The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-01-01


again, and the life blood courses less tardily
through his withered veins at the recollection
Of his boyish days, and those halcyon scenes
around which memory will ever love to linger.
les, even the aged veteran, remembering the
days when his hands were taught to war, and
his fingers to fight for the liberty Of his coun-
try, and viewing such rich Inheritance gained
to him and his posterity by that fearful strug-
gle, is exceeding glad" that he lives to see
ing.
Thus it is throughout community except
with those who mourn the loss of dear friends,
and even they cannot regret to have the memo
ry of those they once loved revived by the re-
turn of this day.
But while SO many bosoms will be elated
with gladness, how many among this multitude
will be filled with true thankfulness to Cod >
We have reason to fear that the number will be
exceeding small.
Having defined and illustrated what is i'm
piled in exercising gladness, we wish now to
show,
l. What it is to be truly thankful to God on
an occasion like the present.
l. True thankfulness necessarily involves g
distinct review of all our mercies. To revive
recollection of the past is unquestionably one
OF the most appropriate duties of this occasion.
And II there is time when memory with more
than an eagles ken, infinitely surveys the past.
this is that time. Departed friends, youthful
days, misspent hours and squandered pr,vile-
ges, all gather around in thick array and claim
at least slight remembrance. The unnumber-
ed mercles of God should also be made to pass
in full review before US, and each should re-
ceive in our estimation its relative value. In
this long catalogue of Gods mercies. nothing
stands out with snch prominence as the atone
ment made by Jesus Christ. This lies at the
uery foundation Of ecery mercy ,chich distin
guishes as as q nation. On this and similar
occasions, we generally hear much of our Pill
grim Fathers: our Revolutionary Patriots. and
our Free Institutions. as though our success as
Nation were attributable to their influence
alone. Unless We greatly mistake, there is in
many OF our public orations, speeches, and even
sermons, much of atheism upon this point The
Patriot and the Pilgrim we greatly revere To
none would we yield our veneration for them
We would say peace to their ashes. and would
not utter whisper to tarnish their hard-carned
fame. We believe they were men Of firm hearts.
who trusted not in their bow or their sword
but in the God of Battles; and would that more
OF their mantles had been gathered by US, their
degenerate sons
But what gave to them this ardor of SOUL and
singleness of purpose? Why did they not, like
South America, infdel France and unhappy
Poland. experience total failure in their rev
oluti0nary struggle. while their sons and daugh-
tiers should be doomed to q miserable servitude
beneath the iron hand of despotism? Simply
because their plans and characters were formed
from the Bible. From this they derived all
their principles of action and learned the true
secret of their success. This taught them that
their strength was weakness: their wisdom was
folly, and their only hope was in God. Upon
that Almighty Power they cast their hopes and
found them realized.
But the very soul of the Bible. which taught
them entire dependence upon God for success,
is the doctrine of the Cross-that atonement by
which it is rendered consistent that God should
bestow mercy upon guilty men. This is the
sum and the centre of the gospel system 1t is
also. in prceminent sense, the very foundation
of all our spiritual and temporal blessings
Every mercy which we are enjoying to-day. as
Americans and citizens of this rapidly settling
and lovely Territory, was purchased by the
Savior's dying grOans and flowing blood
Would you then take an inventory to-day of
the numerous mcrcies which distinguish us as
people. let us fix our eye upon Calvary's GRIM
son summit and there behold the originating
cause of them all! With peculiar caution we
should distinctly and with thanksgiving recog-
nizc this fact.
In rccounting our mercies this morning, we
should not forget the health which has been ex-
tensively enjoyed the past year in this Terrific
ry. Other cities have been fearfully visited
by that pestilence which walketh in darkness,
and that destruction which wastcth at noon
day, but that scOurge of nations has not swept
over any of our settlements. Not the first case
of Asiatic cholera has ever to our knowledge
occurred in our Territory. For the twenty
two years which have been in the Ministry.
am sure that have never SO seldom seen the
moving hearse and stood by opening graves as
during the seven months Of my residence here.
1t certainly has been a time of remarkable
health. From this and q variety of physical
causes apparent to all. we apprehend that no
section of our country presents surcr pledge
for the enjoyment of Heavens choicest boom
good heaffh--and extensive longevity than Min
nesota Territory. Life has also been extensive
ly preserved to us amidst many hair-breadth
escapes and widely extended journcyings, by
water and by land in the crowded marts of
business of our large cities and upon the wild
prairies and amidst the deep soltudes of the
forest homes of the savages of our frontier
We should here review the religious privile-
ges we have enjoyed The many sermons we
have. or might have. heard, the prayers to which
we have listened, the space for repentance we
have passed over and the widely extended priv
iliges We have enjoyed, for doing good.
The prosperity which has attended the labor
of our hands, should be remembered. The hus-
DduuiHdu has neeH tnt pIaiIle meHoWeu ny tue
pillow and waving with the golden harvest
The merchant, the mechanic and the artisan
have prosperously pursued their labors with
large dividends, with no wrecked hopes from
the fire, the floods, or the tornado.
We have much to recount and be grateful for
in connection with the brief history of our pros
porous Territory. And here are many things
which we would gladly say were it not for the
presence of some who have been prominent ac-
tors in this noble drama. And yet why with
hold that tribute of praise which the future his
torian will recognize and posterity cheerfully
award? The success which has attended the
establishment of our Territorial Government
the making and consummation of those honora-
BILE treaties so vast in their influence and abso-
lutely necessary to the success of civilization
in our mighty Northwest the establishment of
the Maine Liquor Law may God give
it perpetuity till the end of time,-and also
the establishment Of a free Common School
system, which is the glory of any people,
all Of which having received the especial
care and the broad, official signature Of our
Chief Magistrate, are enough to ensure great
prosperity to orr Territory in future and place