The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-07
MfsrellanrouS.
THE DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT.

Extract from funeral discourse delivered at Phila-
delphia by the Rev. Thomas Braincrd.
/. IL shoreth that God is chasiening us as nation.
While the earth has poured out its treasures and
on the wings of the wind" has loated I'M
checked by national wars, we have been crushed by
Pe~".,ia'y o','. .---j~-y e ri Fl. :
remedy in the election of new Chief Magistrate,
and congratuating themselves on the expected
return of commercial prosperity, when unseen,
Almighty hand, moved from behind the vale of eter-
nity strikes to the grave the cherished instrument OF
their hopes 1t is said most truly, that troubles per-
sonal or national seldom single and for this
son. that when the most High rises to give chastise-
mcn he repeats the blow until the end is secured
Our country groans under pecuniary distress-our
Chief Magistrate sleeps in death-our wsest states
men of all parties perplexed-there is rumor of
war on border.
God has declared that the nation or kingdom
which will not him shall perish He has risen
in anger--the dark cloud is over us-the tightening
begins to CLEAN vision Let us as nation,
cease from our avaricc, our ambition, our Sabbath
breaking, profanity, our nemperance, our practi-
cal atheism and I" humble ourselves under the mighty
hand of God, if peradventure he will turn from his
anger, that we perish not"
3 The death Of our Chief Magistrate rebukes our
idolatry n lreatM and our confidence in man.-The
Bible says, cursed is man that trusteth in man.
We exhorted to +" cease from man whose breath is
in his nostrils.'
All our political discussions assume positions which
| regard false 1t is assumed that in legislation,
wealth the chief good to be protected and encouraged
the foundation of our national prosperity No mat
ter if public pr0fgate they are to be elo
waited if they egislnte for pecuniary interests
matter il the stage the raiIcar and the steamboat
introduce breaking, and Sabbath dissipation,
corrupt the youth of our peaceful villages they must
violate the Sabbath if money can be made at it.
Our political discussions all seem to assume that the
virtues of industry, economy moderation temperance,
and the fear OF God in individuals of little conse-
quencc They that the country is to be saved
by political agitation, by the elevation or depression of
this that party Now as the personal virtues of
this great people, which TO secure Gods favor and
bless families with peace and prosperity, are overlook
ed by politicians and to great extent by the press
il is wonder we are met with rebuke We must
cease from the hope Of saving land by the instru
mentality OF any one man OF by any political maxims
and carry sound moral and religious principles of
duct down to the business and bosoms OF men, and
pure government will be the irresistible effect OF re-
formed public sentiment.
Il required more than a million of votes, and vast
sacrifice of time and money, TO elect our late Chief
Magistrate His party set him proudly down In the
presidential chair MS the saviour of his country
Where is he now Let the wall OF millions tell 20
and look upon that pale cheek-that palsied hand
that intellect exiting ushed-that influence annihatcd
"a wind has passed him and he is gone, and
the place that has known him shall know him no more
Have we mpiously dared to commit the vast interests
Of this country to human agent2 Who is rock
save our God .
i.
bitterness Qparty spirit This spirit has been called
the madness of the many for the benefit the few,
and it is sad whole country marred by It's
presence. The abors ofindustry inicrrupted-the So
cia aflinities of family and neghborhood broken up
measures for the public good tedcharacter ira
duced-h hearts lacerated by caumny or burning Tor re-
venge-must this state OF things be perpctuated is
fright for politicians constantly to teach one hall OF
this nation that the other half traitors to their
countryl Ii this spirit is to be checkcd-when
In Eastern nations covenant Of peace between enc
mics was made victim slain on the altar OF
God. May il not be true that God himself IN late
event has provided the illustrous victim over whose
lifeless body political animositics might soften, ana
hand grasp hand and heart meet heart in labors and
prayers for this beloved and2
4. The death Of our Chisf Magistrate should al
ponish all 10 prepare for death. Death, whether u
enter hovcl palace, has common lesson
Whenever or TO whomsoever il comes, it says BE
We also ready" But ordinary deaths instruct only
| a little circle Of relatives and friends.
| This nation, facinated by the world, sunk IN spi
ritual stupidity, forgeiu Of responsibility to God,
needed solemn universal lesson on the vanity OF
| all sublunary things There but one man 50
elevated that his fall would wake the universal
mind ofths people to think and their hearts to feel