Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-01-07
True Patriotism.

I'VE are permitted to make the following eX-
tract from a discourse delivered on Thanksgiv-
ing Day, to his own pastoral charge, by Rev.
ASA D. SMITH, of the Branard church in this
ci,y:]-N. Y. Erangelia.
True patriotism sets itself against all national
wrong 1t does this first. because God has for
hidden wrong doing. as well in nations as in in
dividuals; and because. also, in wrong doing
no ration can prosper. Not only does upright
eousnoss tend in itself to harm, but Gods hand
is against it, As the retrbutionS of another
world are individual solely, and as God is God
of righteousness, there is for nations a retribu-
ton in the present life. This the divine word
declares. - At what instant ! shall speak con-
corning a nation or Kingdom to build, and to
plant III if it do evil in my sight that it obey not
my voice. then ] will repent Of the good where
with said | would benefit them The ma
ton or Kingdom that will not serve thee. shall
perish: yea. those nations shall be utterly vast
ed" TO this all history bears witness. Where
are those ancient kingdoms that warrcd against
the people of God Rich and powerful as they
once were, they have been swept with the be-
som of destruction" Upon nations still in be-
ing. what fearful relribution has fallen! How
were the mscries of Poland, for example, aveng-
ed upol Russia in the flames of her own Mos.
cow. In the reign Of Terror, what Just recon-
pcnse came on France for her national Atheism
England that mighty and warlike naton-we
say it not taunlngiy. but with deep concern
England. Oh whom the guilt Of much oppress-
ION rests. and whose sword has often drank the
blood OF thousands has not something of rctri-
button fallen upon her, in the recent horrors OF
famine and pestIIence, aud in the evils now so
appalling Of widespread commercial embarrass-
ment And has not the patriot occasion to
trembe for our own country? We are young
nation, but we have already fearful account
to render The cry of millions of our fellow.
men, many of them proessed servants of oul
common Savior, yet held in bondage by u.s. en-
tiers into the ears OF "A Just and avenging Cod
Wrongs heaped upon the red Observation-Disclosures,
removed, and covenants brokcn-testiiy agains
us. And We are now engaged in an aggressive
war-one OF the most needless and unlustltia
BILE in the history Of the word-against feeble
and distracted neghboring nation. We have
Crimsoned many a battle field with the blood o
her sons. and have filled her land with the la
mentations Of widows and orphans. We hay,
battered down her fortresscs and her cities, evel
women and children fallen amid the ruins AM
our victorious army now reyels in her capital
True, we have offered her peace; but it il
such peace as Ahab offered to Naboth-sucl
peace, had almost said, as the vuure offers t.
the lamb. VIII not God say. as Of DID, " shall
not visit for these things; and shall not my sou
be avenged on nation like this p
But seem to hear the Cry--l was going Il
say, from some bar-room politician, but it ha'
come from niger Sources Our country, rich
or wrong!'' This is no new maxim; it is a,
ancient as it is diabocal. 1t was substantially
the maxim of Satan aud his hosts, when. van.
pushed in heaven, they made war upon man
Very aply has Milton set this forth
-" Should !, at your harmless innocence,
Melt as do, yet public reason just
Honor and empire With enlarged
By conquering this new world, compel me now
10 do what else though damned, should abhor
So many supporter OF the Mexican war
though inclined to melt at the =" harmless in
nocence" sacrificed, is vet urged on by "publiC
reason lie regrets the horrors of the conflict
but our country wages it, and our country
right or wrong" On much the same principle
acted Pharaoh, when he set himself to oppres,
the children of Israel Reason of State moved
him, regard for the country's good. Come
on said he, ." let us deal wisely with them -
lest they multiply, and it come to pass that whel
there faeth out in war, they Join also unto on
enemies and fight against US" And when, a
God babe him let them 90, and enforced tn
command by repeated judgments, he still hard
ened his heart, his maxim still was, our cOur
try, right or wrong" Such was the maxim q
tle - lllllIt@. Tue hlHDiIlcs Tue III
Perzles, the Invites, and the Jebusitcs,' a
they gathered themselves together " to fight wit
Joshua and with Israel" Not to cite other il
stances, it was the manifest principle of tn
chief priests and Pharsees, rs they sought tn
life of the immaculate Savior. . Ii we let hil
alone, all men will believe on him and the r.
man, shall come and take away both our plac
and our nation" Oar country, right or wrong
Surely Internal ingenuity and wickedness coul
scarce devise a more abominable principle tina
this. True, our country is dear to us. but sha
not righteousness and God be dearer? NOul
you say of your nearest friend, do what he vii
however ATTRACTIONS, ] will countenance and al
him? My brother, my son, my father, right {
wrong? How, then, can you say OF your coul
try, do what she may, however unrighteou
however at variance with Gods law, it sha
have my support? Is country your God!
the will Of the majority paramount to the Deci
logue Are truth and righteousness the mer
creatures OF the baot-boX, OF the hall of leg
lation, or the cabinet council
Il may be said here, am not a citizen, ar
as such bound to obey the laws Most certain
". unless they conflict with Gods law, in whic
case that must rule. God my hearers, is Il
Governor orthe universe, tie King OF kings
But in respect TO the present unhappy war,
in many other instances of national wrong, "
are not put upon the necessity of resisting Il
laws. No man is Obliged to enlist as a soldier
and even P.itia-man draited-hanks to OF