0 THANKSGIVING SERMON. By Rev. Samuel- S. Nicc9lls. Ifirr.—And in that day `shall ye say. Praise the Lord, call upon. His name, declare His doings . =long the people , make mention that His name Is exalt d.—lsaiah 12: 14.* Once More; by the grace 'of God, we_ are .brought to theannual pentecostal feast of this Common Wealth, and now for the first time if the whole nation. Wehave passed thrpugh Aci toils and hopes of spring, the hurried la "'bora and unWonted trials of summer, the more joyful because unexpected ingatbering 9 ef fall, and at last reached that "melancholy season'' when the winds of autumn, to the • secompanimtrit of rustling leaf, are singing Nhe reqUiem, and the flying clouds are weav ing of the dying year. But be *fore we sit down in the Depose of winter, and tench the:treasured - riches of garner_ and, itbecomes us to look up to the God 'the .rolling' year, and otter our humble praise and: thanksgiving to Him whose pro vidence shapedits eventful scenes, and whose hand so mercifully led is through them. • The duty - to which we are to-day called by both • President and Governer, is' not one _arising from principles of human policy ; but 'lt is dictated alike by natural and revealed 'religion. It is the spontaneous prompting of every right heart viewing the mercies and ." deliverances of the past. - There is no surer tr. scridenc4 deep depravity and consequent nearness to destruction, either in the indivi deal-er the nation; than when the review of Mercies received fails to awaken a sense of L fzgratitude and obligation. • Ingratitude to ;God proclaims a base and treasonable heart, oof 'while those who are most loyal to Him have continually songs of praise on their lips: If `,Alien we have deplored ingratitude, as One of lour national sins, the betting apart of - such a daYns this, for the first time in our history, • by the chief Magistrate the land, and its universal ohaervance, is 'to 'be taken as the expression of ,n. sentiment in the - -heart'of the - people which all should rejoice to sob, and •:Which true religion ever seeks to cultivate. eln order to, draw out and strengthen this feeling, the Lord God'of Israel appointed in * iilis ancient church the annual Pentecost or t ' Feast of Hervhst, at whiCh His people, were • td bring a certain portion, of Jlie harvest ro t slized, and offer' it a's a token of gratitude to • Hiin whose goodness had thus crowned the , year. -Not less reason have we to come into • Vis house this day and Praise_ the Lord. - . `That we may do this, let, us in our medita ' lions heed the exhortation of the text: "Call -upon (or, as it is in • the margin,) imoclai His name, declare His doings among the pee make mention that his name is exalted." _ It is . only by reviewing past mercies as seen from the low stand-point of our unworthi ness, that Weishall be able to catch the key ' note to a proper song of praise. Beginning, then, with oar individual and social condition, with personal blessings, and ';blessings shared by.us as a community, what abundant cause have we for gratitude! Earth has yielded her fruits lavishly: if not in one form, yet in another. As if foreseeing that her bounty in the grain harvest would itp lost by the presence of an enemy among its, she kept it back, only to bestow it in fuller men - sures of golden corn. Seed-time and liar vest, rain and dew, mantling vapors and Har dening frosts have not failed us. - Coimmon blessing these are, but how great when we remember that it is of the Lord's mercies we ore not consumed! Or if base cupidity ' should tad ay mourn, a few treasures snatched from her grasping hands, look further at the riches - of our heirship. Around you are the glorious mountains, lifting Nu their tall ' forms until lost in tie kindredllue of heav an, and sending down to the suppliant plains below their benisons of cooling breeze and crystal waters. Overhead :bends -a -sky as soft and fair as that which looks down upon the faded splendors of Italy. The rich land- . 'cape spreads before you, brown with the \ves tiges of the.past, or green with the promise ..'f a future harvest ; while through field and woodland glimmers the silver network - of creeks and rivuletS, circulating life. and freshness through the land. No drifting - sands nor empty watercourses, mocking alike man and nature; no bleak, frozen.moun - - tains, anon bursting with volcanic rage, or - hurling do 'n upon the smiling valley the - - remorseless glacier ; no :sterile fields nor dwarfed forests confront;jus. All is rich, ' fruitful and,•beneficent. Surely here is, a reason for Xhanks -to Him, "who by wisdom made .the heavens; that Stretched -out the earth above the waters." His, too; was the • providence that cast our lot in such pleasant • places, and gave to us so goodly a heritage. While nature thus smiles upon us, and in her constant beauty-gives us cause for un 'wising praise, we may see still greater rea sons 4.'or thanksgiving in our social, civil and religious blessings. The peace, harmony • and security granted to the domestic and so cial circle, are all the "richer from the fact that we live so near the borders of a State where crime, in its-proper fruits, has ; broken ce up families, alienated friends, and fills corn - munities with.strife and bitterness. Living 4. on the very shore of a sea of strife, we have - as yet escaped. the full power of its storms. 4; True, we are not ignorant of them. Well • do wo all remember - how the hordes of tree.- . son ,came among us. .Their banners, marked - with the sacredt,fymbol of the cross, as if .t they had "stolen the livery of heaven to serve the devil in," i flaunted the breeze ; their -• ':shrillyells tore‘our free air; -they swanned • 'upon our harvest fields, outraged the sanctity of our, homes', pillaged our stores and ware houses;and rioted in our, abundance. Those were sad days, when our country's banner could not float over us, and we were no lon ger lords of our hones. But was it not more than repaid by the rapture of relief? Was • not our humiliation avenged when we saw their bastard banner trailed . back in dims , trous retreat.? The very skies poured down their torrents, as if to wash out every trace ' of their coming; tho streams, as if in sym pathy with us, gathered together the floods, pursued and fought against them in their eounses; while the free-soil sent forth un. • wonted foliage to cover their trail, and hide the-wounds they had made, so that now we • have scarce a +twit that they were here, save • where the grams grows ranker - over their "with The brief sufferings of those days, with our glorious deliverance, should .add bleier rapture to the songs ,of the present. • Nor utust we, ttir• - ,day, forget to record our as atitude for a good Wad stable government, securing prosperity anti protection to all Alike. This is of God's, ordaining among us. • Law has maintained Us j ustgapremacy, and • `*Deliviroil in tha PrepOzterittnfChuveli in Chitin-- ettbiqg,.on bupda7. criezabsr 4.leAla. I= while unusual erilands, deemed necessary ; l t for the times,ave;beeri ; ulade by the author-; I ;hies, all have patiently and 'cheerfully sub r l Mitted. Thus order has , been secured and -the proper .functions'of society _carried on; Unmolested. ,Our schools,-colleges and sem,; inaries of learning' have been onducted age effectively as in past times of peace, -nor have any of our great charitable and bonev, olent enterprises been crippled for want of means. In trade, if some avenues of enter prise have been closed by the war, new ones have been opened, and now every depart ment is so thronged that labor cannot meet the calls capital makes at her busy hands. But above all these, there is a blessing . of which we are all made partakers ; a blessing which of itself can make the desert fair as 'a garden, and wanting which the loveliest spot of-earth becomes hideous with sin ;—it is the glorious gospel of the -Son of God., This is God's highest and best gift to man, and to day it should be our chief joy that we live in a land of bibles, of Sabbaths and sanctua ries. Happy is that people that is - , in such' a ea se; yea, happy is that People whose God'is the Lord. - • What has just been , said with regard to us as a community, is true even in a larger de gree of our state. The blessing we enjoy, haVe been multiplied throughout all her bor ders. Take all the elements of her present prosperity, material, intellectual, civil, andspiritual, and no former year of our history can claim great precedence o'er this. It would, at least, imply unspeakable 'ingra titude and blindness, ion the part of any son of Pennsylvania, to ask in doubt, "What cause has she for gratitude?" Thankful too, must every heart among_ us be for the proud position 'our state occupies in the present great struggle for national.life. Among the first to rush to the rescue ofthe endangered nation, she hai never, through the long years of the war, faltered a single moment in'ler devotion - to the Union. With unstinted prOd igality she has given both men and moneyto the holy Cause of law and just govern ment. __The valor of her patriotic sons has at least secured the renown of the past; and while IndependenceAall, Valley Forge and Gettysburg—names that mark. the birth place, the trial, and the triumph of national life, remain dear to !American hearts, none of us.need' blush. - to ,name our native State. BUt we are calledto-day to a broader surVey of the providence of God. This is the -na tion's thanksgiving; and to enter fully into it we must deeNre the Lord's "doings among the poyle." No right minded man can fail to see-in any 01 the works of God,! that whichrefiects praise to its Creator. The heavens and the earth ingheir wonderful structure "proclaim 'His glory." We praise Him because we are "fear fully and wonderfully made." But Ingreles pecially do His moral, - works, His dealings with Man., furnish.ni.cause for adoring won der and gratitude. Be they judgments', or mercies, "His doings among the people" !are always such as to excite the praises of its saints; they are eminently worthy of Him whose wisdom devised, and whose power lex ecutes the wonueri of Providence. While then we recognize the fact, that as a nation" we are resting under one of His sore judg ments; while there is a great shadow of dark ness an over theland, we need not fear to look narrowly into it, lest song shouldi die upon our lips ,and humiliation take the place of thanksgiying. 'God, of old; led his' peo ple by the pillar of cloud us` well as by, the pillar of fire; and still the darkness of suffer ing, as well as the ',brightness of prosperity, reveal His presence with the nations as ,they march to humanity's protnis,d land. It is with prayerful caution that we should venture out on the "great deep" of God's judgments, where, with raging storm and boisterous' waves, he eliminated good from evil and joy ' from suffering; )0, the glimpses we there catch of "His doings" afford peculiar joy to faith. They enable us to step up to a hig,heir stand point, and sea some foreshadowing of His great work in a fallen world. In at tempting theft', to declare "His doings among the people," or rather pointing to them as the stern logic of events has declared thorn, I would not hide that which is sad and pain ful. NO! There; are sorrows in the land we would not forget, , but the rather bear them to a throne of grade, and whisper them in the eat of a compassiOnate Savior. To-day there are mothers, whose hearts will be filled; with angnish as' they sit around the festal beard, because th4ir brave boys are suffering priva tion in the camp, or starvation in the' infa mous dungeons of Richmond, or else sleeping in nameless graves on the trampled battle field, a thousand leagues from home. There are, manylittle broods of orphans clustering to their-mothers side loneliness;_ who to day had- reniP,td upon the father's, knee and clasped his neck with their little arms, but for this war. I There are lovely maidens, 'who to:day will! seek some quiet place to weep, because their true hearts still yearn for their gallantlevers slain. 0 War! War! With thy iron-shod hoofs dripping with the gore of, tend and true hearts, how cruel art thou in thy terffler mercies! or do tic for get the multitude of sufferers in the hospitals; the devastation, the violonue, the eipendi tune of treasure its well as of blood; and the tholisand nameless horrors,that follow in the trail ;of war. Btit let us-not misapply these. We arc not to subtract our sorrows frotil-oty blessings and giye thanks to God for the--te niainder. We Must make the estimate from the low stand-point of our own unworthiness. Nor yet must we look at our sulferingE: to the exclusion of our blessings, or attempt to make them-an excusel for future, failure in duty. It is natural for!some men to be desponding, while others. arnconstitutiinally hopeful. It is not unusual to find of to . men embarked in the same enttnprise, onq al wayi counting how much he has expended in the adven ture; while the ,'other, assured of the.propri ety and ultimate success of the enterprise. is only concerned ns to-how much he has to in vest in it. So with regard to the struggle in which the nation is engaged. There are those, sonic of !them naturally disposed .to look on the dark side, others, again, for the time being so disposed from. a slight taint of treason in their! hearts, who are constantly looking at all - that is unfavorable, and to their minds of evil augury. Nor are events want ing, such as belting in common to all wars, for making a dirk picture. But let us look at the other side. Is it not plain that while the land is torn by a rebellion, which, for magnitude and! atrocity has no parallel in history; while Vast debts are contracted, ar mies raised, na'ies created and battles fought on a - scale and with a rapidity the world has never before witnessed; that all this is only developing the energies of the people?, The exigencies of the war have created new and pressing demands, and these have drawn out the material resources of the country in such a manner as to' fill us with astonishment.— :Many prophesied want, financial ruin, and intense suffering among the laboring' classes as the retults,uf the 'war. But instead of this we have plenty; never has trade been more active; while labor, instead of being a sup.• plicant for employment, dictates its own terms. Everywhere there is thrift, abund ance and activity. Nor need we fear ; that all 'this is unreal, a feverish excitement produced by the unhealthy condition of the body poli tic. On the contrary, it is of the sure Vie franklitt Repository, Dec methods of God's providence suddenly to de velopegreat strength by placing men or na tons in great extremities. • Often it comes to pass that a man living quietly and carelessly in his lot, is suddenly brought under some sore trial; and then latent talents and ener gies worthy of an angel's arm, are developed. The marl wonders at himself, is a wonder to his friends. There is a wider range in his sympathies, a vigor and far-reaching grasp in his thoughts, a heaven-born energy throb r . bing in his heart: he cannot go:back to what he once was. So it is with nations; and in confirmation, we point to history. No na ever sacrificed or suffered more ,for princi ple than did the Dutch Republic in its long and sanguinary: struggle with Spain. Her nobles pawned their plate and mortgaged their eAtates; her citizens vied with each oth er in the number and costliness of their sac rifices for the cause of religious liberty _and national life. Yet their sacrifices seemed only to measure their prosperity. "Not withstanding the war," writes a.well known historian,* " whieh had already been raging a terrible quarter of a century without any - interruption, population was increasing; pro— perty rapidly advancing in value, and labor in active ,demand. The war," he adds, "paid for itself." A cotemPorary historian writes; "coming generations may see the for tifications erected at this erch, the magnif icent havens, the docks an extensions of the 'ciges • for truly the war had become a great benediction to the inhabitants." 'Strange language, but the future abundantly justified it. They constantly - grew ' in wealth and power, until at last they emerged from a war. of eighty years, one:of the . rfehest and most prosperous nations in Europe. Their terri ble trials had transformed the merchants and artisans and weavers of a dependent province, into the princes of trade, and the. lords of commerce. Or take the condition of England, during the long years she struggled' for national ex istence on the bloOdy battle-fields of the continent. Her public• debt grew to enor mous proportions; her commerce was swept from. the -sea; her loans were negotiated at fifty-threeper ,cent. and paid in depreciated paper; w her income tax- was ten per centum, with an additional war tax. • Yet she emerg ed from all this, not a crippled, exhausted, and bankrupt state, but, the most powerful empire among the nations of Europe: The same truth is illustrated in the early - annals of our Own history. It" would be easy to show, that we had long remained ,dependant upon the wealth and skill of the old world, had not the pressing necessities of seven years war compelled us to develop our resources, andtaught us our strength. Such has -been God's method of drawing out the onergy'and material resources of the nations, and thus strengthening , them for a higher mission in His service. It is^ not claimed that war is' the best condition for the developement of national greatmv : and resources; far from it. But it is a condition rendered necessary by oar faithlessness to the higher privileges of peace. In times of peace, the inclination of society is toward luxury and effeminacy. Under their soft . influence_ the sinews of manhood become relaxed; the natural virtues lose their vitality; the floodgates of vice and corruptions are opened; and national life, in spite of its fair exterior, becomes sickly and diseased. Then war comes, in merciful judg ment. With its loud alarms, it arouses men irony their sinful sloth; its bloody sacrifices at least quicken the natural virtues;' and while with eau mailed hand it wields the sword and lays - open the festering sores of society, with the other, it applies its torch to the hoarded treasures of luxury. Tlus suf- Thring and want comperus Wain the obli— gations to which we. were faitqess in times of peabe. War leaves us aroused, active and - disenthralled. But even suppose 41i ibis to be false; grant for a moment, that, instead of developing -latent talents find needed strength, this war is exhausting us; still we, will not despair, but pointing to the wealth, the power and the men remaining, thank God that we have still so much left to spend in the, sacred cause of liberty and law; Better give all, to the last plan and the last farthing ' than turn back in our struggle. Better; a thousand - times - better, leave our fair fields and rich cities a mortgaged inheritance to mourning widows and orphans, than: - seek to live in ty, peace devoid of holy principle, or cherish the form of a nationality saved by dishonor.) As the last but nut least cause for thanks giving, let me declare to you God's "doings among the people" in eliminating great prin ciples, and's() exalting tlee nation. " When Thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of theworldwill learn righteousness," writes the prophet Isaiah. The process is a'simple and an effective one. It is this: Great princi ples are thedecrees of God working inhuman history. These, while men concern them selves with' what appears on the surface of things, one working underbeath all, shaping all things. now in fearful , retribution, now' ,in just reward. They are rooted deep in the bosom of humanity, and no. power - save HIS who planted them and still gives them en- I.ergy, can stay their working. These are the "higher laws," which move irresistibly on, sweeping away corrupt courts and cabinets, mocking the devices of men, the craft of Tu.: lers ' and the comprornises of statesmen. Now and then there ark great epochs in human history, when, by some such judgment as God has now sent upon this land, these prin ,ciples are laid•bare. The false issues, the de vices of mingled good and.' evil which men had set before themselves, are swept away. The mask is - torn from the face of evil, and the false and true are plainly embattled against each other. First principles , are posed, not in their varied combinations; but by themSelvas. Delusion is no.longer possi ble. The plain question is, "If the Lorene God, follow him; 'but if Baal, follow him." Men must chose right or wrong. Then it is that the people, "learn righteousness ? " , for it, is made plain to them how they may fall in with and fulfill the deerees,of God. Such is the condition into which we now brought by the providence of God. This war has laid bare the great Principle-that gave birth to the nation, that animates its charter- and brcathes through its laws.. It is The grand element of christian democracy, the corner stone of human rights, the key-note .of the Declarntionof Independence, the gospel doc trine that all men are "created free and equal," and have "an inalienable .right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness." This is one principle - that is iweeping•-aside _all false and petty party issues, and marshaling the nation into two contending armies. , The struggle among us_to-day is the old ono be tween civilization and barbarism, between free thought and despotism, between liberty and slavery, that in ages past made the dykes and swamps of the Netherlands crimson with gore ; that baptized old England and Scot land with their best blood, and still later awoke with -its thunders the echoes of the New World. We. call it a "struggle for national existence," a " war (Or the Union ;" but why ? Because the very principle that brought us 'into national existence and mould ed the Union, is at stake. I know there are some so blind, of else so perverse, that they cannot see this as yet. They look atiit'as a - _ I * Motley, - • ber 23, 1863. „,. war between s "tions and prejudices, stirred up by, faction Qll either side, and to be settled by some judicious compromise. • But have they never rpticlihistory ? Do they not know that it has always been the fate of republics to containr two parties, one democratic, the 'other aristocratic; and that these sooner or biter war against each other? Or will they not believe the avowed 'intentions of the traitors themselves, who seek the destruction of the republic, and seal their works with” strong blows? They orenly proclaim that they have built up their so-called Confeder acy upon "the new theory thatcapital should own labor ;" which, after all, is as old as the time' of the Pharaohs, Listen to the lan guage of their letidingjournal:% - "the estab lishment:of the Confederacy is verily, a dis tinct reaction against the whole course of the mistaken civilization of the age. For Liberty, Equality, - Fraternity, we have de- , ' liberately substituted Slavery, Subordination and Government. There are Slave races born to serve ; there are master `braces born to govern." What, I ask, in the name of truth and righteousness, is there to..compro mise between this and' the declaration of our fathers? Nothing. !Here are two hostile principles standing face to face ; they will meet, butt it is in a death struggle. When the war began, the heart of the North, if beating faintly, still beating true to the principles of the ReVolution, intuitively re cognized this ; and the people were not long in deciding., They felt that the blow struck at the Union was struck at .thet, which the Union enshrined. Thieves-do not steal the casket without having designs on the jewels. The stab was meant for CieS/IT„ not for eraser's vestment. Now, it is a law of oiir moral lifedthat just so soon as we come into living contact with great ,'principles,' they make us partakers of their greatness; they quicken, ennoble and purify us; as with -men, so with nations. We all remember the great awakening which folloWed when the nation was brought, thus closely, and without any other issue, into contact with its ancient and immortal prin ciples: of life. The people rose as one man under the mighty inspiration; party tram mels were broken asunder ; the fire of Rev olutionary days was re-kindled in their hearts ; and shouting the old battle-cry of freedom, they seized the sword and rushed with 'one accord to the conflict. -For three years of mingled success and disaster, of ter rible sacrifice and suffering, the nation has steadily held fast to this principle, and we 'can already mark the fruits. _ What lofty heroism has been displayed, alike on the battle-field, where the brave have so lingly died; in the- hospitals, where the sufferers bear their wounds with such pa tience ; and in quiet homesteads, where nale faced martyrs sit chained to the stake called " waiting !" What ennobling changes have taken place in the social Laid political condi tion of the country, elevating its standard of humanity, purifying its patriotism, and. ma king' the aims +of its parties broader and grander ! Mutual suffering has - brought us into closer sympathy one with another, and led all classes to f.:el that brotherhood so es sential to the life of christian democracy. This is God's work, and though the method has been severe, let us thank him for> it. .1.3%t us thank Him for the brave soldiers who have laid-down' their lives, or still live for their country's good ; for mothers and sisters, whose warm loving, hearts and busy hands have alleviated so much the horrors of war ; for all the zeal, defotion and energy with which He has inspired men, and arrayed on the side of holy principle to save our country. But there is another matter, nearly related to what has just been said, which we must not overlook. just - been leas, in His dealings with. , the Slavery question ; so laid bare ) the great principles invoiced in it, that to-day we ore eompelled to take sides for or against it. We cannot fl . .void it however. much we would de • Sire it. It is no longer a question what the South would like or what the North would grant, but what God requires. Notice for a moment "His doings among the peo ple" with reference-to this vexatious question. When our Constitution was adopted, the subject of slavery was a matter of grave im portance; it seemed an anomaly in a free government, and was dreaded as the fruitful cause of future dissensions. All looked upon it, however, as an evil giaidually to be extin guished, and most heartily did the lathers of the constitution with the land were rid of But it was not removed, for it is not God's method to nip evil, in the bud. Ile permits it to grow to its own destruction. He :-Aiffers it to develop . all its powers, and so, from its very Opposition, makes the progress of truth the more thorough and permanent. At first it was an evil 'tolerated and apologized for on the ground of insufficient labor; ihere defen , dedheeause of the inferiority of the race; then on the profitableness of its toil in the cane and cotton fields; and then, when thus secure of protection, because appealing to the selfish principles of human nature, it grew arrogant, and claimed divine authority for its, accursed life. Laws must be moulded for its protection. National authority must come forward to avenge its insults and satisfy its insatiable demands. - It could brook no frown and bear no affront from public opinion.— The pulpit that opposed it was " political," the press that denounced it "ineendiarY," the man who did not believe in it "a black hearted abolitionist.;' • I know some will even deny thiS, and 'pretend to say that the North has apostatized from the principles of the constitution, not the South. Agitators at the North have be . en constantly encroach ing on Southern rights, or in other words, slavery." Agitators! Disturbers of the pub lic peace! How came men who dared pro laim • their belief in the broadest doctrine of Human Rights, to be agitators in a land whose great charter- asserts it in perfection if there has been no departure from - the,teach fags of our. fathers? Are they agitators be cause they have also society with the truth? Then alio wa.s Christ one. • 4./ am come," He says, "not to send peace, o lnit a sword ;" and so he _preached the fatherhood of God and theme world-wide brotherhood of man; doctrines that have gone alit and torn empires into pieces, overturted thrones; ban= ished kings, broke the fetters Of slaves, filled' tyrants With rage,=-shook the world and will shako it, until the-false is overthrown and society every where remoulded by the great law of Love. Buf I appeal to facts to show that - the South has gone astgay from the spi rit of our institutions. In politics, compare the well known statements of 'Washington and Jefferson, each lamenting and condemn ing slavery, with the public 'declaration of the Vice President of the so-called Confed- , eracy, a declaration which was received by his atiditors;with "storms of applause."— Mr. Stephens says "the prevailing ideas en tertained by Jerson and most of the lead ing statesmen atihe time of the formation of the old constitudon were, that the enslave ment of the African race was in, violation of the laws of nature—that it was wrong in principle, socially, morally and politically. The general opinion of the men of that day was that somehow or other, in the order of providence, it would be evanescent and pass • Richmond Examiner. MnY 28th t Madison Papers, Jefferson's Works and Ram , away. Those ; ideas, however, were funds mettally wrong. - - Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite ideas. It - is the first in theitorld founded upon this great physical, phildsophical and moral truth, that slavery is the natural and normal condi tion of the negro.' ' "This stone which was re jected by the first. builders, is become the chief stone of the corner in our new edifice." Nor is corroborative testimony wanting. In ecclesiaitical affairs, compare the action of the Synod of South Carolina, in 1818, with its ,rectified belief in 1860. In history, turn to our colonial records. and mark the efforts made by the colonies, Virginia and Alabama especially, to prevent the introduc tion of slavery, and compare them with their present unhallowed efforts to make it perpet ual. This, then, has been the progress of slavery. From timid beginnings it-grew to such a pitch of insolence . 'that no• moderate concessions would satisfy it. Wliat then, could Freedom do? Must she yield to its claims. Tall back step by step from the bor der; quit these hills endeared 'to her by the' bones of her martyrs, cross the lakes and dwell a weeping exile under the cress of St. George? Rattier than this better speak the truth though it ' , agitate" somei Betterrush war-clad to the battle-field—a thousand times rather let her die there, grasping with' one ,hand her broken blade, the other holding her starry banner, all crimson with her flow ing blood, while her eyes still glare defiance to traitors, and proclaim' her unconquered in death. But mark how God is extricating us, In His great moral government, wrong always recoil's upon itself and becomes its own exe cutioner; so,-the very arrogance this institu tion had engendered, led it to'' destruction, When the traitors of the South, men nursed by the milk-and rocked by the hands of slaves, lose up and struck at the very life cf our nationality, and openly proclaimed that they loved slavery before liberty, the nation no longer had any doubt as, to tile side it mat takein the conflict. The "vexed ques tion" could-no longer be a matter for -com pr6miie; henceforth opposing armies became the representative of two conflicting princi ples. Hesitatingly, but surely; the nation placed herself on the side of justice and humanity, and the death knell of slavery was rung through the land. Thank. Gcd for this, - "His doings I" There is progress here, and-in the right direction. Three years ago then; were slave-pens and auction blocks fur the sale of men and women in the capital of the . nation;. now in their stead, there, are camps of freedmen. • Folar years ago they hunted fugitives from bondage through the streets of our principal ditiesi now, through these same streets, march these ,same bond men freed from their fetters and enlisted to fight the battles of the Union. All this the nation would not reverse if it could." Such, my friends, are some of the events of this great and memorable era. ,They have .been shaped by no human hand. The Great Ruler of nations has led us; nor is it ai aimless movement; nor to our destruction. Confused as the surface of things may !It times appear, underneath all work sure principles, which will bring order out of confusion. But they will work until all op position is broken, and the materials are made plastic for the moulding. The good shall remain while the bad is ruined; and, " The ashes of old evil shall feed the future's golden grain."" Such is our faith,. and'we have many ma terial signs to strengthen it. -The progress of onr arms during the past year is' such as to call for devout thankfulness on our part. While our victories have always been fruit- - ful. our very reverses have brought to us wholesome le.ssons t a4 needed training. Re-_ viewing -the progreSs.'of the war in the light of history,.we have no cause for •discourage ruent. On the contray, in all the annals of the past, you will not find a war of such magnitude, and"tin which so large a number of battles have been fought, prosecuted with such uniform had permanent s.uceess. The , great West is to us: . whole States have, been lately wrenched from the grasp of treason; armies planted in the, very heart of the revolted section; the blockade along our immense coast, maintained with a striet ness disaitrous to our enemies; - while all dan ger. of foreign intervention has been 'effectu ally prevented. Never have we had aTairer, prospect of speedily crushing the rebellilm. But, ,while we offer our thanks for all God'a mercies, and praise him for ‘..l4's•doings." .we must not forget our duties. Great privi leges create corresponding obligations. The blessings and sacritices . of the past, alike call us to the unfinished work before us; and for : its completion we need every true heart and - every strong arm. It is great, arduous, but not impossible. Were we opposing the eter nal principles of right,•which have at times created bloody revolutions in civil govern ments, we. might well withdraw,oor armies in despair. To continue the waif under such circumstances would be an insane attempt to reverse the course of history. But we are contendingeigainst a rebellion; and in it we meet, not the vitality and strength of princi ple, but the madness and desperation of wick ed and-deluded men. StAl to combat these successfully, we need all the mighty energies of the nation : above all we need the con tinued guidance of God, lest, like the blinded Sampson, in our giant strength we pull away the pillars whose removal involves alike the ruin 'of friend and foe. To -Him 'let us - send up our petitions, that He would guide us in the conflict, and in infinite mercy speedily lend us to peace. Neededl as war may be to dis cipline the nations, it is far. from being their best estate. The trials of earth may be ne cessary for the'christian, but they furnish no ' reason.to forbid his longing for the bliss ,of heaven. Most devoutly and earnestly, then, may we pray for peace. - But while we pray for it, let us not hesitate to work for it. We must do every thin -4, pray, give, work, fight for. peace,—do any thing, save be false to principle and turn traitor to our country. To secure this consummation of our wishes, there is but one resource left us. The path of duty, if arduous and bloody, is plain: we must crush by force of. arms the power that. assails our government. There is no differ ence of opinion among all true men on this point.' Nor could it well be otherwise,,since; as has been shown, God has brought us back to,flrst principles. Men may err when there is a mingled play of good and evil ; but all can know their duty, or must become.trai-' tors to themselves, when the naked truth stands before them. Surely then, fellow citizens, I need not urge you to the discharge of duty. , With - all the glories of "the-past and the of the present at stake ; with the hopes of freedom throughout the world, resting on your success, how could you be false to principle, or turn a deaf ear to your country's call ? How could vouturn back to walk in the path of nationaldishonor and ruin, to b e met a every step by the sad faces of war -made widows. Who - survive their sorrows only because their husbandi died to save-the country you abandon ? How could you endure to -hear the wailof orphans, whose best patrimony , was the example patri otic - father whose memory you dishonor? How could you bear to walk over a land• sown thick with her les' graves, every one-of which protested against the dishonor your cowardice heaped upon it ? •We owe it to the dead that they shallsleep in the mighty Republic 'for whose glory they fell; we owe it to the living who have so bravely toiled and suffered, that they - shall °in the future enjoy the privileges and bleAing s of the gov, eminent for which they have given so much. Forwar4.then, with patienceand courage in the path of duty, which is the path of progress!, If the present is still: overshad owed, the future is full of brightness and glory to faith, and thither we are all rushing. The text points to it, for it is an ascription of - praise that shall come up from the_ ftitius kingdom of the Messiah. Let us, therefore. 4: stand. faithfully in our lot, loyal to ouri:lod.: loyal to our country, and exercising justiivo, and mercy, one toward another, ana toward all 'men. Then, if we are not among those - who shall raise the shout of - victory from the trampled and blood-stained earth—the scene' of so many woes and conflicts, burtheri of final triumph=we shall be among, that great cloud of .witnesses who look' doWn from the battlements - of heaven to watch the strife of earth: 'We, too, shall catch the t•choes of the shout as it rises up from redeemed nations, and mingling our voices with the bymningt of angels around the Throne, join in the great Thanksgiving Song of the universe: "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of Our Lord and of itti Christ. Hallelujah! for , the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth." Amen. Let all the People say, Amen. Wltitbing. THE FRANKLIN CLOTIITNG PAIPORTWIL NEWEST STYLES.. LARGEST STOCK—CILEAPtST P-.11102L. The undvraigned can assure the Public, and defies sem cessful contradiction. that his recent purchases In tbo Easternbities enables him to offer,one of the laigest aa most at tractive stock of CLOTHINS Pir the Pali and Winter . Season of 163-4 to be' tons in any similar astablishaient in this section. - Every va riety of COATS, ' AND wiI'ESTS, - Slade in thevery best stYleand at the lowestprittee GENTLEIIM'S' FURNISILING. GOODS, - Such as Shirts, Drawers, Collars ? ! Cravats, Neck -ilee. liandherchiefeAtc.„Ac. Speeial attention is called le thi sDepartinent:- CUOMES' ORDERS. • wand 'write an ST examit ß urtion of my Stock, of Fine Cloths.E.csseewi era . Vest Inge, c., which l o tcanufact-ttrw upon spichil orders. SPECIAL NOTICE. , I would beg to say that my Goods are manufactured uuder my own supervision and by the very beat work - men. My pgeseht stock is the moat ext ensiTe I hate yet had in store and I- respectfullyask- my frim ds end the Public to give nvea call before purchasing elsewhere.' Remember the old Ftand. T. lipsmssorT, Franklin Hotel Building; - - Corner of the Diamond and West Morket Street,: oct. 7.. Chatabersburg.Pw. T' ELLIOTT , CLOTI - lIER, South,- _l2 4 , west Corner of the DLO/OND, ;text door to the B.eak, COAMBERSIII,IIIG, has just returned from the City with a large stock of superior and se/lendable Goods,such as CLOTHS. CASSIMERES. SATIN/Vint HA NS., CO RDS. c.. for Coats. and VELVETt.....SATII%b. MARSEILLES,and ether Vestings. Also—n very fine selection of READY-3IADE CLOTHING, Which bet prepared to sell at the very lowest market prices. CUSTOMER WORK.—As he employs a flrst=vate <mt. ter, he ite prepared. to make mp all kinds of-Vermeil*. for !ilea and Boys, to order,fn the beet styles. Satire faction will be guaranteed. A large assortment of Gmenr3tEn'sErneletSllllCa 00014 s, ouch no Shirts, Drawers. Collars, lialylkerchlefs, Sue penders.Carpot Bags. Umbrellas, ke . ,, ke.: stINFICTS on band, Give him a call and Save money. {June RC. W.A.LBORN & CO'S . READY MADE LINEN IL CD DRESS STOCK MANUFACTORY, 5 it 7 North Sixth Street; Philadelphia. Silk,Merino and cotton Under Shirts and Drawers. Om vats. Searfe.Gloves, Handkerchiefs, &c. Shifts: Wrapper* and Drees Storks made to order by measurement. coat warranted to give satisfaction. Orders may Weft with S. S. &MOMS, Chanibersburg. 5ep.2.3 • WESTON & BROTH-ER, NIERCHANT TAILORS, 960 Arch Strut. Philadelphia, F. Having received a liberal Aare of patronage front Chant berAurg and vicinity, we are eniouraged, to ask lbr more; The &radiance of our goods and OM work, cad *he care we take to giro eat ire eatiafact ion iv a minder* guarantee that we value our reputation. novll, 63-Iy & BROTHER- . *abbierg, 11/arness, QADDLERY ! SADDLERY 1 .-Stui-, dles, Bridle's, Harness, Collars, Trunks, 'rallies, da nign of the,IiORSE COLLAR. JEKEHIAII OYSTER respectfully returnshisthanks to his patrons for the liberal encouragement receivad from them heretofore, and he would invite them and the community generally. who may need- any thing, in hi. line, to give hint a call ,d his OLD STAND. on the Ecat side OfHain Street, Chambersburg, tive.-doors - South of Huber. Tolbert's Hardware Store, where be - keeps cou.- stantly on band ovcry variety of 'S &HD L ER Y AM of his own Mannfacturn. and he is prepared to sell theeanie at terms that defy competition. livery artic.e offered far sale is warranted to be made of tlke best material and by competent workmen, which will be fully demonstrated on an examination thereof. TIcIINKS AND VALI*ES.—IIe would also call flop attention of persons wanting a, good, mat, cheap and nnbetaniat Trunk or ValiNd, to Ws aseortment; =ENE QADDLE AND HARNESS MAN- - kJ LIFACTORY.—The undersirped would respectfully annonnce to his friends and the-public generally, t he has taken the SADDLE AND HARNESS SHOP for merly carried on - by Matthew Uillan, dec'd. on WEST JIARICET STREET, near the canacocheague Orerk. to the Berongh of Chamberwburg, where he . manufactu see Saddles. Bridles and Karnes 4. ab(lh Is Constantly on hand an excellent assortment of Collars. Whips. Ac. Ucemploys none but the best of Workmen. and eon stracts all work flpm tho best material; TRUNKS and VALISES constantly on hand. all awhich will be sol cheep astlio cheapest. A continuance of the former pa , tronage of the shop is mos t respectfully solicited. , June 17, 63 JAMES R. OILLAN AVHIPS I WHIPS ! WILLIAM SMUT° SON', corner Of Main and Washington Streets, Chaniliersburg. Pa., manufacturers of ail kinds of WIIIPS, suet' as Wagon. Carriage and Riding Whips of 'various sizes and of superior onaHty. which they offer to the public, eitherlby Wholesale or Retail. at very moderate prices. L ASII ES of ail lengths kept constantly oahand and foisale by the dozen. very cheap. They also manufacture superior UOSSE COL LARS, to which they invite attention. Orders from adi stance solicited and promptly attend ed• to Juno 17.'63. . , 111)PROAD GEARS,COLL ARS, HAT.r- TERS,and anything in the Leather Hoe belonging to the Saddler's busineas.always onliand and made to (4.• der, end on reasonable terms at .sitoßpos's, opposillo the Indian Qneen lintel, :Slain et, IL G_O - RD ON—successor to C• DIEHL& GORDOX—giTOB - notice to his customer' nod other", thatbe is still et the OLD STAND, opposite the Indian Queen Hotel, Main etreet,Oh:ushershurg. Pa. CORDON HAS A SUPERIOR lot or SADDLES ,. HARNESS, BRIDLES, .STI& SPURS,which be will sell cheap for cask or good trade. eAEPAIRrNG DONE AT SHORT notice, on reasonable terms, by U. U. 430iLDON+ Verites his friends to come to set , him. - • , A ELTON & CO., .L. 5.... , COMMISSION KERCIfAIM and Deakin in , LEATHER, SUMAC, SHEEP AND gALF SICUR - N 0.4,34 North Third Street, Philadelphia. leither, auntie and Skins. bought or sold on Comas*. Rion. Advances made on Consignments... (dec.l-7m) NOTICE OF PARTNERSHIP, Notice is hereby given that the undersigned hien Ilds day entered intgpartnership, in the Coach-Ma-Vials businvis, in all lie various branches .under t4e.iutta e ,PcitTor &Molts. The said firm will do Widnes's' at tba, Kind lately occupied by P. ileniy Peiffer 'Co., ami would roxpectfuily solicit p. -continuance of the 'plebes patronisge,, P.IIENItY P.131/XI , Ncer."6, P 361, C.O. FOLTZ; -
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers