The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-12-21
DEC. 31. 1864.

t.e must see TO il. that wholesome laws
re executed. For the very lack Of en-
orcement, shows deprayed condition of
lhe public morals. 1t is, in fact. before
rod and man a pleading guilty 10 the
crimes against which we leglsiate
We have sinned in the beginning of
nur national career | would not I'M
necessarily condemn the actions OF our
athers. None holds for them more
grateful remembrance than myself The
,are mention of their names, awaGens 4
loly regard for their virtues For the
many good things, which, under God,
they gave US. we owe them q debt of
gratitude we can never repay. Never
theless, they were men. II must be sad
to their eternal credit, however, that
their errors in Governmental affairs,
were more of the head than the heart
But wherein they erred, and we hare
discovered tine wrong. we should be re
! creant trustees of our ancestral legacy.
if we would not purge out the dross 20d
thus enhance its value. Nay, we could
not ask the blessings of Heaven upon
us, if we would not profit by the fathe- 5
/ experience As well as our own doing
the best we know.
& What a standing reproach to our char
acter as christian nation, that our con
stitution does not in a single place re
/ cognize the existence of God, nor the
! Christ, His Son. That God. who COM
mands us to acknowledge Him in all
our paths" certainly cannot look with
complacency upon this cardinal failure.
Especially when it is remembered, that
in the hour of their distress our fathers,
in the Declaration of Independence, did
appeal to the Omnipotent One. Then,
when He had answered their cry by Civ
ing them nationality, gratitude certainly
demanded the recognition of the Great
Jehovah in the nations organic law.
That debt of gratitude has been rolled
upon us as their successors besides an
accumulated debt for blessings in our
national preservation. Let that debt be
partially paid by our next Congress.
We sinned when we gave that ''sum
of all villainies' a recognition. indirect
", in the National Constitution. This
WAS keeping God out ani lett ~ the
Devil in. He has ever since been
troublesome guest God help our Con
gress to cast out this demon. il i tn'i~:
be by fasting and PRAYER! Let us as
nation wash our hands in innocencv of
this stupendous crime. 1t is one of the
anomalies IN human affairs that those
men, who in the Declaration could say,
'.all men are created equal and endowed
by their Creator with certain inalienahle
rights. among which are life, liberty, anil
the pursuit of happiness" would erect
or permit be erected, in this temple of
Freedom. an aftIr to slavery. II cGn
only he accounted for. in view Of the
fact, that they expected that altar, soon
to he thrown down, little drearning that
1t would monopoiize, by and by, the sac
ritices of the whole nation.
We have sinned IN regard to intetnper-
aTce. This sin is also corporate N it,
character We not only do not forbid
the liquor traffic fo- purposss OF diss;p
ton, but we license ard encourage il
by law. That license npon onr statute
hooks, is an exponent oil our shame.
Oh , the multitude Of helpless and home
less women and children IN our land. dis
graced and abused through that Internal
traffic. Their cries evernOre Eli the
ears of the Lord of SabhaosF The
poor appetite ruled inebriate, in view OF
the drunkarti's grave ani the hottonless
pit, cries TO US. save or perish Yet
we cooliy make a license law, framing
mischief hv H. ana make : league with
hcll'' for the ruin Of ourselves and OF
children
What shall we say Of the gambling.
RIGHTEOUSNESS. profanity, LDrds day
desecrstion and sucI: like. which though
forbidden bv statutes. yet stalk forth in
to open day with unblUshing effrontery,
aud unrebuked by the enforcement Of
law
In all this We must wash our hapols in
innocency. Then are we properly pre-
pared 20 come to the altar of the Lord,
that we may publish with the voice Of
thanksgiving and tell of all his won
drous works.
So long as oar national character is
befouled with such crimes, and our
hearts stained will we ''scan Gods
works in vain"
How many there are now, who cannot
behold the stately steppings of Jehovah
among us Il don't believe God has
anything to do with this war With
such declarations are our judgments
insulted and Gods word discredited
The thought that God notices the spar
row in its fall, and yet, is indifferent to
the fate of millions Of men and women
created in His own image? Out upon
such arrant infideiity. 1t is remarka-
ble, that the pre- eninently good and
pious do see God in this war To the
morally blind, il is nothing hut web
that has been woven by q shuttle 1ysng
to and fro. between a few black Aio-
litionists in the North and a few ire
eaters in the South. While the man v no
has washed his hands in innocencv IS to
the sin of slavery. sees in it the culmina
tion Of the great contest between right
and wrong. which has ever and anon
convulsei the ages. Over all, ani in
all and through all, he sees the hand OF
Providence guiding the race TO higher
place and glorious future. Mars may
harness his fiery steeds. and the wheels
of his chariot NAV crush thousands in
their resistless roll. But by and by the
roar Of artillery and the clangor OF
arms, wiil be hushei in miIlennial
reign of peace. Pseans Of praise shall
swell the hearts of millions. to the God
who rules in the armies of Heaven. and
among the inhsbitants of earth The
lion and the lamb shall lie down togerh-
er, and ..sothing shall hurt in ali 6 ed
holy mountain
We have abundant reason to thank