Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-04-14

| FAST DAY.
BY the Proclamation of our worthy Governor
this day is set apart day of Humiliation, Fast.
ing and Prayer. There is one great merit in the Gov
ernor's proclamation, for which he is worthy Of
the highest commentator that is, its brevity. II
is the shortest document of the kind, we ever re-
member TO have seen. There is no unnecessary
unmeaning language in il II is plain, brief and TO
the point We have referred to this document, not
merely to commend it but because it suggests
topics suitable for extended remarks. The day is
appointed "as a day of humiliation, fasting and
prayer to Almighty God, on account Of our ndivid-
uol and public transgressions" 1t were proper,
therefore, for us to inquire, what are those individ.
udl and public transgressions for which we should
humble ourselvcs2 What offences have we, as in
dvduals been guilty Of, against the laws of God
or man What duty have we neglected What
evil habit have we cherished What injuries have
we inflicted ourselves or others In what res.
poets have we failed to fulfil the purposes and to
tain the great and noble ends of our existence : A
thousand questions of this nature rise up in our
mind, while rejecting the subject, and
each individual must answer them TO himself
Aud our public transgressons, what are they -
IN order TO correct them, avoid them in future,
we must know what they are. We do not
propose to bring them in mass before realrrs
They would make too formidable an array, If
they were all set forth in order at once. We deem
it better to fix thoughts on a single transgres-
sion, which has been a crying evil in our LAND, for
few yeats past the bitter fruits OF which, we are
now reaping- From every quarter, the cry of"hard
times comes to us, as with the sound Of "many
waters Business is depressed wages low
produce is cheap; many out Unemployment, and
find nothing to do. The value of property is
greatly diminished. The debtor is unable to meet
his payments, and thousands are greatly slraen-
ed in their affairs.
Now all this we regard as the fruit of the seed
which we have been sowing few years past. 1t
is the natural consequence of former transgressons
Gen. Jackson "took the responsibility Of removing
the deposies. The public money was distributed
among the "Pet banks Of the country. New banks
in great numbers chartered all over the union
Money, or its representative, became abundant -
Loans were made in great profusion, Hence every
thing took sudden start The price of property,
produce, wages, aud every thing was rapidly in
creased. The speculation mnnia seized all classes
of people. Men specialized in Eastern and Yves
and every thing that could be bought and Sold
Fortunes were made in day. Men became as
they thought Immensely rich, and that all Of sud.
den Like the intoxicated man, they saw things
on large scale; they felt rich visions of gold and
glory foaed before their delighted vision. They
rcveIled in luxury and indulgence. But crisis
came. The great Regulator of the currency was
rashly overthrow. The government was lavish
in its expenses, and hasty in its experiments
Banks, one after another, failed. Public officers
proved defaulters Confidence WINS diminished.
credit was shaken. Prices fell Public works were
abandoned Private enterprise checked. And
business ofevery description to a stand. And
here we are. We are now like the drunkard lust
beginning to recover from a debauch We have
been suffering the natural aud unavoidable conse-
quences of former transgressions. The mal.ndmin-
straton of the government, and the msdongs Of
the people themselves, have caused the evils we
have suffered. And now from bitter experience
we are learning lesson of wisdom.
And for these msdongs and these evils we are
to humble ourselves with fasting and prayer But
we are not required 10 despair, nor to sit down in
hopeless lnaction. We believe the crisis of our ca
lamities has passed by. A tariff has been adjusted
unsound banks have failed, and are winding up
their affairs. Those which have stood the ordeal
are regarded as safe institutions. The govern
ment is retrenching its expenses. The people are
more economical in their mode of living. Unnc.
cessary expenses are Topped off. People are eau
tlous about contracting debts and are struggling
hard TO wipe off old scores Salaries are reduced |
Young men are less extravagant in dress, and 9TH |
Pr things. The temperance Reform is drying up
sources of poverty and wretchedness. All these
nte favorable symptoms, and predict better times
Let us labor, and toll on, with heart and hope, each
individual contributing his share of influence, to
restore public credit and private confidence to en-
courage economy and honorable industry and TO
'elp one another TO bear up with courage and for.
tude, under the burden of evils that has been pres
ing so heavily upon us.