Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-12-19
WILMINGTON FRIDAY DECEMBER 10, 1862.

emptied and spoied the mrth of abrets should cease
and the mirth of them that rejoice end, in the city
should be desoaton and the gate smtten with desruc-
ton thus did he address the few and scattered survivors,
who We're as the cleaning grapes when the vintage Is
done sadly lingering around their desolaed homes, OF
exies in distant regions. They shall lift up the voice,
they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall
cry aloud from the Wherefore gorify ye the Lord
in the fires the name of the God OF Israel IN the
isles of the sea-"
l. Although we feel the scorching of the fires, yet we
should glorify God first for the manifold merees that
still spared to us, the bright spots that shine out IN
the sombre landscape. Providentia bounties domestic
blessings Christian privileges, consultations and hopes,
notices. dear and precious than before nay more so
than Heavily the hand of the Almighty is laid
upon us as nation, upon this community 1T has fallen
with comparative lightness How little to remind us
that in the midst of of the most colossal and
desperate conflicts in which people involved
Our workshops resound with the hum of industry and
streets filled with busy and cheerful groups
The husbandman pows and sows usual: neither has
the hand of the stranger reaped down his fields but his
barns and granares repcnished with the frult
of his labor Our nocturnal repose has not been DIS
turbed by sudden alarm. Atthe reside, i'll the school
crowded with sunny faces, in the worshipping
assemblies of the Lords day, all seems as heretofore
peaceful and serene. Our happy exemption from the
caamitics of war, and the peculiar merces showered
upon us, are truly and appropriately summed up in the
proclamation of the Governor of State approprat-
ing this day one of public Thanksgiving;
"The duty of a Christian people, and the observance
of long established custom, alike demand that day
of Thanksgiving and praise be set apart to Almighty
God for His wonderful goodness and mercy extended
to us during the past year.
Although our national calamities have been great,
and brethren of happy and united country have
been aayed i'll deadly strife against each other whereby
gloom, and sorrow, and mourning, have saddened many
hearts, and darkened many hearthstones, yet we OF
Delaware, through His Divine goodness have been
spared the dread ravages OF war While many of our
sister States have experienced the terrible effects OF His
chastening hand in punishment OF our manifold SINS
and wickedness, lie has gracously shielded us from
invasion from without and convusons within. Visible
and manifest are the blessings which he has lavshy
bestowed upon during the year approaching Its
close. lie has blessed us with sunshine and with rain
He has continued to the inesmabe enjoyments o1
good health and sound He has spared us from
disease, pestilence and famine. He has bountituly
rewarded the industry OF the husbandman and caused
the earth to bring forth her richest fruits storing oul
garners and filling the land with plenty. He has pro
tected institutions of learning and religion, pros
pered the arts and Sciences and repaid the abors OF the
mechanic and workingman.
Oh God has been exceeding kind and gracious tc
during the past year, When, in the memory of man.
have the seasons been more delightful, the air more
salubrious the soil productive the various fruits
more abundant and excellent? 1t would seem as if in
all that came directly from the Lords hand his beng
nifty had been signally manifest While man has been
shifting and slaying God has been opening the windows
of heaven and pouring down blessings. While the
sword has been devourng the pestience hath been re-
strained While brethren have been at deadly strife
their common Father has been filling their gamers, and
his banner is love. Although the sea-robbel
has been prowlng the ocean, plunderng and burn
ing the defeneeless bark hurricanes and tempests have
forborne their destruction. And although the grave
has gathered in large and precious accessions it has
not been III the common OF mortality and disease
How deplorabe would be our condition had scarcity oI
epidemic sickness been sent upon us! What an aggra-
vaon of the inevitable evils of state of hostilities
Then had gaunt famine brooded in homes that now
rejoicing and the wolf had entered many open door
God might have sent upon three sore judgments
instead of one He has allowed human wicledness and
passion to eliminate i'll the sword. But instead OF
famine he hath blessed with exuberant plenty, and
instead of pestilence he hath famed with heahf
purest breeze. 60 bless God, ye people, and make
the voice of his praise to be heard which holdeth
Gorfy God in the fires for the fires, however fierce
and devouring have not been permitted to consume
your dwellings, or blast your fields
2 We have cause to gIorify God that the fires of tr
bulaon have brought out noble and generous qualities
such dignity nature and honor the land which
produces them. We had obtained largely the reputa
ton OF being mereenary, mammon-w worshpplng peo
pie, by whom everything was subordinated to gain
with whom principle, integrity, religion, honor, patriot
ism were OF small account i'll comparison with ucre
This charge has been fully refued shown to be ground
less and libeous. 1t originated, doubtless, in the un
precedented prosperity had enjoyed, and the ardol
and enterprise of the American character Men ac
quired wealth rapidly and therefore the number of
scrupuous seekers multiplied. And would not deny
that there of base and sordd minds, who cor
respond with the sanderous representation men who
for money! than for their countrys honor anC
salvation, who may seize the very occasion OF he
distress and agony to prey upon her vtals Such mel
deserve all the scom that can be heaped upor
NJ