The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-12-05
National Thansririnr.

The seventh Of this month, in compliance
with the recommendation OF the PREsIDKxT
or THE USIrED STATES, viii be generally OBJ
served as a day Of ThanksgiFing. IN &c
altered condition Of the aiisirs a the do
nestle and political affairs q the nation,
the following suggestions, q the subject a
sermons on that day, are appropriate and
praissworGhy:
:. We beg to assure the pastors Of the
country that the people are tolerably well
informed Is to the cause or causes Of the
lsle war. There is, probably, not man in
the land, North or South, who has not we'll
defined views on the subject. Strange as it
may seen, The now historical fact thst ori
Sumter was fired upon on a bright sunny
morning in April, 1851, and the subsequent
uprising Of great nation, are net perfectly
uniamiiiar 70 the church going portion Of
the American people. Nor is it likely that
many persons are totally uninf0rrned Of the
surrender Of General Lee and the e0nse-
quent collapse Of the rebellion early last
spring. Equally familiar is it to intelligent
minds that Great Britain contributed hot a
little 10 furnishing priVateers for the late
sO-chlled Coniederate States, snd that Max
imilian, supported by French guns and
French toldiers, has set At defiance the
Monroe doctrine by attempting 70 maintain
the extremely barren honor Of being En-
peror Of Mexico. These are a few leading
/ fa.fs 81 ruEf.h SO A.ose5.,,, I'll, - A .
presumed 10 be not wholly ignorant. We
would also remind certain OF our clergy
men that slavery, though "the sum Of all
villainies," is abolished on this continent
and certain others that "abolitionists" are
creatures Of the past. The crack Of the
slAve-driver's whip, together with the
elamor Of the so-ealled "lanatic" for the
abolition Of slavery, Is sileneed. These in
cidenis in our recent history, and other
intimately connected Herewith, The preach
er may presume that the people 81 large
have At least heard Of, and will not listen L
the announcement Of them as things new
and heretofore unheard Of.
ave trust that none OF our readers vii
misinterpret the spirit in which these word
are uttered. For the last four years th'
Thanksgiving sermons Of most Of our eler
gymea have been little else than stale cam
paign speeches, labelled with text from
the Scriptures and padded with some theol
ogy and more parlisanship. We intend n
insinuations sgsinst what is termed "preach
, ing politics" The sioutest opponents o
this never complain 50 long as their minis
ter uiiers opinions that coincide with thei
oEn.) Even granting, for the moment, thu
. the pulpit has done the harm in this respec
, which some argue that il has, we claim tina
z il has also done yosman service for the gov
} ernment during the lime Of its trial. Ex
! eeptions there may have been, but, ~
class, the ministers Of the Gospel have beel
J thoroughly patriotic throughout the reeen
/ var, and Outlines have expressed their opin
. ions openly when, 10 all Appearances, th
{ Withholding OF them would have been Q
l positive advnntage. Bat at this time W
. look 10 the American pulpit for that inau
c eEce which can emanate from no 5the
J, source. Like the old PuriIana, its repre-
4 sentaiives have shown themselves yaliau
in the day Of battle, and, like the old Puri
o tsns, lei them prove themselves msgnani
nous in the hour Of triumph. World
J.. statesmanship may accomplish much a
q such period Bs this, but Christian states
: manship, imbued with the principles Of th
. Christian religion and enumerated by is ap
( pointed ambassadors, can do more. 1hi
v latter We need to-day. Wherefore we IS
q the pastors Of our churches 10 forget Ga
= past and impress upon their charges tn
e solemn responsibilities Of the pretent. Tn
p passions Of men are 10 be allayed and thei
Judgment quickened. No policy Of recon
i. slruction can be thoroughly eliicaeious IN
l. less the temper Of the people is harmonic
with the principles FIRST enuneiated in ia
Sermon on the Mount. To Undue the Amer
l. lean people with sentiments betting a ns
IL ton that claims Christianity for its guido
- there is no such efficient agency as tn
8 American ministry. And were every pas
10 tor, on the day Of our national thanksgiy
il ing. 10 strive 10 impress upon his hearei
j. the responsibility resting upon each and a
u Of thetn as Christian men, that day woul
be memorable ip the annals Of the country
!. Why shall il not be sol"