Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-03-27
A UNION MAN.
CAUSES OF NATIONAL CALAMITY.

CAOSES OF NA1lONAL CALAMITY.
Unhappily for US impending events force upon
thinking men inquiry into the causes Of national
calamity and overthrow. .-s
Not sparrow, or an empire, can fall, without the
will of God. The secondary causes, and the direct
agencies of national overthrow obvious enough,
among the men and measures which lead to such
result But back of all these apparent political
agencies of destruction is one primary cause, which
produces and pervaGes the secondary causes of ma
tional evils
All history sustains the scriptural teaching, that
when any people persistently forsake God, he for
sakes them, and that national wckedness is the
cause of national calamity National sins are of
two kinds; those which are committed by the gov
eminent; ard those which are committed by the
people.
The design OF this paper permits us only tospeak
Of these sins which committed by the people, so
generally in all sections, to be justly denomnated
national sins
/. ln6delity, repused from the field of fair argu
ment is insidiously scattering the seeds Of corrup
ton over the land The fruits have already appear
ed in the abolition fanaticism of the Northern States
in the savage corruption of Mormonism, and in the
disregard of Gods law in all parts of the country.
q Profanity. because of swearing the land
mourneth" Youngand old. great and small, ma
jory of all classes are addicted to the foolish and
wicked habit of taking the name Of the Lord in
vain The truth of this statement is matter of COM
mon notoriety. --.. .-.E ..* a-
g. misunderstanding. This sin is so prevalent
that even the churches are not free from its contami
nation. Instead of observing the Sabbath as day
of rest and worship, millions of the people spend it
in business, amusement or dissipation. The fact is
patent to common observation, and needs not proof
or argument to sustain it. .-.......... 90. 81.
| 4. Lewdness. If the things done in secret were
proclaimed upon the house-top this crime in all its
form and in all its hdeousness would bring blush
of shame, as it is invoking the wrath Of God, upon
| the nation. 81. . ..--.-..- .-... .... I.'
| 3. Covetousness. From the petty thief to the
magnificent rogue who robs the public Of millions,
we see the fruit of covetousness Nor is the exist
ence of this national sin limited by the number Of
-ogues Many thousands cheat and defrsud; many
more withhold the Lords treasure from the just
claims Of his cause; and mutitudes cherish idola-
t:ous sin in their hearts, where it is concealed from
men, but is seen by God @ 81 saii SINS. u
| 6, Pride. The prevalence Of this sin1s seen in
the pomp Of the rich, and in the extrayagance Of al
classes. y - ''Nt.'., @ .s' 'r7'' ""' '.'.1"
4 Sensuality. Drukenness and gluttony devo.
ton to the pleasures of eating and drinking, with
out regard to health, economy, or morality, defle
the lives and destroy the souls Of thousands. s,o
These are only few forms Of that wickedness
which may be called national, because it prevails
among multitudes in every section Of the country.
A writer upon political. ethics has well observed,
that God has impressed upon the people A opinion
Of power id the government which holds them in
satjecion to law and order; and that when any PEG
p}a,chis Ailsdu the measure ct wickedHeA 'aBd
God would punish them, be withdrsws thu opinion