The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-19

SiehS'n, 1hc prize III view oeinB tne PresldeD-
tiai vote Of Virginia in the Charleston Conven-
ton. Possibly the upshot of the row may be a
decisive split Of the Virginia democracy Gala,
nifty which would certainly raise the price OF
niggers. We await the meeting of the contest
ants in the ring.
Thanksgiving Day-yNhst We Are Thank
fun For.
The States of New York, PENNSYLVANIA and
New Jersey celebrated their annual Thanks
giving Day yesterday, anticipating by week
the day set apart in all the other States
for thanksgiving namely, the last Thursday
in November. Little Vermont, too, enter
tanned the absurd notion of acting indepen.
dent Of her sister States, and fixed as her
Thanksgiving Day the anniversary of Louis Ma
poleon's great coup dedt-the I'd of December.
With these exceptions, we believe, the general
Thanksgiving Day Of the nation will be observed
next Thursday
II is matter Of some regret that there can
not be a complete uniformity in this celebration.
Those Of our citizens whose home was originally
in New England, where this has been long day
of feasting and rejoicing, do not enjoy their
thanksgiving turkey with half the relish that
they would if they could have imagined all their
near relatives and friends enjoying themselves in
similar manner in the old farmhouse, or be-
meath the ancestral roof II is the associations
connected in memory with the annual return OF
the day that give to it most of its charms.
Without these associations, it appears to be little
more than government-ordained holiday,
wanting in the sanctities or superstitions
connected with those holidays that are COM
memorative Of events in the history of Chris
tianity. 1t was, therefore much to be desired
that all the States and Territories of this confe-
deracy should have had the same day set apart
and dedicated to the religious, charitable and
social observances of thanksgiving But the
Governor of our own State led the way in pre-
venting this uniformity: and the Governors Of
Pennsy lvania, New Jersey and Vermont followed
the bad example. 1t was seriously proposed, after
the termination of the Mexican war-so honorable
to our arms-that the President should recon-
mend national day of thanksgiving; but, think
ing that that would be an encroachment on the
States, he declined to do so; and hence, although
the last Thursday in November has been by tact
assent of all usually selected. there have been
deyiations from ii on the part Of some OF
the States, as was the case yesterday.
And yet, notwithstanding this drawback, we
do not remember ever to have seen in this city
so general celebration of Thanksgiving Day.
Business was entirely suspended. Services were
performed in all the churches. Of all denomina-
tions. From almost every pulpit in the city the
voice OF the pastor was heard. reminding the con-
gregation of the manifold blessings enjoyed
by us as a people, and for which we should
render our thanks to the Giver of all good gifts
The JOY bells of old Trinity pealcd their mcrriest
chimes in honor of the day. The streets wore a
holiday appearance Broadway was gayer than
usual, thronged as it was with pedestrians, enjoy
ing the beauty Of the day, and the frequent spec
tacles Of target excursion parties, and gro
tesquely attired bands of fantasticals. In the
general hilarity the poor We're not forgotten.
Arrangements were made and we'll carried out to
give Thanksgiving dinners at the various charita-
BILE and reformatory institutions Of the city; and
SO ii may be hoped that with even the very lowest
and most destitute Of our population there was
yesterday abundant cause for blessing the Thanks
giving holiday.
II Is an old and good custom-that Of set
ting apar, one day in the year as day Of nation
al feasting and rejoicing. II can he traced back
TO the Oldest nations Of antiquity. The Greeks
and Romans carried il out in the greatest perfec-
ton, devoting days, and sometimes weeks, to
games, and sports and assemblies and merry
makings. in honor OF Ceres and Baccbus. and
Flora and their tutelary deities. So too with the
Hebrews. who had their religious fcas,s, and even
their year Of Sabbaths, in which they gave the
earth itself repose.
Most Of our Christian holidays, instituted in
the Middle Ages. were limitations of Jewish or Of
pagan feast days. and yet arc none the less to be
observed OF rcverenced on that account II Is
only the old form Of human sentiments and aspi-
rations under q new name. Our own Thanks
giving day was. till within the last twenty years
a purely Puritan affair. Outside Of the New
England States there was no such observance.
Now II il observed by all the States and Terri
tories Of the Union: and even the English have
begun 10 copy us in that for Of late years a ma
tional holiday has been annually proclaimed
throughout the kingdom; and besides this. the
great land proprietors have those merry rural
feasts which they call harvest home"
Every people has much to he thankful for to
the Great Ruler Of the Universe No people has
moro 10 no thankful fnr than oursol,-oy W 49,
a, peace with all the wsrld. No nation regards
us as its enemy. Our whitcwinged messengers
Of commerce are welcomed in every port Of
every sea. Our country Is still the home to
which the poor and down-trodden Of every
other land turn their longing eyes. The
harvests have been abundant, and trade has
revived. Our people are prosperous. intelligent
happy, to degree rarely IL ever attained by any
other people. No foreign war or domestic dis.