Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-10-01


se prey r. Literally has this been true, that th
nl ulan who attempted to be honest and upright i
r. political life, who expected to be successful rs
candidate for office on the platform Of strict in
Or tegriy has been laughed to scorn This is no
torously true, and so shamefuly has the onc
~ wholesome political character of our peopl
II uegenerated, that good men not only see thes'
= things, but tacitly if not openly consent Now
J. must not all this be displeasing to God, who lee
us 10 the way to national honor What hope il
n lett for any people when the very fountains oil
n justice and Legislation are corrupted
Q CovEToUsNEss OF THE PEOPLE.
(4.) As another of our chief sins 1 mention
= covetousness-an unbouRded, unbridled lust for
mamnon. More than all the sins have named,
this believe is characteristic and UNIVERSAL
Indeed it is the parent Of many have already
named, and many more as yet unnamed and un-
nameable. This sin Of covetousness has been
growing upon us until it is our prevalent form
OF idolatry Money is more generally estimated
above its real value in this country, than in any
other on the globe The very children of our
land are taught that wealth IL the chief power
and source of influence and position in society.
In this fierce and Unsuitable gree of gain, a.
most all sentiments of humanity and charity
are swallowed up. Young men become prema-
turely old in their mad race for riches. This
sentiment detbrones every other, and oftentimes
reason itself falls PROSTATE before its power
Covetousness to IN alarming extent has corrupt-
ed the channels Of commerce, by introducing a
false code of morals and leading to nil manner
OF practical dishonestes. 1t cramps and grad
HaIy destroys all the generous and benevolent
sentiments and impulses, and SO it has withheld
from the church of God the wealth that
should have flowed into her treasury, aud
thus limited her success in this fallen world.
1t has made us an ambitious and graeping ma
ton We have been guilty of wagiug aggressive
wars to increase our already unlimi ted territory
and our wealth, and have been entertaining the
idea OF farther conquest, for the same end.
HUMAN SLAVERY.
The Mexican war waged for the benefit of
slavery was one of our most gigantic crimes 1t
has made us a nation of oppressors Cuyetous.
ness leads directly TO oppression. Human
slavery, that spreads like dark and funeral pail
over half our fair territory, is the awful plague
spot upon this nation / need not pause here 10
depict all its euormitiss. You know them as
well as do Many of you far better. No
language that can use will express my abhor-
ence OF this stupendous crime against God and
humanity. And presume there is little differ
ence of opinion that this abnormal institution,
remotely if not proxmately, is the fruitful
source Of oil our present national dlstresses-
But must believe that the love of money, and
power which comes of money is the Legitimate
parent Of slavery. And in this way it is our
national crime. On this day of confession and
repentance, il is in vain that we charge tho
guilt of this crime to those who are Immediately
interested in it. We are all guilty. For tho
love VI money, we have been very ready TO
pander to the power of slavery, aud if the pro-
per conditions were supplied, this ungodly lust
would make shareholders of many OF the very
men who cry out most vehemently against it
This love of money and political preteTment has
been the sin of all our people North and South,
East and West, and it lns kept in power the men
who for years have been plotting the ruin Of the
republic
NATIONAL AFFLiorIoss
God has called US to repentance more than
once lie has given us a baptism Of sorrow
and OF tears, in taking away two of our Presi-
dents He has sent pestilence to decimate us,
anu twice, within twenty-five years, has be let
loose the financial storm upon us, TO teach us
that fortunes can he swept from us in n day and
eave us poor Indeed. Such lessons as these, no
nation scarcely ever had so pontedly admins,
erred. Yet we have not needed these admon-
lions, but still whired on in our mad aud reckless
'areer; until now at last God has thrust his
pear into the very heart of national life, aud
brought upon the land calamity the most
'rievous that cnn befal any people.
Grim m-Yisaged, red handed war walks through
he nation apace. OF the causes remote and
need not here speak-let my text
peak: g Hast thou not procured this unto
Myself, in that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy
TOD when he led thee by the way ?" From
eing the happiest and most powerful Of nations,
80 are suddenly brought to the very brink Of
esructiou. God has spoken to us by many
emile aud tender voices in his Providence bnt
ie would not hear, and now he blows the sAril
nj dreadful buge-blast Of war and mourning
nd lamentaon fill the land He has pierced
8 in the chief seat of our pride and vanity,
ana now all that pass by, clap their hands Mt
s. they hiss and wag their heads, saying is Ills
be nation that men called the perfection of
eauty, the joy Of the whole earth ?" All!
his is humiliatiug indeed But it is good to
G humiliatcd thus Our God has done it in
lis mercy. He might have left us to go on un-
armed aEd unrebuked, until past recovery
tut let us hope and believe that because i'he
'veth our nation" aud has bright and useful
iture for u.s. he has thus laid his heavy hand
pom us, in chastsemcnt and mercy. He calls
$ to humility aud confession, each for his own
ms and also the sins Of the nation and to
ervent and deyout supplication, if it may be
od will repent and "tum away his fierce
niger from us that we perish notl" LIT us
ersonslly cOnsecrate ourselves to the service of
lr fathers' God.
PERSONAL. SACRIFICES TO BE MADE.
1t becomes us also to ascertain our duty
christian citizens of d free and matchless
'vernment, that has been bequeathea to
kEeut anu IN the
ar Of heaven to go forward manfuly to
e discharge of such duty. Whatever sacrifices
re necessary to maintain and perpeiuate this
Dvernment in the spirit of its founders, we
lght cheerfully and promptly 10 make. The
lurch of Jesus Christ must be maintained and
ave the first place in our hearts, and NEXT to
at our country. OF the justice of our cause
no christian man doubt for moment. Ii
the cause of religion, of civilization Of
'erty, of humanty-the great hope for man
nd. For such cause we can contend with
r whole souls. For this we can well afford to
stow our money, time, our talents, our
MS and husbands, aud brothers, and follow all
tn our constant prayers.
sELF-lNTLIcrED cALAM1rIEs.
We have brought these calamities upon
rselves, by our heaven provoking sinsl Let
not forget this To-day God calls unto Us,
ying Return unto me, nnd will return
ito you'll" When remember old Assyria and
rthage and Rome; when think of their
lazing grandeur and power how they arose
d ,hourished, and went down under the
erwhelning judgments of Jehovah, aud then
len l turn to my own country, her greatness
1 power, her sins and her sOrrows, and above
, remember that God is just, | tremble for
r fate. Let us return then as united
1ple to him whose ways we have forsaken
til this great calamity be over-past, and
der the cover of his wings may we yet
dice.
GEN. LANE SPEAKS.
len. Lane has issued a proclamation 10 the