The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1866-10-24
TO MY BRETHREN IN THE MINISTRY OF
RECONCILIATION.

countless stars which hang all over the
immensely Of space are only SO many SHIN
ing provinces Of His illimitable domain.
In the exercise of His gracious and un.
comfortable sovereignty He has selected
this revolted planet on which we live-the
only rebel in the great family OF worlds
which He has created-as the theatre on
which TO display the wonders Of redeeming
love. In the apportionment OF this earth
among the nations of men lie has caused
the lines to fail for US in pleasant places,
and has given US goodly heritage. He
has vsnchsafed TO US an ancestry OF which
any peoples might be justly proud. In the
beautifulalanguage Of an eloquent patriot
and statesman, "He sifled three kingdoms
10 order to furnish this western wilderness
with the choicest OF the wheat" tie In.
spired and inclined our iorefathers, of
precious and glorious memory. T. pronounce
these colonies free and independent States.
Through His blessing their patriotism and
valor were crowned with glorious and
triumphant success. he has giyea Us a
government, too, which. by the happy union
Of liberty and energy which is found in it,
preserves US from the horrors Of despotism
on The one hand. and from feroclous IL
cen tiousness-mors to be dreaded than
despotism itself-upon the other. He has
caused TO be unsealed in every portion Of
our land, the fountains Of literature and
religion which are sending forth streams to
make not only earth but Heaven glad. He
has enabled US to grow aud prosper with
unparalleled rapidity 10 all the elements OF
true greatness. SO that We stand forth al
this moment proudly eminent among the
nations of the earth. But because of our
iagratitude and disobedience 10 His just
and righteous bshssts lie has permitted
war, angry war, TO unsheath his glittering
sword aud drench our fertile fields with
fraternal blood, and cause the wall of lamen :
tation to he heard from thousand sad
dened hearts and darkened homes throagh-
out the length and breadth Of our once
happy land.
But now war has ceased his work of blood
and death. aud mas lifted his iron heel from
the bleeding and throbbing heart Of the
nation, and peace, heavenly peace. has re-
turned, robed in The vestments Of ligat aud
love, to comfort and bless cur sorrowing
and weary land with her presence aud her
gifts. Shall we, with ayerled face, refuse
TO look upon her lovely form Or bow to re-
ceive her gracious bsnefactions While
throwing aside the weapons VI strife. oil
stained with fr4ternal blood, shall ~e con.
tinue to cherish feelings Of hatred and a.
version towards each other! Shall We for
get that peace has her trophies and tri
uuphs as we'll as war; Nay !; but let Us, an
bassadors Of the Prince Of Peace. hesten to
each others arms and repeat with grateful
hearts the song which vas sung by angelic
choirs on the s,ar-lit plains Of Bethlehem,
Glory to God in the highest, on earth
peace, good will towards men,"
Entertaining these feelings and sentl-
men,s you will not be surprised to learn
that have looked with absorbing interest
10 the actions and the results Of the Con-
sentlon which recently held is session 10
the city of my nativity. When | saw the
delegates from Massachusetts, and South
Carolina. representative States Of The North
and the South, recently IN the bloody con
! Aist with each other, entering the Convex.
ton arm and arm, thus proclaiming 10 the
county aad the world by significant, and
appropriate act that they we're no longer
enemies but friends, tears Of gratitude aud
JOY came unbiddsn to ny eyes, and ! SAID
10 nv heart, the dawn Of the millennium
is surely upon Us.
/ Aside from considerations Of high per-.
sona regard for the President, for We
served together in the Lalcyon days Of the
Republic under the sane msjestice dome,
he at the forum aud | al the altar, am
constrained to record my fullest confidence
10 his is,esriiy, and ny i0tlre conviction
that, 10 inaugurating his present policy Of
recon struction, he is animated BY the pur.si
patriotism, and il simply reasserting the
sublime sentiment Of ais illustrious pre- u.
cessof-" The Federal Union must be pre-
served" SO far, At least, as this grave aud