The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1866-04-12

ate Civil War asan especial interference
# Divine Providence intended for the
Liberation of the African race and that
the Abolition party of the North was
raised up as His particular instrument
to effect that purpose. We are willing
to admit that He may have designed the
eventual freedom of the African race in
our midst, as he does of all other races
but we are not prepared to admit that it
was His will that such object should
only be attained through dreadful scenes
of blood and carnage. 1t is undoubted-
ly true that wars, as well as every thing
else that takes place in this world, are
subject to natural and moral laws or
dained of God; but it does not follow
that they come Of His divine purpose,
save as a punishment for the errors and
imperfections of men; in the same man
ner as He'll itself may be said to be an
institution permitted of Heaven, into
which sinners thrust themselves against
every restraint.
st. James says whence come wars
and fighting among you, come they not
hence, even Of yourlusts ?" Now, when
we come to try the late Civil War by
this standard, we find that the North,
dissatisfied with the slow working Of the
peaceful mode Of the extinction Of slave
ry under the operation of natural laws,
and LISTING for political power, deter
mined to turn this moral irrepressible
conflict into a political one; and, with
out regard to the equal rights of the
Southern people, attempted the organi-
cation of a great political Northern party
for the express purpose of forcing their
anti-slavery notions upon the South
If it be alleged that neither were the
people of the South innocent in this be-
half, it still makes no difference in our
argument where the first error lies, as
it is only necessary to show that the war
was the result of folly, of evil passions
and misguided judgment; and that it is
impious to charge its concoction on high
Heaven, when it evidently proceeded
from much lower region.
We are inclined to believe with Ma
poleon LIST. that in War, "God helps the
heavy battalions," if he helps any and,
furthermore, that if the "battle is not al
ways to the strong" yet the Weah must
generally have the advantage of breast
works when they gain the victory. IF
God, having established his fixed laws,
cannot now be expected to interfere
with them often in a miraculous way,
even in behalf Of a just cause, we have
little reason to believe he would so in
terfere in war manifestly brought on
BY the bad passions and perverted judg-
nents of radical politicians on both sides.
During the war JEFF. Davis We'd with
Mr.. Lincoln in proclaiming fast days,
md in calling on their respective people
o invoke the favor of Heaven. Against
his we have no objection to make, as
10Th sides being much to blame they
ould not humiliate themselves in the
light Of offended Heaven too quickly or
90 much but we protest against that
lily vanity which makes any people
Tho have helped to bring on an unne.
essary war, imagine that they are the
ocular favorites of Heaven, and that
he Lord of Hosts is fighting on their
ide.
1t reminds us of an incident in histo-
=, which we once read of, that may be
appropriate here. Some hundred years
go formidable expedition was fitted
ut by the Southern European powers
} attack and capture Seaport on the
cast of Northern Africa, held by the
1ahometans. It was most powerful
eet and sailed under most Aattering
uspices-the Pope having gone to the
"a shore to bless the armada, and it
cling attended by the prayers of all
nristendom. At the same time, in all |
lie mosques, went up the prayers of the
Iithful Moslem to the same overruling |
rovidence for protection against the |
assault of their enemies
Vhen the feet had reached the middle |
the Mediterranean a violent storm
rose, wrecked many of the vessels, and |
the rest in such manner as to |
.use the abandonment of the whole ex-
edition. Now to whose prayers did
ne Almighty lend the most willing ear, |
nd in whose behalf did he design to
lterfere |? In our opinion, neither
he same winds which scattered hope
ssly the Christian feet were the result