Year: 1865

BY REV. VIM. JONES.


oAt what instant shall speak concerning nation
down and to destroy it; if that nation against whom
have pronounced turn from their evil, will repent
OF the evil that thought to do unto them:


"And at what instant shall speak concerning na-
ton and concerning kingdom to build and plant it,
then viii repent of the good Therewith said viii
/ benefit them .''-JEREluAH IS, 7-1O.


MAN is not left to grope his way in the
darkness of this life assisted only by the
| light of nature and the uncertain beacon
of human reason. In infinite mercy the
rays of divine truth have been thrown
upon his pathway, and his footsteps are
guided by the sunlight of revelation
By this he is taught his duty to his God.
The obligation resting upon him to his
felloW-man, and his responsibility to the
civil powers: that God holds him to a
strict account of his conduct here; and
that in the retriSutions of the eternal
world, impartial justice will render to ev-
cry one according to that he hath done in
the body But the object of this dis
course is not to discuss personal duty and
obligation.


On this day, set apart by the Chief Mag
istrate of the nation as one of humilia-
tion and prayer, it is the part of wisdom
in us to reverently turn to the record of
divine truth and ascertain how God deals
with nations.


Perhaps there is no truth more clearly
revealed in the Bible, than that God
showers blessings upon the people that
regard his laws and keep his command
ments; and that he lays his affecting rod
upon those who depart from him and set
at defiance his laws. The great truth is
taught in the Bible, that righteousness
exafteth nation; but sin is a reproach to
any people"


To-day we are called upon by our Chief
Magistrate to lay aside the ordinary avo-
cations of life, and repair to the temples
of the living God, who holds in his hands
the destinies of nations; and spend the
day in cOnRessing our sins, and humbling
ourselves before him, call upon his name
that we perish not. It is scarcely neces-
sary to advert to the reason why this
proclamation was made, and why we and
thousands of others, in obedience to it,
are found to-day in the sanctuary of God.
No fearful pestilence is ravaging the
country; no blasting famine, blowing
mildew and death from his shriveled lips,
is upon u.s. General health prevails, and
plenty pours throughout the land its
great abundance. And yet at this time
while health and plenty prevail, and
teeming nature groans with the richness
of a coming harvest-the chief magistrate
calls US to fasting and prayer. Though
blessed with exemption from pestilence
and famine, we have been afflicted with
war and its attendant train of evils. Over
four years ago, peace spread her wings
and fed from our shores, and hOrrid war
reared his fearful visage in the land, and
beneath his CORY hoof has been crushed
the bright hopes and glowing prospects of
thousands of peaceful families. And
just while we were rejoicing over the sue
cess of our arms, and congratulating each
other on the prospect of speedy peace,
the fendish spirit of our enemies, by the
agency of hired assassin, took the life
Of our beloved President. This is no
development of any new trait in the
southern character. There never has
been time in the history of our country
when the assassination of a man opposed
to the political domination of the slave
holders, was not held by the South to be
meritorious deed A tall monument
marks the honors bestowed upon Brooks
for his unprovoked and cowardly attack
upon Mr.. Sumner. Mr.. Foote said to
Mr.. Hale, in the Senate Chamber. that
if he would show himself in Mississippi,
! they would hang him to the nearest tree.
Assassination was freely talked of as
remedy for Mr.. Lincoln's election. No
southern organ was shocked at the plot to
murder Mr.. Lincoln four years ago, on
his way to Washington. And so much
did the opposition party at the North
sympathize with the South and partake
of its murderOus spirit, that they only
| mocked at the danger, and basely ridi-
culed the people for electing man the
South would murder; and an attempt to
kill him at the Inauguration, was looked
upon as matter of course. All this was
before the war. Since that time, the
assassination of the President has been
held up by all the southern journals as a
| deed for the coming hero Richmond
papers predicted that southern Brutus
would arise; and Chicago paper of the
same spirit declared, just before the cleo
ton last fall, that if 'the people could
not put Mr.. Lincoln out of power by the
ballot, they would by the bullet" A
price has been upon his head for the last
four years, and it is blasphemy to call
that a directive providence, for which
arrangements were systematically made,
and a common fund provided to pay the
perpetrator. The agents that canvassed
the country taking dime contributions
for the purpose of defraying the expenses
of Vallandigham while he waited and
watched over the border" put that into
the treasury and it constitutes a part of
the one hundred thousand dollars Booth
was to receive for the performance Of his
part of the bloody drama. All this is
! perfectly consistent with the southern
character, and in accordance with south
ern sentiment.


The question naturally arises, what
cause produced this sentiment at the
as naturally suggests itself. Slavery is
the chief if not the only cause. It is
vain to attempt to divert the thoughtful
| mind from the eVer-present truth that