The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-11-23

In this country, Thanksgiving Day is the only
one where the State in any way iutervenes be-
tween individuals and their own notions of reli-
pious duty, by recommending it to be set apart
from all other days, as season to manifest the
universal gratitude for the favor of Heaven. It is
as yet merely a suggestion, but year by year it is
assuming more and more the significance, and
receiving more and more the obedience due TO The
commands of lawful authority. Against this we
have nothing to urge. We are not among those
who see, under this public recognition of the
Divine blessing any latent danger of the union
of Church and State, or of disposition to trench
in any degree, on that freedom Of conscience
which every American claims as birthrght.
at is good thing TO give thanks unto the
"LoRD" and those who do not fulfil this OBJ
legation through every of the days vouch-
safed, may very well be reminded of it
at least once year by the GOVERNORS procla-
nation. Mary who do not see the hand of
Providence in the fall ofsparrows, may have clearer
conceptions revealed to them in the death of tur-
KEYS, and the Savorv smells arising from the we'll
filled board may, by the mysterious processes of
association, convey religious impressions through
burned before the altar. Before going to dinner,
however, many men will 90 to church. and at
church will listen with more than usual attention
to what those upon whose ministrations they at
tend, will deliver by way of improving the occa-
sion. A thanksgiving sermon, like a thanksgiving
dinner, is an anniversary-and more than an
ordinary degree of thought and preparation are
IL bnSt0wa1 m hot nj nd ba
carna appetite both make extraordinary appeals
on that dav, and the custom, we think, is to crafty
both, so far as may be, by extraordinary provi-
sion. 1t seems to us, as it is Sabbath of polit-
ical appointment, a day commended by our
rulers in the flesh, for religious observance, that
no time could he more appropriate for considera-
ton of our political duties as a moral aud re-
giouS people. politician in the pulpit is sadly
out of place We have heard both in our time
and have thop@ht stump speaking in the Church
worse than preaching sermons on the lump
Yet it cannot be denied that there is no part of
mans actors in which he exercises so large an
influence on his fellows as in the performance of
the duties of suffrage in a country like this In a
land free, the legislation expresses or ought to
express, the moral sentiments of the people
and the manner in which the laws are en-
forced show how the people live up to
their ideas. The responsibility for every
evil viii may be cured by better statutes
or better administration rests at last upon
those who vate--and tins reflect on is one of such
solemn dignity as TO require to be urged upon
every man who needs, as all men do, TO be remind
ed of his duties towards his fellows and himself.
In not one church perhaps of the thousands
which Tomorrow will be crowded with let us
trust, devoUt and humble givers of thanks-will
the happy political condition of US in America be
omitted as one Of the blessings for which our graft
tnde is due to COP. On such a day any sub
jet be more in place than Il wise and meet con-
sideration Of the connection which ought to exist
between what men profess in church and practice
around the ballot-box?