Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-09-17


eey.nOn by the rev. ME. Gillette, De.
1fvered onssunUay. September IIth,
Is64.---The Lord she Nations Help.
Lord. thou hast been oar .dwslIng-plAee iu all
generations.-Psat %, 1.
This psalm was probably composed af-
ter OF during the captivity of Israel. This,
Arst verse is appropriate language for US
as q people, now to adopt. II Is deemed
appropriate for this occasion the day on
which we are requested by President Lin
coin 70 offer thanksgiy ying, in all places Of
worship inlthe United StsteS 70 God, who
has recently youehsafed such signal success
to the operations Of the United States
army and feet IN the harborof Mobile, and
the glorious achievements Of the army uIl-
der Msjor Gem Sherman, IN tho StsteI
Of GeeTgis, rssWLti9g n tks egPtalrs 81 A.
i1Hta; and also TO obsr prayer for Divine
protection TO our brave soldierEs and that ne
will continue to uphold the government Of
tie uAited States against All the efforts or
public enemIes and secret foes.
We as people may truly make the &C.
acknowledgement that "the Lord has been
our dwelling place In all generations. We
endesyor, from examination Of facts in our.
past and present condition to find proof
that God has; been our dwelling place.
I. HIS hand is plainly seen IN Jor7rissg
The abode Of, and giviNg defence 10 Os'T faith
Fleeing from the despotism Of James !
and Charles I, EngIishmen sought refuge
on thefade banks Of New Eaglaad. Col
onies from holland, resisting the tyranny
Oh Spain, settled on the banks of the Hud4
son. Protestants from France striving fof
freedom from civil oppression and religious
prosecutions, made Settlements inthe south
and ''the peaceful Calvert Lord 'Balti-
moro, came with a colony, and found
refuge where the city now stands which
bears bis nRmen JE1l e -5a-.G g-1
1-g- Arrived In America, almost every one
was an sgricultuEalist--not poor, for he
lived on has own domain, and scnowE-
edged no other lord OF his land than the
Lord of the whole esrthi J ct he wss obliged
TO be industrious to live, and to be watch
full and valiant, to escape the terrible saw
age who ambushed his path and his dwell
ling. Thus the infant principles of manly
Independence found home In America,
and thus they were sehooled to a vigorous
maturity These principles were found
in native and majestic strength when the
tyranny and oppression OF the mother
country called patriots Of nearly a century.
ago TO desire, pray and fight for liberty z
There is not true American to- be found
who questions the wisdom Of that eYentfuI
act of our fathers on the fourth day Of
July, liza in which they declared that
these united colonies are, and Of right
ought to be frss and issdspe2dsnt States"
All cherish the memory, aud honor the
. LII r1,.,o.
gagged in the long and decisive struggle
which eventuated in the Independence of
these States. e.
would, that, with equal unanmity, we,
as q people, acknowledged the Divine hand
leading our fathers. While some fail TO
discover this Provideptial care Faang make.
full acknowledgment Of 1t, and Christians
of this land love when they contemplate
its history, to say-&LOrd, thou hast been
our dwelling place In al generations" 80
Lingering with the history Of our ha-
ton, for 3 moment, during the period ofits
struggle for liberty, we 1nd evidence thst
God cared for interests of this nation
The impression that the people of the
Colonies were a unit for independence is
sn erroneous one Many were the Sons of
Liberty Josiah Quincy represented
numerous GLASS Of worthy patriots when
he said-'Blan diShmsnt will not fascinate
us nor the threats Of the latter intimidate'
Us, for we ars resolved, under God, that
whenever, wherever OF however We are
called upon 70 make our eSdt we will die
fresmen. Patrick Heary's burning words
Of eloquencs found response In thousands
Of patriotic hearts and they Joined in the
ory, give me liberty or give me dsaEh7 a
different spirit possessed others. Many
wrote with forcs IN favor Of ta8as sss6BsiS-
Si1l, and large was the number Of those
who prefered the tyrant's yoke, to liberty,
with its cost. Even in the Continental
Congress the conclusion for declaration of
independence was rssohed slowly and with
opposition. The Declaration eff Independ- I
ence was thought to be pnaSsGtssrs.
At the first ballot In Congress, June sth,
1870, seven States out o! thirteen voted in
its favor. On July lst it was opposed by
four States and was hnally carried with |
New York silent but hostile Hostility
70 the wal, continued with some to the end. |
Tbries and sTstSors lived then. FHmo14s,
and iSfsnsolss as they were, they have been
surpassed In crime by their successors who |
have plotted and acted against liberty in |
our present struggle, Enough possessed, |
better heart, and better mind, TO be ussd |
by God rs the mssns Of the nations inde- |
peDdeuca- So feeble was this means that
the inference is plain that the power was |
Of God IndePendence was achieved, and
the Republic Of the United States planted |
on the Eastern borders of the central por-
ton Of the Northern Continent, destined
to Yield TO the support Of the tres Of liberty.
With successes and blessings following, /
our fathers met difficulties and obstacles Al /
every step. History informs Us Of grave
dih5Sulty being met by the Commissioners
appointed BY theBeYeral States TO 'snoiss the
Federal system after peace had been con-
GUIDED. The convention was unable to |
lgree upon the amount Of representation
hat each State, large or small should have
. the legislative branch Of the Govern
nent. The demands Of one class were re.
used by the other and, Hupon this point
be eoaysptoQ came well nigh diisolY-
nG. |
Atthis interesting and solemn eriais, 3
Or. franklin rose and, addressing himself /.
Q the PRESIDENT among other things, said,
Sir, bow has It happened, that whils gro-
,ing so long In the dArk-divided in our I
'pinionss and oW rsady to separate, With z
'ut accomplishing the great object Of our
neeting-that we have not htherto once
hought Of hnmbiy applying to the Father
LNght TO illuminate our UNDERSTANDINGS 2
n the bSginning Of the contest with Bril-
ain, when we were sensible Of our danger,
ge had daily prayer in this room for di-i
ine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were =
ieard, and they were graciously answered.
Al of us who were engaged in the strug-i !
les must have observed frequent instances
a experimenting Providence IL. our "a.
or. To that kind Proyidenos we owe this
aPpy opportunity Of consulting, in peace, !
4 the means OF establishing our futuro
atlonl felicity. And have we now for :
often that powerful fisnd7 Or do we
nagine that we no longer need his assist