Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-05-23


cheerfuIy lie own views when others practical are
proposed; which puts admirable construction on what
ia said done which is disposed TO make allowances Tor
differences OF opinion, or even for errors OF Judgment
can save US from the bAneul effects Of party and fac
ton.
3d. Let US not be dspirited by the reverses have
suffered Whist natcn became great, or was ever
the instrument of God for good without severe chastIse
ments? l. s Just az true OF nations as OF indlvduas
that "the Lord ovelh whom He chaseneth,' aud that
"Hs chasters us for our profit that might De pArts
kers Of His holiness" Our reverses therefore, are TO
be considered as the loving discipline OF wise and ten.
der Father.
Waist we cannot always interpret the dispensalions
| of Providence and whls it would be presump!uou3
to attempt it, yet still there are frequently causes
which lie SO open and 50 patent 10 every one that
cannot mistake the ne OF particular acs Of the
Providence OF God The punishment answers TO the sn,
az the effect the Aud, in the present case We
surely cannot il say, tina! one purpose which God
has had especially in VIEW in these disasters TO our arms
10 rebuke pride We we're getting 70 be the proud
eat peope on the face OF the earth We had begun 10
despise our enemy and 10 yaunt cur own prOwess TO
think hat the promise TO Israel true Of na! zone
should chase a thousand, and TWO put ten thousand 10
flight" Aud if we thought Of God al all 10 the MT e.,
IL was evidently as kind OF expeyc, thrown Ia to make
the sentence complete We had almost begun 10 fancy
that nothing earthly could Withstand the courage of cur
tcoops-nothing earthly equal the magnanimlty and
patriotism OF people. And in everything have our
boss been COMPOUNDED and our expectations diappcut'
ed. Our sodier., TIE flower OF people, became Il.
csnous Incorporate proiane, and iod made them d" 70
tern their backs on their eneme and they that bate Us
spoil our goods Aud is tbs strange? Do not hear
tle voice vi God calling TO to break oil Our sins by
Righteousness and 10 turn our eyes 10 the real secret OF
national security and strength Do not hear HIM say,
"R ghteousress e1alte:h nation, but Elm 10 rtproach
| 70 any people,?
But lie. US who remain in this city, the Capital Of Vr
Enia not be depressed oy fear parazed by despair.
As for myself trust believe that the enemy will
succeed in taking this city BIZ! should he succeed ia
dong 30, let not abandon ourselves to despair
| be provoked into unnecessary Opposton. 1t Us pre-
serve state OF dignhed christian submission what Is
inevitable and 60 about our daily duties usual far
as circumstances shall permit Let Us rstran from all
acts OF open hostility OF savsh submifs on Aud ct
no mans heart fail him for fear. OGr right, snG
| we saa ultimately prosper.
There is another reason, however why these
should happen 10 /. is for trial. No man Is fitted
for great oesines I'll he has el tried aud Dire pinned
I'LL he has undergone probation, longer shorter,
qualify him for the desiGies Lie 10 b work our. Il is
lust 20 with nations. They must DC educated aud rsiu-
ed up by trials and reyeres they should be made
| to accomplish anything great or good IN tho world
They must be composed OF men VINO feel tie sierra in
ward power OF self reliance the majestic cOnEezon o!
the human mind with its Creator aud the glory OF their
destiny in fulfilling His appointed plans. And God has
placed as of these Confederate States in crcumstances
| which II we be equal TO the OCCASION will demonstrate
our right to the independent position we have assumed
We have now an opportunity for great deeds, and for
glorious destiny And all future genera ions shall rice
up TO call blessed If by our virtues, self denial
our seli-6acrf;es patriotism, our d-ineres edn's'
we shall lay broad and deep the foundations @! national
institutions on true neutrality-suspicious. which relate
| to the glory Of God aud the welfare oil man
| It. then our courage aud our faith rise superior
| 70 the danger, shall not only succeed, bus
we shall succeed with a moral i-flence and
character that shall render our success doubiy val
| liable. We have indeed suffered severe disasters Toe
enemy in possession Of the largest part oil three Of
the Coufedera States and Of many OF chic! cities
Aud his veses OF have seized upon coasts and
rivers aai now even threaten this Capital His r.Sogl
ces and ornaments are immense. Such equipments aac
DR. c.iles such science and kill, such energy and Do
termination such courage and resolution and scale
80 vast the world has never before seen Their armies
number three fOurths Of million OF men. Napoleon
| never commanded such armies, OF such courage and
skill with such wonderful means for attack and defence
bot tie rIis our GStsnes" And We rest our cause
those eternal principles Of truth and righteousness
which are inviucibe because divine. TIey come from
God and upIrt the strength Of God to the Weak Ca
then look the danger IN the face aud calmly resolve
| TO meet itN Can We cav, IN humble reliance upon The
| Lord our God, that we're the enemy thousand icli
stronger than he s were his resources tiousGUGOl
greater aud hs science aud skill and guInefy all thai
they are, yea multiplied thousaud-:o!j, viii MOI
give up. II 80 we shall do great deed-. Undsr Gol
we shall not fail Il We are tua 10 Him, and uua 90
ourselves, glorious future is before ~ w shall
only achieve our independence but place these Coned
crate States pre-emilenos which shall make them
| spec GCle 10 the world.
But all depends The Of this generation. II VIC
begin Alright # We lay aside M base and self aims
If We commit ourselves to God and Hi= holy keeping il
put away all aiqly and serve Hin in -iucaIi.y aud
in TRUTH then will Goa be enrea,ei OF US and make us
| His people.
Let US then give ourselves this day 20 prayer aud to
hoy duties. Let ~ sp-rd tue day ia holy e1a.clss--
Let retire 20 closets aud pray In secret Let
pray In our families Let Us basceCh tho Lord QUO a
that He will take and our city sad cue country ugdsr
His holy care; thai II will deliver from the hand
OF our enemies; that 10 will tie blessings
OF peace that no viii grlut TO our sod,er- now IN tie
field the constant protection OF His good P9yidcu,e,
aud make them to have perpetual fear and love o. Hi
holy name. And it fhl come 10 pass that while We
are yet speaking God will hear, and enemies shah
fall before by the sEord and hundred shall put ten
| thousand TO flight"
Let us, the men Of this generation, realize our re-
sponsibiles and our duties. Wha. we do, We do
Jog for generations vet uaborn The II renee Of this
day will be felt 10 Eternity. 1--WE are made spectacle
unto the world, TO angels and TO men" Can he.r5
grow faint or our hands feeble in such q cause?
God forbid Lot Us "thaUk God, aud take courage"
from what is past. Let US trust HIN for the time 10
come We have q character TO sustain or to lose We
receive the appreciation OF poJoriy for p5rssyo
rance in well doing or to be sentenced 70 public repre-
baton as betrAyers Of high trust. We axe 70 be re
Saried as bsnofao:ors OF our race aud nation or 10
share the doom oil the wac hid lis L'rs l3ut
in the earth. There Is avoiding this t=po-sbl ~.
We cannot hide ourselves in honorable graves in such
manner as e escape roproach il nov raise The
craven cry Of surrender instead of anticipating the cut
Of victory and triumph
TIE WAR IN AMERICA