The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-05-29
Remarkable Article from IA Charleston

/ paper. ...=
From the Charleston, s. c., Courier, May g. ..t
We have fallen upon troublous times
While some hearts are bleeding under bereave-
inents caused by the present strife, others are
aching with anxiety for the objects of their love
who are girded for the battle and prepared to
to 90 forth to the field of blood. First obliged
| to part with Injuries, comforts were afterwards
removed beyond our reach, and now we must
| be content with homely necessarles. Home
steads have been abandoned and the inmates
obliged TO take refuge from the spoiler under
the roofs of strangers. Those who counted
their possessions by thousands have been re-
duced to want, and many contemplate with DIS
quieted minds the probability Of being depriv-
ed 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 which God stretches out over peo-
| pie in punishment of their wickedness. We
must not over look the vital fact that our trans
gressions, and obstinacy, and iNgratitude have
caused the Judge of all the earth to inilict upon
us this, the heaviest of all calamites. 1t is true
that all are not guilty to the same extent; many
are free from the more heinous iniquities, and
| in comparison with atrocious offenders, appear
righteous and holy. But none of us are unac-
cused by consciedce, and the smallest trans
erosion kindes the wrath of Heaven, and do
serves eter nal punishment. Mere temporary
evils such as affect the body-no matter now
numerous and how grievous-cannot atone Tor
the most Indifferent misdemeanor or dellnquen-
CIV for every sin is an insult and indignity Of
fered to Jehovah, an expression OF contempt 1or
His authority, breach on His honor. Every
infraction of the Divine law is an act OF rebel
lion, which, unless repented OF and forgiven,
the Almighty Sovereign must punish with hit
ting retrbution. d.
The judgments we are grooming under have
been visited upon us in our national capacity.
The transcressions which have cried to Heaven
against us, and made the divine anger to burn
as devouring flame, ARE the inlqultles and omis-
sions of people, and this terrible aggregate Is
made up Of individual sins. How incalcuabe
their number What terrible force stands ar
rayed gainst US If we were appalled, and dis
tressed when we count over the offences We
commit in single day, or when we call to
mind the sins of which others are guilty what
terror must seize our souls when we contemplate
the long black catalogue of crimes which the re-
col ding angel has written down against US as a
nation
If God permitted his chosen people to fee
before their enemies because one of their num-
Der had INDUCED his sordd love for lucre, and
slew seventy thousand persons because their
king had yielded to the evil promptings OF pride
and vain glory, of how severe punishment are
we worthy who have piled up sins till they
reached to Heaven
When we consider the number and enOrmity
of our transgressions, we are obliged to nc
knowledge that our sufferngs have thus far been
light--that there is nc proportion between our
crimes and the strokes of the affecting rod
And this knowledge should cause us to appre
bend yet many direful calamities,i 1T we continue
to provoke God to anger by breaking His holy
commandments aud refusing TO amend our
WAYS Ii is made the bouaden, duty OF us all to !
confess and forsake our sins. w must break
in pieces the idols we are worshlplng IN the
stead of God we must sever the bonds that
bind us to vicious habits; we must weep bitter
tears over our transgressi0ns and shortcomings,
and beseech God, with strong cries and grOans,
to blot out our iniquities and grant us grace,
whereby we may walk before Him IN the exer-
else of a lively faith--in the practice of every
vir;ue--iu the performance of every duty.
We are disposed to mvrmur at the evils we
are called upon to bear. 1t seems hard, accord
ing to our foolish way of thinking that, in the
prosecution of a purpose noble and just as the
one which has forced us into the present con !
test we should be required SO many privatlOns
hardshps and woes. II We will consider the
and sins which have lighted the fire
of Gods anger shall numbef their bIackness,
their wantonness-We will be smitten Wlth
dumbness, and our murmuring will appear to
us as it really is-one of the most enormous of
our transgressions Instead of charging God |
with harshness and cruelty, and wickedly call /
ing in question His justice aud loving kindness,
trembling under sense of our guilt, we would
fall PROSTATE in the dust, bewail our offences +
and deprecate seyerer chastisement. Profound /
and hearty conviction will fill our hearts with
adorng gratitude of God for not having melted
but to as the full measure of the punishment
we deserve and make us ashamed of our COM
plants and we shall be resigned to whatever
evils lie shall see proper to visit upon US