Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-03-10
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siab{siGpfain IL kisJA t,Isl PI,;j<$i1E n II "A,
alslsa Aria We .ssowi tksi 10 salpa " AasteF and
Earth. He,hss also desiAFed, and We kHaw, tifbt He
IL a Just God. a.. srs'. -
Wa engaged IN Just cause--fessting those
who, for wealth, power and revenge, are trying to
dspossess US of.9nr county and property, and en-
slave our persons and minds. In this view, it is
between them and us, before God, not question of
reiatiye personal sinfulness. IL Is question of
justice between two sinners and judged by all
past history, by the facts of the original COLOMBIA.
tion Of this country; by the relations between the
colonies by the Articles OF Confederation aud The
Constitution ofthe United States their circumsau-
ccs, nature aud Objects Judged by the very theory
OF all Government, by all just laws, natural
vcaed, by nature aud lights men, and by the
eternal fitness OF things, arc in the right. Aud
judged 10y the same evidences, aud by their acts for
many years past, by their violations of truth, JUS
| tee aud mercy, aud by their declared intentions
our enemies are in the wrong, and we are justified
IN resisting them, 10y every means, TO the death, to
| humiliation ITSELF
Being then so right, and opposed by so much
wrong, We are warranted in presenting our cause
before God, and asking Him 10 Judge between us
In duplicating His mighty power for the sake Of
| Lis great name az u just God-and in saying to
Him with humility and reverence "Shall not the
Judge Of all the earth do right ?"
God Is also infuite in his goodness. ''The Lord
is mercitnl and gracious; slow to anger and plen-
teous in mercy. He will not always chide; neither
good, stronghold in the day of trouble" "The
Lord Is good TO all, His mercies are over all His
WORKS" And IN addition TO the absolute goodness
Fof his character he has specially promised To pre-
serve and bless those who, doing their duty spur
Ether tpgst in Him. And. besides all this He ma
sent his Son 10 establish in the earth righteous
universal and everlasting kingdom, in doing which
he will overcome all his eRemoS to then utter aud
final overthrow,
Il our elemies are oppressors. They are strong
II Is with them an unjust war, which they cease
when they will, They then canndt nplore Gods
goodness. But No are weak-we msrely seek TO
deieAd our liberty, our wives aud little ones, and
homes and affairs. To stop the War is not with u.s.
for we must defend ourselves. II would be con-
trary to the natural laws vi God if did not. lie
Il knows the strength OF our enemies. lie sees our
i distress and our extremity, our desolated homes
i our Tayaged land, our suffering people, and, his
oppressed and weak creatures, we can invoke His
goodness: and, engaged IN cause approved by His
lava We mnst nut orr iTust N Hin tor what 9th
| er hope can we haye' No help can come from
&npad or from within but by Ills Will.
/ rs a government and as people We do put our
trust in Him and il we do, may pray with the
certainty that He will keep His promises.
There never yet was a people in a condition in
/ which they could with more prOpriety plead-then
4 cause with God. implOre his goodness and mercy,
and say with job /" Though he STAY me, yet will !
| trust in him but l will maintain mine OWN ways
before him"
We hNIhbly acknowledge before Him that We are
sinners-but not sinners above all other nations-
We contritely acknowledge that We deserve punish
ment--but not 10 tho ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and profit of
our enemies. We are told by them that We are sin
nerI above all others by being Shareholders. But
God has no where IN His word told us so-natural
laws and the fitness OF things do not convince Of
tall history, and the nnquestioning consent OF all
peoples liz the past, teach us the contrary. We are
i conScou. Of great, overwhelming national sins
which debar our pleading for pardon aad invoking
the goodness and mercy OF God lead us TO be-
| leve that il would advance ChTist's kingdom on
earth ~ REPLACE VS. in the land by inidel Yankees
| and Dutch. We are not Canaanites, nor are they
| the Lords chosen people.
| The justice of God, His goodness to the suffer-
n1 the truths OF His promises the cause OF Christ
| kingdom. our nature as men-all warrant Us in
praying for His help and having faith that if do
our duty it will be extended 10 u.s. Not only SO, We
would be guilty of the great sin Of unbeie-of vir-
tualy declaring Him unjust, His promises false,
/ His goodness = mOckery, His government sham,
and Ghrists mission q deluson, II We were, in the
face OF all these, to give up our cause, Ny subms.
sion OF by compromise, while life last, OF any or
ganization OF the elements OF that cause can posi-
| bly, exist.
Let I'd then pray. and do our dnty, witbdnt donbt
of the result. God Is true-true to His owr mature
Il and attributes-true 10 his promises-true To his
/ eternal purpose in sending Redeemer. His ways
/ are higher than our ways, and He may still more
give us the bread of adversely and the water Of at
lhictionbnt He waits that He may be gracious un-
i TO YOU and therefore will he be exalted that He
may have mercy upOu you for the Lord is God
| OF Judgment blessed all they that wait tor him
FIR the Lord will not cast aft forever but though
He cause gTiei yet will Ito have compassion accord
ing to the multitude Of his mercies. For He doth
not aiict willingly nor greve the children OF men
To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the
earth, TO turn aside the right of man before the
face of the most High to subvcrt man in his cause
the Lord approveth not. Let us lift up our hear
| with our hands unto God in the heavens. AnC
thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying
This is the way. walk ye in il, when we turn TO tht
right hand, aud when We turn to the left.-Is. 80
| Lam. 3, pdsSin,
| eHemies less,