Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-11-30

"Thanksgiving Day"

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To-DAY.-Thetime -honored observance Of the
good Puritan Fathers, now become a custom OF
our whole country.in appointing one day in every
year for the thankful commemoration OF the bes
sings with whichit has been crowned. is one
which commends itself to the appreciation of every
right-minded man. lfthere were no God, and no
providential government of the world, it would
still be measure dictated by sound statesman
ship and knowledge of the human heart to as
sembe the people, from time to time, for the uni
ted remembrance of whatever of good they may
have together enjoyed. Its tendency obviously is
to make the citizens of country feel their COM
mon relation to the land that gave them birth,
and their individual stake in all its veal and wo,
and. as natural result, to strengthen the ties that
bind them to each other. But, II there be God
and Providence, then is its fitness doubly obvi-
ous There is also something OF moral grandeur
in the unconstraned. unanimous act of free peo-
ple in agreeing on an appointed day, to render
public thanks for benefits received from their Ma
ker Their own subordinate agency, and the
sorubined agencies of other conspiring secondary
causes. bates nothing from what is due TO the
Great First Cause from whom are all things
The general conviction of this great truth gives
dignity and strength to national character.
| Isl,
noticed the general consent with which. in SO
many States of our wide and happy Union, this
day has been recommended by their several Ex-
ecutives for such fit and becoming purpose we
presume the recommendation will meet with a
general and cheerful compliance.
Nor do we at all object to the association with
the religious observance of the day of That decent
hiarty which has ever characterized the occasion,
and rendered Thanksgiving Day, as it has long
been throughout New England, Joyous epoch In
the brief years of our children. There are no joys
like family Joys; none 80 pure none so refreshing
none g., hi slthfill in their tendency. When fami-
lies rejoice the land is glad. Nor could there, we
apprehend, be readily conceived more beautiful,
simple, and touching celebration than that which
the Divine wisdom appointed to ancient Israel, IN
the observance of the Feast of Weeks, at the sea-
son of the first-ripe fruits and the Feast Of Tab
ernacles, at the final ingatherlng OF the jewish
harvest. Assembled in shady bowers on the ter
raced roofs of their own houses, each family to-
gether, partakng of the overf1owing bounty OF the
wear; the fruit and the reward of their toll and,
while thus engaged, commanded by the Father of
Charities to remember the destitute and send por
tions to the DOOR, And would it not add to the grace
and to the joy of our own testlvlty, on day like
| this, were we to welcome the spirit OF pTecept
SO truly divine, and endeavor somewhat to adopt
and to act upon it2 There are. alas, but too many
homes among US where Thanksgiving Day"
spreads no festal table, and where the youthful
part of the family group associate with the name
no gladstone membranes. Let tho orphans be
remembered Let the destitute among our Sab
bath school children (ew, in comparison, may
they ever be found y be visited, relieved, and
cheered A little gift. at such season, would
| 10 IL tbob nd fa,y
happy faces to those favored and rejoicing millions,
who, from one extremity of this land 10 the other,
will this day give God thanks that they were born
Americans. or have been led by his hand to the
American shore-.National htcl., .Nou. "a.
The SUCCESSION THE course of events in
New York has alarmed the Washington Union,
not only for the present peace of what it terms
the National Democracy" Dut also for what it,
in most unrepnblican pbraseology, styles ''the
Succession" In an article in yesterdays Issue
it says
I'VE have been long satisfied, and on several
occasions have insisted. that the orlginaors and
promoters of the fatal discussions in our party in
New York had formed the deliberate design Ut
breaking down the present administration. for the
purpose of elevarng upon lis ruin tavorite asplr-
ant for the succession"
This assertion it predicates upon recent ad-
dress of the Young Mems Democratic Club Of
New York" one paragraph of which reads thus
1--WE call upon the Young men in this State and
throughout the Union. to begin forthwith patriot
| c and thorough organization for the next presden
tia cuntest. Wemay have TO contend until 1856
against those in power. from whom we should ra-
Their expect cheerful and efficient aid. We have
no doubt that combined effort of the national de-
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elevate one of our party to the highest station. no
intrigue of traitors lurking among rs will induce
the man of our selection TO disregard the wishes
OF Oppose the interests Of the party by which he
was elevated We have already commenced the
campaign."
The SANDWICH IsLAYDs.-These Island, are
fen in rumber. Their entire population IN about
one hrsndred anl 6fiy thousand-one half Of which
population occopies Hawaii the principal one OF
the group. The area Of Hawaii is four thousand
three bu,sired square miles Tbe surface OF tire
country is broken and mountainous. u aboSnds
! in Volcanoes, which arc said To be the most ac-
tive in the worId. The climate ismid, The sur
rounding sea breeze cooling the atmosphere, hcugh
the Islands lie within the tropics.
The original Inhabitants, a peculiar race, are
said to be fast dying oat and disappearing. In
course of time it is supposed they will be ens'ety
extingushed
These Islands lie about three thorsaHd miles
west of San Francisco. TAe voyage however
may be ordinarily performed in twelve days. as
the sea is generally calm and the wind favorable.
Their AGRICULTURAL and mineral wealth. is small.
They would be valuable to the United States
principally in commercial and political SENSE
| They are in the direct highway between tnis
country and the East Indies. They bave tor
long time been The headquarters of The american
whaling fleet They lay up there durllg the
winter. make repairs and get ready tor another
expedition.
DIFFICULTY WITH THE STUDENTS OF TIDE u
SIyERsITY.-From what we have heard through
gentleman who was ia Charlottesville when the
collision occurred between some OF the citizens OF
Charlottesville, or rather its police officers and
norton of the students of the University, the at
| lair at distance from the scene OF action, as Is
usually the case, seems to be regarded as one OF
! more serious consequence than 1t is considered ny
tbose who witnessed il. The difficulty occurred
in the Town Hall during one OF Wyman's Jug
gling exhibitions, and arose from an interference
on the part of the police officers to prevent what
was considered an annoying excess VI noise MADE
by some of the students. The action OF The Oil
GERS was resisted with flourish Of canes by the
students. Some of the citizens then took part
with the officers The affair soon terminated IN
1.-THE arrest of two or three of the students, VINO
were committed to the county Jail to remain unt!l
next morningyin order to have judicial lnvestl-
cation. Al Investigation was had the next morn
inp. and the arrested students were bound IN
{ recoqnizance 10 keep the peace and 50 the matter
ended. Everything remains qniet since, as our
informant states. who left Charlottesville few
DAYS ago. Richmond Wing of24h