Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-10

WE heard yesterday "a sermon that was
w preached the day before ia one OF our church
Is. by a distinguished divine, the object Of which
was To- encourage our people, in which the preacher
(ho is celebrated his high classical attainmentS
NOT less than or his profound knowledge Of divinity
called 10 mind the example OF the Romans upon an
occasion that the worit,wil never forget Ii was
Ibis: Caius Terentius yarTOs who, contrary 10 the
advice Of his colleague, LUcips -Emihus Paulus had
brought on the disastrous battle VI Gamma, IN which
accorIlns 10 Polybius, 10 600 Romans were slausL
tered and Ia OOO taken prisoners cut OF 81, 900 eS
cauini from the field, lied TO CaIalsuus where he
Immediately ordered the gates 70 D. closed, the for
tifcations 70 be strengthened and every possible
1repardti0n u be made for vigorous defence
When be returned 10 Rome, the Senate although
he had upon his shoulders tue blood OF 10000 Ro-
mans forEot all his folly, forgive an his rashuess in
consideration OF the iuviucible resolution he lad
shown in the midst OF disaster and marched out in
holy 20 meet hun, because '' he had not despaired
at the Republic, The case was one OF the most
remarkable OF which acre Is any account. It stIi-
kipgv illustrates the character Of that mighty peo-
ule. and se may learn from 1t how it was thEr they
eoairveito conquer the world II was from that
stern determination OF character which led them,
ward to betteE times, ana never to suecumb TO any
blow Of forluue, 10 matter how heavy, OF
how disastrous ioy the time. IL This episode
OF their wonderful history, they developed in
me highest degree those great qualities which
be possessed by all who hope 90 do anything great
in the world "Nsyer despair Is the motto which
may 10 extracted from this memorable scene
Our own grcat and wise fyrciathers OF the
Virginia Legislature, in l7s0. @ter the battle Of
Camden, initiated this Roman example. When
Gates, whose folly had lost thai battle, had been
superseded by Greene and Wa, passing through Ills
civ GA - way 20 Deli, home while obey IN Ses-
sion. they passed unanimous vote OF thanks 60
him for the services lie had rendered. They might
lot be- willing 70 trust hjm with another army, bur
tlev could neither forgot hi, past services, nor that
lie had after his defeat, rallied what troops lie could
with the iuteution OF still Gs,pg the enemy.
Can the crcakers, and observation-disclosures, who
are making night aaS day hiieou5 around us, with
their predictions On evil think OF like these
and not feel ashamed OF themselves What do they
hope TO accomplish 10y their doletUi lamentations -,
Was country ever saved, wa, people ever freed,
was cause ever supported, was anything great ever
accomplished. by croabiug and groaung, aud sigh
and aspects. What good can 1t do Can 1t stop
tie march OF the enemy legion, Can it defend a
town Can ii decide a campaign Can it redeem
the currency, Can it supply the place of men p
. Cf b0r1' What is the use OF IL, Is it any salts
faction to make whole community as miserable, as
Respondent as di,uq, as you are Yourself Is there
NO maul.uc,, ic.t IN yyuy Are sou not ashamed to
make yourself a. spectacle AMI bye-word Are
voa not aware that the very women turn up then
nose, in scoru OF (so-catedJ man who, in Abe hour
Of his country 5 danger, eau do nothing DO, erouh
and moan a,rl make everybody more miserable than
thew otherwise would be These croakers-;he>e
eternal prophets OF eyil-tLese creatures who can
See 10 hope in anything, and who do see despair in
everything are the curse Of the community, Many
of them tremJle for their wealth, which they prize
. far above honor and freedom. Most Of them would
bow 10 the Yankee rod that smote them and kiss the
hand that held it. Out upon them, we say Oh
nov they are despised by the brave boys who are
facing the enemy IN the army, and whose.hOpes are
as nigh and spirits as buoyant as though campaign
ing IN this cold weather pleasant going to
n ball OF an opera, Out upon ali crOakers, We r.
peat. AuothemG, maranatha'