Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-05-01
From the Danvillo Quarterly Rcvicw.]
DUR COUNTRY: ITS PERIL: ITS
DELIVERANCE.
Ry REV. ROBERT j. BRECKENRIDGE, D. D.
Dauville Kentucky,

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which we have developed, as particularly
revelant to the condition OF our country,
and the manner in which her destiny
may be retrieved: there are m@ny other
considerations of more general kind,
and of the highest force, all pointing in
tho same direction, which it behooyes
every man to ponder deeply, before he
despalrs Of his country, and before lie
lays his hands rudely on our existing in
stltutlons, IN the vain hope Of something
better. OF these, there are two SO pre-
eminent, that we ought 20 direct special
attention to them. The first relates TO
that view of The subject winch discloses
the indestructble power of life in such
nation as TINS, and the length and depth
and breadth Of the agony which it can en-
dure and yet live. They who know the
past OF human affairs, and tney who re-
fleet on that eternal logic which is of the
essence of things and events, know that II
u ion like THIS cannot de. 1t is hardly
possible to conceive how it can cceH be
mrdcrcd; but die it connOt. 1t would be
as easy to conceive that France could be
blotted from the map Of Europe as one OK
its greatest nations, and restored to the
condition it occupied before its conquest
! by Cesar, rs TO conceive of the American
nation being annihiated, its sublime ca.
reer cut short, its boundless possessions
parcelled out and an ignomin1us retinue
Of numberless aristocracies, democrac es,
dukedoms, and principalites, permanent
lv filling its seat of empire and of glory
After eighteen centuries OF anguish, Italy,
hailed by the acclamations Of mankind
is purging herself in n baptism of blood
from the very condition which men are
preparing Tor us and the consuming in
stinct of her restored Inf, is for that very
national mjy which We are expected to
sacrifice, and in default of which she has
suffered every form of evil, in every stage
Of civilization, under every kind OF GOV
ernment. What have they to offer US, in
exchange for our national unity, but sor,
row without an objcct-anu degradation
without limit-accompanied with strug.
giles and suffering for its recovery, renew O.,
ed, and suppressed in blood, and renewed
for evermore-until in some distant age,
perhaps, it shall be restored amidst the
rejoicingS OF the people. This blind and
fierce spirit of anarchy which has fasten-
ed upon the eXtremtieS of the nation,
and Is threatening TO eat into its heart,
has no aspect more startling, than its
frghtful antagonlsm to the absolute ten
dchcy and the total civilization of the age
IN which it has made itself manifest. The
second Of the two great considera
tions alluded to, relates to the dominion
and purpose of God over and concerning
our country, The revclting disregard
which this whole movement toNmdS de-
I,, 10, ns.l a
with our countryside shocking concep-
tions it proclams Of our mission as a peo
r pie, compared with the conception OF that
, mission us indicated by q )d himself, pre-
sent almost the saddest aspect OF the case
, Nor is il the least remarkable feature oI
the lawless spirit which underlies the en-
tire revolution, that while in both ex-
tremitics of the nation il fa5tens upon the
same idea the slavery of the African race
as the controlling idea ofGod in all hi
, pJrpooes concerning us, 1t should give
that idea its utmost destrucii1enesS to us
and its utmost ohcns!veness TO God, by
, making il work in directions precisely
opposite. IS it conceivable that Coo
should teach his children at the North
2 that his highest purpose concerning The
: American people Is, that they should eX
, tinguish African slavery; and at The
I same moment teach his children at tht
South, that his highest purpose concern
r ing the American people is, that they
should perpetuate African slavery? RAth
or is it not utterly inconceivable, that he
' should have taught any Of them that hi
purposes concerning African slavery, .
the African race, in any way whateve
-, contain his c. ief purposes concerning tn
white race on this continet? a NOR
melancholy instance can scarcely Je pro
o duCed in any history, of the destrucuv
n extent to which religious opinion can b
h made to take the prevailing hue OF
G fierce enthusiasm. or an lntOlerant tanatl
It cism, which reigns around it. 1t is nc
in this manner on the one side or tn
other that the tens of OF thousands {
: Gods children, scattered over this grea
., empire like salt which has not lost its 81
e yor, interpret the teachings OF his wore
- the indications OF his providence, or tn
Z! tokens of his infinite mercy towards u!
1t is not in any such sense of the missio
oc our country, or our race, that The pee
e nle everywhere, have so lately come be
of fore God, in great service OF natloni
1f humiliation, COZ Tossing their sins, an
y praying for his gracious interposion i
this time of need Who is authorized I
say, that God has not hsarl the cry ofhi
: people? Who will dare to say, that Go
e Is not able to save? In the utmost ex
y tremity of lsreal, God said to them b
Moses, Fear ye not, stand still, and sc
the salvation Of God, which he will sho
: to you to-day.
/ III. l. At present and during a Ion
l. course of preceding years, it has oeen Ii
very general impression that negro slave
q nv was the direct, if mt the Sugt5 dilficu
o ty, in all the connections OF which
have teen speaking As far as the'
;, oommotions have had moral ana relit
IL Gus element, and have manifested then
D, selves in the bosom OF the different Chn
tian denominations, this wide spread in
Y preston has probable been true. But
A.. a,ha, aepactp tha copnpptiOn OF Neg