The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-05-04
THE JUDGMENTS OF GOD.


Nation have been more or less directed
to tie contemplation of the Judgments o.
God. Pious men have recognized and
acknowledged the hand of God in the
general course and result of events during
the progress of the war. And thought.
less men have been constrained to observe
Proyiden.ial interpositions, shaping the
course of events and controlling them to
the working out Of q manifest purpose.
This general impression of the public
mind has found expression again and
again in the declarations of the Govern
ment, and in DO case is this more mani
fest and striking than in the second 1nau.
gural of President Lincoln. Mr.. Lin
coin felt that God was dealing with the
Nation for the sin Of slavery, and he ac-
knowledges the righteousness of Gods
Judgments in the past and in the antici.
patton that more blood was to fow in
atonement for the sin, he still proclaims
that "tho judgments of God are true and
righteous altogether" And now when
the blood of Abraham Lincoln, as the
head and representative of the Nation,
swels the red current Of the righteous
atonement for the blood drawn by the lash
from an oppressed race, the people cannot
fail to believe that the negro has rights
which God designs to compel white men
to respect.
Though Gods ways are not as mans
ways, nor His thoughts as man 8 thoughts,
and though His judgments are pas, find
ing out, yet lie has furnished in His
word lessons for our instruction, and has
revesled the principles of HIS govern
ment aud given US practical illustrations
of the application of those principles 10
the history of the world. The jud smenis
Of God are far-reachiug and make tre-
nendous sweep over the ages, and require
OF single generation all the righteous
blood she'd upon the earth, from righ hleous
Abel to the sinless Savior Of the world.
All are familiar with that portion Of
tacred history which details the wonder
ful judgments of G5d on the people Of
Egypl for the sake of an oppressed race
whose cry, because Of their oppression,
reached the ear Of the Most High. But
there is another instance Of Bible history
in which Gods judgments were sent on
the people of Israel, on account of tie
treatment of subject race in their midst,
the circumstances OF which are not so
familiar to our readers When Joshua
invaded Canaan he destroyed all the ma
tions that opposed him, and the terror Of
his arms spread to neighboring people.
The Gibeonites, who feared to withstand
him, sent ambassadors who deceived hin
with the pretence that they came from
distant country, and induced him to en-
ter into q treaty Of peace with them.
When Joshua subsequently, discovered
the deception that had been practiced
upon hiD, he spared the lives Of the
Gibeonites, but reduced them to state OF
vassalsge or serldom, and SO they re-
mained an inferior race 10 the midst OF
Israel for many generations,
During the latter part of the reign of
David a severe famine prevailed through
out the land for three years, till finally
David, recognizing it as a judgment of
the Lord on the land. inquired wherefore
it was sent; and the Lord answered, SIT is
for Saul and for his bloody house," be-
cause Saul, during his reign, had treated
the Gibeonites with great cruelty.
Thereupon David consulted the Gibeon-
ties, and it was decided to hang seven
persons of the house of Saul. his grand
sons, and "after that God was entreated
for the land"
Now, if this desolating war, with all its
miseries and calanities, fell upon the land
on account Of the oppressed race in our
midst, does it not become US to do full
justice TO the resroes, and to visit con-
disn punishment upon those who plotted
rebellion in order 10 establish tyranny on
the stcorner stone" of human slavery.
Ii now, that God has given us the yicio
ry and the rebellion is overthrown and
the rebels sutjagated, we shall fail to pun
ish the bloody slaveholding chiefs of rebel
dom, aud recognize the manhood Of the
colored race, will God be cntreated for
the land? Will not our children have to
contribute of their blood to make good
the measure of the retribution which God
may require of the land
At ala events, tho duty Of this genera
tion is plain. Traitors have incurred the
just penalties prescribed BY our Cons.itu.
ton and laws for treason, and it is the