The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-12-19

AAAt~t -
y d. saS San the msa Of thy eonfederacy
have brought thee even 70 the border the men tina.
rrsvaiIsd against thee; they that ate thy bread |
bars laid Wound under thee; there j. none under
standing in him.
The voice Of the Chief Magistrate has sum
,noned US to-day 70 the house Of prayer.--I
This call. in its annual repetition, may be too
often only solemn state-i ef5a nevertheless
il covers mighty and q double truth.
It recognizes the existence Of a personal God
whose will shapes the destiny Of nations, and
that sentiment OF religion in man which points
to Him as TIE needle to the pole. Even with
those who grope in the twilight of natural reil-
pion natural conscience gives voice to the dis
peusations of Providence. Hinautnmn ''exten-
siye haryests hang their heavy head, = the JOY
Gus ressar. Crowned with the sickle and the
vvheaten sheaf' lifts his heart to the @tather OF
lights from whom cometh down every good anu
nerfect oift ?. Or. ifpestilence and tamlne waste
the earth. even pagan affairs smoke win
bleeding victims and costly hetaeomos appe -,
the divine anger which flames out IN suen uise
,n;sfortnnes. 1t IS the instinct OF mans rem,
s-;oI,s nature. which, among Christians ana
SSas.t.,,s .Iil<e seeks after God-the natural
ho-,.as,s hitch reason, blinded as It may DC,
80 - universal and ruling Proyldence-
4 Il ,,i.ssas how beneath its spell especially N
s ss.. Of gloom, when a nation bends be-
n, The weight of q general calamity, and
coro,non sorrow falls upon every heart The
bes;fatinr skeptic forgets 10 weigh his scru-
1Iss os the dark forshadow passes over hun
sn5 tsIIs his soul with awe. The dainty phi
lo.oDher eoollv iiscoursing of the forces OF
-,st,,ra and her uniform laws, abandons, for
time he atheistcal speculations, abashed by
che n,roefs Of . supreme and personal viii.
sfb,,s the ileyout followers Of Jesus Christ,
and those who do not rise above the level of
Tnera theisu, are drawn into momentary fel-
iov-shif,s. as under the pressure OF these mex
f;aou;shable convictions they pay public and
unite, homage to the God of nature and OF
grace. H..
fael;nrs not less than in obedience to the civil
-,Isr 5-ho represents this commonwealth in
~ nnitv. we are now assembled. Hitherto, on
similar occasions, our language has been the
laneuare Of gratitude and song. The voice
If re;o;ciuc and salvation was in the taberna-
cIes of the righteousa Together we praised
the Lord shat our garners were full, afford
ing all manner Of store that our sheep brought
forth thousands and ten thousands in our
streets; that our oxen were strong 70 labor,
and there was no breaking in nor going out,
and no complaining was in our streets" As
we together surveyed the blessings Of Proyi-
dence- the joyful chorus swelled from mil
lions Of people, aPeace be within thy walls
and prosperity within thy palaces" But, to-
day. burdened hearts all over this land are
brought to the sanctuary Of God. We 'tsee
s the tents Of Cushan in affection, and the cur
SSins Of the land Of INDIAN do tremble." We
hSe fallen upon times when there are "signs
IN u sun, and in the moon, and in the stars
upon earth distress Of nations. with per-
piexlty she sea and the waves roaring; mems
hearts ials'S them, for fear and for looking
AZ those TINS which are coming in the neal
YET gloomy tne>e Since the words Of this
proclamation WeS penned by which we are
convened. that ynlh all men drea led, but
against winch all Mfhsped, has been realizr
ed ana IN the Elnmphofa sectional MAORI
ty We are compelled toN-ead the probable
doom Of our once happy, AID united confed
eracy. It IS not 70 De conceaed that we are
IN the most iearinl and periloss crisis which
has occurred IN our history as AVIATION The
cords which, during our-fkhs of a cen.
tary. have bound together this growing re.
public are now strained to their Utmost ten.
asunder forever. Like aship laborinsin tbs
storm and suddenly grounded upon Some
treachefous shod-eFery timber of this vas
eonfederacy strains and groans under til
pressure. Sectional divisions, the jealousl,
of rival interests. the lust of political power
bastard ambition which looks to personalag
grandizement rather than to the public veal
reckless radicaiism which seeks for the sub
: version Of all that is ancient and stable, and
furious ianatieism which drives on its ill-con
illusions with utter disregard of the evil i
engenders-alI these combine to create a Dor
tenteus crisis, the like Of which we have neye
known before, and which puts to a crucifyin,
test the virtue, the patriotism and thepiety 9
the country.
You, my hearers, who have waited upol
my public ministry and have known me il
the intimacies of pastoral intercourse, will d.
me die justice to testify that have never in
termeddled with political questions. Interes
ted as might be in she progress ofevents,
have never obtruded. either publicly or pr
yately, my opinions upon any of you; MOI
can single man arise and say that, by wore
OF sign, have ever sought to warp his senti-
ments or control his judgment upon any po-
litical subject Whatsoever. The party ques-
tons which have hitherto divided the political
world, have seemed to me to involve no issue
sufficiently momentous to warrant my turn
ing aside, even for q moment, from my chos-
Scalling. In this day of intelligence, have
felt there were thousands around me more
competent to instruct in craftsmanship; and
thus, from conscientious Of modesty no less
than prudence, / have preferred to move
among you asa preacher of righteousness be-
longing to q kingdom not of this world.
During the heated canvass which has JUS
BROUGHT to so disastrous close, the seal of
rizid and religious silence has not been broken
deplored the divisions amongst US as being
to large extent, impairment in the solemn
crisis which was too evidently impending
Most clearly did It appear to me that but on,
issue was before us; an issue soon to be pre-
sented IN form which would compel the at
tenfion. That crisis might make it impera
tive upon me as Christian and . divine :,
speak: in language admitting no uiseonstruc
ton. Until then, aside from the din am
strife of parties, / could only mature, with soil
fary and prayerful thought, the destined ut
terance. That hour has come. At juno
ture 50 solemn as the present, with the destiny
of great people waiting upon the decision 0
an hour, it IS not lawful to be still Whoeye
may have influence TO shape public opinion, a
such time must lend It, or prove faithless t.
trust Is solemn rs any to be accounted fol
at the bar Of God.
Is it immodest in me to Assume that may
represent class whose opinions in such q
controversy are Of cardinal importance The
class which seeks TO ascertain its dutysin the
light simply of'conscience and religion and
which turns to the mofalist and the Christian
for support AID guidance. The question, too
which now places us upon the brink Of reyo-
luton was in its origin q question Of
morals and religion. Il was debated in eccIe-
siastical councils before il entered legislative
halls. It has riyen asunder the two largest
religious communions in the iaIsl and the
right determination Of this primary question
wiIlgo far toward fixing the attitude we must
assume IN the coming struggle. / sincerely
pray God that may be forgiven il have
inexperienced the duty incumbent upon me
to-day: for have assembled this pulpit under
the agitation Of feeling natural to one who is
about to deFiate from the settled policy Of his
public life. It Is my purpose-not as your
organ, compromising you, whose opinions are
for the most part unknown to me- but on my
sole responsibility speak upon the one
question Of the day and to state the duty
which, as I believe, patriotism and religion
alike require OF Us all. shall ann to speak
with moderation Of tone and feeling almost
judicial, wei beiitting the sanctites of the
place and the solemnities Of the judgment
day.
In determining our duty in this emergency it
e necessary that we should first ascertain the
nature Of the trust proxidentially committed
to Us. A nation often has character as well
defined aud intense as that of the individual
This depends Of course upon variety Of
causes operating through long period of
tune. Il IS due largely TO the original traits
which distinguish the stock from which it
springs, and 70 the progidential training which
has formed its education. But however de-
rived, this individuality Of character alone
makes any people truly historic, competent to
work out its specific mission, and to become
q factor in the worlds progress. The parti-
culsr trust assigned TO such q people becomes
the pledge Of the deyine protection and their
fidelity TO it determines the fate by which it is
finally orertaken. What that trust is must
be ascertained from the necessities Of their posi-
tion the institutions which are outgrowth of
their principles and the conflicts through which
thew preserve their identity and independence.