa succoaa* ful in spite of the large odds that were arrayed against them. This was undoubtedly the work of Providence. Many years have rolled away since then. The great and good men who lived then, Providence has mercifully spared from witnessing the present civil war. Our com mercial, egrfcuUmal, and religious progress is well known to all, end has never been surpassed if equalled, by any foreign country. Here, pauperism, with aU its attendant horrors, is cot legalized, nor are there millions compelled to be the recipients of cold charity. Here, education, uninfluenced by any qualification of birth or station, is sa well conducted that many of our soundest scholars are far better educated than those who hold high posilion in foreign countries. Tho commercial and agricultural re storers cf the country were next referred to, and the speaker said that the present prosperity of our country wee wonderful, considering the difficulties the nation ia now entangled in. Admitting that there are tew religions p«op!e in Hie worw, v 'o still most not look on the dark'side of the pic ture. The practical piety ef this country will bsar com parison with that of any nation on the globe, and the bequests of our citizens are not to be despised- And what return have we made Tor ail oar benefits, and what re am pease have we given? Have we, ever thought that the Bed that gives bountifully to a nation has the power to take away ? •There can be no denial that the trials of this nation during the past year have been severe, yet they might have been woise. Our barns are fail,, and finances good and safe. While many ef our erring brttbrcn have been the witnesses of woe and,desolation, we have been spared all this, although at one time it was very near to onr doors. • Oar crops might have failed, epidemics.might have been prevalent, yet God, in his mercy, has prevented sU this. _ There mnet, indeed, be heartfelt praise rendered to God lor all the blessing- ho has showered down on us. Our patriotism and loyalty must notehd in words; God demands practical proofs of our assertions—thankfulness, There we many sick and wounded soldiers* poverty si ricken families in oßr midst, and they call upon yon for sid, Bbali.we refnse It?, No. They must not be con sidered unimportant; they demand help, and if we wish to fce thankful to God for past kindnesses to us, we mask give it to them. Mr. Garden, then made an eloquent appeal In behalf of the Episcopal Hospital in this city. Pray God, brethren, that be will send the blessings of a permanent ard honorable peace. We exhort yon to re member that He was withoUr Eevolntionary fathers, and He will be-with yon if yon honor-Him and return a recompense for His blessings. . The exercises were concluded with singing and prayer. The congregation was then dismissed. 1 SERMON BY REV.DR. D. C. EDDY, Delivered in the First Baptist Church, comer Broad and Arch streets. Ibis church was filled with alarge and attentive con gregation, yesterday rooming, to listen to the Thanks giving Bermon of the Bev. Dr. Eddy, which was eloauent, patriotic, jad-really edifying. Dr. Eddy invoked God’s blessing n»nn nm uiik:in„the : i>rosecntion of a holy war for the right, and hoped for the restoration of the Dnicm with the obliteration of the baneful cause of the rebellion— slavery; and that now is the time to strike it out by con stitutional means. He desired not to have the « Union as it was, bat the TJcion' as it should bei 5 ’ under ear laws find Ooßßlitation, This alJuiion to the war created an enthnsiesm which came near breaking forth in an lilatisein tfca flAßoto.ftjgg,. • 1 . --TLjie'poiata of the eermon were: > a Ist. Icy alt) to country does not require ns to bo bUnd to the faults of our public men. 2d. loyalty to country does not require us to be silent te any organic defects In the structure of onr Govern ment, or to any hationaferimes that may exist. The Doctor then stated what was the duty of all loyal citizens— : let. Tomake this Government as perfect as a human government can become. 2d, The other claim which Christian patriotism de mands is the hearty, generous, unwavering support wo should give to the Government in this time of peril. Dr. Eddy’s text was found ’in 122 d Psalm, 6;h and 7th verees: “ Prsy for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee. Peace bo within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces;” At the dose of the sermon a hymn was anng to the tune of “ Old B'undred,” and as the congregation dispersed, the national anthem, “Star Spangled Banner,” was given on the organ. SEIIMOX BY REV. DR, WYLIE, Delivered at the First Reformed Presbyterian Church. The text selected was from Acts xxyiii, IS. —“He thanked God aod took courage.’* The words express the feelings of a poor shipwrecked prisoner, as he wee about to enter Imperial Same. There was much in the circumstances which surrounded him to cause depression, but the sympstby manifested by the Christian friends who came to meet him, fi led his heart with gratitude and hope. Appii Forum and the Three Taorons may possess an interest with some, because they sre mentioned by the Boman,orator or theyßoman poet, bnt to ua they are remarkable placeß because there the warn greetinja of Ohtialien loye rerived and refreshed the Eplrit of the great apostle. The speaker did not design to make any comparison between onr condition just now, and that of the Apostle Paul It is sufficient to refer to the great principle they preaent, which is, that our apprehensions for the Insure mßy be allayed by the encouragement afforded by the past. B< cause we have so much reason to thank Sod, we may take courage, I. Let ua thank Sod. Tbe Scriptures direct us to “ give thanks always, for ail things.” A wide field of obaerration here presented itteli. We may jay, in, general, we should thank Gad for what we enjoy, for what we endure, for what we es cape. The good thiogs he bestows upon us should cer tainly eicite our gratitude! and even the afflictions we endure, which, like the storm of a sultry da; in summer, produce new life, and joy, and strength. When, too, we consider what: we escape, what reason is there to he tbanklul. “Who knows the power of God’s wrath I” When we read in the Apocalypse the dreadful woes de nounced against the workers of iniquity, we may, indeed, be grateful that these have not been iufiicted on us. When wo think of the sufferings of the lost, In the place of never-ending torment, how thankful that we have as yet escaped, and that through faith in Jesus wo may es cape forever! We deiiie, however, to refer to the reasons for grati tude, more particularly es regards our race, our nation, our church, our households, our own per sons. Let ns be: thankful that God has given us a position so dignified in the ranks of being—now a little lower than the’ angels; perhaps hereafter to be even higher than they are; and that when we had fallen from our high estate. God provided a Saviour, and, by the It fineness of Bis providences and His ordinances and Bis Spirit, brings ns to repentance and Baivation; and that thus we may escape hell and may gain Heaven. Surely, we have reason to be thankful. Again, es regards our nation : While now involved in a lamentable war, even at. this dark hour we may “thank God and take courage.” How gratifying the unanimity and cordial the co- oreratlon throughout the loyal States in sustaining the Government! Then, too, that we have In the Presidential chair a person in whose honesty of purpose men of all parties have confidence, and who has, to so remarkable a degree, secured the support of the entire people. - While he may not have gone fast enough or far enough for some, he certainly has gone sb fast and as far as the nation coaid go with him. Whet gratitude to Heaven for the proclamation of (mancipation, from which it is declared no influence ehall induce him to swerve 1 ir the slaves already Hbe rated intend, as-we have heard, to spend next Hew Tear’s Bve in thanksgiving that liberty is on the day following to be proclaimed to their enthralled brethren, we, too, should remember then to express onr gratitude that the sin and Shame of slavery is to be removed from onr land. The slaveholder as well as the slave should be thankful; for. Indeed, we would ourselves rather be the slave than bis master, Bor should we here omit reference to the recent proclamation in regard to the Sabbath, in which the President takes such a Afghjand Scriptural position, and places the obligation to observe that sacred day, not merely on the advantages it produces to man and beast, but on “ a due regard to the Divine will.” This is taking the Bible as the supreme law ; for it is the Bible which reveals a Sabbath and requires itß observance. ’ It is a recognition of’the great principle for which onr ancestors suffered so much i a Scotland : the principle that the civil magistrate 1b bound to administer govern ment according to God’s holy and perfect law. How gratifying, too, that the position the Beformed Presby terian Church has had for sixty years in regard to slaven Isitsow so. generally, adopted! How remarkable t e charge, even in the manor; of many here! It is not msny yea’s since, to express Bnch sentiments as now prevail would have exposed a person to mot late. How they have the sanction of our best statesmen, and of the higbist authority in our, Government, It would occupy too much time to dweii on such subjects, and-we merely refer to tAp present condition of our forces, both mili tary and if aval; to the success with which the proud thn at a of the rt bels have been baffled; and the progress made—Tor there has teen progress in subduing them. We. may he thankful, too, that foreign intervention, which would only have embittered and it tehsified this lamentable war, has been thus far not attempted. Sven the calamities of war have already cone ns good. The arrogance, the avarice, which were so excessive with some Americans that they were as turned to be our national characteristics, and rendered uscdious .to the rest of'the world, have been greatly abated.’We have shown that there is something dearer lo us than the do!lar--that we love liberty more than we love money; and, while we no longer depreciate the people and the Governments of other landr, we prove how much we love onr own, v We will not detain you by suggesting auoh rircnm 'etssfes In our households In regard to onr own persons -as ihould elicit onr thanksgiving to God. Let these be Ibo subjects of serious thought. “ . In view of the Maine goodness, then, we should JI. Take courage. ~>■ We merely mention that all which ocoura ' Dt mooßtrotea the Divine power ; , - M aoifesta the Divine love ; Cnfoldr the Dtiitne purpose ; . Promotes the Divint glory ; end Ehttliliehts tbe Divine sovereignty. We may, thereloro, “take eonrage.” In conclusion, we* may anticipate future struggles. But we have adequate support, and we are certain of »complete ancceaa. Were it bo . that our glorious Union thould be disintegrated," a “ more perfect Union" shall succeed. Were It eolhht our pretent admirable Oonaii- THE WAR PRESS. (FBBUS&BS WXEKLT., Wab PauoswlH be sent to subscriber* br maUOter ennma In advance) 5t..............X3.de Three Copies « « #*•» YtVft a ft « &«43t} Ten h « « .IB.OV Larger Clubs will be charged at the name rate—thus i “ rl ® 8 * lu6oBl B*4i McopieswtUcoot s6o,and MB copies $l2O. * °* oT6r> wo will send m Bztrft Copy to the getter-up of the Oiub. J - 'Postaasters are requested to act” as Agents tee Teh Wab Fbess. tS~ Advertisements Inserted at the usual rate#. f Rqes onstltnte a square. * tuHon £hcnld cot be again established in ail our land a better .we shall take its place, with a recognition of the existence And providence of God, and an acknowledg ment ot his law and no slavery. Were it so that nuny off ns should pass away ere our country ehdli become poaoe ful and prosperous as It was before, others shall take our places and gain the conquest, but we shall rethloe as well as they in the result—thay on earth, but we i® heaven. The oath of God eball not be broken. Yioo ia all Its forms shall vanish from onr world; all false reli gions and all irreligion Bhall give place to the gloria os Gospel. Oppression and slavery shall cease the t/orUL over, man shall become holy and happy, and Jesus sbal reign from theristng to the setting sun. »As truly as I live,” aaith'the Lord, “ all the earth shall bo ailed with my glory.” SERMON BY REV R, €. MATLACK. Delivered at the Church of Nativity The speaker selected h;s text from* 93d Psalms, let Terse: It Is a good thing to give thanks onto the* liartL and to sing praises nnto Thy name, 0 Most High ' c ®*““ e,1 oe4'hi* disconrse by saying, hew bf leTOthe ““ertlon which Sod make* In the text, that it is a good thing to give thanks, and ta sing praises nnto the Lord. All Christians, and muiy otbersßlDg Bflu M&ke their watts known onto the Lord * - very few offer thanksgiving and praise, when tta£ prayers are answered, and their wants are eapnliei When a day of f hauksgivto* aud praise is appointed hr the civif authorities, it la looked upon more as a dayfer extravagant feasting, vain talking, and rude lasting; tka* .as one of aerioue, solemn worship—one in which we are to review the mercies of the past year. Crowd the courts of our God, and lift up your very souls to hear us in oat-, gushing thanksgiving and praise. ... ... .. ; We should consider the duty of cultivating a thftHkftft spirit and giving expression to our feeling.’ God has en»i joined this doty and it is reasonable for him to expeot fix performance. He feared that many of us look up*» thankt giving and praiie as an unimportant part of wor kup. aa that which may be dispensed with with imoanUr* Those who would feel a pang of conscience In'omittihg n'l e^ r ? e I S .x,? t v? om ?: or ltt Wly Inking aboat tS Church, and thinking of other things during the anppU cations cf the congregation,, seem to have no each feeliaa when they omit their thanksgiving and praise. Our time foils ns before onr subject is folly unfolded, we can do no more to-day, however, than ask jonr most prayerful consideration of the points we have suggested, let ns ohdevouilyreflecf upon these points, pray for a double poition of God’s spirit to aid os, express what. ever we feel in word and deed, and we shail be able ta say, It is a good thing to give thanks unto ihe Lord, and sing praises unto Thy name, 0 Moaht High. SERMON BY REV. DR. DARLING, Delivered at Arch Street Presbyterian Church. The text selected was from the 95th Psalm and second veise: •> Let os come before his presence in Ihe thanks- 1 giving.” The theme of ihe .speaker was a genera! on,, and not national. His topic «as that which he thoogU most fitting for, the day—religions thankfulness. Thank fulness Implies the recognition of a benefaotion. It see* a giver in every blot sing. It is a cheerfulness mingled with gratitude, and a joy of heart that turns the soul up ward and Godwsrd, The min who, imagining that the many good things he enjoys are the results of his own prudence and foresight, icannot be thankful. She speaker considered tho ways how men should express ta God the gratitude which at heart they feel for his good ness. ’ • This sermon was truly a thanksgiving dißconrse. nnS was written with care and ably delivered. The speaker, all through hie remarks, was listened to with rivetted at-, tention. SERMON BY REV. J. WALKER JACKSON, Delivered at St. Paul’sM E. Church, The-text selected by the reverend gentleman was from Job xxxvii, 21—” And now men see not tbe bright light in the clouds.’’ .. He commenced by aejing that the obscurity of tl» Divine Government—the mystery of its administration oftentimes confounds unbelieving men. , Parts of Ged'ir ways conflict with our notions of justice and of right eousness ; we fesr for the succrts of the oauso of Omni potence in the world, and would presumptuously Btretoh forth the hand to steady the ark of His government. At anch times Faith stands still to see the salvation of God. and when the Divine voice says go forward, presses toward the mark, obeys the Divine iajuuctionio find tho eea, whose threatening billows forbid all progress, di video, a wall on cither band, or marble beneath her feet. “ Olonds” are here used asthe emolemof the ob- Bonnty or of the mystery of the Divine Government. The expression without figure is as if Eilhu had said to Job: Men are confonndedby the appearances of things they would seem to indicate that ih« moral government' of the world is a failure, that its ends axe, in a way fas. conceivable to them, thwarted. They see the clouds, but they see not the bright light which' is in the clonds ' Incapable of judging the future, the real issue, they tremble and doubt The lesson of the entire speech of Elibu, of which this is a part, is trust, confidence la Gcd. We cannot find, him out; onrfinite understand ings cannot comprehend His infinite perfections. wt« way is in the sea. We cannot put the sea into an egg shell. We cannot trace the Bteps He takes in His Provi dence. We should reverence and trust Him, as the all wise and the dust. And now men cannot-see the bright light in the clouds. How prons we are to tube the wont possible, views of the world's fu ture! How apt to suppose' lhe clouds all blackness*' To day there are clouds abovo us, whose black shadow* are on our pathway. To, the unhopeful these cloud* have no silver lining—no . bright light. A thanksgiving was never to them so sadly misplaced. Betterfar a day of humiliation and prayer; of sackcloth and ashes, rather than one of_ feasting and rejoicing. I shall not attempt' to persuade yen that there are no clouds, against the in telligent convictions of your judgment, or to say that, there are no evils to bemoan. There are clouds: there are evils; but saynot that the clouds are ail btackneiu.' There is light, bright light, in the clouds that hang over the present and future of my country. But I am her*, this morning, to tlifins 0,-o — direct jott to Itieooc sions of thankfulness, not to exhibit the dark side of tha picture, but the bright; to point you only to the cloud* that I may tecure for you and myself a stronger faith in the brtghtltght In the clonds. The light iu the cloui t» tne harbinger of comiag brightness, or future days all sunshine. It says the clouds are not gathering for a Answer wise ends ; be futureva b'icht lnteS>. .■» ror conafaw-vWe '-Ur-m The upon which we gazo to-day, are of war, Of debt,'of, spiritual declension. I; tHe Cloud of War. It has been but a very Utile’ while since, in our natieial history, if : a prophet had been oommisK sioced from God to describe what is now so familiar to us ell; a line of fire running hem east to westJ with, miiiions of men , arrayed in deadly conflict; villages burned, farms deserted; neighbors at variance j industry Etai ding still in many of our States, or only employed in works essentially military; the sky red at night with camp fires, clouded by day with the smoke of artillery; the earth trembling with the tramp of armies; hospitals, everywhere, crowded with sick and wounded soldiery; mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and chil dren weeping for sors, brothers, fathers, whose bone* lie bleaching on this autumn day on so many battle fields— oefore such a picture, in words faliing from the' lips of tbe Heaven-commissioned prophet, a vast m tjor ity of the people of this nation would have started bask in horror, exclaiming, 11 We be brethren. Aro.we dogs, that we should do such things!” And yet, from the origin of this Government to the breaking out of this wicked rebellion, what we now see and feel has been an ticipated, ban been long since foretold by the ablest of “our statesmen, as they have looked sorrowfully into the future; snd for the East twenty-five years how persistent have been the efforts of tho rebellious South to bring on the dreadful issue, and how patiently, persevarisgly, eelf-sacriScingly, has the Worth endeavored to postpone, if Bhe cculd not ultimately prevent, the terrible calamity of civil war j The Union of there States—the national Federal mo istence—has been to us an idol. How we clung to it the' world is witnetß How we sought by couceßsion, com promise, appeal to save—without this most desperate of meabs, an appeal to armß—the life of the Nation, God is witness—the world fa witness The world will yet ac knowledge the truth. Oh! my bretbrer, war is a cloud of such terrible black ness that every Christian must bitterly lament its exist ence; every patriot mbit bitterly lament its devasta tions, bnt it is for cs s matter of thanksgiving; of grati tude to God upon the part of the citizens of the loyal Elates, that the lawful Government can appeal to rite Goverror and Judge of the Universe, and to all right- " thinking men, to bear witness that for no purposes of oppression, no mere territorial aggrandizement out or so jealousy. Is this war waged; but for the defence and perpetuation of interests as sacred as wete ever commit ted to the keeping cf any nation. The bright light in this cloud of war is, that it ia a war of national self defence. A war upon the part of the Government for the salva tion of the imperilled life of the Nation—to assert and es tablish the broken nationality—for this grand aim-the war is prosecuted. The citizen dies that the nation may live. Other results may and will incidentally flow from this war: but for this end alone the nation accepted the war, with all its undeniable evils. The conspiracy has for its object the extinction of the Bepnbiic Its efforts have been and still are to take away all power frem the National Government to proteot itself— to tie the hands of the Nation, and then murder it in its defenceless cen dition. To its allies in the North has been , committed the ta*k of disatming and fettering the nationality. And while onr brethren are in arms to keep back those whose bloody task Is death, it is our duty to prevent the stealthy preparations that have, been thwarted, hut are now being made , again to secure the unre sisting death. It is onrs to .see that Sampson,' when he slumbers, although he may be bound with green withes, shall not be shorn of the locks wherein bis great strength iieth. Those who are opposed to thli war of self-defence upon the part of the North have only wanted ob to Buffer the nation to die without an effort to preserve its life, and only desire now that we shall cease all (ffoit while the national life shall pass away, while the living child shall be divided. We cannot, we dare not, do it If the nation should be doomed to death, it is dying in the only way that a brave, strong nation oan die, with agonies too terrible for description. Should onr enemies succeed—shonld the nation be shorn of its locks by Northern sympathizers with rebellion, then let Samp son’s death be the emblem of onr approaching dissolu tion. In taring the life of the notion by war, we are set tling the Question of itß strength. Ido not mean it* strength of material resources, its strength of men, and money, and munitions of war, but its strength of Con stitution—the strength of the inward principle of the national life, by acting on which alono its existence may be presetved, its powers developed, the objects for which. God gave it a piaceln the family of nations accomplished, and the endß of its being attained. It would seem a strange proposition to make, that we have been settling tbe question whether the whole is greater than any of ita part E—whether the Union is tovereign, or individual States. / The doctrine of State rights, rightly interpreted, is true, and Massachusetts is a much better exponent of that doctrine than South Carolina For in Massachusetts the doctrine has fruited in her love of the personal liberty of her citizens, intelligent, comprehensive, and unvary ing, and is visible in the immense efforts and enormona j early expense of the Old Bay State for the civilization, education, and refinement of herpeople What has been the result of South Carolina’s perversion of the doc trine 1 What but constant and continued plottings how she may cut the threat of the national Government, while the: education, civilization, and refinement of her com mon people have been systematically and of eat purpose neiJected 1 The laet ia,.tbat the true doctrine of State rights has been unknown atj the South, while a mere pretence of State rovereignty to override and contral the rational Government baß taken tie place. Wes roi Gen. Jackson a State rights man, and what did be do, but in maintaining the » sovereignty of thd naiitnal Government;” pnt down nnlllficationjby sending Scoitwbh a force to commend the harbor of Charleston, thus preparing by force of arms to maintain that provi sion of the Constitution, which says that: “ This Coni sritution, and the Jaws of the Untied States which Shall be made in pursuance thereof; and ail treaties which shall bo made under the authority of the United States shall he tie supreme law of the land ; and tbe judges of every State i hall be bound thereby, anything In the laws or Consti tutions of any Stats to the contrary notwithstanding.” If that provltion of the Constitution does not tear up the doctrine of State .sovereignty, not Stale rights, by the r olßj.wbat does it do T Itmeanß that,oritmeansno tbing: it does that, or it does nothing; Tbe Constitution 1b the supreme law of the land, and the bright light in this cloud of warls that onr struggle is unmistakably for its supremacy and for the enforce ment of the laws. If Icouldl would have preveuted the s bedding of one drop of blood. From the very first the horrors of war have appalled me for I anticipated a long, bloody ; struggle, as yon well know. If I cculd I. would have .caused the laws to be .respected throughout tbe entire dominion of this Government; but T could not, yon could not, nobody’ could, and I maintain now, as at first, the same reasons exist now as existed that sliil this war must be prosecuted to the suppression Imoffen’ce oisme. Ths' Constitution has been spurned, ■the sacred-purpose for which the Constitution weeor dalnef—“a more perfect Union’.’—traitors have endea vored to bring to nought; and this Government, holding in ‘fust for ail future time the territory or tbe Union, Kcd‘tbe principle of self government, dared not tamely relinquish the’ 'one* or the other. It being onr duty unitedly,end,with the utmost,energy, to ms'mUiu tha •ntegrity cf tbe Union, it is a cause of thankfulaess, that we did not resort to am until circumstances had plabed
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers