Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-11-28
From tie Uaichman Of tie South.
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE
OF VIRGINIA.
FELLow-ClTlzENs.

we nave Ventured to address you, to re-
commend throughout the Commonwealth the
observance OF Day of Thanksgiving to AL
mighty God for the abundant blessings be-
slowed on us as people. We have felt JUS
tined In taking this step, because this is the
only place In the State where the ministers
OF religion OF different denominations reside i'm
considerable numbers and from which fire.
quent ana constant communication is main
tanned with all parts fthe State. The en-
preston of wish from many in the State
has reached us, that such Il course should he
adopted. 1t seemed to us, therefore, that we
were not merely not departing from our pro-
per course as citizens of Virginia, to recon-
mend to our fellow-citizens such a measure.
but that we We're called upon by motives Of
Propriety and duty to do it.
we, therefore, do respectfully recommend
TO cur iellow-citizens throughout the State
the observance of the 18th day of December.
following, ''as Il day of Thanksgiving to AL
mighty God, for the abundant fruitfuIness of
the earth, and the other blessings vouchsafed
to us during the year,
ms is a tlme-honored custom i'm MANY of
our sister States. And in several OF them
Soihe gay, during the present month, has been
appointed Tor that purpose. 1t is sanctioned
too by an authority to which every American
Is accustomed to bow with reverence. The
Journals OF the old Congress presents fire.
queht NOTICES oil recommendations by that bo-
uy 10 the people of this country, to observe
not only days of humiliation. fasting and
prayer, but days of thanksgiving. for mer-
cies received. From one of those, published
oct. 10, 1888, at the close of the war. we
MAKE short extract as pertinent to this oc-
caslon. After cnumeratinp the chief causes
of national thankfulness, connected with tho
result OF the revolutionary contest, the docu
inent continues sand above all, that He
main bcen pleased to continue to us the lirht
oi the blessed gospel, and to secure to us i'm
the fullest extent, the rights of conscience in
faith and worship. And while our hearts
overflow, and our lips set forth the praises of
our Great Creator, that we also offer up fer
vent suppilcations, that it may please him TO
PARDON all our offences; to give wisdom and
nnanlmity to our public counsels; to cement
all our citizens in the bonds of affection: and
to inspire them with earnest regard for the
hatiohal honor and interest; TO enable them
10 improve the days of prosperity by every
goou work, and to be lovers of peace and
tranquility; that He may be pleased to bless
us In our hnsbandry, commerce and navioa-
tion, to cause pure religion and virtue to flour
ish' to give peace toall nations, and to fill the
world with his glory" These were the SEN
unents OF our old Congress, at the close of a
contest, son which," as they well saw in the
same document, ''the most essential RIGHTS of
human nature depended" How frequently
from that assembly went forth the warning
10 remind the people to consecrate to God the
nations anguish and the nations ioy. NAV he
seen from the quick recurrence of their re-
commentators of general RELIGIONS obser-
Vahte, either OF praise of PRAYER, through
out the land of which, from I775 to 1888.
lhere are not less than l6! In that BODY of
eniigh'ened statesmen, with whom, if any
where' sound wisdom, pure patriotism, elc-
waited political virtue We're found, were some
OF the most revered sons of virginia. And
we, their descendants, are now eniovipo the
fruits of their labors
Does 1t not then become us, the people of
virginia, to render publicly, as a united and
happy people, our thanks to Him who is the
author fall our blessings?
The call upon us at this time is loud. Our
country Is at peace, and ''preserved from en-
tangilng alliances" The fruits of the earth
; are abundant to an unprecedented DEGREE.
ne hafVeSts nave all been gathered without
much Injury. And though pressure from
without has visited US, we have such reso,,r-
c &c, within ourselves as to ensure tranauiIitv.
ne abundance of the earth seems at this time
visible and manifest interposition of our
heavenly father, to enable us to extricate
ourselves from any foreign debt, and to main
tain peace and plenty within our own borders.
Education is generally disseminated so as to
be accessible to all.-The schools are not or.
ny increasing In number, but our higher col
ieges and seminaries of learning maintain an
elevated standard Of intellectual and moral
character, and are blessed with professors.
generally of high intellectual attachments.
ifreproactable character, and frequently of
devoted plety. All parts of the States are IL
nited together by community of feeling and
interest, and by frequent and easy inter
course.
But to speak ofour causes of THANKSGIVING
10 1od Tor all His mercies, is impossible.
l. 90 many thoughts crowd upon the mind.
Nnat nave we that we have not received
from Him? 1t is an overpowerino thouoht
that our God should be every where and alike |
present with every world, and with each of
us mlnutest Tecesses, and that not beneficial |
erect should be felt through the whole ex-
Pdhse OF creation, of which He is not the |
cause. Ut is an evidence ola cold and wither |
eu heaIt to contemplate unmoved the over
whe'tilhg thought that the whole universe |
iidngS upon Him, and that all orders and |
ranks OIL creation, from the highest archanoel |
to the meanest insect, should he snstaiTod |
from moment to momentby his unceasinr en-
crgy, and receive their constant supplies from,
the same Inexhaustible fountain.
christianity surrounds us with BLESSINGS
Oh winch, from their number and importance
we nave become almost entirely forretfi1l
Like the air we breathe, or the SUNLIGHT i,
which we walk forth, we share its BLESSINGS
as a common boon, and grow unconscious oil
the value Of the enjoyment.
u is the gospel which has raised those ma
tions that have embraced it toa superioritv a.
Dovc all other nations. 1t has diminished
tne horrors OF war, and ameliorated the ca