The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-08-16
(FIom the New York Observer.)
THE CRISIS AND ITS DEMANDS.

IHE tkISIS AND ITS DEMANDS.
While the nation is mourning the late disas-
| ter in Virginia, we should profit by It's teach
ngs, one Of which is a most salutary, needed
| and timely lesson as to the mode of conduc-
ting the war; but Of that I do not purpose 20
speak. As to the other, and much more i'm
portant one. our duty as prolessedIy chris
tan nation, towards God in the present crisis,
desire to offer some suggestions, trusting that
christians at least will approve them as timely,
and greatly needed.
God evidently has controversy with US,
! and is affecting and punishlng US for onr ma
uoaal sins, as he so often did his chosen people
/ FOR theirs, in whose history there IS very much
/ from which we may row derive most proiia-
bic lessons, encouraging, as well as humbling to
/ our pride and self conceit. They were pun
| lshed al times more terribly than the surround
! ing nations, because they snntd against grea-
ter light and knowledge, with the added SIN Of
ungrateipily despisIng their emInentY superior
! privileges and blessings. While they possess
| ed the only true religion, and were favored
! with visible and audible revelations of Gods
will, the rest Of the earth was sunk 10 the low
! est depths OF heaihenish corruption. While they
! by series OF stupendous miracles, continued
/ daily for forty Yeas, Were delivered iron.
! most oppressive bondage, and elevated 10 a con-
/ duion OF perfect civil liberty, with code Of
/ laws enacted by God himself, and admirably
adapted 10 their condition, all other Datious
were either slaves or the subjects OF daspotlsm.
! Is there nothing Of this kind in the history Of
Gods dealings with this nation Compare
our blessings, our mental and material adgau-
tages, our civil and religious privileges, with
those possessed by other nations, andthen Say
Il we should not be profoundly grateful to Al
mighty God, and bis most 10, al, loving sub
jeots. May He in infinite mercy grant that
the parallel between Us and the Jews may
stop here, and tha: warned in time, our fate
may not be like theirs
OUR SINS,
s.But alas, how numerous, how aggravated,
how Heaven-daring have been our sins Cor
ruption, official and private, in high places
and low, extending to all ranks and classes,
mo.a especially those whose position should
teach them better, has become almost the rule,
and integrity the exception. Luxurg ana px-
slavdgaIiCr IN our taOIrs, IA dfeSs, IdfBi1uTe,
equIpage, and architectural display, has been
increasing at an alarming rate, sapPIng public
and private virtue, and leading to ianumerable
frauds, peculalions and detalcatohs, 10 obtain
the means of indulgrng. .these habits and appe-
tites. IntempsTance, ,llceniousness, and crimes OF
every grade have advanced wuh giant strides
In our love OF money, our worship OF the gold
en- mammon, we have been as truly idolatrous
as ever were the Jews, idoalry and Sabbath
breaking being two Of their chIrtrst sins, and
for which, especially, God SO often and SO ter
rby classified thrm, till at length when har-
dened beyond repfoof, he drove them away to
5ecome captives and slaves. God is now
oil
aud boasted riches are rapidly taking wings
and flying away. Who can estimate the ab-
soIute loss OF property and depreciation OF fan
cled values within the last eight monlhsl And
how have We, like the Jews proianed the sab
bath, both in public and private capacities
Look al tue Sabpath desecration in all our cities,
and all over lhe land; call to mind the scenes
| of congressional wranging on Gods holy day
IN the capitol OF the nation, all Of which might
have been avoided by diligence and Industry
/ on the part al our representatives. Ia atteu1.oZ
kseassDaby TO their duties; and remember too
ftha, recent disastrous Sabbath battle at Bulls
Run, for which there was no military nccessi-
~; ba.tle sought by as, not by the rebels; had
i, been delayed beyond that ia:a day, the
force and positions Of the enemy would have
| been better understood, reiniorcements could
have been brought up from Washington and
from PatteTson's column, and our arms crown
ed with success. So much for despsing the
Sabbath, and Ignoring the experimenting Prov
idence Of the God OF the Sabbath.
How have we degenerated 10 the character
Of our rulers and officers, both elective and ap-l
pointed, and in the means used to obtain offices
how cave our people been crazed in this all
absorbing pursuit, rendering our political srifes
SO disgraceful that very many good men have
left them in disgust, almost surrendeIing the
control oithe government TO the worst classes
ofs1ciety.
Not conteht with our original boundaries,
enlarged TO magnificent proportions by fair Pur-
chase from which ~e had ruthessly driven the
Aborigiues, almost extermlnatIEg the race, we
have been continually floustering and grasp
ing after the territories Of our neighooIs.
ALL or Us To BLAME.
The large majority of the North have made
themselves responsible in all this business, by
active cn-oPeTallon, apologetic excuses, or ap-
Algaying lence,, Some from love of party, 9th
Ts iroh hgpeap4 poney, aad still anot%pr class
from inid S6hserIatsm, and now We are reap
ing the biQer fruits OF our completely How
fstSNa phouIht n have been Sc
'Gdrely Ieali2ed,) arising from such connec- |
ton wi(nsslare5y aSGenderpd necessary at least
taclt endorsement Of lis abuses and enormit- |
les, vanishing like the morning cloud! Is |
there no danger that our imperial boundaries, |
extended IN bad spirit and from bad molives,
may shrink very far within their former d.
mensiousE GQd only can prevent il; man a.
lone is powerlesS. Shall We continue, as here
toforp, to put our trust iA ffiSHb J4or shall we
repent and look t4God for help
~ OR 49, BoAsTERs.