Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-10-11

civil war; destruction of property, life, honor
happiness and hope.
And oh what if we now go before God in
sincerely! What if we merely lament and
weep, and fast, and pray, and do not reform ?
What IL we cling to our old sin? What if We
pretend TO repent; and pray for pardon; and
yet go on IN the same wicked way? Will moi
God talk with us as he did with Israel, Is ii
such last that have chosen? Is not this the
iast That have chosen? to loose the bands Of
Wlckeuness, TO undo the heavy burdens, and to
let the oppressed go free, aud that We bronx
every yoke Is it not to deal thy bread to the
hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are
cast out to thy house? When thou seest the
nakea q, mat thou cover him; and that thou hide
not thyself from thine own flesh ?"
You know how often il has been remarked
.nat our national course has been thus far won
9eriully like that of Israel. As the Hebrew
fatrlarchs were brought out of heather dark
ness into the knowledge of the living God. SO
our ancestors were rescued from the depths of
rapai ignorance aud superstition, while yet they
were dwelers in the sea-girt isle As Jacob
anu ms sons were led into Egypt, so our fathers
came 10 what was for n time land of freedom.
AS under later Pharaoh, who knew not Josepb.
.he hebrews were subjected to q cruel yoke, so
IN the colonial times our fathers were oppressed
ny u yrannlcal government. As that old nation
was brought out of bondage by miracles of
providence, so was this modern one As they
we're brought through the desert so we were led
through wilderness of doubt, and difficulty,
and fear, into the borders Of the promised lind
And now We seem 10 stand as Israel stood be-
tween those two mighty mountains from the
top OF one OF which, oue half the tribes called
blessings upon the Nations righteousDess and
the other half invoked blood-curding curses
upon the very possibility of the nations sin. As
dod was calling upon Israel then to choose, 80
Is he now calling upon us. II he is not speaking
by an audible voice, he is by these stern disci-
pllnes. And, my friends, with what searching
severity OF gaze he is regarding us, as though
he feared our choice should be Of the worse and
not the better
Oh, there's something tho matter with us,
brethren. There's some spoil hid away in
Aohari's tent that brings these judgments down
There's reason why we fled at Bull Run and
surrendered at Lexington. There's reason why
the old flag still trails in the dust, instead Of
waving proudly in the Southern sun THERE'S a
reason why read the other day, that the Gov.
ernor OF my native State must already talk of
drattlngi why, instead of laundering avalanche
rushing from the frozen North, there are
only some few trickling drops of tepid water
seeking their slow Southern way. There's a
reason why instead of skilliu engineers from
Europes Schools to trace the channels for even
these little and lukewarm streamlets, we have
-NN NNh'hit Nlc NuTk 10 DluuuefefAt VINO |
hardly knew whether water ought to run up hill |
or down. There's reason why christeudom
looks coldly on u.s. There's a reason why God
IS not helping us any more elfeotualy.
ought we not to come up to calm, sincere,
candid consideration of what weighty thing it is
that is knocking even now at the door Of the
national understanding; and may find admis
sion easily and soon, or may rouse up an earth
9uake's shock to batter down the unopened door?
Does it not indeed become you and me, and all
Of u, as individuals, as nation to-day, to ask
dod's will and more, to do Gods will Ava
ken, U! friends, to this matter.
The crisis presses us; face face with us itstans
with its solemn lips of question, like the Sphynx on
Egypta sinds.
rms day we fashion Destiny; of fate we SPIN
MS uay lr all hereafter choose holiness or sim
,ven now from starry uerizim Ebals cloudy crown
ea the dews Of blessing, the bolts of cursng down
y all for which the Narrsbo their agony and shame
~ all the warming words Of truth with which the Pro
phes c4me;
iy tile Future which awaits by all the hopes which
cast ~
'heir faint and trembling beams across ihe blactness Of
the Past;
Ind in tbs awful of Him, who for ear.s FREEDOM
died.
ye peoplel OF my brothers lot us choose the right
sidel 9