Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-12-11
NATIONAL THANKSGIVING DAY


tion somewhat larger than is usual on sue
occa ions. The devotional exercises were LEI
by Rev. Mr.. Brown of the Methodist Church
The sermon was preached by Row Mr. For,
Of the Congregational Church. He announc
ed as his text the words from Psalm 97: 7
which had been used by the Governor az thu
introduction TO his Proclamation. "The Lort
reigReh let The earth rejoice."
He said There are times when almost tn,
only thing we can find tc rest upon, or rejoic,
in, is the truth that the Lord reigns During
the past three years Of our nstional histor,
this has often been to US glor us truth
And, to-day, even il the cloud we're still over
US, we should nevertheless have occasion for
Thanksgiying--fo God reigns But we are
not now called upon TO praise God out Of the
darkness, for we have seen thc movement ol
bis hand directing tire affairs of our copnfrr.
and, because wc,have seers} shout
"The Lord reigneth let the esrth rejoice"
Let US rejoice and praise God. l. For the
prosperity youchsaied us even in the midst OF
the desolations Of war. lie contrasied our
present prosperity with the expectations OF
the South, the prophecies of Europe and our
own fears at the beginning Of the war; then
dent, mo human counsel hath devised, nor
hath any mortal hand worked out these great
things They are the gracious gifts of the
Most High God, who while dealing with us
IN anger for our sins, hath nevertheless re-
membered mercy"
Let US rejoice aud praise God, O. For the
triumphs of our arms. Under this head the
history Of the year was reviewed; the dark
| MI itv a.. 81. 81 !
the fears OF the people the danger of foreign
Interference; the depreciation of our curren-
cy, then the sudden change of the first week
in July, the triumphs OF Getty sburgh, Vicks-
burgh and Port Hudson, the bloodless sue
cesses Of Chattanooga and Knoxville. Two
ears ago the rebellion had possession Of
thirteen States; now of only ave and on
every one Of these five our Cove Btiissnt has
foothold so firm that II cannot 8e casily dis
possessed
We see the hand of Sod in the marching of
the rebel army northward into Pennsylvanj.
that there it might be defeated, and in giving
US X .oxyile and Chattanooga without
blow But why rejoice; Not because so
many of our enemies have been killed not
because our side is victorious, but because our
victories seem to ensure the permanence of
f. uk,
and which has been to US the channel of so
many blessings. No other Government so
well suited as ours 20 develope manhood. 1t
is based on the principle OF original equality
Of right in our race. 1t sets before the youth
born in the hut Of poverty, the possibility of
attaining the highest positions of honor and
usefulness Our institutions are asseiled by
those who propose to erect Government
based upon different principles, who assert
the right OF the few 20 tread upon the necks
Of the many The conflict is conflict be-
tween civilization and barbarism, between
proglfss and retrogrqesion. betweep G,sdom
and slavery Tie whole story ~ not told
when it IS said a battle has been fought be-
tween two armies, and so many on each side
have been killed, wounded aud made prison.
ers. There is a war of principles above all
this material conflict, and it is because true
principles triumph that we rejoice in our sue
cess We rejoice also because our success
opens the path OF freedom to the negro slave.
He then went on to show what had been
already accomplished during the progress OF
the war, in the banishmeni Of slavery from the
District Of Columbia, and from the Terrific
ries, in the new treaty for the suppression Of
the slave trade, in the recognition of Hayti
anu NtbNiiaf III Aub itutiupLlou Nl NlssOuTl.
in the Emancipation Proclamation, and in the
armirg Ct the blacks. With these results in
view, we feel tha: we have occasion to re-
joice ana praise God.
8. Even for our reverses Every reverse has
been to our cause real victory. Every VIC
tory of our enemies has been to them sub
stantial defeat. 1t has prolonged the war
This ensures the more complete overthrow
pf Io II L., ! -
son, and the destruction Of that eystem in the
interest Of which the war was wsged.
Our rcverses heve led also 20 the arming
of the blacks, This deyelopes their man
hood, fits them for freedom, makes our coun-
try their country, lifts them up out of the
mre into which prejudice has trodden them
We cannot hcnceforIh despise men who have
fought braveiy in the armies of our republic.
To do it would bc to Us an everlasting shame.
Another occasion for joy aud praise is
found
4. In the revival among us Of the spirit
OF loyalty. Before the war we hardly knew
what loyalty was. Foreign nations were ac
customed TO say there was no room for the
virtue of loyalty under our government. We
have reason to rejoice that we have learned
what loyalty is. 1t is nobler spirit than
the selhshness, the mammon worship, the
narrow partizanship Of the past 1t is a fire
which will cement the union Of our States.--
1t has tendency to awaken higher loyalty
o the higher government OF God,
g. Finally, following the injunction
OF the proolazs4iion Of ahsgAegvsaor, lotl
us praise GOD for tho hope of salvation
through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.--
There is no time when we are mo- called upon
n. 4 Il