Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-05-17
Nav The La. ISII-

May the Iih, lsII.
MS Day, the American People humbled Them
selves IN Fasting and Payer before that Gre,, Ru.
Ier' whose right It is to reign and govern among
tue nations oil The earth. In the language Of beau
uiui article we Ind in the Baltimore American
this day presented a most beautiful and sublim,
spectacle TO the world. Sixteen millions orr,ee.
mei'-wlthout regard to political distinctions or re-
lgious creeds-havng sustained n no,ionoI ho,..,.
ment, assemble in temples dedicated to the servic,
Vi 'he H'ins uopi and by their acts ofmost solemn
worship acknowledge the great TRUTH that there i,
Being who controls the destiny Of Nations. We
DO not md IN our country state OF national feel,
ing similar to that produced in part by the WRITING,
oi the sage Of Ferney, when the taste ofa natior
was corrupted, and proAgacy did not seek conceal.
ment-when lnfdelity, like a leprosy, infected the
land-when Reason, in the person Of a woman. wa,
enth'oned and worshipped a Deity. And wba,
was the result Of this national Infdelitv7 The
horrors OF the Revolution overwhelmed Frnnce liz
the outpourng of the walls OF the wrath Of Heaven
The guotine and the lamp post claimed their ,bou.
sands OF victims; and devastating war hurried TO pe
mature death hundreds of thousands OF the chyalry
OF France from her PoPuIous cities her vine clad
hills and her green vaeys-lshg their bones to
whiten on every battlefield Of Europe-or GOVERNS
them deep with the SHOWS of Russia-or sinkino
them lar beneath the waters Of the Berezinn. Had
1t not been for the interpositon Of that great Beno
whom we this day worship, the spirit of Christian
~ and the genius Of Liberty had alike expir,
amidst such scenes ofinfdety, misery, devastation
and blood.
The recommendation ofthe President oTths JJn;,.
ed States to set apart this day for Fasting, Humil.
Iaton and prayer-ihe second time in the history Of
our country that the recOmme ndation Of such nm
observance has emunnted from our National Exec
utIve-hns been received with the most cordial nm.
probation 10y all classes of citizens. w. are reIi
gIous People Our ancestors expended their tren.
sures and shed their blood in the defence of reli,;or
and liberty. When they were not allowed to ,yor.
ship Their Creator in temples built Ivy tho hands Of
man, they retired to the nouniain- sides; and in
the Prlmeva simplicity and freedom OF Nature. mode
the valleys resound with the praises or the great IT,
hovah. And when the prosecuting arm Of civil
power reached them thcre-trusting TO the guidance
o: Him who made the stars 10 direct the mariner
they crossed the painless ocean and landed on ,bes,
shores; ard under their culture, the wilderness ba,
bndded and blossomed as the rose. The same
spirit animated our fathers in the conflicts Of tboss
days which gave US our national existence, and
when that spirit shall cease to animate their chill
dren' an end will have arrived for the enjoymen,
OF those blessings which they purchase with their
1lood'-Tbe ceremonies Of this day gave evidence
OF the existence Of that principle as nationa feel.
ing, which will onsuro the Transmission Of our ns,i
tutIons to unborn generations. We mourn the re-
moyal Of one who, while he vas exalted, was also
good. But while We mourn, we humble ourselves
with fasting and prayer; and we contemplate thi,
forcibe illustration Of the emptiness Of alt earthly
glory, we bow in submission TO that Great Supreme
whose right II Is To reign"
In THE city TO recommendation Of the President
received most hearty response from tho citizens.
and was carried out by them IN a spirit and vitb
pRaDlmity becoming them AZ patriots and christians
The doy vas most appropriately observed by a To.
ial suspension Of business, With seryices in al the
churches. No pagean,ry, yet all the ceremonies
which The slsmnhy Of the occasion called for v.ro
performed in Richmond. With the rising Of IN.
sun tho public bells sent forth thar doleCul chimes
and eonupued TO his going down. The church bells
announced the hour Of Worship, and thropgs we're
seen vending their way TO worship, after tho fash.
ION and mode Of their own heaHs-one Of the ines
timablo blessings secured to Us by our happy insti.
buttons. or tho addresses At tho churches. va can
only speak from public opinion-lboy wers mos,
appropriate and eha'ts. Some OF them furnishing
the most beautiful extracts for tho press DR.. Plum.
mer's, the only one we had the pleasure Of hearing
was peculiarly happy and impressive.
Aqu'e'ness pervaded the city throughout the day
and Il passed Of with oil proper hun,iIiation.