Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-05-08
For the Standard.
A Rig PETITION.


For the Ohristian People Of all the World to sig"
Some time since it was announced that the pun
ishment of youth convicted of murder, and SEN
fenced to speedy execution, had been committed by
the court Of pzrdons of q prominent State in the
Confederacy, to imprisonment for life.
Some surprise was expressed in the community
which was the scene of the crime and the trial. at
this result 1t was accounted for by the fact "there
was big petition" that the death penalty might,
in his case, be RENTED.
"a big petition" has, doubtless great power.
1t has great power with men. 1t has greater power
with God For, in direct contrast, his mercies with
those of men Il Chron. 81. 49, are great bus
power is infinite The things which are impossible
with men, are possible with God. With God all
things are possible. Suppose We try what'"a big
petition will do in behalf of our distracted and
blood-stained country. Let every Christian in our
land, young and old, male and female, bond and
free-for every soul is concerned in this matter
put their names to it. We have heard Of petitions
a mile or more long. Let this oe as long as from
Maine to New Mexico, and broad as the CONT
nent 1t may, in fact, be much longer and broader
All our missionaries in foreign lands will put their
names to it. They will get many signatures TO II
among the new born souls whom their blessed Ia
bors have won to Christ from paganism.
Hundreds Of thousands of our dear brothers IN
England, Scotland Ireland, France, Switzerland,
Germany, and all over Europe and the world, will
put their to it. The earth may roll it out in
the all dotted with signatures Tor every
secret prayer will be signature; every heartfelt
petition in the family, the prayer meeting, the sane
tuary, will be signature. And the great Advo-
cate, whom the Father heareth always will present
it for us to the Court of Pardons, the Throne of
Grace above, that peace may again visit us.
Is it not manifest to thoughtful men, alike North
and South, that we have been drifteG or rather
driven into that stormy sea- where the vessel o.
State was like to have foundered nearly eighty years
agoS From 1888 to 1890 this whole nation was
'Confederate," but not 81 URted" States 1t would
be worth while for every American to review that
period The nation poor and weak, despica
bic to foreign States, which preyed unchecked on
the commerce of this continent and on The verge Of
war among ourselves. Trade was stagnant, indus
try paTalyzed In the language Of an eloquent his
toriAn Of the time, "our navigation was ruined ;
our mechanics were in state of inextrcable pow
erty; our agriculture was wiIhered; and the money
of the country gradually finding its way to ruin. !"
Seven years Q7S3-l790) we were in that condition
From the bitter experience Of its miseries, the
States came slowly and reluctantly together. Then
we became rapidly strong and great We were
prosperous at home and powerful abroad. 1t be-
came evident at once that we had got into the nor
NAL condition Of American political life. The pro-
gress Of the then United States was, to use the
words of an eloquent French writer, Amazing and
appalling" Now the bond Of that Union is dis
solved. We have only been in that disunited con-
dition for few short months; and what is the re-
suit? Will it take another seven years of industrial
lethargy, commercial confusion and political dSOr-
ganization and national weakness to teach over
again that short but potent maxim, united we
stand divided We falg
Shall we not rather implore 1.-The Author of
peace and lover Of concord" TO restore us TO that
state Of peace which for seventy years attended
with every possible manifestation Of his sppro5a.
ton and blessing? F.