Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-11-29
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER ~. 1851.
THANKSGIVING.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER a. 1901.
THANKSGIVING.
This day having been recommended oy our Civlc
Authorities to be set apart for Religious services,
and as Day Of Thanksgiving and Praise to Al
mighty God for his manifold mercies and blessings
to our country and people, we shall Of course leave
all the persons employed in our Office free to unite
with their families and friends in the duties and
enoyments Of the Day, and shall therefore issue no
paper tomorrow. $50,
This good old custom of the Puritan Fathers SO
commends itself to whatever is upright in the hui
man bosom that the observance of public occasions
Of General Thanksgiving seems fast becoming the
universal practice Of the American People. Il is
atoken for good-one among many nor is il the
less to be esteemed for having been in its origin
the fruit Of heartfelt and practical Christianity.
Is not the public sentiment which has elected from
those in power the appointment Of such days, and
which sustains that appointment whenever made
by SO ready and cheerful alcompliance. some evil
dence, especially under Government SO popular
as ours, Of the progress amongst US Of good prin-
ciple and of good feeling? What more detestabe
in itself, what more universally reprobated by man
kind, than the crime Of ingratitudei We resentit,
in our own case, with one accord; and why is il
less worthy Of condemnation when shown toward
the greatest and most generous of Benefactors
Let the day then be observed by all. For one brief
hour let, Inc hand Of labor rest let the roar of
busy traffic be suspended while the temple doors
of the Most High are thrown wide to admit the
offerings of a favored and not ungrateful people.
It has been said that " an undevout astronomer
is mad = and may it not with equaLtruth be affirm
cd that anungratsfsI american can have no heart
When it is TO exalt ourselves over others, we are
all sufficiently ready to remember and 70 recount
our many blessings; let not our memory and our
affections at once be paralyzed when are invited
to remember that we may be thankful.
Surely we have matter enough for the thank
offering of this day. Has not the earth opened her
lap and poured upon us such harvest Of plenty as
has not been on record in the country for many
years True, we are so used to plenty that this,
though in itself and it's consequences SO great and
important national benefit, makes but slight i'm
preston, and is passed by too much as thing Of
course but let US ask those who carried our boun-
ty to furnishing Ireland, if we would realize what
it is to have bread to the full. How strongly must
the thousands of her children who are inundating
them once experienced and the abundance that now
floats around them on every side.
But our ample harvest is only single item
in the general plenty that fills the land. Of real
want, Of that squalid misery which meets the eye
in the great cities especially Of the old world,
know almost nothing, and when it is but faithfully
described by travellers the picture seems to US
overdrawn. Universal industry has bfought US
universal comfort, or where sickness or peculiar
misfortune has created the exception, how soon
does the ready benevolence Of our people open its
hand to aid and to soothe distress The charities
of life exist in freshness and in power throughout
The land, and the prompt and liberal gift Of money
for every good purpose is 50 common amongst US
hs to form, undeniably, national characteristic.
Is this nothing to be thankful for See, on every
side, those palaces Of mercy which open their gates
10 the blind, to the dumb, to the orphan, to the
widow, to the sick, to the artisan, to the seaman
the stranger. Look at our countless number Of
Sunday schools, and their noble army Of volun-
AIRY teachers. The time would fail to tell of the
Proteus forms Of Christian charity which adorn
puA SOuust CSs VIC arc d OuIibLdu pCOpic, dLu
I'VE our most precious blessings 70 the prevalence
ind the power amongstus of the Christian religion.
oh let us not forget it, and in the thanksgvings Of
his day let this first and greatest Of benefits have
Is due honor, its deserved place!
Then we are, thank Heaven, a UNITED People !!
he exception is SO small in amount as scarce to
eserve thought or mention. Tie selfish ambition
# few wouldbe leaders in anarchy for the sake
power, after putting forth efforts the most reck-
Ess and desperate, have failed, uVbrly failed, in
baking the allegiance Of this Peopletto its Govern
nent, or chilling, even for an angry moment, the
warmth Of its attachment to the Charter Of our
freedom, but has, on the contrary, only brought
prth to the light Of day that hidden love for both
Fhich lay dormant but deep in the American heart
Tor have those succeeded much better who have
riven, under the profession Of heaven-d descended
cal, but with an industrious malice more worthy
demons, 10 ALLEVIATE brother from brother, and
AXE enemies Of those whom common ancestry,
common struggle, common dsi;-sra.eo; whom
bmnion remembrances, a common country, COM
bon liberty, common interest whom common
nguage, literature, laws; whom comran1 go e
hd a common hope, ought to hold forever IN tie
osest and most itd;asolnhle tiea The o,,at of