^^-&^ ^ ' ■• ' A ^ * ^ « ^ ^^ V V o .^^ < < o .'^^ ^^ A' . s • l^ ^^ ^'-v. kV .f 0- v^^ SERMON IN REFERENCE TO THE STATE OF THE TIMES, PREACHED JULY 2, 1837, BY AMOS BLANCHARD, PASTOR OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, WARNER, N. H. PUBLISHED BY REQUEST CONCORD: PRINTED AT THE OBSERVER PRESS. 1838. IN EXCHANGE K-H.St.tlby. A SERMON. ** For when thy judgments are abroad in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.'' — Isaiah, 26 : 9. This passage teaches the general design of God, in in- flicting temporal judgments and calamities upon individuals, communities, and nations. it is to make them feel their dependance on him, and show them the bitter consequences of violating his laws either by omission or commission. This effect is produced, however, only when followed by repentance and reformation. For it should ever be borne in mind, that temporal evils, and sufferings, however great, are never intended as an atonement for sin. The design of God is, by the force of example, and a salutary fear, to produce repentance and reformation, both in individuals and nations. When God, therefore, plunges a nation into the horrors of war; or sends upon it " the pestilence that walketh in darkness, and the de- struction that wasteth at noonday ;" or cuts off the necessaries of life ; or produces severe pecuniory embarrassments ; the object is, that the " mighty man may no longer glory in his might, nor the wise man in his wisdom, nor the rich man in his wealth," but that all should learn to glory only in their knowl- edge of God, and their assurance of his favor and protection. It is wise then to observe the leadings of Providence, and to take occasion from passing events, to learn that righteousness which God designs to teach, by the judgments which mark any particular period of the age in which we live. Such a period is now passing before us. From every part of our highly favored country, we hear of unparalleled pecu- niary distress. A paralysis like that of death has come upon all the departments of commerce and industry. Confidence is impaired, and credit is shaken. Every man is suspicious of his neighbor ; and every one is in fearful suspense, as to the results. Is it not time my hearers, to pause, and ask ourselves, why, amidst so much apparent prosperity as our country was enjoying a few months ago, there should have been such a sudden and entire cliange, as to shake the whole system of society, — cause the failure of many hundieds and thousands supposed to be in possession of princely fortunes, and bring distress and destitu- tion upon hundreds and thousands more ? Here let us beware of ascribino; the present crisis to any but the true cause. Let us remember that however other and sec- ondary causes may have contributed to this result, the primary and ultimate cause is sin, which is a reproach to any people. It is that disregard of God, and his authority and institutions, of which, as individuals and as a nation, we have been guilty. We have double need of this caution at the present time, lest by attributing our distresses to political mismanagement, or overtrading, or extravagant expenditure, we are left to seek re- lief in those expedients which have respect only to our out- ward circumstances ; and not in that repentance and reforma- tion of heart and life, which alone can secure the blessing and protection of heaven. My hearers, the causes of our present embarrassments lie far deeper than any political oversights that may have been committed by our rulers ; or any increase of speculation among men of business ; or any enlargement of expenditure on the part of the people. The truth is, we as a nation have sinned against God with a high hand. Young as our nation is, we have seemed to vie with the nations of the old world in deeds of wickedness and rebellion. Though still in our youth, we have yet grown old in iniquity. Like Jeshurun, we have waxen fat and kicked, through the superabundance of our blessings. We have departed from the Lord and lightly esteemed the rock of our salvation. We have boasted of our intelligence, our institutions and our virtues, until we have made ourselves believe it was our own arm, and our own might, and our oivn ivisdom, which has procured for us all these things. Mean- time, vice and irreligion have come in like a flood, — Sabbath- breaking has become a national sin, — because of swearing the land mourneth, — intemperance still spreads ruin and desolation, — hundreds and thousands living within sight of the house of God, habitually absent themselves from public worship. To ease off the restraints of conscience and the autiiority of God, we have invited unprincipled foreigners to our shores, to retail among us tlie cold scepticism of Hume, the rabid blasphemies of Voltaire, and the indecent ribaldry of Paine," that we might draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope." Is it strange that a nation so highly favored as ours, and which has so often received sucfi signal interpositions of providence, should be visited with national judgments and calamities f Can we wonder that our crops have been destroy- ed by blasting, and mildew, and untimely frost — that the chol- era has been let loose to scourge us — and that now we feel the heavy load of pecuniary embarrassment and distress? Is it not more wonderful rather, that any vestige of our prosperity remains, and an opportunity atibrded for penitence and refor- mation ? Let us then, while his judgments are abroad in the earth learn righteousness. Let us in the first place learn 7iot to trust for safety to political changes. It has been the mistake of men in all ages to ascribe most of their difficulties and embarrassments, to political evils, and to trust to their removal as an effectual remedy. Now it may be affirmed with truth, that political changes either in men or institutions, are of no ]:>enefit whatever, only so far as they afford a fair chance, and hold out suitable inducements to men for the cultivation of the mind and heart, and to aspire to that station in society for which they are qualified by their talents and moral worth. Disconnected with this, civil liberty is a curse rather than a blessing. The great evil of despotic o-qv- ernments is, that they cramp the intellectual powers, and cor- rupt the morals of the people. But if you take from man his rational and immortal nature, and reduce him, as do Atheism and infidelity, to the condition of a mere animal, then of all animals he most needs the strong arm of despotism. He must be governed by force, just so far as he is not governed by rea- son, and conscience, and the authority of God. Because let his theory he what it will, man will never resemble a mere animal. If treated as such, he evinces his higiier nature, by becoming a demon, which you must chain and fetter, if you would preserve the race from annihilation. Bat if you confer upon him, as does Christianity, a rational and immortal nature, .hen he needs a plain field, and an open sky, where his powers may unfold and expand, and become assimilated to the society of that heaven to which religion proposes to raise her followers. This is the reason, and the only reason, why our free institu- tions are such inestimable blessings. Not because they give men more liberty to do wrong, but because they remove all restraint in the way ofivell doing. They leave us at libertv to use our time, and our property in the cultivation of our minds, and in the improvement of our moral virtues. So long as a man has no disposition to avail himself of these arlvantao-es in a proper manner, but perverts them to the gratification of iiis sensual appetites and passions ; so long as he pursues a course of licentiousness and dissipation, civil liberty instead of enhanc- in,^ his happiness, only renders him tenfold more wretched and mischievous. Our free, institutions have made no decidedly im- moral and irreligious man, one ivhii happier than he would have been 6 under the grinding despotisms of the old world. As it is with individuals so it is with nations. Hence we must not trust to })olitical changes for redress, but to education and religion ; remembering that political revolutions are beneficial only so far as they remove every impediment to the full developement of the intellectual and moral faculties. Where education and correct moral and religious principles are wanting, political changes always increase the miseries under which men groan. The experiment has been fully tried in France. Within half a century, France has changed her political constitution ten times, and her civil rulers much oftener, without increasing one iota the happiness of the people. The reason is, intelligence and sound morals are wanting. Their political institutions, de- prived of these life-giving principles, like a plant destitute of water at the root, have crumbled beneath their own weight, and sunk into premature decay. 2. We must not trust for safety to the success or defeat of any political jyaiiy. As the evil lies deeper than any misman- agement on the part of government, and is something over which government can have no direct control, so the elevation of any man, or set of men, to offices of trust and power, can never afford any thing more than temporary relief Besides party warfare, by its corrupting influence, only sinks the people deeper in vice, and draws upon them heavier judgments from God. I am an enemy to party contests of all kinds, both in the church and out of it. Because the motives made use of in mere party warfare, are always addressed to the worst passions of the human heart. Then every party, to be successful, has a great deal of dirty work to do, and tfiis dirty work must em- ploy minds and hands suited to the business. Such individuals will have no scruples in regard to measures ; and such mea- sures as they will use will always inflame and corrupt, till at last they break out into open violence, contempt of law, anar- chy, revolution and bloodshed. Moreover, we must remember that human nature is the same in every party. The mere adop- tion of the uniform of a party, therefore, does not make the coward brave, nor the traitor patriotic, nor the ambitious less fond of power, nor the unprincipled honest in the discharge of public duty. This renders it so easy in times of high political excitement for designing men to carry measures whose ruinous tendencies are felt for generations to come. The grand means by which party contests are carried on, are flattery and slander. O how greedily do men take in the sweet bait, which ascribes to their own side of the question, all the talent, virtue and pat- riotism in the land; while it heaps upon opposers every oppro- brious epithet in the language. Its operation is two-fold ; it fosters pride and gratifies malice. Thus this praise of self, and detraction of others, is carried on, till political parties come at last to love every thing which is labelled with the favorite name ; and to hate every thing to which their leaders have given an opposite designation. In this way republics have always been cheated out of their liberties. For it has been truly remarked, if you wish to " seal up a man's eye close as midnight, you have only to flatter his weak side, and then you may lead him where you please." Men in masses love flattery as well as individuals, and are much more easily duped. 3. We must learn not to trust to any measures ivhich hold out the jjrospect of the sudden acquisition of great ivealth. — " The love of money," says St. Paul, " is the root of all evil." Any measures, therefore, which promise the speedy acquisition of great wealth, are sure to excite an unnatural activity in all the departments of commerce and industry. The consequence is, over-trading, desperate speculation, high living, extravagant expenditure for a season, followed by the most ruinous reac- tion. The Bible says " he that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house," and he that hasteth to be rich shall not be inno- cent." Never is this seen so clearly as when a season of much apparent prosperity is followed, as at present, by great pecuni- ary embarrassment and distress. While such as have been content with honest gains, and a frugal expenditure, weather the storm, those that have too much enlarged their business and their mode of living, are sure to be overwhelmed and crushed, under the edifice which their folly had erected on such a sandy foundation. Let us not expect relief then, from any measures which hold out the prospect of the sudden acquisition of great wealth. For rest assured that men whose ruling passion is the love of gain, have not grown one whit wiser by the recent pressure of our pecuniary aflairs. Hold out to-morrow the same inducements, and they would as greedily run into the same extravagancies. The world learnt nothing from the ex- plosion of the South Sea bubble, nor the failure of Law's Mis- sissippi scheme ; neither has it been instructed by speculating in Maine Lands, or Western city lots. 4. JVeither must ive trust to the combination of one portion of the community against the other. Nothing can be more utterly wicked and diabolical, than eftbrts on the part of any man, or set of men, to array the poor against the rich, or the rich against the poor ; or the commercial, manufacturing and agricultural interest against each other. If we want to turn the milk of concord into gall and bitterness, and produce a state of things in this land, at the report of which, both the ears of him that heareth it shall tingle, let inflammatory appeals continue to be made to the pride, envy, jealousy and malignity of tlie heart, in respect to men's various interests and relations* For instance, let the farmer and mechanic be taught to look upon the merchant and professional man with ill-will and sus- picion ; let the merchant and professional man be made to regard the farmer and mechanic, with dislike and contempt ; let the rich despise the poor, and the poor look with an envious and malignant eye on the possessions of the wealthy, and not one half century will elapse before such dreadful scenes will occur in our country as will have no parallel in history. For my own part, I have no sympathy with that mean, vulgar pride which induces a man of property or learning, to treat the la- boring man with contempt ; nor with the jealousy, envy and malignity of the laboring man in respect to one whose business requires him to appear in a more expensive dress than I can afford to wear. This arraying the interests of one portion of the community against the other, in order to preserve a proper balance, is like producing such a state of suspicion and ill-will in a neighborhood, that each man would stand at his own door, gun in hand, to protect his property, and prevent the encroach- ment of his neighbors. He might protect his life and property perhaps, for a season ; but then in such circumstances neither would be scarcely worth preserving. When kindness, confi- dence, and mutual feelings of respect and affection are de- stroyed, what else remains is of little vvorlli. If in a free country, I cannot live among my friends and neighbors on terms of free and friendly intercourse ; if I cannot work, trade, study and pursue any honest and lawfulcalling in a proper manner, with- out continual attempts on the part of base unprincipled men to excite against me the jealousy, envy, and ill-will of my fellow- citizens, then let me come at once under an iron despotism, where I shall be exposed to only one tyrant, instead of millions. For my own part I prefer the dead calm of despotism, to the seethings and bubblings of a witch's cauldron. 5. Let us learn, moreover, not io trust to any changes in our local situation or employments. Since man was expelled from Eden, he has been looking over the earth to find that par- adise which he lost at the fall. When, therefore, things do not meet his expectations in one place,or his business does not pros- per to his mind, he thinks a change in his location or employ- ment will improve his condition. He does not reflect that the difficulty is in his own heart ; and that, go where he will, he will carry that repining discontented heart with him. My hearers, be not deceived in this matter. The old latin proverb contains a deal of sound wisdom, " Happiness is not in the place, but in the mind." Go where you will, so long as you remain 9 an enemy of God, and are not perfectly resigned to liis will, you will always find something out of joint. Believe me my friends, there is just as much poverty and discontent in Ohio as in New-Hampshire. Men find just as much fault with the weather - are just as anxious about short crops and high prices on the Mississippi and Potomac, as tho farmers of New-England. Sin, sickness, misery, and death, abound there to as great, if not greater degree, than here. Go any where, to the sunny climes of the south, or the fertile vales of the west, or even to heaven itself — change your condition as often as you will, and you will find, if you do not love God, nor fear, nor obey him, that you have not added one iota to the sum of your happiness, nor sweetened any of the trials and aflflictions to which flesh is heir to. We must therefore, 6. Learn to place all our hopes of relief from impending evils, in that righteousness that txalieth a nation. Here let us be careful not to lose ourselves in a crowd, nor merge our m- dividual criminality and responsibility, in the responsibilities and guilt of the nation. The nation is made up of individuals, and our national sins are upheld and perpetuated by the coun- tenance and support they receive from individuals. Reforma- tion, then, to be thorough and effectual, must commence with individuals. Does any one ask, " What can I do .''" The an- swer is plain. You must " break off your sins by righteous- ness, and your iniquities by turning unto the Lord." You must repent, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and learn to seek your happiness in things above, and not in things on the earth. You must remember that so long as you are not a christian, so long your influence and example, are in some measure, lent to extend and perpetuate the evils we now suffer. You must feel that as you have sinned as one of the nation, so, as one of the nation you must repent, before reformation will be complete. That as you have had some share in drawing down the curse, so by your repentance and reformation, you may have some share in effecting its removal. Spend not then this precious opportunity in railing against the rulers of the land, against the opposite party in politics, against monopolists, speculators and men of different occupations with yourselves. We must recol- lect that a portion of this guilt lies at our own door, and in no better way can we serve our country, than to remove it by timel) repentance and reformation. In this way we shall do our country a more effectual service than by our votes at the polls, or the voluntary exposure of our lives in battle for her defence. The true christian is the only true patriot. He serves his country in all the relations of life, without any draw- back. He feels the blessed effects of his example, his influence, lO and his prayers. In seasons of public calamity and distress, when men's hearts, as at present, are failing them for fear, he stands, like Moses, in the breach to turn away the wrath of offended heaven. Thus to the very man whom the ungodly hate, and deride, and brand perhaps as a hypocrite, does the world owe Her sunshine and lier rain, her blooming spring And plenteous harvest, to the prayer he makes. When Isaac like, the solitary saint Walks forth to meditate, at eventide, And think on her who thinks not on herself. 7. We must use our hifluence to extend to the whole communiiy the benefits of an education based on the moraliiy of the Bible. Education and true religion are indispensable to the safety of our political edifice. When united they constitute the life-blood of the body politic. A most insidious effort, how- ever, has been made, and is making, to separate religion and education, under pretence of discountenancing sectarian- ism and preventing a union of church and state. Hence the Bible has been banished from most of our common schools, and teachers, in some instances, have been forbidden to pray with or speak to their pupils on the subject of religion. Strange infatuation ! that republicans should banish a book from their primary institutions of learning, which contains the only sys- tem that effectually meets the wants and guards the rights of the great mass of mankind. Civil and religious liberty has found no place for the sole of the foot on the wide earth, except where the Bible is in the hands of the common people ; and where it is studied, and in some measure loved and obeyed. — But we, it seems, are growing wiser. We have begun to dis- card the wisdom of heaven, and are resorting to the editors of party Newspapers and party leaders, for instruction respecting our social and religious duties, and the great principles of hu- man rights. We forget that it is for the interests of such men to flatter and deceive, because, like the silversmiths who wrought silver shrines for Diana, by this craft they have their wealth. Instead of efforts to raise and elevate the people, their great object seems to be to enlist them under the banner of party. Hence, such inflammatory appeals to their passions and prejudices — such gross flattery of their friends — such vio- lent denunciations and malignant detraction of opposers. This is called diffusing information ; circulating intelligence ! ! No, my hearers, it is only diffusing gall and bitterness ; it is circu- lating the venom of a most virulent poison through the whole community. What would be the condition of a private family so divided and alienated in affection, that its members should 11 continually abuse and berate each other with all the vile epi- thets to be found in the language, under pretence of asserting and guarding their rights. A nation, in some respects, resem- bles a family on a more extended scale, and its happiness is augmented, not in proportion to its wealth or power, but as real intelligence, virtue, kindness and good-will prevail throughout the whole. This placing bitter, unprincipled, political oppo- nents on the watch-towers of freedom, to guard our liberties, is about as wise as it would be for a man to introduce rakes and libertines into his house, to secure the chastity of his wife and daughters.* He therefore is the true friend of the people, and the only real patriot, who does not try to make us believe that we are all Solomons and Saints, but whose aim is to raise us as near as possible to that condition, by the circulation of sound intelligence, and the promotion of true religion. If the money that is now worse than wasted for the vile trash of the weekly press, and the liquid lire which sends misery and death into thousands of families, was expended in improving our liter- ary institutions and common schools ; in forming town libraries and lyceums ; in circulating scientific tracts, and literary pub- lications ; in increasing Sabbath Schools^ in sustaining reli- gious institutions; in securing attendance on public worship; and in other ways enlightening the understanding and purify- ing the heart, society would soon wear a different aspect ; our pecuniary difficulties would vanish, and our free institutions be in no danger from the arts of unprincipled designing men. 8. We must use our influence to promote a better observance of the Sabbath, and a nwre general attendance on public worship. — If heaven in mercy ever bestowed upon man, and especially upon man who has to eat bread in the sweat of his face, a boon of richest price; it was the Sabbath and public worship. For were it not for the Sabbath, there would be no cessation from toil except such time as was granted at the caprice of the em- ployer, or was taken by each individual, as interest allowed, or inclination prompted. The consequence would be, as in Heathen or Mahomedan countries, the laborer would be com- pelled to work the whole time, with no increase of compensa- tion, and no leisure to recruit his strength, nor any lime to cul- tivate his mind and heart. But the Sabbath secures both these ends, by imposing one rule on all, viz : cessation from all accus- tomed business, and the consecration of the time to the wor- ship of God, and the improvement of the mind in respect to reli- gious knowledge. This operates most sweetly, and beneficially, in regard to all who observe it according- to the end of the insti- ''See noie at the conclusion of the Sermon. L.of tution. It prevents that degradation of mind, and pollution of heart, which prepares the way for civil tyranny and debasing superstition. I affirm without fear of contradiction, that there IS more intelligence, more wealth, less crime, intemperance and misery, in every town and neighborhood, and among those fam- dies where the Sabbath is observed, and public worship regu- larly attended, than among those where the Sabbath is disre- garded, and public worship neglected. I have not time now to discuss the question of the divine authority of the Sabbath. But this I do say, that no man in the end, ever increased his wealth, or the happiness of himself or family, by Sabbath break- ing, or neglect of public worship, or withholding his aid from the support of religious institutions. " The silver and the gold is mine," says God, "and the cattle upon a thousand hills." If any man attempts to rob God of that portion of his time or substance which is required of him, God will take from him tenfold more, both in time and money, than was ever demanded for the discharge of his religious duties. Our nation has been awfully guilty of Sabbath violations, and neglect of public worship. Our public men, our merchants, our manufacturers, and many of our farmers, could not afford so much as a seventh part of their time, nor so much money as was necessary to sus- tain religious institutions. Stages have been kept running; post offices open ; the teams of merchants have been on the move ; printing presses have been at work; mnnufactories have hardly ceased operations ; steamboats and rail-road cars have been puffing as though life and death depended on their speed. — Our cities and villages have poured out their hundreds and thousands in search of amusement and pleasure. The excuse was they could not afford time to rest, and attend public wor- ship. So eager were they in the pursuit of honor, or wealth, or pleasure, that they seemed to have forgotten the solemn truth, that God gov^erns the world, and that we are under obligation to love and serve him. But in the midst of this rush of busi- ness and pleasure, a fearful crash is suddenly heard in the very frame-work of society. It seems almost as though God had quit his hold on the helm, and had sutTered men to be driven before the furious gales of interest and passion, on the rocks and quick-sands of destruction. In one day, God has taken out of the hands of the people of this country, a hundred thousand times more than has ever been acquired by Sabbath labor, or is required to sustain all the institutions of learning and reli- gion in the land. To the entire neglect of God, and his wor- ship, they have pursued the phantoms of hope, which, like the apples of Sodom, have proved dust and bitter ashes. Let the youth who now hear me, lay this solemn truth to heart, that thev 13 will never, either in time or eternity, add one jot or tittle to their wealth, honor, or happiness, by any violation of the Sab- bath or neglect of public worship, or refusal to aid in the support of religious institutions. The history of bankruptcy, of pauperism, and crime, affords abundant evidence, that ne- glect of the Sabbath, and the house of God is attended with a fearful loss of time, of property, and of happiness. The reproof of Jehovah to the Jews is peculiarly applicable to us. - Will a man rob God.? yet ye have robbed me. Ye arc cursed with a curse, for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation " " But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabba'th day, then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be "^"Le^t usVthen, my hearers, now that his judgments are abroad in the earth, learn righteousness. ^, . This is a time of perplexity and fear. The wise man is con- founded, and those who have boasted most of their sagacity and foresight, are filled with astonishment. The mere politi- cian seeks'for the causes of the present crisis in those principles on which the science of political economy is based. But here he is confounded, because he leaves out of view the direct naencv of God in inflictincx upon individuals and nations sucli wide spread and overwhelming calamities. But the diristian with the Bible in his hand, traces the origin of our difficulties to their true source. " Is there evil in the city and the Lord hath not done it." Evil here has special reference to temporal iud-ments and calamities. The christian knows, therefore that such wide spread ruin must have proceeded from the hand of God • and that the only way to avert still heavier judgments, is to renounce at once those sins which have drawn upon us the divine displeasure. • r ,. Mv hearers, God has begun to deal with the nation lor its sins Our crops have been cut off by blasting and untimely frosts The cholera, like a desolating scourge, has passed through our country. The savage has been excited to burn, and ravage, and murder, on our frontier. Political animosities and sectK)ral prejudices have been inflamed to the highest de- gree so that in some parts of our country men, like tigers, can scarcely be restrained from flying on each other's throats. A spirit of lawlessness has broken out in mobs, and riots, and violence, and blood. iMen have engaged in the most wild and desperate speculations. But God has set down the foot of his povver The whole business of the country is deranged. A crv of pecuniary embarrassment is heard in every city, town and villatre. The wheels of industry and commerce are im- 14 peded. For a moment the whirl of fashion and dissipation has been suspended. The Babylonian revelry has been struck dumb. But are there any signs of repentance and reformation ^ None. Are party animosities allayed — the thirst for gain, and office, and sensual indulgencies abated ? Is the sabbath better observed, and public worship more numerously attended F Are our newspapers less inflammatory in their appeals to the pas- sions and prejudices of their readers ? What efforts are making by men of influence to suppress intemperance, and raise the tone of public morals, and elevate the standard of intelligence, and public virtue ? Alas, instead of such things we hear only of temporary political expedients — and measures to elevate one set of men above another. This state of things seems to indi- dicate that infatuation which precedes destruction. Let us, then, instead of railing at our rulers — instead of entering into unhallowed party contests — let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and repent of our individual sins. Let us strive to remove those sins which especially infest that sec- tion of country where we dwell. Let us give up that inordi- nate thirst for wealth ; that hasting to be rich, which is not content with moderate gains and honest acquisitions. Let us lay aside that passion for dress, show and parade, which is eat- ing out the substance,and destroying the peace and comfort of families; let us spend more time in the purification of the mind and in the cultivation of the heart. Let us cherish a spirit of kindness, forbearance, and good will. Let us eschew all low, party intrigues, and act with th^ honest, open manliness of free- men, with a solemn sense of our accountability to God. Above all, let each one immediately embrace, and constantly obey the gospel, and soon all our difficulties and embarrassment will vanish, and the sun of our prosperity will shine, if not with that false glare which lured so many to destruction, yet with a mild and steady radiance, which with the blessing of heaven, will guide our country in the only safe path of national happiness, greatness and glory. Note. — The spirit of mob violence which has exhibited it- self in such an alarming manner in various parts of the country, and has resulted in the atrocious murder of Rev. E. P. Love- JOY, is only the natural consequence of that inflamed state of public feeling which has been excited by the periodical press. This charge lies heaviest against the pohtical press, and party editors and leaders. But many of the religious papers come in for a large share. It has seemed to be the aim of slU parties, both political, religious, and semi-religious, to say as harsh, bit- ter and unkind things respecting each other, as possible. Po- litical scribblers have berated each other in the lowest Billings- gate. Some of our professedly religious writers have ransacked the language for terms in which the outpourings of their gall, and not unfrequently their venom, might be expressed. They have done as much as possible " to provoke others," but not " to love and good works." Under such treatment the bad passions of men have become too highly inflamed to be satisfied with the scourge of the tongue, or the pen. Mere words do not in- flict wounds deep enough. The process of reaching the offender through legal forms is too slow. The gun, pistol, dagger, brick-bat, and halter, begin to take the place of the pen and the press. One step more, and these things will be merged in the trial of arms, and the field of mortal combat. — Is it asked who is responsible for such a state of things .^^ The answer is, every man, who, under any pretence, or in the pro- motion of any cause, gives expression to unholy feeling in irritating and abusive language. No man has any right to slander or abuse his neighbor, or give vent to his malignity, or self-will, or prejudice, behind the shield of a good cause. He who does it, shares in the responsibilities and guilt of mobs, and riots, and murders, which such a course is calculated to produce, however much he may say against mobs, and cry out persecution when he is assailed. IPD 4.9 \' O N C ^ov^ :^ A ^ 4 o. 1> ^ jA r. " fi ^°V N o .^^ s- HO^ .1 .\^ ^ 1-^ ^'^^^ ^' A A^^^-^ V ^ K^ -^^^ ^^ .V ^ ^. > V .^ ^^ N G ■A Q^ 'Jy^ " .^ 4 o. o « o v ,-Jy <' ■a? y DOBBS BROS. ^ LIBRARY BINDING ^ .