Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-12-06
THANKSGIVING Sermon.

SOmo nave Salu tIlat, Ill view OF the recent
rcverses of our arms, the great expenditure Of
treasure, and loss of human life, the American
people had nothing for which to be grateful.
Is it so2 Is there nothing. and has there
been nothing in our national history for two
years past suited to inspire feelings Of graft
|! tude and hope in the bosom of the lover of his
country! The thousands of valuable lives
sacrificed, and millions of treasure expended,
are indeed Just cause for regret Our regret,
however, would be much deeper and our
hearts more sud, had not this sacrifice and cX-
pcnditure been deliberately and wisely made
in a cause which fully justiiies the outlay-in
rrscuing our nation from the hands of con-
spirators. But there are other and better
views of the question. Many things in view
of which every true patriot should be cncour-
aged. As an occasion tor thanksgiving, then,
| r1mark-
1st. The iustncss of or cause, the righteous
ness that marks the position and doings OF
our Government in putting down this rebel
lion. Suppose it were otherwise. Suppose
the election of Republican President, and
the bringing in of Il Republican Admins;ra-
ton had been brought about (iI obvious vio-
lation of the rights of the South) by an nm
lust and wicked control of the national bal
lot, as were the attempts to make Kansas
slave State at all haZards; or as were the at
tcmp.s to control the city of San Francisco
prior to the organization of the vigilance com
mittcc. Suppose this to have been doae
against the faithful rcmonstranccs Of the
South. Suppose Congress had refused To
grant the constitutional rights of the South,
in the protection OF her institutions, even in
the enforcement of the fugitive slave law by
the States Marsl.als. And that upon a i,,t
presentation of their grievances, and asking
OF redress, the Government has sent an army
to qucll the pretended instruction, and hush
the voice OF dissatisfaction. Suppose Govern
lncnt had contemplated this injury toward the
South for years, and had collected tho aril;
of the nation into Northern forts and ar>rualS
to resist and put down any opposition from
the South. Suppose, further that to carry
oat these nefariouS purposes, Government lia'!
called in fron foreign seas all the ships of the
navy to blockadethc Southern ports and had
filled all the forts and garrisons of the South
with men to affect more easily its wicked de-
signs. Then indeed would our cause be an
unjust one. In such case, what citizen
would posscas any courage to fight the bat les
of his country! What Christian wou!! dare
TO lift his heart to implore the aid Of Heaven,
rs Our armies went forth 10 wage Il wicked
war; and make inSlolious slaughter! But
how different is the case. Almost precisely
the opposite is true.
The politicians of the South, without ;ny
just cause, had contemplated for years, the
wicked design Of breaking up this naiioa.
They had watched every change in the cur
rent of national affairs in orticr to seize upon
the most favorable opportunity for doing so.
The members of the national cabinet three
years before the rebellion commenced, while
cnoyin. the cmoluments of their high Office.
while under sacred and solemn oath TO pre-
We're wickcdly violating that OATH Were
carefully and stealtlily laying their plans to
destroy this nation. For this purpose the
Secretary OF the treasury had nearly depleted
the national Golfers. The Secretary OF the
Navy had Sent the Governments ships, your
ships and mine) to the rcnocst corners of tho
earth, SO that tls Government could have
no use Of them, until the conspirators in arms
had completed their purpose. The Secretary
of War had carefully and stcathily removed
the national arms from Northern forts to ur-
senals into the South. Nor is this ALL Their
plans were far more artful and subtle than
many have supposed. They had endcayored
| land in this they had succeeded welD to ST.
cure the appointment to official position'of tho
greatest possible number of their own men, in
all our Territories, so that when tho blow for
rebellion should be struck, the mightiest in
iluence possible for rebellion, might be WELD
cd in these remote sections of our country
They had done their utmost also to place
highest in command in the army and navy
the greatest possible number of men Of their
own wicked purposes; men initiated into
their abominable secret, so that in duo time
and order, the Government forces by land and
sea might be surrendered into their hands. l
repeat it then, in view of these things, we
have reason TO be thankful to Almighty God,
and the powers that be, for the justncss of our
cause.
!" Thrice is he armed who hath his quarrel Just,
And be but naked though locked up in steel,
Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted"
I'd. We have cause to be thankful for what
has been done. A sentiment and feeling of
union has been created throughout the North
and in the border States. know, some say
we shall be rent asunder and destroyed by
party chickering's and internal discords. There
may be danger from this source. One of the
rebel chicttans has said, we do not expect
to conquer them by force of arms. but by
scattering disscnsions among them" We
confess there is too much party strife and sell
fish ambition for power and place, especially
in view Of the fact Of battling for existence
against the mightiest conspiracy the world
has ever known. But in the beginning of the
s.ruvr1u thu f1nnvor saampd much erraoto.