Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-12-31
HENRY WARD BEECHER,s THANKS
GIVING SERMON.

HENRY WARD BEECHER'S
GIVING SERMON.
The following extracts from Henry
Ward Beecher's Thanksgiving Sermon,
delivered in his church, id Brooklyn,
goth of November, will be read with in
terest
THE PAST REvIEwED.-For more than
thirty years the conscience of the nation
has been under the Lord-and in spite
of all plausible ~persuasionS, and all
compromises, and all policies and bar
pains-the conscience of the nation has
been educated to an active adherence
of slavery, and to a fiery love Of real lib
erty. This reformation, by all its to-
kens and results, was manifestly of God.
Commerce rose against it, but could
not stay the spirit. The Church sought
to quiet it, but it was itself seized and
converted into an engine Of excitement.
The political parties Joined hands to
bury Liberty. 1t arose from its sepul-
cher and overthrow its enemies with ut
ter confusion. 1t was the public senti-
ment of this nation that made the slave
States too uncomfortable for endurance.
The lurld "fanaticism" Of the Nortt
burned in their air like torrid heat.
Will this advance in national conscience
be lost? Are we in danger Of going
back on our convictions? We form
erly believed that the salvation Of the
North depended upon the patronage of
| the South. When the South scowled,
New York grew sad. When the plants-
| ton threatened, Wall street trembled.
We have lived for some years not only
| without Southern ~favors, but with Il 81
| gantic war upon our shoulders. Are
we likely to forget u struggle? On
Thanksgiving Day, 1861, fifteen States,
arrogant and confident, dictated terms
to the nation. IL we did not fear them
in the flush of power, shall we tremble
now that they are broken down in war,
in commerce, in agriculture, and are
| asking food and raiment of the Govern
ment which they aimed to destroy, to
| save hundreds Of thousands of their
people from death? Go back to the
opening of the war-the scrupulosity
| with which government denied that
| slavery was to be touched-the conduct
! Of our Generals in returning slaves to
| rebel masters - the reluctance with
which the nation and its then doubling
President approached the question of
liberating the slaves-the fear and hesi-
fancy with which they were called to
| arms, and compare these experiences
with the temper and discussions Of to-
| day, when universal emancipation is
| written in the Constitution Of the Unit
| ed States-when, by the State Legisla-
lures, these chattelS are raised to
hood, their rights recognized, and the
law thrown around them.
WHAT REMAINS TO BE DoNE.-Bear in
| mind that hereafter the law of ditfused
| and ind~ividualized labor is to bear
sway. Before, it was concentrated and
generalized labor. Farms will increase
in numbers and diminish in size. Plan
tations will gradually disappear. La
boring men, more and more, will give
tone to legislation. The interests Of
labor in every Republican State will, in
the end, control the statute book and
| public sentiment. The few owned labor
before; the many do now. All that
power which the governing class held
will, following labor still, be distributed
to the industrious masses. What do we
want? Whatever are the conditions of
readmission, let them be speedy. 1t is
not half so important what the cor
| ditious are, as that they should be de-
termined and accepted, and the ques-
tons appertaining be removed. Legis-
lation has no power except to open the
way for natural and moral causes to act.
Legislation is like a doctor and his med
icine. The cure is the patient. His
own system must cast out the disease.
Next engage the Southern people in po-
litical economy rather than politics.
And, fundamental to all other things,
set on foot Christian education. With
this you will sooner or later compel
whatever is just and right. Without
this no legislation and no institutions
can avail. This duty God sends in
mercy as the counterpoise of that vast
prosperity which is setting in upon this
land, and which, without the inspira-
ton of some grand moral duty, will en-
danger our virtue, materialize our taste
and send slumber upon our religious
zeal. Never in my lifetime had we so
much to be thankful for-so little to
cloud the horizon with fear-so hopeful
a future, and a present SO full Of vital,
grateful duty.