, 1861-11-30


posper, md that the Infinite Ruler las purpose-
y intefxoycn these clcmenta into our exis- |
tsnce, as educators Of his children. Both the |
Old and New Testament abound with f11ustra-
spring out e the dug, settter do troubles eonH "
ehdnee." VIC read that even the blessed Mas |
ter himself was perfected through suffering.
Standing among the shadows Of Gethsemane,
clearly discerning the great sorrow that
increased, he praFed the more earnestly.''
Suffering did not daunt him, opposition did
not defeat him, temptation did not overcome
him; rather by such Affections WIS he the
more completely sanetifed, and rs the agony
of the spirit increased, the more completely
did he acontlnae in prayeT, and teatet in tie
sumo tcifh nanksgising.'
As citizens Of the United States We meet in
onr churches on this Thanksgiving Day, under
circumstances altogether peculiar, and to the
outward view especially distressing Several /
OF the States Of the American Union have risen
in rebellion against the Government, .and art
seeking to overthrow it. We have been led to
| sword. No matter what you or may think
about the fact-"let the dead past bury its
dead-'' The warts here The sword is drawn;
and one party or the other must fall a victim
before i In W.T. as an !3nd,f END; none h9t tend
| harmful and wicked; but in war as an inztru-
| men1 in the hands OF Providence, we may rc-
| joicc, and often do rejoice in the good results
| that flow from it. We rejoice IN our republi-
| eau institutions-in a Government separate
| from, and independent of England; but this
| state Of things is the price Of two wars with
| the mother country, and only by tli5 dread
| sacrifice are we nation at all
Are we permitted to regard the rebellion or
| g1Dized in defiance Of tile National Govern
lnent, in this light2 Arc the evil designs Of
| men likely, in any respect, to be oTe11uled to
| the welfare Of humanity s-is there q slyery
lining to the dirk cloud which now hangs over
/ the nation?
| Among our sources Of Thanksgiving as q
| people-Wirh no desire to ignore the dIficu]-
| ties and dangers which lie in our Hly-w- may
| mention the following four as most obvious
| and important:
l. That tcs are q naslon-2.at scs hax gszs7n-
I naent.
We believe in the right Of government. We
are not so many individual members, each
Isolated from the other, but we ore 4 people.
grouped around certain recognized rights, and
duties. No people have a better government.
| We are jealous Of its welfare. If we lose this
we cannot tell what Will usurp its place, for
human thought cannot direct the forces that
| sweep over people when once their govern
nlent is shattered and broken.
2 Re hdze euuse ef rejoicing that our Gose5n-
var Of defence. The nation is seeking to rim
dicare It's authority and assert its rights. The
rebellion Was uuwarfanted, and II successful,
Will bring harm not only upon the North, but
upon the South as well, aud upon the interests
Of mankind the world oycE. It is best from
| every POINT Of view that the rebels should not
succeed in their purposes. Their good as well
as ours requires that the Union should remain
ii tact as it was. If this we're 4 war Of con-
quest, q war OF our making, to opprcss others,
| rift min Si,11-%
my course would be plain; but rs it is war Of
zeH-defenee, however much may deprecate ar
pitrAment by the sword. I can consistently, and
do most heartily pray that the authority Of our
Government may be triumpllantl{ re-estab'
| lished over the Whole country-and that on
hill side and pl2in, on ocean, lake and stream,
! On fort ard quarterback, everywhere, all over
, | the land, tile flag Of tie Union may yet be
hailed in triumph and welcomed with shout:
0frcjocin.
8. He hare cduss for Thanksgiving that tie con.
dition Of our national g5zirs il NJ aesrss. They
{ might easily have been Officers of govern.
ment under the late administration tried hard
enough to have them so. II the hand Of ou1
brother must be lifted against the mother o
rs al, it is Is we'll that it should be done now,
| 1T be true that considerable portion Of oul
country Is opposed to Republican Institution:
unless they can have the entire coutrol Of
:. them it be true that there are whole State:
!, | ofthe Union that prefer, from local considera
lions, Monarchlcal form Of government to 9
i [ republican form Of government; If it be trut
= that there il an institution in our country
whose interests are antagonistic to the inter
: cstE Of the government as framed by our faith
. ers, Dlany Of whom we're patriotic South
y ern men; If these, aud the like thing:
It be true, VIC have not found them on
a too soon, and the wisdom and energy Of ou
y people cannot be better employed than il
r meeting these Ilcts, and in dealing with then
i as the interests Of the nation, the rights Of iu
A4,1 t. - "a
s1ruct and direct. We repeat, the issue Is no
Of our raising. The South is blinded By pas
o sion, or they would not force such issues upol
= the Government. The authority Of the Gov
e eminent must and will be rc-estahlishcd.
. this can be done without the loss of a sineI
Il | stltntlons Of tiac South, 50 much tic better
but if the South employ its sons, its treasure:
= and its slaves to break down the authority c
u the Government, the South is alone respons
bic its sons are stricken down, its treasure
Il wasted, and its Slaves set free. Considerin
{. to Low great an extent =e1tishncss aud pole
: have heretofore influenced the actions Of til
it North, it is a source Of rejoicing that our n
f. ton was not completely overpowered at tn
e very outbreak Of the rebellion. The attac
!, npon Fort Sumter settled the question Th
Ii first gun fired by the rebels against the autht
If 1ity Of the United States Government was til
d resurrection trump OF the North.
s T. Bnt We have occasion for thanksgiyin
l0AL LII Lille kl14E u VT Isi}E tttu Stl
Is orally led to sec the necessity Of larger il
e fusion into the hearts Of our people, Of Il
IN principle Of loyalty This was argued at soH
s. length. showing how, to an alarming exten
.r ness: impa1icnce Of restraint. DISREGARD Of Al
Is thoFity. We need more Of the principle
If LOYALTY, every wherein our homes, in respet
T. for the aged; in civil Life, in rrgard for II
s authority Of law; in our churches, in reye
A. cnce for God.
&c And, said the speaker, we praise God that :
j. many Of the leading minds Of the nation ha7
le been led to express their entire adhesion
the cause Of the country, and that, without :
D. gard to party or church It is a snbJect f
le within whose limits lie the remains Of the dl
s. tinguishcd senator SO long identified with
d history, that he WAS permitted to Lift up b
lY | voice IN aid Of his country. before that vol
T. WAS hushcd forever IN death. It Is especial
rs t pleasant for you who know him so well
st / associate with his memory those elegant 8
pea1s to his countrymen to stand up for the
ID | country, and SO make base their arms in d
A. fence Of its rights And wc praise G.
al also for the loyal men and women in t
r. Southern States. We wonld the number "
ne larger God in heaven uphold and defcl
=. those brave, patriotic men and women in pc
b. | Of their peace, their fortunes and their lyt
ye May they hold fast unto the end: may tn
feel that they are remembered to-day and ev
nd | in our churches, and that they are lifted up
ifc | God for his blessing in our prayers; and IN
h. they become through faith1ulncss, the leay
he ofloyalty which shall leayen the whole lEI
lis ofseccsEion in which they are hidden
IS Tic four causes Of Thanksgiving now nam
may hc all summed up IN the general bel
sb t thar this war will be, under God, instrunen
les in developing the character Of the mutton,
= giving more consistency and higher dlrccti
to | TO its energies. The discipline Of our arm
IN will tend to inspire respect for authority, q
ID | by the schooling Of the camp some useful |
irh ! sons will be learned. War is q hard tnast
I'd but it las taught the world much for Which
no have occasion to be thankful. 4 few mon
aaf ago, and VIC we're boastful Of the wonder
nd progress We were making as a people. 81
lnt and there statesmen pointed out the rock nj
ud sailing. Faithful expounders Of the Gospel
tie Christ. preachers Of the Word, sounded in
ab- ears OF the nation the warning Of too much
be | pendenec upon material forces-too little c
| ture Of the g1aces and powers Of a true Il
n:. Bnt Oh we strobe, little heedful of all th'
ain maS1ms Of wisdom and warnings Of llisto
to t until the day Of judgment overlook uf.
I'm. are now in the midst of the fiery tt
hat Our hope is that the discipline
FAX tins experience Will DC sanctlhed
on. our good, that it will make us m
Ilty reverent, and aid in guiding the surg
Id forces Of the popular will info more ma
can loves, and shape them to nob1er issues. II
Ger far our nation has been in its boyhood.
the enthusiasm Of youth, full Of fresh blood !:
,ur- huoyant feeling, has mafked our course hi
tter erto. We owe much Of our wonderful 5
all, | cess tolt- we 40 NOT "lsn 10 1o9e oaI eus
law be controlled. This first great sorrow
our national life will teach Us dis
tbe tion, and turn our thoughts to the true sour
fhc Of prosperity and exaltation, so that as
ked / tion We shall come to realize, what has bee1