VOLUME 1.
The Andersonville Prisoners.
A day or two since we had a long and
exceedingly interesting interview with
two escaped prisoners who were confined
at Andersonville,Georgia, from I-ebruary
till September- I —a Mr.Stone.of Vermont,
and Sergeant Cook of the 7th Michigan
cavalry. Both are highly intelligent and
well educated men. Sergeant Cook has
already returned to his regiment, now in
Sheridan's army, and Mr. Stone intends
to return in a few days, lie is staying
for a short time, to recuperate, with his
brother. L. P. Stone. Esq., of this city.
Sometime in September last a large
number of the prisoners were removed
' from Andersonville to Charleston, Savan
nah and other places, tlx rebel authori
ties, doubtless, thinking that Sherniau
was getting too close for safety. The
prisoners, before leaving, were assured by
the rebel officers, "on the honor of sold
iers," that they were to be immediately
-exchanged; but these two men put no
faith in their promises, and resvolved, il
possible to escape from the train.
The train 112 r harleston, on which they
were put, consisted of sixteen box cars,
iu each of which there were about sixty
prisoners. The guards occupied the tops
of the ears. After passing Macon, alew
miles, and while the train was running
round a curve, these two men jumped
off. Mr. Stone managed to keep his feet
when be struck the ground, but Mr. Cook
fell violently, but received no injury.
After running a short distance, they threw
themselves down, just as the guard ti ed
..n ineffectual volley allot' them. Hut t
the tia:u WHS in motion aud as it wasnow
uearly daik. iioaifcempt was made tore
e piuie thofn.
lcir*b!e predicament. 100 weak, hall
starved men, without food or money, lar
(V uii the Union lines in ihe midst of cue
mcs But they had Ci ted the cost and
la d .li<tfr plans. IJeing highly inlclli .en
they knew lie direction of Atlabta, and
they knew that Sherman was there; so
tlicy at once set off in that direction, go
ing through the forest as much as possi
Ide, and avoiding the roads and dwell
ings.
For six ilavs tiny travelled, guided by
the sun when it shone; but sometimes,
in ylouily weather, finding themselves a
second time in the same place. One
night they slept, without knowing it.
within Mood's outposts; but fortunately
they were not discovered, although they
saw, from their hiding place, rebel officers
riding to and fro. W ben they saw the
coast clear they slipped out of that dan
gerous place, and resumed their travels.
At one time tliey were kept iu greatanxie
ty, and on double quick pace, for nearly
half a day by what they took to be the
baying of blood-hounds, which they sup
posed were following their trail. Hut in
this they were happily mistaken.
About the fifth day out they, fell in
with a negro, a bright, active fellow, who
was, like themselves, trying to make his
way to Sherman's lines. Of course he
became their companion, their man Fri
day. From this oti they traveled more
.cautiously—first one of the white meu,
then, about twenty paces in the rear, the
negro, then the other white man twenty
paces in his rear. This waadone, so that
it danger should assail, either from the
front or rear, the negro might have a
chance to escape ; for it would have been
death to bim to be caught iu such a place
aud in such company. '
So they travelled until the night of the
sixth day. 'J hey now caught the sound
■of drums in the Yankee army. A little
.after daik they came to a lonely cabin
aud determined if possible to get some
thing to eat. Mr. Cook was left out as a
guard, while Mr. Stouc, with the negro
as his servant, boldly entered and profess
ed to lie a rebel officer scouting around*
in some important service. The inmates
«i! the cabin consisted ouly of an old man,
n old woman aud two or three girl.-.
Soon ihe two men Were in quite friendly
c. ufcrence on the subject of the war. ami
. Mr Stone li.iv.ug hail access to rebel pa
peis at Audersouville. was better posted
% as to Hood's movements than the old
uian l'resently the old lady proposed
to get him and his servant some supper,
was of course thankfully accept
ed. Alter eating, he said he had a man
outside holding the horses, aud would like
to give hipl some. All right; so he took
poor Cook as much as he could carry iu
both hands, and then returned. The old
"man gave hi») cautions as to the way he
(should go, so as to avoid Sherman's pick
ets, and thus enabled him to form a good
idea as to his route. Finally Stone asked
him what he would do it he were a Yau
kee. The old man laughed and mutter
ed something. The old lady said when
she saw the blue coat under the gTavope,
ehc thought that they might be \ aiikees;
>. but she now seemed to be shurc tliey
AMERICAN CITIZEN.
were not. " Well," said Stone, "lama
full blood Yankee, from Vermont, and
more than that, we are escaped prisoners
from Andersonvil e, and we are going to
Sherman's line." The effect of this rev
elation was ludicrous The old lady's
lower jaw fell to an angle of about forty
tive. her eyes dilated, and she sat as if
petrified. The old ge-tleuiau, although
greatly astonished, took it quite philoso
phically, but made no attempt to give any
alarm, or impede the movements of the
party. |
They then started, and after travelling
about four miles, reached the Union pick
ets a short distance north of Atlanta.
After making known who they were, they
were at once conducted to headquarters,
where they were cordially received by
tien. Sherman and his officers, and sup
plied with what clothing they most need
ed. The next morning, in the quarters
of one of the officers, they found their
darkie fi iend and fellow fugitive. lie
had already engaged as cook. They said
he was the most grateful creature they
ever saw. and by every little service iu
his power he expressed his gratitude.
e said they saved his life, for he could
never have got iu without theui. After
staying at Atlanta a few days to vest an 1
recuperate, our friends set off for the
north.
Of the condition of things at Ander
sonville tliey give a calm, giaphic and
harrowing picture They confirm the
truth of the or, nuts heretofore publish
ed; and deelaie that it is impossible to
convey to the minds of people surround
ed with ilie coinfortii ot home an adequate
i lea of the suffering* eudurtd in that hor
rible stockade.
When tliey were taken there in Febua
, l is' I en lielle Island, they found but
lew prisoner- . but the number rapidly
increased, until it exceeded thirty thous
and. There was no shelter whatever pro
vided by Ihe rebels, aud ouly those who
were so fortunate as to have blankets, had
anything to protect them against the
scorching rays of thesuii, the rains, and
the chilling dampsof night. Their food,
which was served only once a day, con-
-ted of a piece of coarse corn bread,
made of the meal of corn ground cob and
all, and not sifted, together with a small
piece of ill seasone I bacon. Karly iu the
season this bacon was to.erably good, but
when ihe weather become hot, it became
so raneid that even starving uieu could
not eat it.
This miserable ration was almost al
ways devoured at once, tlie craviugs of
hunger rendering any other course im
possible. One wretched aud scanty meal
a day, therefore, was all they had. The
water was abominable for the greater part
of the time, being supplied by a foul
stream that ran through the stockade.
At length they procured from the rebel
authorities materials with which to con
struct w indlcsscs and dig wells. These
wells were sunk some 50 or GO feet deep
through a compact clay, ard required no
walls or cribbing, antl when finished af
forded au adequate supply of good water.
To convey water about tliccamp, the pris
oners made little pails out of pine billets,
with no other tools than jack knives.
For a time great confusion and disor
der prevailed and the necessity of a kind
of police organization forced itself upon
the prisoners. Prior to this step a con
siderable number of desperadoes and
scoundrels had bande l together to com
mit depredal ons upon the little property
of their fellow-prisoners. Theirringlead
er was finally discovered, and the move
ments of thegang closely watched. When
the proper time arrived, the leader togeth
er with a large number of his followers
was suddenly arrested ami putin close
confinement by IIM> rebel authorities. The
blauket belonging to Hie leader was
I sea relied, aud the body of a man found
buried uear it.and immediately under it
a box w.; t iund a'most filled with watch
es. kuives money and many orher things
which had been stolen Iroiu the prisoners
while asleep. A court was organized
a jury of twelve sergeants eui|.annelled,
and a real lawyer, a prisoner, assigned to
conduct the defend. After a careful
trial, which lasted six days, six of these
miscreants, including tbe leader, were
fi uud guilty and seuienced tosuffer death
by hanging. Indue time the executiou
took place. A scaffold was erected, ami
when all was ready, the six condemned
uieu, together with their accomplices, were
sent for. Being nearly one hundred iu
uumber, they had plotted among them
selves to make fight upon re-entering the
stockade, and thus prevent the execution;
but when they entered and saw the long
liuc of determined men drawu up, they
cowed down and sullenly submitted. The
six were led up and stood upon the fatal
plauk, the ropes were adjusted, the drop
tell.aud five were left suspended. But
the rope of tbe leader broke, and he fell
" Let us have Faith that Right makes Might; and in that Faith let us, to the end,dare to do our My as we understand it"— A - LINCOLN
BUTLER, BUTLER COUNTY, PA., WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 18G4.
to the ground. He begged hard for mer
cy, but in vain, lie was led up again,
aud again the drop fell. After this they
had no more trouble with scoundrels
among themselves.
In this stockade there was a place call
ed the dead line. To cross this line was
instant death. One poor fellow dropped
a piece of bread, which rolled over thai
line. lie reached out his hand to get it,
and had his arm broken by a bullet from
the guard. If a man asleep near that
liuo should feet. beyond it, he
was shure to havea ball put through them.
Some, in despair, committed suicide by
merely stepping across that fatal
line.
But these men assured us that of all
the horrors of that horrible place, noth
ing equalled the collectiou of the dead
every morning, often exceeding one hund
red in number. Wagons ttd men wire
sent in. One layer of bodies was thrown
iu with the heads Hga'nst the front of the
body of the wagon, then another with the
heads against the hinder end, and so on
alternately—the lower extremities over
lap) Bg —but if the wagon was full, "theu
the load would be rounded up with as
many as could be made to lie on. Not
unfrequently a jolt of the wagon would
throw a body off upon the wheels, and
uuder the wheels, which would be thrown
on again as men would throw on a sack
or a billet of wood. Thus were brave,
noble, intelligent Christian men carried
to their burial every morning.
A prayer meeting was held every even
ing by the prisoners, an I wa-well attend
ed. 'lliis fact will afford a sweet drop of
consolation to many a crushed and sorrow
ing heart at home. 'J hey will see, by
faith, what the kiug of Babylon saw, one
walking with their loved ones iu the fur
nace. •; wlii se b rill was like the Son of
God."
The rebel hospital attached to this vast
stockade prisou was a wretched affair—
almost destitute of medicine, totally with
out comfortable ami nourishing food, and
poorly supplied with nurses.
To while away the time, which drag
ged heavily, the tesourcesof these suffer
ing men were taxed to the utmost. Some
formed themselves into little clubs for
discussion and debate; some engaged iu
such small games as they could get up;
while others taxed their mechanical pow
ers iu the construction of bone rings and
a thousand other things that could be
whittled out of wood or boue with jack
knives.
Their ingenuity, but especially tlie
digging of the wells, aston shed the na
tives greatly, who would collect iu crowds
from the surrounding country and peep
at theui through the chinks of the s'ock
ade, affording our meu no little amusement
by their uncouth manners and the oddi
ties of their provincialisms. For cxaui
ple: a fellow would sing out in true
Georgia drawl, "What made you uus
come down here to fight we uus ?" Or,
usauotlier fellow, who was encountered
by some of our cavalry scouts, expressed
it: "What for you uns come here, crit
ter-back. to we uus? We-utis don't
go up north to fight you uns." These
arc about fair samples of their vernacu
larisms.
The common people are excessively
ignorant, and can give uo intelligible rea
son why they arc at war with the Govern
ineitt. Ou the other hand, the blacks
seeui to comprehend the matter perfectly,
aud know very well that their freedom or
slavery hangs upon the issue of'thc snug
gle. These geutlemeu are very confident
the negroes will never fight on the rebel
side. One of them asked a shrewd,
brisk fellow, that he saw at Andcrsouville,
what they would do it their masters were
to make soldiers of them, and set them to
fighting the Yankees. With asly chuck
le he replied, " Golly, mm. we would
charge— "inl furgrt to rvnif bark!" Both
these geutlemeu said emphatically that as
a class the fiegroes are much more intelli
gent than tbe poor whites.
A large majority of these prisoners have
lately been removed from Audersouville
to other places, tbe greater part to Charles
ton and Savannah, where their conditiou
is said to be materially improved. Let
us hope that soou the survivors will all
be exchanged.
Messrs. Stone and ('ook assured us that
the friends of prisoner* neod not con
clude that their captive friends are dead
because they rcce've uo letters. They
both wrote mauy letters to friendsat home
none of which reached their dostiuation
except ou<> that a paroled prisoner man
aged to carry out ; neither did they re
ceive any from home. While at Belle
Island Mr. Cook said that he saw a cart
load of soldier's letters dumped into the
river.— J'ilts. Cm. •
There are persons who would show
their liberality to a starving man by sen
ding bim a costly toothpick instead of food.
A SERMON.
"lie following sennou was preached ou
the day of National Humiliation and
prayer —the 4th of August last—in the
Presbyterian Churches of Jit. Nebo aud
Portersville. It was hastily written, with
out the slightest thought that it would
ever be heard ol beyond the bouuds of
the Congregations#here it was preached.
But many jiersous iu the first named con
gregation, having, without cause, taken
high offence at it, and having much abus
ed me, and greatly misrepresented the
views set forth in my sermon, therefore,
at the request of mauy friends, I have
eonseuted to have* it published, that it
may be knowu just what 1 did say; and
that nty statements are sustained by the
Word of God, and the declaration ot the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church. THE AUTHOR,
m w: ■* «> M
Uvr. William I*. HitrviHon.
tin* I* >rd: for he hath torn, RIIU lit- will lu-ul IU ; be batb
Hinitteu, nuil bo will biud "« up."
The true positiou of guilty sinners is
bowed in prolduud self-aliaseuient aud
lowliness before God's meiey seat. Aud
ll e true characteristics by which they
should be marked, are conflite spirits,
arid broken aud peuitent hearts, which
we are assured God will not despise.—
" The sacrifices of God are a broken spir
it : a broken and a contrite heart, O God,
thou wilt not despise." I'sal. 51-17.
The words of the text are ati expression
of sincere and genuine repentance, and
deep humiliation before God, ou account
of siu and rebelliou against him. Iu the
preceding part of this prophecy, and es
pecially in the preceding chapter, the
prophet Hosca had predicted the terrible
desolations and dreadful calamities that
were coming on the people ol Israel and
Juitah, by tbe invasion and ravages ofthe
Assyrians aud Chaldeans. God's ancient
people had forgotteu him, aud rebelled
against liiui, aud be tells theui that he
would visit theui with his sore judgments
fur their wickedness, 'i hough God great
ly delights iu mercy,aud generally dwells
with his people at the uieicy-seat; yet
sometimes he ieaves his throne ot grace,
to execute veugeuce upon them lor their
iniquities.
God is represented in the preceding
chapter assayiug, ( T will be uutv Kphraui as
a Jjiou, aud as a young Lion to the house
of Judah: 1, even 1, will tear aud go
away; 1 will take away, aud none sha 1
rescue him. 1 will go aud return to my
place, till they acknowledge their ofleuee,
aud seek my face, iu their affliction they
will seek me early." llos, 5-14, 15.
Aud having visited their trausgressions
and their wickedness with his chastise
ments, and his judgments, he tells them
lie would as it were "return to his place,
aud leave them uuder their punishment,
till they should repent, or plead guilty,
and confess their sius, and seek his favor
aud protection." lie knew that though
tliey had waudered far from him, yet their
afiictions sanctified to them by his grace,
would be the means uf leading them back
to hiiu ; to seek Ins face aud favor, aud
bow iu humble penitence at his feet. —
Aud having thus been brought to a deep
seuse of their sinfulness, aud their need
of diviue help, and deliverance, tliey are
represented iu the text as saying oue 'o
-another, "Come and let us reiuru uuto
the Lord: for be hath.torn, aud he will
lieal us; lie hath smitten, aud he will
bind us up."
Aud the sentiment of the text is ol
universal applicatiou. It is appropriate
>0 men iu every age of time; whether
considered as individual persons, or state*
aud nations. And never was there in the
history of nations a time when this lan
guage was more fit to be used than by us
now. Aud never was there a natiou
whom it more beeunie to adopt this lan
guage of peuitenee aud humility before
God, than we of the United States. We
have siuued grievously, wc have done
very wickedly; we have transgressed
God's righteous and holy laws; we have
abused his great aud manifold mercies.
Tho judgmenta of God are a*broad in the
laud. His baud is pressing heavily upou
us. The storm cloud ol civil war which
has so long enveloped us, is still hovers
ing over us. It has long hurled upon
us a tempestuous flood of blood aud car
nage aud death. Aud (till this teriifie
storm of civil strife rages with cveu fier
cer tury than before; scattering desola
tion and sorrow all over this once, happy
country.
Surely in the midst of all this darkness
and calamity; this streaming blood, these
shrieks of anguish and unutterable death
groans; this dfcuial wail of mourningand
lamentation that fills the whole land; in
view of these tokens of God's righteous
displeasure agaiust us on account of our
sins as a nation, wc should be humbled
before God. aud repent in dust and in
| ashes. With broken and contrite hearts
we should say ij^did God's ancient peo
ple, "Come and let us return unto the
Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal
us ; he hath smitten, and he will bind us
up."
The first thought, clearly implied in the
words of the text is, that that we have
departed from God. All men in their
natural state have departed from God.—
They have rebelled against his moral gov
ernment. They are sinners iu heart, and
sinners in life. Alienated aud euemies
to God, in their minds aud by wicked
works. And as the individuals are cor
rupt and depraved, the whole mass of hu
manity must likewise be corrupt and de
generated. The call of God's ancient
people oue to another to return to him,
implied that they had wandered away
from him. Aud soalso weasa people have
departed from God. God would not have
a controversy with us as a nation had we
not forsaken him. lie would not be cou
teudiug with u» had we not sinned against
liirn. We would uot be called upon to
return uuto him, lutd we not departed
from him.
God has always beeu mindful of us,
and greatly blessed us, aud prospered us
as a nation. He has enlarged our bor
ders. He has immensely increased our
wealth. He has augmented our power.
Aud the light of our national greatuess
aud glory, shone iu every land ou the sur
face of the globe. But we had forgotteu
him, and trausgressed against him. "We
have forgotten God that made us, and
lightly esteemed the Bock of our salva
tion." A growing spirit of pride and ar
rogance has prevailed iu our land. At
the commencement of ( the civil war which
is now casting gloom, desolation and sor
row, all over our country, it was thought
by many that 75,000 men would be suf
ficient to crush out the rebelliou. But
since then one call alter another has beeu
made, until now more than a million aud
a half of men have beeu uiaislialed ou
the field of Co uflict; but Willi all this we
have uot beeu able yet to subdue it:
still the rebellion presents a detiuut front,
aud threatens the very life of the Ke
public. God is buuibliug our pride, aud
showing us that of ourselves we are pow
erless. We have beeu self-sufficient, aud
vain glorious as a uatiou. We have ex
alted ourselves aud couducted ourselves
as if there were uo God, who had estab
lished his throne iu the heaveus, aud
who is the Sovereign Kuler auioug the
nations. We have failed distinctly to
recognise the existence aud government
ot Uod over us iu our Nalioual Consti
tution. Aud we have generally beeu
cnmiuaby negligent to elect uieu ol
aouuti moral aud reiigous principles to
rule over us. to make law's for us, aud to
execute judgment auii justice among us.
A bad party spirit that lias leii christian
patriotism out ot view almost altogether
lias coutrolleti our people. Auti an al
most eutire waut ol sound moral aud po
litical principles, and a learlul uegiee ot
cot ruptlou lias oliaiauteriised tbe great
majority of our public meu. Ami eyeu
miner the pressure of all our pieseut ca
lamities, there seems to be but little evi
dence of true uatioual humility aud re
peulauce iu the sight ot bod There
seeuis to be no real liuproveuieut of God s
dealing with us, by the great mass ot
our people, ou the other baud the
liailou seeuis to be growing worse aud
worse, ami pluugiug deeper into ioily aud
siu. Bribery aud corruption, lraud auu
extortion, speculation and swindling,
abound, aud are peiuiitted togo iu a
great measure unpunished. Supreme
worldliuess aud a spirit ot wild and reek
less speculation, is rushing like a tierce
tornado over the laud. Gold is ihe god
to which multitudes of our people are
bowiug down, with more than the devo
tion of a Hindoo idolatry. Ambition is
the phantom idol which others are fer
vently worshiping. Aud many more aio
kneeling in lowly homage at glory s daz
zling shrine. Yes, we have forsaken
God, the God of our Fathers, who has
made us great, aud raised us to be the
glory ot all lauds; and surely it is uo
wonder that his wrath is aroused, aud that
he is executing vengeance upon our guil
ty land.
Aud then added to all i-his, the great
oiigiual and procuring cause of all our
troubles; the wicked and detestable sys
tem of African Slavery: tho dreadful
curne of human bondage; which has
blighted and darkeued this ouce fair and
peaceful laud, of ours; and made it a
Golgotha, a great charuel house of death :
and a vast Aceldama, a field of blood.
It is true that we qf the North, are
not directly connected with the sin of
slavery. Both that and the guilt of
plunging us into this causeless, aud wick
ed rebellion, rests and must rest upon the
people of the South. Aud we have all
been indirectly and greatly guilty in this
matter, in too long, aud too often yield-
iug to the despotic, and ever increasing
demands of the slave power. And many
among us excuse aid palliate, and some
even justify the execrable system ol op
pression : and svme there are in our midst
who even go so' far, as to take the word of
God to prove that slavery is right, and in
accordance with the Divine Will.
The Hible indeed recognizes a condi
tion of service regulated by the precepts
of the gospel of Christ, which is not sin
ful. Put the system of human slavery
established by law in the Southern States
of (his Ucpublic ; where human beings,
intelligent and immortal creatures are
absolute property, mere chattels: where
they are bought and sold, like cattle in
the stalls, and sheep iu the pens : where
they are deprived of tho right of mar
riage; deprived of parental rights; de
prived of the right to mental aud moral
improvement; deprived of"the right to
read the word of God for themselves;
aud deprived of the right to worship God
according to the dictates of their own
conscience, and the requirements of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ is siuful, and only
sinful contiuually.
Tho celebrated Chatham we are told,
once said he would never come into the
Hritish House of Parliament with the
Statute Hook doubled dowu iu dog's ears
to prove that liberty was the birth right
of British subjects. And the Hon.
William Maxwell, a distinguished and
able Lawyer aud Statesman, aud an em
tueutly pious Elder iu the Presbyterian
Church, in a debate on slavery in the
Synod of Virginia more than thirty years
ago, referring to the language of the noble
English carl aud statesmau, said : "Nor
will 1 come iuto this Synod with uiy Hi
ble doubled down iu dog's ears to prove
that slavery is wrong. . No, sir, I will not
undertake such a work of supererogation!
Oue need read but the first chapter in the
word of God. to be convinced I hat slavery
is wrong. How was man created? with
dominion over the soul and body of his
fellow mau ? No! There was no slavery in
Eden. Jt is preposterous to-go to the Hible
to defend slavery. Its universal spirit i>
against the institution gloriously against
it." Slaveholders therefore, aud all who
are apologists and defenders of such a
system of injustice and iniquity, are guil
ty of a heinous sin in fhe sight of God.
And it Ins called down the righteous
judgments of Heaven upon our devoted
country.
Slavery is not the only great sin in our
land it is true. 'i lie re are oilier sins ol
fearful magnitude. Prunkenucss and
profanity, Sabbath-breaking and unclean
ness, lying and perjury, theft and mur
der, and with them this gigantic system
of cruelty and oppression. It is these
great crimes that have brought the dis
pleasure of a just and holy <iod upon us.
It is for these lie is visiting us in his an
ger. It is in punishment for these things
that ho has thru us with his justice, and
is making us writhe in anguish under the
strokes of his avenging rod. And my
dear friends, stroke will follow swift upon
stroke, until we aie truly humbled, and
(nought to geuuiiTe repentcnce before the
majesty of heaven, and say with God's
ancient people, "come, aud let us return
unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he
will heal us; he hath smitten, aud he
will bind us up."
The second thought presented to us in
the text is, the duty of individuals and
nations in these solemn circumstances.
Ihe duty is clearly e>id definitely staled,
it is to repent aud return uuto God.
"Come Ictus return unto the Lord."
With a feeling sense of ourguilt and un
worthiness, and with deep humiliation on
account of it, we uuist confess our sins
unto God, and implore pardon, and mer
cy, and diviue help. A mere verbal con
fession of guilt, a mere outward aud for
mal! humiliation, will not find acceptance
with God. We must uot only say that
we have sinned against God, but we must
■eel in the depth of our soul-conscious
ness that we have sinned, aud sinned
grievously against him, and we must pros
trate ourselves at the footstool of sover
eign mercy; aud cry for forgiveness, and
for the favor aad interposition of Jeho
vah.
But we mint not oulj(_confess our sins
to God as individuals, and as a nation;
but we uiu»t repeut of our sins, and for
buke tlieui, and return uuto God. The
scriptures teach us most clearly that, "he
thatcovereth his sins shall uot prosper:
hut whoso confesseth and forsa- elh them
shall have mercy." Prov. 28-lJi.t And
God calls u|)6n us to, ''break off' uur sins
by righteousness, and our iniquities by
shewing mercy to the poor."
That repentance wliether personal, or na
tional, which does uot lead to reformation
of life and conduct,'in not true ropentance
in God's sight. The geuuiucness of our
repentance must be evidenced by our
work*. Wo must turn from our iutemp-
NUMB It, 1 to
erance and profanity,from Sabbtv i !
ing and lewdness, from corrupt; :i "Aid
fraud, from extortion and swindling. and
trom every form of evil that ebou in
our land. The moral sense of the nation
must bo aroused, from the pn'p m !
through the press, and on the ] lb:ut,
aud in every proper iray, to opp< >i 1 it
outcrying sins that prevail Bin ug us
And the people of th s nati innu t Ac
and put forth every lawful effort f'<the
suppression and removal ot tli, c b m-1
ful evils; and for securing the of
Hible morality, aud the all-corn- ii ; n!-
power of the principles of the i of
Jesus Ch.ist. Not until wetuiu tanu
our evil ways, and pract.ce justice, .mi
honesty, truth, and righteousness, -vn'
God lift upon us the light of bis 112
and give us peace.
And with regard to the great and '
erto vexed question of the couliiiu:>-i -
of African (Slavery in our country. I'
darkness and difficulty seeui to be to
great measure removed, and the pi n '
duly to be made plain. The l'rov .!.-i
of God we believe, appears clearly t ■ in
dicatc the speedy and complete lilieruti-.ii
of this long and sorely oppressed race.
Ever since the commencement of our t i
tional struggle th hand of God hi tiei-a,
anil still is, so controlling anil g'udni)»
events, as soon to bring about the fulfill
uient of ancient piophecy, that p- /down
trodden and bleediing " Ethiop ■ thai
stretch out her hauip unto God : and
her sons and daughters enjoy b-:'i ci-ii
and spiritual freedom. Kven th o, wI)
with your speaker, in the days peace
were unfavorable to the scheme
diatc emancipation; cannot but
the voice of God in his Provident -pc > -
ing loudly, and in»no uncertain 1.
saying, "give liberty to the et. lt
" lot the oppressed go free." l.wt
who in time past were highly cjis ■
tive, cannot now resist the migh
rent of Providential events, wl ir
leading on surely and rapidly to 11 » I '
eration ot this long enslaved aud •ifle:
ing people. A distinguished in - ; er oi
the Presbyterian Church, the 1!«. Or
Musgrave, said on the floor of li ' l> ;
General Assembly, "I w• • fori .-ly a
high conservative, hating even th- vi;:-j
shadow of Abolitionism, but i ! an
for all the President's Pioolama; -
And he but represents the scw-m
feelings of the great majority of i
isters and people. lie musi h. >i iu
deed who does not see the ban l '■ '
in the prolonging of this If.. n
bloody conflict, which is still r.
our land. Whatever may be tl
of ambitious aud wicked men,. no
less they have no reference to tho
Will, God has his purposes, ■ ' ' ■
will work them out: and oue
purposes evidently, is the de.st' u •
the accursed system of human b
which has so long existed in, ami > a
loul blot upon the name and gh r ur
country. And we should all (
acqucsce it) his Providential \\ li i'id
aid with all our hearts iu carryio ,
ward hU glorious purposes
As we hear the din and the r art
tie, the echo of dying groans, an I - • '
garments rolled in blood and a-* the it
ligcnce of late reverses and calami ■ •:
borne to us on this day of nation: V;
miliaion and prayer,* let us sli
genuineness of our repentance aud I.
ty before God, by our works I.
hear and obey the voice of God, ur
both by his Providence, and iti b • r i
saying, "Is not this the fast that I > •
chosen? to loose the ban Is of wick. ,c»-
to uudo the heavy burdens, and tor hi
oppressed go Iree, and that ye bran 07
ery yove." Isa. 58—0. lie who ;se
to acipiiesce in the purpose of G > !car
ly revealed in the dispensations hi
providence, oppose s the will of >va
and fights against God. O ' lu< ue
us be found resisting the Aim .ty
Let none of us be clasping the < I. . is
on those whom God would make ' •!
•'Oft* lifWthe hand. and peace shall to
ller olive where the ntlMne K»o-
And torrid Africadeserts share
The fragrance of BaLv*l loi.*« rose
But If, with Pilate's stoic ate.
We oalotly wash when bh**i v.* ipilt
Or deein a c«dd unpityiug sigh
Abaolves u« froiu to» stain offtUiM
Or If like Jacob's rocreant train,
Who tiwAe'd In a brother'* w-»e,
We rheathe supplieant plead in vain,
Or mockhia tears thai wildly flow
Will not thejudgments of the*ki(*,
Which threw a shield round .Lm-pb !I,
Be ruOMMI by fettered Afric a »:.le<,
And change to druaa the oppi eix*ar
As we bow.in penitence and htunilia; abe
fore God this day, let our prayers u;
tohis throne for pardoning mercy ou
grievous sins; and in one grea: al t
throb of love and desire, lor the :i iph
of the cause of universal liberty a. >iu
manity in our land, aud through' h
whole world. Thus our hearts a' 1 ou!
conduct will correspond with o > word
of contrition, as we say, "come an#Met
us return unto the Lord : for ■ hath
torn, and he will heal us ; he- h.v . --.uit
ten. and be will bind us up.
•W rilMMi »<V»r a r«pnl» lmkr»