New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-12-03

ana dare them 10 their lace 70 dislodge us from
our position.
But how have we been placed in this position'
Have we always occupied it? No-there was a
ime when we saw no mercy in Gods permitting
he subject OF slavery to be brought before the
public mind for examination; but it has been ex-
amined, and we now see the mercy-mercy in hay
ing our own minds fortded-mercy in calming
down the opposition of the wise and virtuous. And
should we not be thankful for this mercy? Should
we not on this day give thanks to God for the ter
mination he has given to O subject which at first
seemed fraught with nothing but calamity to our
very souls? Surely, surely, then, the agitation
once thought evil il now discovered to have
been blessing.
But this is not all-tbis is not the only blessing
for hich we should feel thankful. While the truth
seeking, truthloying portion of the community are
convinced that ourposition is Of character which
can not be changed, and therefore should not be
tempered with, there others who, regarding
not the truth, and following nothing but their own
prejUdces and interest, have invaded our rights
invaded them by deceivng an ignorant but honest
portion of our countrymen to unite themselves for
the support Of band Of robbers and assassins to
murder and to rob
They have murdered our people; have robbed
m-they arc yet robbng rs--but what is the re-
suit Of their combined action? This the slaves
themselves have been so deceived by them as to
fear them, and are now, many of them, unwilling
to trust them; and the masters, seeing the facility
with which the slaves escape, have so endeared
themselves to their slaves as to make them unwil-
ling to leave their service, which they know, for
condition which they know not. lspeak of the
border States, and all who live there know what
say to be true.
Now, what more alarming than to have body
OF thieves let loose among us, pensloned by some,
assisted by others, ond encouraged by their own
mistaken views of religion and philanthropy. to
commit such depredations among usi Yet what
have they done? Great injury to be snre, but great
good also. And while we should deplore the evil
should we not also be thankful for the good?
But we have another cause for thankfulness.
You and thought, a few months ago. that the
AbolitioDists were few compared with the popnla-
ton Of the North and whenever we expressed
any fears for our condition, we were answered
ooh, the Abolitionists are comparatively few, and
by their very numbers and fnsigniflcance utterly
powerless we allowed ourselves to be lulled into
slumber under this assurance forgetting that
were slumbering on the very crater Of volcano.
But this election has shown their force-has shown
not only their numbers, but their power, They
have come upon us like an avalanche, and the sud
denness OF their appearance and the number oil
their body have awakened US to northumberland
US in full time to check their destructive
And should we not be thankful Suppose they had
not exhibited their strength az they have done;
suppose they had gone on increasing, and lulling
us all the while by the fancied paueity of their
numbers, and then have burst upon US when the
whole North had been absorbed by their views,
what would have been our condition then? Moth
ing but inglorious submission. But what is it now
We have been reused TO harmonious action by
their formidable appearance at time when we
have yet friends in the North, but those friends
on our part to take position by our sde and is
not this subject Of tlankfulness To be expressed
on this day 10 our Heavenly Father? But we have
vet another cause for thankiulness When we
consider the treatment we have received from the
hands of our enemies our character they have de-
famed; our feelings they have lacerated; our
rights they have invaded; our property they have
stolen our power they have defed our existence
they have threatened murderers and robbers
have been let loose upon US, stimulated by weak
or designing or ntde preachers, armed by fanatics
and sustained by band Of assassins, both poll
teal and civil, cut Of the very wealth which
they have accumulated by their connection with
US. Nothing has been left untried which the
deepest and blacklist malice could invent for
our injury or,destraction; we hayebeen prescribed
as unworthy members Of the great American house
hold we have been banished from their very houses
Of prayer; we have been ridculed and tainted,
and outed as unfit for the society OF men, and ac-
cursed of God. And has not oil this proved bles-
sing to u.s. For what has it not done for us II
has awakened US to the truth that there can be no
concert Of action between our enemies and our
selves, and fastened the period of adopting such
measures as are best calculated for interest.
And what shall the measures be? Shall we fold
our arms ingloriousy and do nothing but beg like
craven towards that they will not disturb US
leave this question for your hearts to answer.
II is not for me to show what should be done. 1t
il only for me to say what believe to be the hand
of God in what has been done-that the recognition
of that hand might add feryor to our thanksgiving
| and praise.
Then bless the Lord, o, my soul, and forget not
then his benefits. But how shallwe bless God We
should bless him not only with our lips but in our
| lives by giving ourselves up to his service, by
walking before him in holiness and righteousness
all days, by doing our duty In that state of life
in which it has pleased him to call us; and there is
no state of life there is no circumstance in which
| we may not give praise to God-Qhe tradesman in
the conduct of his businessthe artisan in the prac.
tiee of his craft-the parent in the government OF
his household, or in the instruction of his child
the domestic in the performance OF her most mental
Nal a in q 1I
| ty-the exhausted and suffering inmate OF q hos
pta in the endurance of protracted and agonizing
| dsease-a may give themselves up to Gods SER
| vicel-for we do this when we act uprightY when
| we labor diligently when we rule mildly, when we
| obey cheerfully, when suffer patiently, when we
submit ourselves to the will Of God in the Affections
/ and yistatons of life, and are only concerned to
glorify Him through faith IN his son, Jesus Christ
/ Now in Justice to myself, ] must be permitted 10
/ make remark before close. But few weelss
| ago counseled you, from this place to avoid all
| precipitate action; but at the same time to take
4 determined action-such action only as you felt
ucoud take with the conscious support Of reason
/ and religion. give that counsel still. But | am
i one of yen. / feel as Sontherner. Southern
| honor is my honor-Southern degradation is my
i degradation. Let no mistake my meaning or
i call my words idle. AS Southerner, then, VIII
4 speak, and give it as my firm and unhesitatlng
belief, that nothing is now left US but secession.
do not like the word. but it is the only one to ex
| press. my meaning. We do not secede-eur enc
mics have seeded. We are on the Constitution
4 our enemies are not on the Constitution and our
language should be, ii you Will not go with us, we
| will not go with you.
You may form for yourselves Constitution, butwe
l will administer among ourselves the Constitution
which our fathers have left us. This should be our
language and solemn determination. Such action
our honor demands such action will save the Union
if anything We have yet friends left us in the
| North, but they cannot act for us until we have
acted for ourselves; and it would be as pusillani
nous in us to desert our friends as to@eower be
fore our enemies. To advance is to secure oui
rights to recede is to lay our fortunes, our honor
our liberty, under the feet of our enemies know
that the consequences of such coarse, unless
guided by discretion, are perilous. But, peril oul
fortunes, peril our lives, but, come what may, le
US never peril our liberty and our honor am will
ing at the call of my honor and my liberty, to di'
freeman but, III never, no, never, live slave
and the alternative now presented by our enemies
is secession or slavery Let be liberty or death
.
+ THANKSGIVING SERMON,
DELIVERED IN THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN GHuRe1
OF NEW ORLEANS, on THURSDAY, NOV, 60, 1860