Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-11-25
ss- Two hundred and thirty eight years

B- Two hundred and thirty eight years
OF pains and pleasures, of labors and rewards
are recorded on the pages of our country's
history, and after the custom, we are invited
to-day. by our Chief Magistrate, TO comment
orare them; TO return gratitude TO the ALL
Wise Providence for the peace health and
prosperity bestowed on US; and for the many
blessings vouchsafed to us in our civil and
religious liberty.
Thanksgiving is festival, whose origin is
not clearly shown, but believed to have been
commenced by the Puritans who came from
England, to. secure in America what the in
tolerant conformists of England and Holland
denied them-religious liberty. If, therefore,
we would properly celebrate this festival, we
must recall to memory how our ancestors suf
fered in their long struggle for freedom of
conscience; how they dared the perls of the
sea in coming to America, and battled with
the hostile Indians on the cherries coast of
Misunderstanding there with disease and
famine. We must remember, too, how their
faith and valor were at last crowned with the
happiest success that ever rewarded the labor
of man, if we would fully appreciate the
causes we have for thanksgiving.
That little band of one hundred and one,
faithful advocates of religious liberty, had
many privations and insults in their native
land. and it is household recollection to be
revolved in our minds at least for one day in
every year, how grievously they suffered in
their adopted home. One cold December day
of 1920. having previously chosen a chief
ruler, they landed on the rocky shore of Ply
mouth, and then and there set up the nucleus
of this great and blessed Union; confed-
eracy Of which every American ought to feel
proud. The recollection of their priyations
and subsequent success, are to us indeed good
cause for gratitude and thanksgiving. In the
midst of the troubles that invested them in
their asylum from religious intolerance, they
delivered them from oppression. So was es-
tablished the day of Thanksgiving, now be-
come custom among the States of this
Union. They were noble race of men, those
pilgrims. acknowledging no master but God
and ilial duty, no allegiance but to their
oppression that actuated them, we claim
moves us, their descendants. Liberty of con-
s,ience was the object they pursued, and for
which they gave up their homes and lives.
Nothing could stand in the way of its mighty
progress. 1t was strength to their arms and
T solution TO their will. With the bible in
tn .ir schools and homes, and faith in their
works, they have raised up among men
name the most exalted Their churches and
schools their railroads and telegrapbs, tell
the story Of their power. They were mis-
sionaries to an unknown and unwOrked field.
What have they done? They have opened
this fair country to the pillow and to the sickle;
they have peopled the rivers with vehicles
for rapid transportation, and woven their
meshes of railroads that make the hill and
the vale rejoice alike. They have opened.
and offer to the oppressed home.
If their past works have advanced them
thus far in the scale of being, what will be
their future? We are the same people. Pros
perity and health now smile on all our en-
deavOrs and If we will remember the high |
objects that have developed the power of the
pilgrim fathers may we not in future secure |
the blessings wrought by them through the
Almighty, whom we are called on to praise, |
and to whom our thanksgiving is to-day.