The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-12-02

the local discourseS preacneu last lnursoay
week and 50 We content ourselt in giving q
brief synopsis Of two, only. rs furnished by
our own reporter.
SECOND ooNoRroArIoSALisr.
Rev. ]. NJ. Palmer, the pastor, gave an
interesting discourse from the text, Watch
man. what Of the night" The introduce
tory briefly stated the customs OF that olden
time In the East which gave rise to the ex.
preston of the text and the lsraelites in
quired OF their prophets when they werc in
captivity. what the signs Of promise were,
and when would come the day Of deliycrance
that they might return to Jerusalem.
Calsmities are upon US and it seems fitting
that the ..watchmen upon the walls" should
speak to the people OF the signs OF promise.
and, called upon rs we are by cur rulers TO
give thanks, il is natural that we ask, What
Of the night, when cometh the morning, and
what have we at this tune for which to be
thankful? The speaker here paid fitting
tribute to the sudden decease Of Rev. Mr..
Packard, while no spoke Of the sorrows IN
our hearts occasioned by the sad effects OF
war in the land. How then can we rejoice
in the midst Ot tears!
They may rejoice who have sought and
found forgiveness Of sins. The christian
may rejoice that his life Is spared to labor
longer in the vineyard OF the Lord, and we
all may sing praises that We arc yet alive Mt
this day with the opportunity Of salvation
still held out to Us And health and indi-
vidual prosperity are other causes Of thank
fulness. The speaker here read an extract
from the Governors proclamation enumerat-
ing the national blessings, and proceeded to
speak Of the great issue decided by the peo-
pie in the last election.
Those great Questions which concern tho
national life and prosperity have been fairly
snd clearly put to the test In the issues OF
our las, political campaign. and IL ever nor.
al issues. worthy the consideration Of chris
tian people. were before nation or people
for their choice, they were in the last elec-
ton; and God I've doubly. yea. to tho utmost
%, our powers. thanked tins day for his de-
liyeranco OF our land.
cannot ssa farther and clearer than 9th.
ere, but felt sure Of tho result Many Of
those who went not with us to the polls on
the day OF our last election, openly declare
shat the position in which they were put by
the platform declared for them BY rebel SYM
p,thizers was false position, and hence i,
j. that 80 many OF the opposition are them
sslvcs truly thankful: almost il not quite rs
thankful for tho results AZ ourselves. And
now let US look to some Of the things where
OF We have reason to be truly thankful to
God. By the war which still RACES in our
nation, some OF the results OF which are ri.
penipg into harvest. We rs nation arc tn
become one people in spirit and purpose. AL
though We have been noninally and outward
ly to the nations Of the W rid, heretofore one
people. yet the present war shows how little
unity there really existed. But this il 10 be
far otherwise in the future. and this the peo-
pie OF the land have demonstrated in re-
markable manner. considering all the circum-
stances attendant on the election. in that it |
was 80 unfairly put fore them; for had the |
questions stood out In their true light. VIC
should have had still greater occasion for re-
joiciny: for our political opponents, many
OF them, think and feel just US we do on the
subject. True. many OF them. as there are
many with MS, and always will be, are mere
ly partix,ns, who have no manhood about
them and never will have; they are past all
cure.
But I now believe as always havo since
! have begun to understand the great ques-
tions Of the day. that there is virtue enough
among US rs people to preserve our repun-
lican form of government, despite all the op.
position foreign or domestic foes may bring
against IL. Only our FREQ institutions could
withstand the present shock Of arms. No
old and worn out institutions Of Europe,
based on an aristocracy, could have survived.
And vet we have never had fair trial
We have NIL this while been struggling in
our iniantile state with the incubus OF ty-
rsnnical governments resting upon our spir-
its, almost hcavy enough To crush out our
vitality. That weight will soon pass away.
Each hour Of our national life makes il more
certain, ~ well as hastens il. Ii was AN evil
in tho beginning; like poison in the system
!. Ia. wrought weakness, disease, and almost
death 20 US as nation. There has been
carries in tho bones Of our government and
we have never seen well day. Tho life Of
our government has been put to the test, and |
aha has shown that thore was strength enough |
IL tho Constitution 10 sustain the shock. and |
now the fever has turned. slavery as an ins,i- !
tuition Of our government has no longer life |
in our nation, and God be thanked for it.
II may and viii exist in some parts doubt.
less 90 long a. the rebellion exists, but that
IL virtually dead. II will hence only mani.
:o,t its death struggle. Soon the law Of the
land will be, freedom everywhere and slav-
orv nowhere. Slavery and Judge Tancy die
about the same time, Thus VIC see that men
and institutions die, but principle lives; the
government survives, but her unjust insti,u.
tions are swep, away. Thus our Savior al.
firms: "Evcry plant which my Lcavcnly
Father hath not planted shall DO rooted mp"
We are seeing this verified every day. That
only, which Is based on principle can long
survivc. And now along with slavery how
many other thing. will die? The chief oc-
casion Of mischief and evil being removed,
order, peace, and prosperity will be restored.
What shall hinder us In tho future from feel |
ing equally jealous for tho prosperity of the
South. 90 we'll a. for the West? As Eng.
land and Scotland are now ons In Govern. |
msnt and feeling after ~ MANY and % lonc
wsrs, 20 can We 30 in oil parts Of our nation
They arc divcrsc in Language at least, but not
20 with No. In all parts OF our great nation.
the people in the main speak the aus Ian.
cunee and have the same religion. There
has bssn really bat one evil and that has BEEN
slavery. and 20 great was that evil, that the
mischief which 10 has wrought. has boon
graf indeed. and hence, the greater was the
struggle to remove Il from our midst. but
Notwithstanding 10 has cost % much OF lie
and tressurs and feelings, now that we eco
ere 4~ysr,inS. our i,- 10 like 'hss OF tho