Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-12-22

~ AMI EkAfER-One OF the hrSt acts OF
Hhe Legislature has been to request the Governor
70 Set apart day for general fasting humiliation
anu al prayer, and the Governor has fixed upon
thursday next the 10th inst, as will be seen by
n's proclamation. Nothing could be more proper
C Ior people who acknowledge prayer-hearng
200, who alone can give the victory and incline the
nearts OF our enemies to peace. To Him alone can
we LOOK, upon Him cast all our care. Let our whole
people DO this, IN His own recognized way, trusting
'nat he will bring it to pass-Fdy. Obs, Dec. Sd.
There's life in the Confederacy yet Only let
US conquer the croakers, and the Yankees will be
suouued In Gods good time.-Fdy. Obs, Dec. 7th.
IL the people Of the Confederacy fail to achieve
thelr independence, it will be ewing to their neg
lect OF the Bible and want of confidence in the God
OF the Bible, and in each other. This is the plain
ana simple truth, reader and in years AFTER should
you unhappily live to the South pass under the
Northern yoke, and yourself and children the bond.
pen OF ABOLITION, you will remember and acknowl-
edge the justice of Gods dealing with you and your
brethren IN bondage, and own that your and their
NEGLECT of the God of the Bible and its halowed
PrecePts brought the curse of slavery upon you
ana yours May God avert the dread calamity
from US and our children WGdeSboro' argus.
In our first article on the subject of peace, July
18th. 1868, We said 1--WE grope in the dark like
children looking for the designs, and endeavoring
to interpret the workings of Providence in the af.
fairs of nations. The birth of nation on this
planet is great event The decay and death of a
nation is great event If it should please Him to
build up and perpetuate this new nation of Con-
ederate States, He will do it; if not He will not
do it This is all we know about it" This, with
subsequent articles the subject Of peace so ex-
cited the ire of the O6ssr0er that it assaied US for
months questioning motives, ridiculing the So
called peace meetings. and at length, when our Of
flee had been mobbed, leaving the impression on
the minds of its readers that the mob was not much
to be depored if it would only teach US the neces-
sity of changing course The Observer was
confident then that man would be able to achieve
great deal in the way of Confederate success but
now it acknowledges what We said in July last
that look only to Cop for deliverance-
But after all, we panied to observe, the O5.
serUcr qualities its faith in Providence by its wish
to conquer the croakers." 1t is evidently of the
opinion that Goods good time will not come
til the croakers are conquered. How does the o.
ssrUsr know? 1t may be that the " croakers " are
doing as much for independence as the unreasoning
or selfish zealots. Who knowsP The ways of
God are not as the ways of men. We know inf
nitely less of His purposes than an infant knew of
the thoughts of Baron Won Humboldt, the wisest
man of his day.
The Argus is of the opinion that if we fail to
achieve our independence it will be owing to the
neglect Of the Bible This may be true. All wars
are scourges for sin. PuniShments are intended to
reform, not destroy. Are reformed? Are our
people better than they were before the war They
are worse. There is more sin the country, less con-
fdence in God, and less regard for human kind
than two years ago. Every body knows this. What
then? We do not know--we only know that
"when the wicked rule the people mourn" Near
ly every man we meet has either "m arried wife {"
or bought yoke Of oxen "--or is busy in his
merchandise" The country and ITS liberties are thus
left to take care of themselves. We arc reminded
when thinking of these things, Of the with the
muck-rake described in Bunyans Pilgrims Progress,
as follows:
"This done, and after these things had been some
what digested by Christana and her company, the
Interpreter takes them part again. and has the
first into a room where was a man that could look
no way but dOwn.wards with q muck rake in his
hand. There stood also one over his head. a
celestial crown in his hand, and protfered him that
crown for his muck rake; but the man did neither
look up regard but raked to himself the straws,
the small sticks, and dust OF the floor. Then said
Christiana, Ipursuade myself that know somewhat
the meaning Of this; for this is figure OF man oil
this world: Is it not, good sir?
Interpreter hast said right said he, and
his muck rake doth show his carnal mind And
whereas thon seest him rather give heed to rake up
straws and sticks and the dust of the floor, than to
do what He says that calls to him from above, with
the celestial crown in his hand it is to show that
heaven is but as a fable to some, and that things
here are counted the only things substantial
Christidnd-Then said Christiana, y deliver me
! from this muck rake!
| Interpreter. prayer said the Interpreter
| has lain by till it is almost rusty. "Give me moi
riches" is the prayer of one in ten thousand
Stracs, and sticks and dust, Nth most, are th'
| great things nOw LOoked Gtter."
The reader will make the application. d