The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-05-30
The Disasters Of the Rebellion,
4 REMARKABLE ARTICLE FROM 4
CHARLESTON PAPER.

From the Charleston, S. c. Mercury, Mayo.
THE DUTY OF REPENTANCE AND RESIGNATION.
We have fallen upon troublous times.
While some hearts are bleeding under be-
reavements caused by the present strife, 9th.
ers are aching with anxiety for the objects
of their love who are girded for the battle
and prepared to go forth to the field of blood.
First obliged to part with luxuries, comforts
were afterwards removed beyond our reach,
and now we must be content with homely
necessaries. Homesteads have been aban
doned and the inmates been obliged to take
refuge from the spoIer under the roofs of
strangers. Those who counted their pos
sessions by thousands have been reduced to
want, and many con template with Dispute.
ted minds the probability of being deprived
OF those means whereby they maintain wife
and child.
We are now experiencing some of the
evils of war, and we feel that they are the
most terrible of the rods God stretches over
a people in punishment of their wickedness.
We must not overlook the vital fact that
our transgressioDs, and obstinacy, and in.
gratitude have caused the Judge of all the
earth to infict upon us this, the heaviest of
all calamities. 1t is true that all are not
guilty to the same extent; many are free
from the more henious iniquities, and, 10
comparison with atrocious offenders, appear
righteous and holy. But none of US are
unaccused by conscience, and the smallest
transgression kindles the wrath of Heaven
and deserves eternal punishment. Mere
temporary evils, such as effect the body-no
matter how numerous and how grevious-
cannot atone for the most Indifferent misde.
meanor Or delinquency for every sin is an
insult and indignity offered to Jehovah, an
open expression OF contempt for His au-
thority, a breach on His honor. Every in.
fraction of the Divine law, is an act OF res
bellion, which, unless repented of and for>
given, the Almighty Sovereign must punish
with fitting retribution.
The judgments we are grooming under
have been visited upon US in our national
capacity. The transgress;ons which have
cried to Heaven against US, and made the
Divine anger to burn as devouring flame,
are the ,iniquities and omissions OF peo-
pie. And this terrible aggregate is made
up of individual sins. How incalcuable
their number! What terrible force stands
arrayed against US! If we are appalled,
and distressed when we think over The OF
fences of a single day, or when we call to
mind the sins Tor which others are guilty,
what terror must seize our souls when We
contemplate the long, black catalogue of
crimes which the recording angel has writ.
ten down against US as a nation
Ii God permitted his chosen people to flee
before their enemies because one OF their
number had INDUCED his sordid love for
lucre, and slew seventy thousand persons
because their king had yielded to the
promptings Of pride and vain glory, Of how
severe punishment are we worthy who
have piled up sins until they reach to
Heaven?
When we consider the number and enor-
nifty of our transggessions, we are Obliged
to acknowledge that our suderiDgs have
thus far been lig3t--that there is no pro.
portion between our crimes and the strokes
of the affecting rod. And this knowledge
should cause US to apprehend yet many
diretul calamities, if we continue TO provoke
God to anger by breaking His holy COM
mandments and refusing to am2nd our ways
1t is made the bounden duty OF Us all to
confess and iorsake our sins. We must
break in pieces the idols we are worship,
Dg instead OF God; we must sever the
bonds that bind US to vicious habits We
must weep bitter tears over our tfansgres.
sious and shortcomings and beseech God,
with strong cries and groaDs, to blot out
our iniquIties, and grant Us grace whereby
we may walk before Him in the exercise OF
a lively faith--in the practice OF every vir.
tue--in the performance OF every duty.
We are disposed to murmur at the evils
according to our foolish way of thinking,
that, in the prosecution of q purpose so
noble and just as the one that has forced US
into The present contest, We should be re-
qa!red to endure so many privations, hard
ships and woes. If we will consider the
iniquisies and sins which have lighted the
fire of Gods anger--their number, their
DlackneSs, their wantonness--we will be
smitten with dumbness, and our murmuring
will appear to US as it really is--one of the
most enormous Of our great transgressions.
Instead of charging God with harshness and
cruelty and wickedly calling in question His
justice and loving Kindness, trembling un-
der sense of our guilt, we would fall pros
trate in, the dust, bewail our offences, and
depricate severer chastisement, profound and
hearty conviction will fill our hearts with
edoring gratitude to God for not having
melted out to US the full measure of the
punishment we deserve, and make us
ashamed of our complaints, and we shall
be resigned to whatever evils He shall see
proper to visit upon US.