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; -