The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-05-13


as if that alone were sufficient to insure our sue
cess betravs GROSS inattcntion to the Divine deal
ings with communities and States. In the issue
betwixt ourselves and enemies, Te Hay be
free from blame; but there may be other respects
10 which we have provoked the judgments Of
Heaven and there may be other grounds on
which God Las a controversy with US, and the
swords of our enemies may be His chosen instru-
mcuts to execute His wrath. He may first use
them az a rod, and then punish them in other
forms for their own iniqrites Hence, it be-
hOoves not only to have righteous cause, but
to be a righteous people. We must abandon all
our SINS and put ourselves heartily and i'll earnest
on the side of Providence.
Hence, this dependence upon Providence
carries with it the necessity of removing from the
midst of US whatever is offensive to holy God
If the Government is His ordinance, and the
people His Instruments, they must see to it that
they serve him with uuwa3hed defied
hands We must cultivate high standard of
public virtue. We must rcnounce all personal
and selfish aims, aud must rebuke every
custom or institution that tends to deprave the
public morals. Virtue is power and vice is
weakness The same Polybus. to whom we have
already referred, traces the influence of the re-
iigious sentiment Rome in producing faithful
and ncorruptible magistrates, who were strangers
alike to bribery and favor in executing the laws
and dispensing the trusts Of the State, aud that
high tone of public faith which made an oath
absolute security for faithfuness. This stern
simplicity Of manners We must cherish, if We
hope to succeed. Bribery, corruption favoritism,
elcctioneering, fattery, and every species of
doube-dcaling; drunkenness, profaneness de-
bauchery, selfshness, avarice, and extortOn; all
base material ends must be banished by a stern
integrity, FIVE would become the fit instruments
of u holy Providence in holy cause. Sin is a
reproach to any people. 1t is Weakness it
is sure, though it may be slow, decay. Faith in
tiod-that is the watchword of martyrs. whether
in the cause of truth of liberty. That alone
ennObles and sanctifcS.
"All other nations" except the French, as
Burke has Significantly remarked in relation to
the memorable revolution which doomed to
failure in consequence Of this capital omission,
'have begun the fabric Of a new Government or
the reformation of old, by establishing orig-
nally. by enforcing with greater exactness.
some rights or other of religion All other people
have laid the foundations of civil freedom in
severcr manners, and a system of austere
and masculine morality" To aIsolve the State
which is the society of rights, from a strict re-
sponsibility to the Author and Source of justice
and of law, is to destroy the firmcst security Of
public order, to convert liberty into license and
to inrregnate the very being Of the commonw wealth
with the seeds Of dissolution and decay. France
failed, because France forgot God; and if we tread
in the footsteps of that infatuated people, and
treat with equal contempt the hottest instincts of
oar nature. We. too may be abandoned folly
and become the kissing and the soon of all the
nations of the earth. " BE wise now. therefore,
o ye kings! be instructed. We Judges of the earth
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and We perish
from the way, when His wrath is kind hut a. lit
tie. Blessed arc all they that rut their trust in
Him"
In the third place. let us endcavor to interpret
Il. Al
1t it is idle to make light of them TEsy
arc Serious-they are disastrous. The whole end
of Providence in any dispensatiOn it were pre-
sumptuous for any one, independently Of special
revelation, to venture to dccpher But there are
tendencies which lie upon the surface and these
obvious tendencies designed for our guidance
and Instruction In the present case, may
humhfy believe that one purpose aimed at has
been to rCbuke our confidence and our pride
We had begun to dcsrise our enemy, and to
prophesy with safety without much hazard We
had laughed at his cowardice and boasted of our
superior proves and skill Is it strange that
while inGuleing such temper we ourselves
should be made to turn our hacks and to become
jest to those whom had iccred? We had
grown HcCntiouS, Incorporate and proauc is it
strange that in the midst of our security, Col
shonld teach that sin is reprnach" to any
people? Is it strange that he should remind us
of the moral conditions upon which alone we are
authorized 20 hope for success The first lesson
therefore. is enc of Duke and repentance It is
call to break off our sins by Righteousness and to
turn eyes to the real secret of national security
md atrengh.
The second end my be enc of trail God
/ has placed us in circumstances in which, if we
show that VIC arc equal to the emergency all will
acknowledge our right to the freedom We have so
signally vindcated. We have now the orportuni-
ty for great exploits We can now demonstrate
TO rhe world what manner of spirit we are of IF
our courage and faith rise surcriOr to the DANCER
we shall not only succeed. but we shall succce I
with moral influence and character that shall
render our success douhly valuable Providence
SCENE to he against disaster unon disaster
has attended our arms-thc Cnemvis in possession
of three States and heeagucrs us in all cur coasts
His resources and ornaments are immense and
his energy and resolution d, spCratc. His num-
bers are so much superior. that We are like hack
of kids before him. We have nothing to stand
on but the eternal principles of truth and the pro
i lection and alliance of q inst God. Can we lock
Il tie danger unflinchin%ly in the face and calmly
resolve to meet it and suhduc it? Can we say. in
I reliance upon Providence that were his Numbers
and REQUIRES thousand fold greater the in
ercsS at stake are momrntnns that we will not
Il lie conquered? Do VIC feel the moral rowcr of
courage, of resolution, Of heroic will rsin" and
4 swelling withiR US. until it towers above all the
smoke and dust of invasnn2 Then we are in 4
AptlIf ton To IL i l.. IL