Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-06-07

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may 10 agony of spirit ask, Watehmauj
what of the night7 The auswer will then
be- eternity! Down deep into the dark
night Of woe he may sink, and after ages
and Cycles of ages shall have rolled by, he
may rise upon its dark surface once moro,
and with utter despair engraved upon his
soul, cry, lPatchn,an, 0 Ratchman,, .ohat
| Of tbs nighH! aud the the same answer
shall be heard, Eternity! and the dark walls
Of perdition will echo back the answer,
eternityl eternitys D what terrible night
| Who Of this audience will experience ii?
Let US this day thank God, for the Gospel
Of His Son, that hos made known to us the
way to escape these terrible evils. .'a,al9
Ill. LET US CONSIDER THIS QUESTION
| AND ANSWER IN REFERENCE TO OUR OWN.
BELOVED STATE.
We arc called together, by Governor
Hampton, the chief executive Of our Sta.e,
to make o public, natioual acknowledgment
Of our blessings, to return thanks to AL
! mighty God for them, the gifts of His grace,
and to pray for his continued favors aud
protection.
Sixteen years ago, tho booming of cannon
was heard around Fort Sumter. Then
waited on tue wings of the wind, oame the
murderous cry, "ltase it, rose it, even to the
foundations thereof" and Columbia me, as
sad fate as Jerusalem of DID, Civil war
was declared, and brother must stain his
garment with the blood of brother. Five
long years our soldiers stood as q wall Of
defense for tho nations lifo. Five long
years our State was hemmed 10 from tho
outside world. Five long years we wero
engaged 10 bloody war. Tho cry of the
widow and orphan was heard in wailing
accents through tho land-the blood of tho
worthy and noble flowed like q river-eur
towns were pilaged, our fields destroyed,
our houses burnt OF was terrible night
Of ufilctiou! What amount Of property was
wasted! What anxiety was experienced!
What forebodings. parazing tho confidence
Of firm friends! What valuable lives i'm
molate1 upon the altar of our country!
Wave after wavo of afliotiou. tho last moro
fearful than the former, rolled mountain
high over tho land. The dark cloud of war
hung heavily, like terrible incubus, upon
the national heart.
The morning camc. The olive branch of
peace waved where wars deadly weapons
glittered. What would have been tho
result, had victory perched on the Southern
banner, or whether VIC would have had
political virtue to sustain an independence,
will now never be known. The day Of
peace has dawned, tho sun of liberty is fast
rising in tho political armament, and may
God forbid its setting in another night OF
war.
Following this dark night of war, was
another, possibly moro dismal than the
former-a night of usurpation, corruption
and misrulc. Carolinas noble sons were
set aside for the stranger, in the admiuis--
tration of her laws-excessive taxation
plundcred the State-old customs and laws
wcg pronounced antiquated and were
removed for pew ones-a system of eepion-
age, cunningly devised, was us cunningly
cxocuted-our legislative halls gave evidence
of boldncss, ignorance and depravity-poit-
ioal preference was in the power of political
demagogues--fear and anxiety pcrvaded
the State-property, life, and virtue were
inseoure-and vice and immortality ran
rampant through the State A voice is
heard from every county, town and hamlet,
from mountain to seaboard, Watohman, what
of the night? The answer is returned from
tho high towers Of the State, it is echoed BY
the sea, along hor rivers, on her hills,
through her wales. in rural homes, and in
populous citcs--hc morning cometh!i
If 20 will inquire, inquire ye, return, come.
Are there no stars in the political firma.
ment, that indicate approaching day7 Are
the bright beams light iluminatiog the
Eastern horizon3 VINO held in check the
angry passions Of the human heart, during
the last contest for the gubernatorial chairf
See these gatherings around our standard
bearer, from the base Of the Blue Ridge to
tho City by the Sea. What means this
great return to the industrial pursuits of tho
State2 What means this large audience
here to day? Contemplate the gatherings Of
a joyful people, in hundreds Of oonsecratcd
tcmples, directing their thoughts III humble
gratitude, whittier their stccples point.
Would you inquire? Lot me point you to
those bright stars: "Economy and IPonbe
Rule" They tell you plainly: tho morning
comoth! Yes, the morning oometh, and
also tho night, and tho result of thot MONT
We will leave in tho hands of Him, who
does all things we'll. ".rho Judge of all the
earth will do right"
Moro than two thousand years ago tho
the inquiry came from ldumea: "Watoh.
man, what Of the nigh:?" and the answer
was heard, "the morning. cometh, and also
the night" Not only does inspiration
assure US, but the pages Of profane hfstory
declare, chat the morning came and also tho
night, for Jerusalem was rebuilt, but whero
is Edom2 That samo Inquiry ~ mado
at tho present day, and whether 10 REFER
enoe to the world, tho Southern ohrfoh, or
la ANA m vfaI