Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1863-12-08

spirited treason only tends to strengthen th'
bonds Of glorious Union by which we are united
Our own City aud State have been preserved
from invasion aud disgrace; and though many a
precious life has been sacrificed, and many d
grave added to the vast number Of grassy
mounds it has not been through pestilence; nc
midnight alarm has startled US from our beds
no hostile tread has disgraced our streets; in
quietness and peace we have enjoyed the bless
ings of the sanctuary; and our institutions Of
secular and religious learning have steadily pros
pered.
0uce our enemy, fierce, desperate, merciless,
stood but just without our gates ah how ex-
ulting he was. How did he thirst for our blood,
and long to clutch our gold With rapid and
desOlating strides he would soon nave passed
through our borders, and pluliered, murdered
and ravished with no pity Do you not remem-
her how some trembed before him, then, how
others, pale but determined, waited his advance.
/ Men unused to hardships we're ready, women
| delicate and fair, but brave, stood by their eide
and waited too, all determined to conquer or to
die in the defence of home but that impudent
foe never reached our state. Like the King of
| Assyria OF old, "by the way that he came by
the same did he return" nor was he allowed
| to ~ shoot arrow here, nor come before this
city with shields, nor cast bank against it,"
| dod was gracious unto US, he spared US, and made
US to rejoice in a glorious deliverabce. During
| thi9 9Nhi tuo bnouly uhh DeNu EIOMluE hlEhully
| weaker, his resources have become less, his
usurped territory has been growing gradually
more and more narrow, and his people have uu
doHbtledly grown more dsaffected victory has
| crowned our latest effort. The notes OF triumph
sound in our ears at the very moment when a
grateful people are pouring forth their Thanks
giving song and prayers. A streak of the grey
dawn pointing to the sun only just behind the
hills d though God had assembled His people
/ the nf fplHuu hovu "a
morning is, and everything betokens the watch
full care and loving nduess Of merciiul Faith
er. Therefore, " Slug unto the Lord. o ye saints
OF his, and give thanks at the remembrance Of
his holiness" for that remembrance calls for un
limited praise and unieigned thanksgiving
IL. Our second cause OF thanblnness is for
mercies that are not at .frsi apparent A severe
test is often the only way that latent powers can
be discovered. II trials make perfect Chris
tiaD, Il is none the less true Of a nation You
may have been endowed with an intellect of the
very highest order, equal 10 any demand or
emergency, but yet unless you are brought into
a situation that will bring out and test those
powers you may die without discovering that
you have them. The testing time comes aud you
are forever thankful for the trial, severe though
it may have been The tes ing time of this
nation has come. The greatness and sobil.ty of
our people has never been fully known rntii
now. This trial has taught the important
lesson OF sei-sacliioe Hitherto men lived very
much for tnemseyes, but now VT are learning to
live Tor our country. We ure learning what
country is worth, and are beginning 10 see how
utterly desolate lite would be without one. Not
July are men fOand ready to give f. eeiy OF their
means, but there is no iack OF brave men who
freely offer their own lives upon tue altar OF
patriotism Months of hardship aud priyauon;
the dscomforis OF the camp; the horrors of the
held of battle, where heap, of the bloody slain
lie grim and ghastly, are eheerluly endured,
and those same men when their term Of service
expires are ready and anxious to return and 10
stand by the hag until il is horne saieiy through
the striie. God bless them as them MS they 60
Our honUred deNd lie i'll ma nu unknown aud
unmarked grave, without Z aver and without
u farewell slot Many noble youth has been
lowered into an enry grave. NJ weeping group
stood around the dying hero's couch no tender
hands closed the glazed eyes; no mothers touch
smoothed the ghasly features no tram Of weep
ing friends moved 10 slow and solemn procession
to the quiet grave but oh, not Que is forgotten;
whole nation mourns over them sons. We
need not seek their graves for We cannot find
them oil. And we need not mark where they lie
-GOd knows the place. When earth and sea shall
give up their deAd-When the trump of the re.
surrectiOn shall bid them rise-ihey shall come
forth to new life and their notle devotion shall
be counted to them for righteousness and If
they have been washed in Jesus blood they shall
live beyond the noise of strife. Oh yes. HUI
manity is ennObled by them; mankind is exal-
ted the American people have redeemed their
character for nobleuess and generosity our
honored dead" do honor TO the living Ye who
weep for loved ones gene, weep on and we will
weep with you. They are worthy Of our tears.
Recount their deeds, remember Their love, and
follow their example. Yes you mag weep, but
not as those without hope. Give up your dead
n,1 h,.t trl.ar L.e -, . t..s
of certain resurrection. Wait until the light Of
the new Easter motu shall break upon a sleeping
world gliding your grave and theirs; aud you
shall embrace your loved ones in the ineffable
presence Of your sacrificed Saviour. Oh surely
there is cause for thanksgiving in that.
All loyal hearts are expandng and ennobling
in this great struggle. Men are made more
noble hearted Women are becoming more ten
der and more loving. "lf cur soldiers are in
need, take all l have" s fhe sentlment With
gentle hands and loving hearts our women are
busy from early morn to dusky night. A gener-
alton Of noble wives and holy mothers is being
educated in this hard school of affection. the in
huenoes of which this country must feel for ages,
There is no abatement In the noble work. No
pause nor cease. Onward flows the stream
Of comfort, ever receiving new tributaries. ever
growing wider and deeper and larger until fna ly
the great ocean of eternity shall receive the
mighty river aud its work shall be done.
Ill. 10 the third aud last place we have to give
thanks for nerePs that at irst seemed 10 b. uamiti
gated evils. AT the beginning OF this strife We
looked up awe stricken and terrified, and Won
dered at Gods dealings We sought Tor causes
of the war. Each one had his own theory, hut
all were united in one thing at lea.t We looked
upon it as an evil without miusa on, sorrow
without comfort, vast cloud OF blnokuess aud
tempest, but alas no silver lining TO relieve the
dR kuess. We see differently now. l say it after
sol Or reflection, this war il which have beeu
aud are still engaged, will u the end, he to those
! uuited Sale, Of lnc ,lculabe adyen age, aud II
c,u-e for the most pr, fouhd AID sincere thanks
giving aud praise. II viii under Gud remove
from us a siuin aud curse with which we wUuIu
be always unsute AID unhappy. | mean the
utter tearing out, root aud branch, OF that instl-
tuition which bus proved tself the curse, tile
bane of these United States. 1 am aware tina
thtte are sume who will be startled AT nay ASST
tiOn. know that very tar auove me IN the
church IN learning AID IN intellect, has declared
the pr,cse opposite but that utterly repro
bate ami deny, feeling confident that God's Al
mighty trutl fully supports what we II W dtclnre
to you, and III no respect 0oes II salcuun for a
moment tue cruel, ths inhuman tratiic 10 human
be Ugs created ia Gcd's own image, and like our
selves inhertuTs Of the kiugdom Of Heaven. II
thus is t. be r. suit 0l our night Of weeping, why
should We not kive thanks for il or tor any thing
that will beneft our laul2 II it shall seem t,
God that TINS poor life he necessary for my couu
uy's good, the sacrifice suali be really when H.
calls for it, / believe She has done enough fol
me to warrant tie saorhee. | humhly think
love her enough to do IL. Why should We not
Mhat is YOUR life Or mine 10 comparison will