Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-12-12
A NATIONAL THANKSGIVING DIS
COURSE.
BY REV. ABEL SILVER.
DEcEMBER z, 1866.

The President of the United States has set
apart this 9Th day of December, 1865, as a
day of Thanksgiving and praise to Almighty
God for His manifold blessings; and partic-
ularly for His merciful providence over us
as nation in relieving us from war, and re-
storing TO us ''peace, unity and harmony,
with great enlargement of civil liberty"
Let Us then glance, to-day, at some Of the
leading features of our national character,
and of Gods peculiar Providence in pro-
tecting us in the preservation of that char
acter, that we may the better know how to
thank and praise Him.
"Ofer unto God thanksgiving; and pay
thy vows to the Most High. "-Ps. L. IA.
This is the Heavenly Fathers command.
1t is spoken in mercy and good will.
And no people or nation, in any age or
country was ever more loudly called upon to
render that thanksgiving, than the people of
the United States are at the present time
For wisely has the Divine Providence over
ruled the events of the last four years for the
general good of humanity and the promising
peace and prosperity of our endeared coun-
try.
And surprised is the world at the pacific
results, the ready reconciliation, and the
hopefdl prospects of national unity, harmony
and strength. And astonished are we our
selves at the immensity of our resources,
and at the easy way and manner in which
the hountiful Providence has supplied the
means of life and action; and at the pros
perity which has attended us, and the little
distress we have felt and are now feeling, for
the comforts of life, the means Of commerce,
and the want of money. How then should
our hearts swell with gratitude and thanks
giving, TO the Merciful Father, for these
blessingsl
History affords no parallel to this wonder
full state of things, And well it may not, fol-
history has had no such circumstances to re-
cord: it has had no such free, intelligent,
enlightened Republic, in intestine war, to
place upon its pages And the whole. event
most emphatically shows to the world the
mastery powers of a free people. 1t shows
with what intelligence, facility and energy
such people, when in trouble among them
selves, will weigh and investigate their diff
culties, and promptly act, knowing the true
principles of government, the worth of theii
country and the rights and privileges of com
mon citizenship. Such people, with sucl
government, country, climate, soil ant
natural productions as God has given us, 81
long as they are temperate, revering til,
Lo7d and fearing not man, such people cal
never be conquered.
And now, when peace is restored, and w
calmly look at the result in all Its bearings
whatever may have been mans forme
views as to where lay the blame of our diai
culdes, OF on which side soever justice stood
he must now acknowledge, if he believes il
a Divine Providence, that the matter ha
been settled, in the best possible way, unde
the circumstances, for the good of mankind
All, therefore, North and South, East an,
West, who love the Lord, may this day
with united hearts and voices, offer unto Co
thanksgiving and pay their VOWS to the Mos
high, for the blessings of this day. For i
is He that has led and sustained US througI
all our troubles, and brought us again to th
enjoyment of peace, and to promising pros
perity, virtue, order and happiness.
We can not only give to Him our unite
and hearty thanks as one great and fre
people, for His marked Providence over us
during this bloody day of trial, in not a
$ lowing our diversity of views and feelings t
rend us asun1er so as to make two nation
; of country so wisely located and prop
ciously formed and furnished, for the unity
strength, usefulness and happiness of on
people, but we may also thank Him for T,
moving from us the apparent cause of OIL
dissensions, that we may now, when the el
j citement is over, and the dreadful scenes I
0 human suffering are silently spread out
living history before us, have an opportunit,
3 in cool contemplation, to examine into, ,weig
ID and remove the real cause of our calamity
the dissentious spirit itself-which, in e
sence, is the love Of self and the world; th