Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-08-16
MISCELLANY.
EItrdcis from The Discourse on The death Of tViH-
lam Henry Harrison, by Reu. J. Wheeler.


before our eyes; and it has been by the power OF
Him by whom "kings reign and princes decree
justice" 1t is but brief space Of time since tie
joyful pageant of thousands OF our citizens
seen, thronging orr streets to nominate him for
President. So high were their expectations, that
they seemed almost welcoming him beforehand
to his high station, and associaiing with his name
and official power, the security of their interests
and the realization of the choicest hopes of their
PATRIOTISM This feeling, which rose up in the
midst Of us, like the rising and onward rush OF
mighty tide, from all parts of our country, and
comnlingling, bore on its swelling bosom the oh
Ject of its hopes. Around the Capitol, it came to
lis fulncss and depositing there its cherished
treasure it retired in gentle murinurs to its native
fountains, the heartis and the hearts of the citi-
zens. Then with what deep and intense interest
all looked upon tie forms and ceremonies of the
fourth OF March, those last and highest channels
through which the national feeling could express
itself towards the man Of its choice. How we all
felt ourselves to be represented by the mass o Z
men, which hronged the avenues, and courts, and
aiscs OF the Capitol, with jubant feeling and
rent Tie air with the spontaneous expressions OF
men, who were frec and vino, irrespective OF
sectional or of party annosy rGioiccd IN this
token OF their freedom. With what dccp aud cX
hilcrnting feelings Of satisfaction and of peace the
nation listened to the calm and bengnant scEti-
mcnls OF truth and Justice, that were uttered by
nm, on the day i'll which, as its ruler he, calling
God to witness, opened his heart for its inspection,
and spoke of what tie ruler of a free people
should he, and what he should do. These scnti-
lnen'S had scarcely passed from his lips and the
feeling OF Joy and of hope which they inspired,
was yet warm in the heart when behold the
candosck is removed ont Of its place, the fire
has gone out on the high altar of the country; and
10, me sanctuary OF power is enveiopcu in dark
ness! Ii IS the hand Of Him, who workrih in
the mysterious silence of nscruthlc providence.
llhrk The voice, from within the veil, cries um
TO us: I" Put not your trust princes, nor in the
son OF man in whom there is no help His breath
gocth FORTH and he returncth TO his GARTH" " BE
still and know that | am God. | will be exalted
among the heather; / will be exalted in the
earth"
Thus 1t is we live, not merely under the consti-
luton OF this country and the government which
!! establishes but under higher md wdcr-rcnch- |
ing kindom, which comprehcnhs us, but rs an
item within its domain. Kings princes, govern |
ments, nations, are but its ministers. Revolutions,
Changes, distress of nations are but its means. |
lhlones, dynaslies, empires, rise and shallow
forth their power and then siuk to darkness and
Oblivion, while it holds on its eternal and unds-
tutbed way. This is the government that speaks !
unto us IN this It's providence aud says 20 the ma
ton, the "God in whose hand thy breath is and
whose are all thy ways, thou hast not gorfed."
But when the man, on whom our hearts had lean
ed MS our stay aud support, is struck down, and so
struck as to show that the desires of a mighty ma
ton are rcbuked, and the prayers of sincere
shippers are denied, and the conidng hope Of in
Vulnerable multlludes are scattered at the graves
mouth, whose conscience does not respond, alas
alas! we have not gorified "G God, in whose hand
our breath is, but we have trusted in an arm OF
flesh. We have called these GODS but behold !
they die like men,"
In surveying the history Of our country, for the
last six years. we can see disaster after disaster
las followed the nation and filed every part OF II
with lamentalion and sorrow While there has
been comparatively little suffering from deprlva-
ton OF The ncccssarcs of life, our hopes OF pros
perity have been bghted, our means of enjoy
ment have been curlaicd, and our ability to fulfil
our honest intentions has been destroyed. 1t is
not, mercy, that the business OF lie has been fuc
lllaing aud unstable, bu, coming events have de-
fed the forecast of the wsesl prudence; the fool
lshness and the wisdom Of this world have been
alike bafed. This has affected not merely our
outward condition, but apparently the honesty
and good faith of mutual intercourse, and has Of
ten placed the just and the upright side by side
with the unjust and the decever, and merged
them in one common condemnation. Nor has
this been confined 10 the mutual relations OF our
own country, but we are more or less dishonored
before the world, by our commercial aud financial
embarrassment; and have oui name repeated as
evil, in the maris of commerce., and IN the high
places Of the earth and, if not II byc-wor'l, we
are almost n reproach among The nations Ca
lanlltes have indeed fallen upon u.s. Fire has
wasted many OF our beautiful places; floods have
swept away our wealth the ocean has swallowed
up our riches, and many of our States ready
To sink under embarrassmens. Aud now the en-
Engagements of our foreign relations, send stream
lng up the horizon the meteor signVls OF war; aud
God has taken our great Captain from us. y, lei
us be instructed by these providences lest ut last
lie rule us with a rod OF iron, and dash MS IN PIE
cies as potter's vessel. W were ON The iup-
most wave of prosperity, and had become gddy
with our high elevation. Our vanity and pride
were expanding in every direction Instead of
saying, behold, we count those happy which en-
dure, we eschewed such sentiments, counting
those the most happy whose hopes were the most
gorgeous, and whose expectations We're the most
extravaganza In this day Of prosperity, the very
charities of The nation began 10 he sacrrgiously
Withdrawn from their pure purposes that we
might gid the earthly castles Of our hopes with
unknown magnliicenco and sPlendor. This was
our condition, when financial embarrassments
commenced and our hopes were changed TO fears.
Some ascribed the difficulty to the perpleXes OF
an overdone foreign commerce, some to n leyersh
rnge to acquire wealth without labor by what is
called speculation, some to wlnt they called the
nJudiclous action of the government in changing
IT'S ilscal arrangements, and some to a reckless ex-
paIlslon of the currency. Every thing, as cause
or effect, seemed to combine to induce perplex "
and distress various schemes were proposed :;
experiments were tried, and temporary exped- {
enls resorted 10 every where 10 keep up our Wis
ionary hopes. Thus the nation has gone on for 4
the last slX years without thinking OF, much less
understanding lis moral condition, aud has only
plunged deeper and deeper into sorrow, without
returning and liuInbling ilselfbeiore God. II has
not understood its moral condition. Who does
not know that human nature, in n course OF UNI c
humbled prosperity, gives rein TO its desires until
It's hopes become irrational, and its expectations {
alarming from their very extiayagance and absur- 4
dity. Let then any cause arise, 50 small perhaps i
as to be unno;iced which shall slew these hopes
to be without substance; and solicitude aud fear I
will take the place of hope and the whole hori-
zon appear filled with objects of disrust and jeal-
ousy. To reason man or nation out of such u S
state is impossible. Every thing that can be said
Is only food for its jealousy. The state itself is /
not produced by reasoning, and, therefore, we are
not to be reasoned ont Of it. The nation needs to /