VOLUME 1. Butler County Agricultuarl Society, TO BE H*LD IN BL'TLER, ON The 4th and sth of October, 1864. The Entry Books will be opened on the ] sth day of September, and continue open until the 4th day of October, at 10 o'- clock, a. m., atwhish time they will posi tively be closed. Ae.»l cultivation must be presented in writing before a pre mium will be awaited. 2d. Tho lie amount of roots, grain I or L.THSS produce 1 on the amount of lan 1 specified, must be measured or wcigued ; mm crops divested of their tops and esti mated by their weight—sixty pounds to be considered a bushel—and grain crops ; to be we gheil or measured the IHual standard. CLASS ll—Seeds, Vegetables, Fruit. and Flowers. Best bushel of white wheat, SI 01) j second best " " -'>o be it bushel of red wheat, 1 00 j second best " " 50 best bushel of mediterranean wheat, 1 Ot) second best " " " 50 best bushel of corn in the ear, 50 best bushel of oats, 50 best bushel of buckwheat, 50 best bushel of barley, 50 best bushel of flaxseed, 50 Jiest bushel of timothy seed, 50 best bushel of k.dil rabbi, 50 best bushel of stowell evergreen, 50 best bushel of castor beans, 50 host bushel of sow beans, !)0 best bushel of millet seed, 50 best bushel of hungarinn grass seed. 'SO best bushel of potatoes, 50 best bushel of onions, 50 best bushel of turnips, 50 best bushel of rutabaga turnips, 50 best bushel of tomatoes, 50 best, bushel of parsnips, 50 best bushel of carrots, 50 best bushel of beets, 50 & best bushel of sweet potatoes, 50 best bushel of summer apples, 50 best bushel of blue stem wheat, 1 00 best bushel of winter apples, 50 best bushel of pears, 50 best bushel of apples of any kind, 50 best bushel of peaches, 50 best bushel of quinces, 50 best half dozen ot cabbage heads, 50 best half dozen of comuiou pumkius, 50 best half dozen sweet " 50 best half dozen of squashes, 50 best specimen of grapes, 50 best display, variety aud quality of flowers, 1 00 best floral display of living plants, 1 00 best floral ornament, 50 best pair of boquets, "0 best arranged basket of flowers, 50 best display of cucumbers, o0 / best display of radishes, 50' best display of red peppers, 50 best display and greatest variety of apples, 1 00 best water uiellons, 50 best inusk " 50 best citrons, 50 John Coulter, Concord tp., Reuben Slianor, Muddycreek tp., David iLogan. Jcfforson tp., M.masses Gillespie, Done gal tp., John C. .Moore, Centre tp., and Jxtnesl) . Lytle, Lancaster township, Com m tt e. Class C.— Stallions, Trotters, and Pacers. Best blooded St allionovcr 4 yr's Sls 00 2d best " " " " 10 00 best " " " 8 years 500 2d best " " " " 200 best " " " 2 years 300 2d best " " " " 1 50 best common " " 4 years 500 best " " " 3 years 300 best " " " 2 years 200 best draught " * " 4 years 500 AMERICAN CITIZEN. 2d best " " " " 200 best trotting stallion-of any age, 400 best racking or pacing stallion of*any age, 4 00 best and fastest trotting horse or mare, ' 400 second best " " 2 00 best and fastest racking or pacing horse or mare, 4 00 second best " " 2 00 W O. Brackenridge, T nhn Frazier, bor ough Butler, Henry Kohluieyer, Alle gheny tp., Milton Henry, bor. of Zelie uople, and Jolin Iv. Kennedy, Connoque nessing tp. Class I).— llorsei>, Mure*. Colts " 100 best grade cow 3 years old, 4 00 2d best " " " 2 00 best grade cow 2 years old, 3 00 2d best " " " 1 50 best grade cow 1 year old, 2 00 2d best » " " 100 best grade licifei calf, 2 00 2d best " " " 1 00 best pair twin calves of any kind, 100 Henry Buhl, Forward tp., Matthew Greer, Buffalo tp., James Campbell, boro. Butler, Joseph Swartz, Jackson tp., \\ in. Wyble, Pecn, tp., Committee. Class F.—Native cattle ' not less than 5, 200 2d best" " 1 00 Newton Maxwell, Butler tp., Geo. Kei ber. boro. Butler, Andrew Albert, Centre tp., Committee. Class ./. Poultry and Dairy Products. Best pair of turkeys, 1 00 do pair of ducks, do do pair of geese, do do pair of black Spanish chickens, do do pair of brama pootra chickena, do do pair of cross breed chickens, do do pair cochin china chickens, do do- pair dorking chickens, do do pair shanghia chickens, do do do bantam chickens, do do pair poland chickens, do 1 do pair game chickens, do do pair sprucy chickens, do "do 5 pounds of butter, 2 00 second best q pounds of butter, 1 00 best 5 pounds of honey, do do 5 pounds of maple sugar, do do 10 lbs of bread, do do 3 loaves of bread, do do choose, not less than 10 pounds, do do gallon of apple butter, do do gallon of peach butter, do do quart ot sugar cane molasses, do do quart of maple molasses, do do six bottles of tomatoes, do do scap or palace of bees, 2 00 do exhibit of 3 kinds of pickels, 100 do exhibit of preserved fruit, do do cured ham and manner of curing do do lot of light cakes, 50 do pound cake, 50 Win. Campbell, boro. Butler, Sol. Mo ser, Oakland tp., Andrew McCuilongh, boro. Pm-pect, Mrs. Zachariah Phillips, Oakland tp., Committee. Class A*.— Agricultural Implements. I Best harrow, 82 00 best fanning mill, do. do corn shelter, do. do horse rake, . do. do corn cultivator, 1 00 do grain cradle, do do half-dozen hay or manure forks, do do reaping and mowing machine, 3 00 do threshingandcleaningmachine,2 00 do threshing machine, do. do straw cutter, 1 00 do half-dozen hoes, do. do half—dozen hay rakes, do. do field roller, do. do stump extractor, do. do two-horse plow, do. do one-horse plow, do. do seed drill, 2 00 do Corn Planter, 1 00 Joseph Messiek, Clearfield township, Cowan Middlesex tp., 'I bos. Greer, Jef ferson tp., John Martin Conncqucnessing tp., A. I>. Tinker, Butler tp., Committee. Class L. — Mechanical Arts.. Bcst'two horse wagon, S3 00 best two horse carriage, 8 00 best one horse top buggy, 2 00 best one horse open buggy, 2 00 best sulky, 2 00 best wheelbarrow, 1 00 best double set wagon harness, 2 00 best double set carriage harness, 3 00 best single set carriage harness, 2 00 best lady's saddle, 1 00 best man's saddle, 1 00 best bridle and martingale, 1 00 best calf skin, 1 00 best side of harness leather, 1 00 best side of upper leather, 1 00 best side of kip leather, 1 00 best assortment of castings, 2 00 best cook stove, 2 00 best parlor stove, 1 00 best common stove, 1 00 best photograph, 1 00 best ambrotype, . 1 00 be-t pair of mens' boots, 1 00 best pair of mens' shoes, 1 00 best pair of lady's boots, 1 00 best pair of lady's shoes, 1 00 best gent's coat, pants and vest, 3 00 best rocking chair, 1 00 best set of chairs, 1 00 best dressing bureau, 3 00 best stone ware, 1 00 hest earthen ware, 1 00 best tin ware, 1 00 best rifle gun, 1 00 best blacksmith work, 1 00 best marble work. 1 00 best penmanship. 1 00 best thousand oak shingles, 1 00 best leather trunk, 1 00 best steaui engine, 2 00 best book printing, 1 00 best card printing, 1 00 best portrait painting, 1 00 best ti recian oil printing, 100 best specimen of graining, 1 00 best clothes horse, 1 00 best hive or palace for bees, 1 00 best mattock, 1 00 best washing machine, 1 00 best dog power for churn, ] 00 best display of cigars aud tobacco. 100 Henry Miller, l'eun tp.. John Hockcn berrry, Ceutievillc boro., Thomas Layton, Allegheny tp., A. I). Wier Buffalo tp., and Andrew Grovy, Comniittee. CUiss M.—Domestic and other Manufac tures. Best 10 yards of cassiuiere, $2 00 " " " cloth, 200 " " " sattinct, 100 " " " barred flannel, 100 « " o raj; carpet, 100 " " " woolen carpet, 100 " " " flax liuuen, 100 " pair of blankets, 1 00 " pa r of coverletts, 1 00 " pair of gent's woolen hose, 50 " pair of lady's woolen hose, 50 " pair of gent's woolen mittens, 50 " 5 pounds of woolen yarn, 1 00 " soft hut, 1 00 " barrel of wheat flour. 2 00 " half-dozen linnen bags, 1 00 " linnen thread, 50 pair of linnen table cloths. 100 James Notris, Clinton township, 11 J. Boggs, Forward township, B F. (jlenn, Brady township, Hon. James Kerr, Har risvilte borough, and Joseph Cummins, Marion tp.', < ommittee. Class A r .— : Ornamental and Needle Work. Best gent's shirt, SI 00 " lady's bonnet, ■■■ 2 00 " lady's head dress, 1 00 " lady's collar, 1 00 " ornamental work, 1 00 " table cover, 1 00 '• Btahd cover, " ottoman cove r , 1 00 " patch work, 1 00 " patch work quilt, quilting to be considered 2 00 2d best " " " " 1 00 Best crotchet worV, 1 00 " cruel work, 1 00 " artificial flowers, in wag, I 00 " artificial fruits, in wax, 1 00 " embroidery on silk, 1 00 " embroidery on lace, 1 00 " embroidery on muslin, 1 00 " embroidered lamp mat, 1 00 " embroidered slippers, 1 00 " fancy chair work, 100 " ornamented shell work, 1 00 '• ornamented leather work, 1 00 " ornamented pillow-slip, 1 00 " fancy basket, 1 00 " pair worked under-sleeves. 1 00 " tidy, 1 00 " bcil spread, 1 00 " cradle quilt, 1 00 J. C- Rcdick, borough Butler, Andrew W. McCuilongh, borough Prospect, Oevt rude Lyon, Middlesex tp., Maggie Camp bell, borough Butler, Eliza Moser, Oak land tp., Klla Cunningham, boro. Butler, Committee. CLASS O.—PLOWING MATCH. Best plowing } acre with horses or muless4 00 second best " " " 3 00 third host " " " 2 00 best plowing ] acre with oxen, 3 00 second best " " '• 200 The plowing match to take place on the first day ot the fair at 3 o'clock, p. m. S. G. Meals, Washington tp., Win. C. Campbell, Fairview tp., Committee. DISCRETIONARV COMMITTEE. Charles Cochran. Concord tp., A. D. Wier, Buffalo tp.. Hon. James Mitchell, Summit p., Gen. John N. Purviance, But ler borough, Daniel O'Donnel Clearfield township. GRAND MARSHAL. HENRY Bl'llL, Esq., Forward tp. CATTLE MARSHAL MILTON MAXWELL, Butler towns'p. MARSHAL FOR SHEL'.P AND SWINE. JACOB WAL EH, Butler township.' Itl bl-S AM» HKUILATIO.XN. We invito the attention of the public to our premium list. It has been revised with great care, and with direct reference to the liberal encouragement of all classes of industry and commendable enterprise. Look over the list at your leasure j note the premium you wish to draw and see to it that some of your neighbors don't go ahead of you. BAN J OF MUSIC. A good band of music will occupy a prominent stand on the grounds during the fair. THE ADDRESS. An address from some distinguished speaker and friend of Agriculture may be expected. -*■ ■:^B IIDIIW. Each member of the society will be fur nished on the payment of the annual fee of one. dollar, with a certificate of mem bership. This certificate will give* the person whose name is written thereon, to gether with his family accompanying him, free access to the grounds during the fair. These certificates can be procured from the President, Vice Presidents, Secreta ry and Treasurer. Single membership tickets, which will admit one person dur ing ti e fair, thirty-five cents. m' ■**» • will be furnished with single tickets of admission at any of the ticket offices foi twenty cents. Children under ten years old, ten cents. These tickets must be de livered to the gate keeper as you pass in. DIRECTIONSTO COMPETITORS. Competitors are requested to enter all articles for exhibition in the Secretary's books on cr before the first dayof the fair. No article will be entered after 10 o'clock, on the second day. Cards will be given to each competitor, which must be attach ed to the animator article you may wish to exhibit. A committee will direct you as to the location aud arrangement of anything you may have to exhibit. There is an abundance of water conve nient to the grounds—hay will be furn ished free of charge—otherfeed to be pro vided by tho ownereof stock. Rules and Instructions for Judges. Ist. You are respectfully requested to report yourselves to the managers' tent on the first day of the fair if possible, and in no event later than 10 o'clock of the sec ond day. 2d. At 10 o'clock of the second day your names will be culled at the managers' tent, and all vacancies will then be filled. 3d: You will receive your class books and enter upon the discharge of your du ties immediately. The class books will refer you to the number affixed to the dif fereut animals or articles submitted for your examination. In these TOoks you will also T>rite out your report. 4th. You will not be permitted to serve on a Committee in any class iu which you may be competing for a premium. sth. \'ou will in no. case where there is no competition, award premiums to ar ticles or animals that are not meritorious. Oih. Pay no attention to animals or articles that have not a numbered card and class attached. 7th. You will take into consideration the symmetry, early maturing, sire, age, feeding, and other circumstances connect ed with the animal you may judge, but give no encouragement to over-feeding. Bth. A majority of the members on each Committee will constitute a quorum. 9th. Permit no persons to interfere with your examinations or be present at your deliberations. 10th. Each mertiber of the Board of Managers will have the supervision of n particular department on the irremi'hi*— and to this member you will apply for any instruction or information you may want. GENERAL RULES. Ist. Members of the society must pay the sum of one dollar annually on or be fore the first day of the fair. 2d. Competitors for premiums must be members of the society. 3d. All animals or articles placed in competition for premiums must be owned iu the county by persons offering the same, or by members oftheir family under twen ty years of age. 4th. Products of the soil or manufac tured articles must be produced or manu factured in the county. stb." Members of the society will be entitled to exhibit any number of animals or articles in any class; but in case tho same article is entered to compote in more than one class, twenty-five cents addition al will be charged for each entry after the first. oth. Animals or articles notwithstand ing they may be exhibited in more thau one class, can draw but one premium. 7th. Exhibitors are required to have their animals or articles entered on the books at the Secretary's office, and arran ged in their proper places on the first day of the fair. Bth. On the entry of animals or arti cles cards wil bo furnished by the Secre tary with the number and class as enter ed at, the office, which must be attached to the animals or artic cs, otherwise tho judges will pay no attention to them. 9th. Competitors must exhibit to the Secretary certificates of membership be fore he will make any entry for competi tion. 10th. Stock of all kinds entered for competition must remain in the stalls un til called for by the marshal. 11th. Premiums must be called for within three months aftcrthe fair or they will be forfeited to the society. 12th. Tho Board of Managers will take every precaution in their power for the safety of the stock and articles on ex hibition, but w ill not be responsible for any loss or damage that may occur. 13th. Intoxicatiingdrinksof all kinds are strictly prohibited on the fair grounds. 14th. Disorderly conduct of every kind is forbidden; those indulging there in will forfeit their right to remain longer on the fair grouuds and will be promptly ejected. 15th. No person will be permitted to engage in any kind of business on the fair grounds without a written permit from the Secretary and Treasurer. 10th. No carriages, buggies, sulkeys. wagons or other vehicles will be admitted on tho fair grounds during the exhibition, except those entered for premiums. Order of IrriUigciiienfs. FIRST DAY. —General preparations,en tries and arrangement of animals and ar ticles ; also plowing match at 3 o'clok, p. m. SECOND DAY.—General exhibition; examination of blooded stock #nd fast trot ting and pacing hordes; address, and re port of judges. THOMAS McNEES, President. THOMAS ROBINSON, Scc'y. pro tem. 11. C. MCABOY, Treasurer. Rebel Atroc ties. War, at best, is repulsive, even iu its mildest form, it is cruel and revolting. It destroys humane life, it obliterates all seiiiic of personal rights, tramples upon the laws of property, and annihilates the ordinary feelings of humanity. On the part of the United States this war has been carried on with a tender regard tor the feelings of humanity. But on the side of the rebels, from the barbarous dis play of Yankee heads and bones at Bull Run, down to the late fiendish display of savage barbarity in the burning out of women and children at Chombersburg, there have been a succession of cruel out rages. that goto show the rebels are more wanton and fiendish than the devil desires them to be. Their robbery of the dead, their abase of prisoners, their of thousands at Belle Island, their murder ous bushwaekery, their infernal massacre at Fort Pillow,and the iudiscribabk) hor rors of the murders and robbencs they aro now perpetrating in all parts of East Tenn essee, show them to be what we have al ways charged—hell-born and hell-bound! This is the much-lauded civilization of the South—it is a diabolical outrage upon hu manity. and upon the ordinary usages of civilized warfare. When they die, one by one, it may be truly said of them, in tho language of Holy Writ, "iu hell he lifted up his eyes, being iu torment."— KnoxviHe Whig. A SERMON Preached in tho Presbyterian church, Butler, Pa., on the National day of Hu miliation; Aug. 4,1864, by Rev. Loyal Young, I). 1). EXBKIEL, 22: 29,30. 31.—"The people of the land have until oppression^and exercised robbery, nud have vexed the poor and needy; yoa, they have oppressed the stran ger wrongfully. And I Bought fr a man among them thiit should tufkc up the hedge, and stand in tho gap be fore inefor tho hunt, that 1 rdiould not destroy it; hut 1 f>nnd none. Therefore have I poured out mine indigna tion upon them; 1 have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their h.wis, saith the Lord God.'' A. great nation on their knees offering prayer to God, is a sublituer spectacle than a great nation in arms. Hut when a nation with one hand grasps tho sword to maintain its own existence, and with the other lays hold of the Almighty the avenger of wrong, it is a spectacle which the universe may admire. Hut the great cause of grief is, that multitudes refuse to be humble and penitent under God's chastising hand. Comparatively few lay hold on (iod in times of trouble. Men who ought to be patterns, and whose po sition gives them influence, are oft' M pro fane, intemperate, and sceptical. God is not in all their- thoughts. While they should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before the Lord in behalf of the land, that he should not destroy it, they too often trust in their own prowess or wisdom or righteousness. Let us this day cease from man, and sensible of QUI' sins humbly confess them before God. AVhon Kzekiel uttered this prophecy, the nation and church of Judea had become deplo rably corrupt—ripe for God's judgments. Heeause their mercies had been great, their sins were the more offensive. The sins of this nation stand forth prominent in the sight of Heaven and earth ; and all the more so because like Israel, we have been in a peculiar manner favored of God.— And why he has borue with us so long, is a question harder to be answered, than why he is now visiting us with such a tremendous calamity. In this chapter tho prophet gives a list of the crimes of his people, many of which darken and pollute our own favor ed country. Murders, idolatry, disregard to the laws, oppression, despising holy things, pro timing the Sabbath, commit ting lewdness, bribery, extortion, forget fulness of God; these are the crimes which the prophet denounces as making God's displeasure lis a furnace. "1 will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the Lord have poured out my fury up ou you," verses 21, 22. "Can thine heart endure, or can thin" hands be strong, in the day that 1 shall deal Vith thee ?" verse 14. In our text one of these evils is especi ally dwelt upon as particularly offensive to God. It is the sin of oppression.— " The people of the land have used op pression,—they have oppressed (he strang er wrongfully. And 1 sought for a in.'fn among them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before mo for the land, that I should not destroy it; but 1 found none. Therefore have 1 poured out mine indignation upon them, &o." Oppression assumes various forms ac cording t:» the disposition and opportuni ties of the oppressor. "So I returned and considereda 1 the oppressions that are done under the sun : and behold the tears of'sueh as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter." Keel. 4:1. As there are sharks to prey upon the fishes, and wolves—upon the flocks, and eagles—up on the smaller birds; so there are tyrants who prey upon their follow men. We need not goto old Egypt, ami call up the sighing of Israel under their bondage, to get a tale of woe and wretchedness. Wo need not tell of prison houses, bastilcs and inquisitions. Oppression is everywhere. It is in many a father's strong arm, —in many a mother's flashing eye,—in many a child's perversity. Autluji ity is not op pression ; but it is often employed as such. Its proper exercise saves families, churches and nations. The oppression to which I wish to di* rect your attention now, as constituting a great national sin, and which I verily be lievo is bringing God's sore chastisements upon us, is American tiluvfry. I wish yyjir candid and prayerful attention to this subject to-day, because, Jirst, wo all have to do with this matter in some shape, and have probably all been partakers in this siu : and, second , because there aro certain phases of the subject that 1 have never ten or heard discussed,and which I deem of importance. 1 might add that the General Assembly of the Presbyteri an church have enjoined it upon all in their several spheres to do nil they can tor the removal of tho evil of slavery.* And ministers must enlighten flic public mind on this subject as well as others. Several things have causoif some of us to be too silent on the subject. Let me refer to some of them 1. To many, the Bible seemed to pal liate, if not to justify tho holding of men in bondage. Tho arguments from the Bible are suchas these; which I expect to show to be delusive and fallacies. First. A curse was pronounced against Canaan tho son of Ham by Noah, declar ing that he (Canaan) should be a servant of servants to his brethren. This pre diction is said to point out the Africans as being doomed to sorvitudo by God himself. And the inference drawu, is, that it is right to enslave tlieiu. Second. Slavery is supposed to be sanc tioned in the example of Abraham who had servauts born in his house i.nd bo't with his money. Third. Slavery is supposed to be sanc j tioned in the law given to Moses; the strongest expression being in these words. 1 Miautoa A D., 180±, page* 298,299. N UMBER 88; " Both thy bond-men, nud tliy bond-maids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bond-men and bond maids. Moreover, of the children of tho strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land : and they shall be your pos session. And ye shall tnke them as an inheritance for your children alter you, to inherit them for a possession : they shall be your bond-men forever." Lev 25: 44-40. Fourth. It is argued that slavery exist ed in the Roman Ktittiie in thi days of Christ and his Apostles, and "that tho Apostles received slaveholders into the church and continued them therein, with out giving any intimation that slavehold ing was a sin." Fifth. "That Paul sent back a fugi tive slave to his own master again, and assigned as his reason for so doing, that master's right to the services of his slave."* 'lhese are the main points of Scripture proof adduced in favor of Sla very, and when brought forward with the ingenuity and sophistry of such men as the late Or. Thornwell, of South Caroli na, and Hishop Hopkins of Vermont, it is not surprising that many in the South and even in the North, believe that Sla very as it exists in tho South is right and proper. And were we in tho North sit uated as multitudes in tho South are, lflto them we should be persuaded that Slave ry is scriptural, and that to be anti-slave ry is to be fanatical. 2. Another cause of comparative si lence on the part of the ministry in the North was this. Many extreme j|iiti-sla very men became injitlels ; and this caus ed them to hesitate about saying much on the subject. Indeed the Abolition movement was for a while conducted prin cipally under the auspices of such men as Wm. Lloyd Garrison and his infidel allies. This made many truly anti-slavery men cautious. A minister of the Synod of Pittsburgh began to preach and lecture on tho " abolition of Slavery."" Soon he ran into great extravagances. At length he began to question the inspiration of tho Bible; and finally mocking at tho idea of prayer, and scouting at the idea of a Sabbath day, and ridiculing all that is sacred, he died an avowed, scoffing in fidel. And his case was not altogether singular. These npostncics causod many to say, " Does anti-slavery load to such Results as these ? If so, let us be cautious what we inculcate." 8. As tho discussion of tho subject of Slavery was calculated to influWico tho Southern mind, anil as the laws forbade interference with tho Slaves in the South ern States, it was thought by many that tho best way was to bo silent on the sub ject. It was said that the cause of eman cipation had been greatly retarded by tho preaching of anti-slavery in tho North. Beside, tho question got so mixed up with politics and political parties that minis ters hardly felt that they could touch tho subject without breaking with their good church members, many of whom were pe culiarly sensitive on tho subject of Sla very. For this reason. 110 doubt, and be cause they anxiously desired the peace and prosperity of the country, many ab stained from uttering the teachings of tho Bible in reference to this groat evil. 4. It was hoped that the evil would gradually cure itself, and that tho South ern people would take measures them selves to abolish slavery, without any teaching or interposition on our part. Tho Slaves, hard as their condition is, aro ve ry impressible, and multitudes of them have been hopefully converted, and made the children of God. Their bondage in a christian land has been over-ruled to their spiritual benefit. More of them aro pious by far, in proportion, than of their masters. All these things taken together, account for the position taken by multitudes in the North who are really opposed to the in stitution of slavery. If they do not form an apology, they should, at least, soften the asperity of those who denounce in bit ter words all who have not gone the full length with them in their measures of re form. Hut while I say this, I wish to bo humble as an American, and 1 wish you all to be humble as Americans, in view of the dreadful guilt that rests upon our na tion foiShcir treatment of this unhappy class of men. It seems clear to my mind that God has a controversy with us on this very ground. And if we have been imiifWont to"the sighing of the prison ers," PI the doleful cruelties inflicted up on them, wo are partakers in the guilt.— We have reason to ask ourse'ves honestly whether we have ever even prayed for their deliverance; whether while Ave have felt for the woes of the heathen and pray ed for their deliverance, wo have not been afraid even to in public for the col ored man, becauso he is in some way con nected with our political affairs. Thus, in the language of our text, God says to us, " I sought for a niau among them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the laud, that I slfould not destroy it; but I found none." Wo in the North havo by no means been guiltless. And if any of us have in no way been directly involved in upholding slavery, by our votes or our teachings, wo cannot plead that we havo as prayerfully laid this matter to heart, and before God, as wc ought to have done. Wo have not stood in the gap to turn away the fierce anger of God from the land. We have too much connived at op pression and wrong. And such conni vanco is offensive to God. All oppres sion is exceedingly odious to God, and he will, sooner or later, arise -to avengo the wrongs of the oppressed. This we all acknowledge except in case of thoso reduced to slavery* Some seem to think •I quote tiie language of Dr. Armstrong, of Virginia