Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-12-01
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Aatious of the earth. The writings of the
Prophet Daniel signally illustrate this fath.
The proud King Nsbuchadnezsar was made
to acknowledge it, and TO " praise and ex-
col and honor" Him, " who Is able to abam
those who walk in PRIDE" and |" who ruiz
eth in the Kingdom of men"
The prophecies by which Daniel descri.
bed with complete accuracy the national
viCissitudes that ~happened long after, are
testimonies TO the same purport.
Among the statesmen in our own cosn.
try who have proclaimed their belief in
this doctrine, Patrick Henry was conspic-
uous. In that celebrated speech which
Get on FIRE the souls of the members Of the
Virginia Convention, he declared, "There
10 q just God who presides over the desti-
mics Of nationsp' And when subsequently,
he called on the people Of his own county
10 meet him with arms in their hands, he
dwelt upon the same idea. He told them
that tho God who hardened Pharoah's heart
for the ultimate good Of the very people
whom it afflicted for the time, had in like
manner, permitted the outrages ofthe Bri-
tish Government, that America might be
urged to independence ; and that the pow.
er which led Israel safely through the Red
Sea and the wilderness, would be to them
also a pillar Of cloud aud Of fire, if they
would be r~esolute and courageous.
Henry was, in those days, the prophet
Of his people. Our fathers lived to verify
his predictions. Not indeed BY forty years
Of wandering in the wilderness, but by sew.
On years o. 6ghtiug and Of privation. Their
fortitude and resolution were crowned at
last with the coveted reward.
Our fathers did not expect a long war
when it commenced. They called out their
militia and volunteers for short periods
They thought one year would end tho war
then they thought the next would close
Il, and the next, and Aext. But still the
war fingered, and, to their undying fame
DO it said, still their courage was equal to
Che demand! In His good time the Ru-
Ter Of Nations i~nterposed. In November
Tie King and Parliament were breathing
fresh fury against us. In February they
were asking peace.
Perhaps had our fathers seen the whole
contest from the beginning, they would
have been appalled,. They might have re-
msined subject to an outside tyranny. In
stead of the praises we now delight to pay
70 their memories, alas what could We then
say
The people of the Confederate States
ere now in like manner, undergoing the
trial which is to prove and TO form their
character. That our separation from the
late Union was the work of Providence,
We believe az firmly a. We do in our yisi-
bic existence. The inexpressiblc folly
which drove us off, was not in accordance
with human prudence.
The course of King George to his colo
mics amazed the shrewd French Minister.
He could scarcely believe such folly posi-
bic.
The conduct of the North has been more
amazing. 1t is the folly Of Rehoboam, and.
like his, it is " from the Lord"
We are now through nearly two years Of
war and it has been q giant war. What
had been our peaceful plains, have resoun.
ded to the tread of vast armies, and have
shaken with the terrors and the roar of tire.
mendous conflict. Thus far We have been
preserved. Thus far our enemies have
been disappointed.
Thus far we are safe but when will the
end be, is the question eagerly asked ant
pondered by our people! Il canrOt b
answered. We can only say it will com
in the good time of Him who rules amonl
the nations. When He sees beat, He vii
say to the war what He only can say I
the waves, " thus far shalt thou come an,
no farther p
The more quickly We learn the lesson
the war is designed to teach us, the soOne
will it cease. And We all see now, tbs
the peaceful separation which We ali dc
sired, would not have been the best for q
It would nave left US, ihdustrially and con
mercially, almost as much the tributari,
of the North as ever. The war has dug
gulf and has placed blood between the
and us. We shall henceforth be a separa'
% well as y free people. We shall be clea
of Yankee books and Yankee ideas. w
have refuted the ISLANDERS With which Il
. North had poisoned the world against u
We are now famous and respected. "
have been led by a rough and thorny pat
which We would not have chosen ; bpt it
the best.
We have stated the above views al
made the historical references for the pr
pose Of encouraging the faith and the K
titude of our people. We must pro
worthy of the fame We have already VOL
end it will require our best energies, for
isa noble fame!
This is the hour for men that never droI
feather, for men whose faith aud coura
inspire their comrades. and animate ii
hearts of the people! Let all such sta