American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-02-18

SERMON OF THE Rev. Thomas ATKINSON.
We have received d copy ofthe Sermon preach
ed IN St Peters Church, Baltimore, on Thurs
day, the 2th OF December, thanksgiving day.
by the Rev Thomas Atkinson, Rector.
The reverend gentleman has presented lis
with dark and a bright side in our conduct as
i nation; and as instruction may be drawn from
1oth, we give them to Our readers And first of
our faults, he says
"Why should not desire, and nope for the
prosperity of this land! 1t is my native soil;
mere, doubtless, my bones will rest; here will
leave children and kinsmen behind me. And,
It is for this lament. do not fear that the
cloud will burst immediately But, who does
not see the portehts Of a coming storm! The
sree-lops, rs it were already begin to bow be-
meath it's rising force. II is they who are to
come after us, and most probably will expert
ence fully its mseres--our children and our
Childfen's children that are to stand IN our lot,
when we are ourselves removed. When a
nation becomes corrupt, it falls, by a law as
certain as that Of gravitatlon. And, who is so
hardy as to deny that corruption has Increased,
and is increasing, among us, and that exceed
lngly? An OverWcening estimate of money,
and an excessive and unscrupulous Gagerness
20 acquire it, are pronounced by strangers TO
be already, or 10 be becoming national charaC-
teristcs; and, can we look around Us, and say,
it is a calumny? An attachment to party
rather than 10 country, that IS, to self, rather
than to duty, taithlessness to public engage
nonts, indifference to the discharge ot public
obligations, not only practiscd but justified
contempt for human life, IN comparison witt
gain, readiness TO shed blood, when thereby
A way is opened to the qualification OF passion
These are the darker traits, which, loolHin!
over the general surface OF cur country, art
continually becoming more and more promi
nent.n
1t is undoubtedly true, that party attach
meats have been productive Of great deteriora
ton in the moral feeling of the community
and that .fhithlessneSs TO public engagements
Indifference to the discharge Of public obliga
lions" have been mot Only practlced, but JUS
tified;" but we trust that the tono OF public sen
timent is undergoing change for the better
and that hereafter it will be considered as neces
sary to preserve public as private obligations
We believe that little disposition exists at pre-
sent to repudiate public debts, those who ad
vanced it, having become ashamed ofthe nfam
Gus doctrine. We have great hope that the da,
when the credit of old Maryland will De full,
redeemed is not far distant; and that thencefor
ward We shall not be subjected to the charge o
exhibiting indifference to the discharge ofpub
lie obligations" The reverend author is righ
III charging upon parties the generation OF {
selfish iceiing-and il cannot be denied witt
truth, that this so!tishness has converted large
portion Of the people into ofice-seC kers-nert
dependents upon the fluctuations Of parties il
ahe general and State governments. This i.
highly dscredltable and merits severe rebuhc
The conflicts parties have had the further in.
furious effect of two frequently placing in office
the unprincipcd and the worthless, whilst the
more meritorious have been neglected, because
less importunate in their demands for 4 share
in the spois of victory. We loathe the spirit
of otfice-see,ing which prevails. 1t is disrepu.
table to the American character, and should b,
rebukcd by all men Of principle.
But we leave this subject, and turn will
more pleasure, to the bright side of the pictur
presented in the Sermon. 1t is as follows:
"And, little as our people are trained 10 re
spect the obligations of law and ORDER, go cas-
Is their condition, so few Of practical grn'an
ces have they, so little, consequent !, are 'he
tempted to disorder that tho mos III Portan
political struggle in which they conid be en-
gagged, has Just passed over, not only WILTON
serious riot or extensive bloodshcd' aut aHHoS
without leaving trace of il.ieeling behind, -
Those who have been successful. are q9let!.
setting themselves to govern the county,, a
they have right TO DO; and ihosc VINO "sr'