Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-08-21

reth forever. VINO IeHchipoiS" 10 III oul iOW
estate; for His mercy endureth forever. And
hath redeemed us from our enemies for His
mercy endureth forever.
During no other period since the com
mpncement OF our national existence has
the American people been agitated by
emotions SO various, intense, and rapidly
shifting, as those which il has experienced
since the commencement of the present
rebellion. Horror at the ingratitude OF
the sonth, in lifting up its viperous head
TO sting the very bosom that had so long
warmed and cherished it; contempt Tor
the Executive imbecility, which allowed
the conspirators to make open aud public
preparation for rebellion, and contrnted
itself with protest as weak and desplc-
able as that of Eli,--" Why do ye such
things 1t is no good report that hear )
indignation, when American citizens, with
guns from American arsenals, besieged
fort built with American treasures, and
trampled the American flag in the dust
patriotic ardor, firing the hearts OF hun
dreds of thousands with determination
to fght, and readiness to die for the coun-
try; burnlng shame, when panic on the
field of Bull Run made whole army fly
in utter rout aud confusion, and left the
capital at the mercy of triumphant foe
CONSERVATION when the Mtrrimac ach-
ieved an easy victory over our strongest
vessels Of war, and made it manifest that
no earthly power could prevent 1t from
destro, ing Fortress Monroe, New York,
or Washington; delight, when, by a sig
nal interposition of Divine providence,
the little Monitor arrived just al the criti-
cal moment, and discounted its monstrous
antagonist, as David discomfited Goliath
grief like that of Rachel, which refused
TO be comtorted, over tens of thousands
of husbands, and fathers, and sons, and
brothers, and lovers, slain on the bloody
fields Of Shiloh, and Corinth, Antietam
and Chancellorsville, and the tens of
thousands of others who have died inglo-
rious deaths in the pestilential swamps of
the Chickahominy sickness Of heart, as
the hope of speedy and decisive victory,
so ardenlly cherished, and SO often at the
apparent point Of realization, has been
again and again deferred these, and
many other emotions, most of them joy
less and depressing, have, in rapid alter
nation, succeeded each other in our souls.
Not until now has there been any oc-
casion for real and hearty exutation for
victories actually achieved, victories i'm
portant not only for their immediate re-
suits, but for their evident and vital rela-
ton to the final victory which shall crush
rebellion to the earth and into the earth,
never TO rise again. Not until now has
there been time when a Presidential
proclamation for day of special thanks
giving would have seemed anything less
than cruel mockery. Twice have we
been called to clothe ourselves IN sack
cloth and humble our souls with fasting,
but to-day, for the first time, we meet to
praise God for mercy remembered in the
midst OF wrath. The hours when we
" hailed news on news, as field on field
was won" at Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and
Port Hudson, were
"hours when thrilling joy repaid,
A long, long course of darkness, doubts, and
fears,
The heart-sick fantness of the hope delayed,
The waste, the woe, the bloodshed, and the tears,
That tracked with terror two long rolling years,
All was forgot in that blithe jubilee
Thanks, indeed, have been due from
US TO God continually since the com
mpucemenl of the war: thanks, that bad
as our case has been, it has not been a
great deal worse, and that, sorely a. God
has chastised US, He has exacted OF US
far less than our inquiiy deserved
thanks, that He inspired the national ar
rnies with spirit of endurance and per-
ssIence, which has shrunk from no hard.
hips, quailrd at no danger, despaired
Inder no reverses, and counted life itself
not dear, if by individual death national
if- might be preserved; thanks, that the
,adly monotonous course of disastrous
events has been occasionally interrupted
by occurrences which have prevented
,ur utter disheartenment, and even by
achievements that have raised our hopes
and animated our expectations. Now,
however, our occasions for thanksgiving
are of less negative character they
are positive, obvious, aud unquesiionabl-.
Nnw we are called tothank God, moi only
hat He has forborne to in1ict upon u,
deserved judgments, but that He has be-
.towed upon US undeserved blessings /;
tot only that the enemies of the govern
n. Mt have failed to destroy it, but that
.hey have experienced signal discomft-