Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-06-26
God on our Side.

VOraoIe events, 70 DC specially ulrecteO Dy D1Vne
Providence for our good, is faacous, and is often
fruitful source Of sefdeception. We must not con-
clude we are right simply because zoe feel we are
right-because as we say, our conscience does not
condemn US. Every kind of conscience is not safe
guide or rule. To be safe, it must be well instruct
ed, tender, and quick to do its office.
We do not claim for our cause, that the conscience
Of the South is wholly what it should be- 1t is
guilty. scared, hard and impracticable in many re-
spects, no doubt Hence, we do not conclude has
tly that the South is right and that by consequence
God is on our side, simply because the Southern
conscience is much at ease upon the grounds of the
contest between North and South or because of the
universal feeling among Southern people that We
are right We rest it upon other and safer grounds;
upon such a confederation of arguments and facts
irresistbly force upon US the conriction that
are right and that God is on our side.
1t is aside from our purpose to go into the argu-
ment This has been amply elaborated for the last
thirty years, and it is at the fingers ends of every
one. We mean the argument in support of the
rights of the South under the oil Constitution and
the right and duty of the South to separate when
she failed to obtain them, after the proper effort
In this the South held the vantage ground,
mics themselves being judges. The argument was
cumulative and progressive from the time the contest
began, until it eliminated in the South at least
under the usurpation of Lincoln, to the point of
almost universal conviction.
The facts which propose to introduce afford
conrma!ory and irresistible evidence that God sus-
tains the right and that He is on our side.
l. The process by which the whole South arrived
at the conviction that she aras right has not been
hasty or noonSiderate. Full time was taken for de-
liberation for labor and parey with our antagonists
and for putting her foot a safe foundation. The
Southern sentiment vibrated between hope and fear
for time not because she was undecided as to her
course when the full time came, but because it was
her hope that Lincoln and the North at the last
would do right. Here she paused as if waiting for
God to interfere 1t must be confessed that in
most of the States which had seeded, there
still suspense, if not some faint hope of adjustment
The suspense was awful 1t sat the pail of death
upon the entire country; when suddenly, by one
of those strange and mysterious occurrences which
and anon take place in human affairs, Lincoln
issues his proclamation. The Rubicon passed.
We do not see God in that matter as some may, or
derng that and directing the hand Of Lincoln in
drawing up that black, Infamous record. God per-
mits what the dera executes; and We cannot erase
from our mind the solemn conviction that the
"Prince Of the power of the air." has had chief
agency in all these calamtous events But we dosee
the hand of God in directing the whirlwind, and
ifby his immediate power, converging the sentiment
of the South to one point Nor does it weaken the
IL Al IL. Al. Al. IL
then come for separation, to admit that the same
hand converged the sentiment of the North against
US. 1t confirms that truth; for without this uni
versa antagonistic sentiment on both sides, separa-
tion permanent and incurable, could not have been
effected. We claim therefore, that the unity of this
antagonistic sentiment on both sides, is evidence
that under the circumstances God sanctioned separa-
tion and that in the struggle of the South to MAIN
tain it. as God approves the right He is on our side.
3. Let US look at other evidences of Divine ap-
proval. While the North with her immense re-
sources, finds herself agreed in her opposition to
separation, yet her efforts to trammel and damage
the South, recoil with greater force upon herself
Her commerce and trade and manufactures are
ruined so long as the lasts Her immense treas
ures locked up not only because there is room
for safe investments but because her people doubt
either the integrity permanency of the govern
meut With millions of treasure, her government
cannot borrow of her people, but now seriously
templates appeal to European Golfers. In her at
tempts to defeat us at Norfolk and Harpers Ferry,
in her fright she left US the most ample means for
prosecuting the war. Every step of invasion has
been marked by the blood of our enemies. At
Aqua Greek, and Fairfax Courthouse, and Phillippi
and at Bethel Church, the punishment of our enc
mics was terrible. We see God in all this.
On the other hand, the South finds that the block
ade of her ports and the invasion Of her territory
unite her people the more, tax their powers of in
venton, learn them to bear privation, and to make
the best use of her resources. Confidence in their
government supplies the snews of war, and the JUS
tice of their cause supplies their courage, which is
better than large munitions of war. With but little
commerce or trade manufactures to protect or
keep in motion, their means, their labor and their
courage are all directed to the protection of their
rights their soil and their homes The South suffers
but she suffers patiently and willingly. God is in
all this
The history OF the South never furnished greater
immunity from epidemic diseases or pestilence than
it does at the present time. The health of the citi
zens and soldiery of the South is remarkable. Her
fields of wheat rye OATS rice, corn and cotton are
laden with the richest haryest-prospect that her
planters ever garnered Even the forests of oak
are bending with mast anG what only occurs Pc
riodically, stately pine forests are rich with
food for the swine. Hence, prudent watch-care
over the young pOrkers, is all that is needed for
bountful supply of bacon and pork, for which we
have hitherto made ourselves dependent upon the
North. The laborers of the South till her lands
with unwonted cheerfulness and alacrity, and only
regret that they cannot aid US in driving back the
Northern Vandals. God is in all this