Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1860-11-29
THE CITIZENS OF CHARLES COUNTY


beloved State. -.:
Nov. 20, 1860.
To-day has been set apart, in accordance
with established usage, by the Executive Of
Maryland, as we'll as other States. as a day Of
general thanksgiving and prayer to the Bestower
of all good gifts. Our people are desired to lay
aside their customary vocations, and at their
respective places Of public worship, OF the fami-
ry altar and closet, devote one day to prayer
and thanksgiving for the manifold blessings be-
slowed upon them during the past year, and
supplications for a continuance of Providential
care.
While sorrow has visited some houses, and
death has broken the family circle, joy, health
and pleasure have been welcome yistants in
others. While storm and drought has damaged
and shortened the crops in some sections of the
country while the farmer in some regions finds
his garner not near full, and scarce enough for
home consumption, by the blessing Of Providence
the yield in other portions of our selfsame cou,a
tryis abundant, beyond expectation. The gran
aries crack with the pressure of the lifesta, and
the tables groan beneath the necessaries and
luXuries of life.
For the country at large we have abundant
yields and a large surplus to spare for the needy
of other nations. And for all this it becomes US
as free people, as a Christian people, to bow
ourselves in humiliation and thanksgiving, ac-
knowledging our utter unworthiness, yet bless
ing the hand and power which SO lavishly show
ers these blessings upon us as nation. It is
all give in return it is all that is requir
ed. Slight recompense for such incalculable
benefits Shall we, can we withhold our most
earnest, ardent, heartfelt thanks?
And while to-day we are returning thanks
for blessings past, it equally becomes us to send
up from our hearts, prayer and supplication to
he very Throne Eternal for continuance of
blessings, individually and nationally We are
promised, that if we but ask, all shall be bestow-
ed. Let us then on this day ask for our coun-
try's peace. Sectional strife has long pervaded
the land, and although nothing has yet been
permitted to be done, yet threats are made and
fears are entertained which look to the severance
of those ties which bind one section of our coun-
try to another, and eventually to break up and
destroy our happy land-thc favored people Of
God. Let prayers, many and ardent, ascend to
God, earnestly desiring a reconciliation of all
these jars and strifes, and restoring Our country
to her wonted peace-unite her people as in
olden times, when they were one in sentiment,
one in love, and one as followers of the meek
and lowly Saviour. If there ever was time
when Christian people were called upon to pray
to God for the protection and preservation of
their country, the time is now. Fanaticisn1, i'll
fidelity, almost heather passion, has seized upon
the reins Of reason and the whole nation is agi-
tated by angry passion. Our leaders appeal to
the passions of the people on all occasions, nor
do we once hear them appeal to the mercies of
a God The political teachers, who with usurp-
ing impudence, have snatched from the people
the sceptre and rod which our democratic govern
ment bestows upon the people alone, appeal
then to the prejudices of these very people, ex-
cito their anger, one against another, leading
them far from the God of their fathers, yet never
for moment appealing to that God for his pro-
tection and guidance amid the storms of the day
and the troubles of the times.
It is high time that we should stop, as peo-
pc, in our mad career and enquire for the old
paths. 1t is high time that we should cease
from our sectional strifes and appeal to God for
his protective care, as was the custom in the
days of Washington and his compatriots. And
what more fitting time than this, the public
Thanksgiving day? Let us then spend this day
in our countrys cause, doing all in our power
to secure the aid of Him, who when for us, is
more than all who can oppose US.
sI On Monday next, the Sd of December,
will assemble at Washington, the second session
of the thirty-sixth Congress, and stormy ses-
sion in all probability it will be. The whole
battle which has been fought by the people dur
ing the past campaign, the whole bitter warfare
which was waged the country over for months
RI fbe voor 1870 will he f,uoht over on the