Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-04-12

No
France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands have
all been wasted with internocine strife. and
risen again from them purer, stronger, noblor
every way, like a giant refreshed with vine.
| Civil war is not the worst thing not So bad
as the death, the dissolution forever Of tho
State but it is what could be anticipated
/ with no joy its triumph could not be herald
ed by aught but agony; its victories could be
/ commemorated only by tcars, and its end
must be constantly sought with fcrvent pray
or, as the most terrible retribution that beials
nations in order to preserve their existence. Il
may come. The remedy that we fear may be
the remedy that would save. Then civil war
would be welcome as Gods ministry Of mcr-
cy
/ Calm grew the brow Of him feared
The frowu which avsd me passed away
And leit behind smile that cheercd
Like breaking day.
The grass grows green on battle plain,
O'er swardcd var mounds grazod the cow
The SER 80. "a tlfaug rom DIS chains
The soade and plough.
Thus the sazcs Of the nations and the watchers Of tho
skies
Looking through the coming ages shall behold with joy
On the fiery trsoi Of Freedom f, the mild baptsmal
rain,
And the ashes OF old evil feed the Futures golden grain
/ And yet it seems to me that civil war, un-
der any present circumstances, has in our case
no elements in it that can save and bless
/ Were any great principle at stake, were the
/ contest anything else or more than for the
preservation Of national pride aud honor
were there some watchwords Of principles
that could rally the nation, something that
made intestine conflict a necessity, inoxorable
and fruitful OF glorious results, it might be
contemplated with composure, like the friend
ly knife Of the surgeon. But when the war
cry on the one side should be slavery or
death, and on the other the enforcement Of
the constitution on an unwilling people, the
effect could only be to intensity the divisions
1t was designed to heal. Our Union and our
government will every day stand better with
out contest, and why should strive for
spite point Of honor. They are now in
tae healthful exercise of their functions, and
even the lost tribes of Israel are willing to be
indebted TO the House of Judah for very many
postal facilities, and bye and bye returning
sanity, will enthrone the government in the
hearts Of all the people stronger than ever.
A half a nation is no nation, and it will not
be long before the southern confederacy will
| find this 10 be a significant truth.
The remedy, then, is intimated in the words
Of the text; Go not up to fight against your
brethren, for this thing is from me-" The mas
terly inactivity of the government, combined
with the masterly activity Of Divine Provi-
dence. will accomplish .he end we want, even
if it accompishes it not in our way. For one
| am willing to trust all in the hands of God.
| would conquer under his direction, by that
magnificent Fabian policy which will avoid
the shedding Of blood and yet permit the full
development Of the mischiets and evils Of Sc
/ cession. There are still thousands of the peo-
J pie Of the United States within the coniede-
rate States aud where they can be heard, and
I where they cannot be heard, always and by
/ all means for their sakes, lege citizens in re-
bellious States faithful among the ftithicss,
our policy should not be that of childish blus-
| ter, or of red-handed coercion, but of manly
forbearance and of generous conciliation, and
! Of honest and true-hearted peace.
For the most part the remedy is in Gods
hands. We should do well to return every
man to bis own house, and while remittng
none Of our usual duties and recognizing no
separate interest, trust chiefly to His AL
mighty arm, and to his Infinite wisdom. He
stilloth the noise Of the waves and the tumult
of the people. Already has he heard the
prayers Of his people, and he waiteth for yet
more humility penitenco and supplication.--
! When things look most dark he can bcstow
/ light. We cannot right wrongs by forco.-
He can disperse them by the shining course
of His love. If we trust to the wisdom Of
man more than to the wisdom Of God, then
our institutions will surely be desolated but
if we learn to walk humbly, to love mercy and
to do Justly, then the clouds will roll off, the
sun will shine through the riffs of the tenn
! pest. and we shall see that God alone is the
Rock of our safety.
/ But, my hearers, whatever God has in store
TOR US as a nation, whether it be in his mind to
take away our place and overwhelm US in the
long train of evils which will follow disunion,
anarchy and then despotsm, or to wake the
slumbering powers of patriotism, and so
strengthen and animate them that they shall
shake off this hideous nightmare of dissolu-
/ ton, and the country shall come forth from
its dark aud troubled dreams into the daylight
I of higher wisdom and more enduring in
tegrity, let US not fail to put our trust IN Him
and TO enter into that Kingdom which cannot
be moved. While the earth shakes beneath
our feet and its hidden fires make it rock at
every tread, and we know not but at any mo-
ment the solid crust may open and the region
around us be consumed with the hot lava and
ashes it is a blessed thing that we may enter
within the portal Of the Divine Providence,
and sit under the shadow Of Gods benignty.
We know that nation after nation which will
I who put their trust in Him shall be as Mount
Zion, that cannot be removed. And Bet US
this day, my brethren, return unto the God
of our fathers, and before Him who aided
them in building the government under which
we live, let offer the prayer which they Of
ten uttered
Gigs ear, o Shepherd of Israel, thou that
ieaias Joseph like Il dock, thor that d,colleI be-
t,oesn The cherVbn shine forth. Before Eph-
raim and Bpjami,, and .Hindsseh, stir ap
hy strength and CONF and sase as No more
raising the standard Of contention, nor shout
ing from one end of the land to the other to
war-cry of the king OF Judah, 40 your tents,
D ltc,l," le, US seek the presence Of God
with the humility betting our sins, and with
the prayer that becomes our weakness, and
with the confidence that honors tho omnipo-
tence Of God 20, Lord God of Hosts, ho,0
long wik thou Be angry against The prayers Of
/ hy people ? Thou teedest them ,oah nte broad
| Of tears, and gives 10 them tears to drink ia
gaeai measure Thou makes' rs strife unto
our Rsighbors. and our enemies laugh among
themselves. Tarn as again, God ef Hosts,
Gauss Thy face 70 shine and nee shall be saeed.
PLAIN TALK is SLAVE SrArE.-A