Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-11

From the Religious Herald.l

civil ConflCf, N the t0nleoerate5 bhouto
fail 70 gain their Independence" They did
fail bul whether she was preserved from
the threatening vortex Of infdelity, we are
not informed. That some persons have had
their confidence in the reality, wisdom and
recfitude Of experimenting Providence
greatly weakened. and that many more have
had their faith sorely tried, by the issues Of
the war. we have had abundont evidence
In order 10 correct this evil, we must trace
il 10 It's source.
Never were people more generally and
firmly united in opinion, than were the
people Of the South, in the persuasion that
the cause Of the Ccnfederacy was righteous.
II is not cur purpose 10 discuss the sound
ness of this opinion. But right or wrong, il
was held With clearness of conviction. that
no logic Of events could obscure. Il was
taught in every Southern paper. and in
almost every Southern pulpit, that the
Justice Of the Confederate cause must
ensure its success. God, il was said,
is righteous. and he will not permit
people in good and noble struggle 10 fail
of success. A few there were who, while
maintaining that the Southern cause was, IN
the main. right, denied that its rectitude
furnished any security for IFS final triumph,
but their words, being uncongenial with the
popular spirit and sentiment, were little
needed. Any unwelcome suggestions ofthis
kind was met by an appeal 70 the projections
Of God, the equity Of his providence, and the
history OF his dealings with his saints in
past ages. Never did a people more gener-
ally or confidently expect success, in great
and unequal conflict, than did the Confeder-
ates. But the crush came with overwhelm-
ing weight. Their cherished hopes were all
n al IL
forced upon their minds that their lavish
expendi ture of treasures and Of blood had
been vain, and more than vain. The blow
that overthrow the Confederacy, shook their
faith in the righteous providence Of God.
There is evidently mistake somewhere.
Either the Confederate cause was wrong, or
Providence does not always favor the right
side. Let US calmly, and in the light of rev.
elaiion, examine the matter "Shall not the
Judge Of all the earth do rightT Let us not
impeach the wisdom, equity and goodness Of
God, TO vindicate our own conduct. We
should cheerfully admit that the South may
have been In fault in the late disastrous war;
This is simply an admission that man is fall
lible. The issue of the contest has shed no
light on its moral character. Our convic-
tons have undergone no notifications from
the failure Of the Southern cause; but il is
due TO the infirmity of our nature 10 ac-
knowledge that our judgments may be
warped by educational or sectional preju-
dices, OF by the unholy passions which have
been aroused in the fratricidsl strife. If we
have erred IN Judgment, let it be our
earnest prayer that God may show us our
error, make us humble, and lead us in the
right way.
But believing that the Confederate cause
waa righteous, we need not have our conf
dence in Divine Providence shaken by its
failure. 1t will certainly not be pretended,
by any sound fheologian, that, in this world,
right Invariably triumphs over might. The
world has ever been filled with injustice,
rapine and oppression. Our Divine Lord
himself was arrested, condemned and cruci-
fed by wicked men. His disciples were
taught 10 expect persecution, with its chains
prisons, racks and fires, as their portion in
this life; and they were not deceived.
What Is true Of individuals is true Of ma
tons. 1t Is the testimony of history, in
spired and uninspired, that great nations
overrun and Cypress weak ones. The con-
quest Of Mexico by the Spanish was with
out shadow of right-an act Of I'M.
mitigated wrong and barbarity. Great and
CRYING evils have been inflicted on the
Indians, by the mercenary, the cruel and the
strong. That truth and Righteousness will
finally triumph, we have no doubt; but it is
one Of the mysteries of Providence, that in
this world, and for season, they are per-
mittcd 20 be obscured and perverted.
Does God then aillict the innocent? Ger
tainly not Whether right or wrong in
their political contest, the people of the
South were grievous offenders against God.
BY their pride, sel6shness, injustice, and inn
piety, they have provoked Him. and de-
serve ali the chastisemenis with which He
has visited them. Whether secession was
rebellion against benifcent Government,
az Il is commended at the North, or legiti-
mate assertion Of inalienable rights, as il is
believed nj the South, we had causelessly re-
belled against the Supreme Ruler, and the
"bess Of ali Governments@ and our DESC
lated. poverty-stricken country bears testi-
mony to his Just displeasure against us, as
do the preservation of our lives, and orr
many remaining mercies, 10 his long suffer-
ing and forbearance.
But. Il may be stated, were not our con-
querers as guilty before God as we were?
Perhaps they were. They might have
been more so. These are questions which
only Omniscience can decide. But is it not
true. TINT God often employs the guilty TO
chasiise the guilty? The King of Assyria,
proud. despotic, cruel monarch, con-
auered the hypocritical and corrupt king
doms around him but was only the
rod of Gods anger and the staff Of
His lust Indignation. When he had
accomplished Gods righteous purposes then
he punished " the fruit Of the stout heart of
the King Of Assyria, and the glory of his
high looks lisa. x. 5--l2. God employed
the North as a rod for the correction Of the
South. He now holds that rod in his hand;
but what disposition he viii make Of il, when
he shall have completed his work Of corree-
ton, none can forssee. He may be provoked
by haughtiness, prohigacy and abuse OF
power, 10 break il 10 pieces and cast II away
In his anger. The truth is, Gods ways are
too deep, 200 vast too complicated for our
comprehension. We should stand in awe,
and know that he is God Prosperity is no
sire mark Of his favor, nor adversely Of his
displeasure. ~.
The conclusion Of the matter is, that there
Is nothing in the issues OF our late unhappy
and rrinous war to change our views as TO the
rectitude of the Southern struggle Tor indie
nendence. but much TO modify our opinions
az 70 the wisdom of it--nothing 10 impair
our confidence in the equity and kindness OF
Divine Providence, but much 20 lead us TO
earnest differentiation, and profound hui
initiation before God-nothing to discourage
MS in our efforts to secure for ourselves, or to
impart to Others, the blessings of glorious
Immortality, but much TO teach us the worth
lessness and uncertainty Of all earthly good
nothing 10 damp the fervor of our zeal in
the service of God, but much to make us
sscease from man whose breath is in his
nosirils." t..,,..
puOpoSED CHANGES or METHOD.
ISM.
DIR. A. L. p. Green, an individual well
known and of considerable personal popular
ity among Southern MethodistsS proposes to
tbeTennessee and other Conferences what
the Southern Christian Advocate calls alarm
ing radical change for the action OF the
NEXT General Confereace. DIR. Green's mem
orial proposing these changes wasnot adopt
"a but Il shows a feeling OF unrest among
our Methodist brethren. Someof them We
know sympathize with the movement still
the great majority Of them, we doubt not
viii Oppose It.
y without intending 10 discuss the matter
or express any opinion, we simply state a.
matter of news that the great evil which lsr
Green desires 70 correct, is that multltude'
hro,,ebt under divine influence by the Meth
le-.o.., :.;.tr,r do mi mite with Methodist