PUBLISHED EVERY T UESDAY MORNING BY A. H. BYINGTON & CO., GAZ ET g gamilg Newspaper, gutted to gtoml News and gamma, (brutal goddamn, illusion. goblin, P guillotine. arthritic, &f.--?Q§Iillllifih¢difilg[Hill], m N UMBER 782--NEW SERIES, NORWALKWGAQITTE. OFFICE IN GAZETTE BUILDING. n.33xmarozv & co. A. ll. vacrox, J. B. ELLs, G. N. ELLs, Subscription Rates. A Subscribers by Carrier, Mail, Post Riders and Wagoners, per year “ .‘hose living out of any Carrier’s District, if mid one year in advance, 4.: Us of six or more sent to one address, to be paid in advance, 1 5o Siiugie copies 4 cents. Advertising Rates. U 9 Square, one insertion, $1 00 " two insertions, 1 % three insertions, 1 50 one month, 1 '75 two months, 3 00 : three months, 4 00 six months, 7 00 “ one year—with paper 15 00 . wo S unres, one year—with paper, 25 00 Each a ditional Square, per year, 8 00 hr: half column, one year, 40 00 - . -Column, one year, 75 00 F - eon lines, or 100 words,make a square. Fraction- sl arts of a square charged, for as a whole. -. uII' y advertisers have the privilege of changing their advertisements once per month. Advertise— ments changed oftener charged as transient. Yearly advertisements payable 1st of January & July. Yearly advertisers restricted to the business contem- plated at the time of contract. Cards, Resolutions, Funeral and all other Special NO- Vtices, 25 per cent. additional on the shows. :51" Theso terms will be inllexibly adhered tog BUSINESS DIRECTORY. Norwalk Post Ofice. runs CLOSE West 7.30 A. M.——2.30 P. M. East 8.80 A. M.—-5.00 P. M. Daubury do Norwalk Railroad 8.50 A. N. Weston, Bedding and Bedding Ridge, Tues- days, Thursdays and Saturdays, at 12 M. MAILS DUE. ‘V st 9.10 A. M.—6.Ct‘ P. M- s: 8.20 A. M.—3.30 P. M. Daubury do N orwalk Railroad 8.00 A: M. POST OFFICE nouns. From 7.00 A. M. to 8.00 P. M. CHARLES OLMSTEAD, P. M. N. A. MOSMAN, M. 1)., Homoeopathic .Jhysician and Surgeon, ‘ Oflice over 0. J. Gruman’s Store, NORWALK, CONN. Oflice hours from 1 to 3 P. M. Dr. J. J. WALLACE, HOM¢EOPATHIST, Office at Dr. MOOdy’s late Residence, WEST AVENUE, NOR WALK, CONN. Slate at Mr. Frank Nash’s Store, South )ui-walk. New HARDWARE &. PAINT STORE, M a i n S t r e e t, Opposite I. H. Campell's Confectionery, MARVIN & PROWITT, Wholesale and retail Dealers in Hardware, Cutlery, Paint-s, Oils, Glass, Paper Hang- ings, Window Shades, &c. JAMES G. BARRO'UR, SURGICAL AND MECHANICAL D E N T I S '1‘, Office at Raidence, East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut. Architecture. SIDNEY M. STONE, ARCHITECT, Will furnish Plans, Specifications, Detaili Drawings, and superintend the erection of: public and private buildings. Oflice in Mar- ble Block, Chapel-st, New Haven, Ct. usz L . EO. F. BELDEN, N orwalk, Conn.,Man— T tifactiirer of Tin, Copper, and Sheet 110.1 Ware; and dealer in Stoves, Ranges, Furnaces, Cutlery, Brittannia, Wooden and. Willow Ware,Crockery; and a full assort— ment of House Keeping articles generally: a. s. Lockwoon, ‘r'isliionablo Draper & Tailor, and GENTLEMEN’S FURNISHING EMPOBIUM ' No. 3 Skiddy‘s Block, Main-st, Norwalk, CL S. E. OIIMSTEAD 6LCO., Wholesale and Retail Dealers in Groceries, Flour, Feed, «to, 14 and 16 Main-st, Norwalk, Conn. ETNA INSURANCE COMPANY, Of Hartford. Incorporated in 1819, Charter Perpetual. Call) Capital $1,000,000 Insure against loss and damage by Fire on Terms adopted to the hazard,and consistent With the laws, of compensation. GEORGE R. COWLES, Sole Agent 1 v3 For Norwalk and vicinity. DENTAL CARD. AN impression having gone abroad that the undersigned has relinquished his profession, this is to inform his friends and he public that he still continues the practice of his profession at his 01,! stand, foot of Main-st., Norwalk, where he will be happy to tender them his best services. In. case of temporary ubsence,a skillful assistant. will be I )lllld in attendance at the Office, ready and Willing to serve all that may call. ‘ A. HILL, D. D. S. A. JACKSON 6!. BRO. No. l Gazette uildino'. ‘V OULD respectfully announce to the public and their old customers, that ’ '“ny have recently made extensive additions r. their stock of goods. We are now prepar- ed to Offer an assortment not to be surpassed. in hi..rfield County, in quality or price. We would call particular attention to our stock of. Watches, which is lar er than ever before.— W’e have a fine lot of ' adies’ Swiss \Vatclics, in gold cases, at prices varying from $20 to at? 5, which we can recommend as being cor- iect time keepers. Also, Gentlemen’s Watch- es, in silver and gold cases, at any price from $5 to $.00. We buy of the best importers in New York, and altogether for cash, so that our facilities for selling cheap could not be reater. Our stock Of Jewelry, Silver and luteii Wares was never better than at pres- ent. and comprises all OI the latest styles that l. x 'e manufactured. A. JACKSON & BRO. E‘ISII POLES, Traveling Baskets, Clothe Baskets, Work Baskets. Also Wooden. New in general, at C. d: E. K. LOCKWOOD & CO. WOOD, all lengths, at S. E. OLNISTEAD :1 PRICE ranging from $1.50 upward, at 5 C. & CO'S Wood Yard, for sale low. D. PRITCHAR D, M. D., Physician and Surgeon, Residence next door to Ruggles‘ Store, MAIN STREET, SOUTH NORWALK, .CONN. Removal. FALL 65 WINTER MILLINERY! D RS. J. E. HOYT would respectfully announce to the Ladies of Norwalk and vicinity that she has removed to her old stand in Main St. in Bolts New Building where she has ready for their inspection, an entirely new stock of Full And Winter Millinery Goods Ofthe latest styles and patterns and Of the choicest varieties and materials. Every ef- fort will be made to suit the tastes of all, and a continuance of the generous patron- ?ng hitherto bestowed, is respectfully solici- c . 'Norwalk, Oct. 20, 1862. tf42 Mrs. Tindall, in the new block BENNE'I'T’S BUILDING, No. 17’ and 19 Main St, ILL call the attention of the public to her new and well selected assort- ment of MILLINERI’ Goons, at a very small advance from former prices. Velvets very cheap for these times. Feathers, Ribbons, Flowers, &c., &c. She will give her atten- tion to the business at all hours of the day and evening, up to the usual hours of clos- ing. All orders promptly filled. Ready made‘ Bonnets on hand. Bloomers trimmed in unique styles. 45 Mrs. J“. 1’. Crossmon, “lould inform the Ladies of Norwalk and vicinity that she has again com- menced her DRESS-MARIN G BUSINESS. Every effort will be made to suit the tastes of all, and a. continuance of the generous pa- tronage hitherto bestowed is respectfully so- licited. Residence near Wm. S. Jennings. Norwalk, Nov. 9, 180.2. 45m1* Whitney & Beckwith, PHOTOGRAPHERS, GAZETTE BUILDING, NORWALK, CONN. MBROTYPBS, MELAINOTYPES, and PHOTOGRAPHS, plain, retouch- ed or colored, in the best style of the Art. Cartes de Visites in all styles. Stereoscopic Groups, Views of Private Residences and Grounds taken. A good assortment of Rosewood, Gilt and Passe Pal-tout Frames, for Photographs and Cortes dc Visites. E. T. WHITNEY. Roofing. HE subscriber is prepared to furnish par- ties building, with Warren’s superior FELT AND CEMENT ROOFING. This article of Roofing is in use upon the Norwalk Lock Company’s Building, and at Lounsbury, Bissell & Co’s, where it gives en- tire setisfactiou, and is believed to be the cheapest as well as the best roofing in use.— All orders will receive prompt attention. tt‘58 C. W. LOCKWOOD. N. B.— All orders left at the store of A. Morehouse, Main street, will be promptly at- tended to, Inquiries freely answered. War Claims. , HE undersigned, through the agency of reliable friends in Washington, is pre- pared to secure Bounty Money, Back Pay, Pensions, and claims of all kinds against the Government. Charge for collecting from two to five per cent. No charge will be made for advice given in relation to claims, and no fee charged unless the claim is col- lected. JOSEPH W. WILSON. Aug. 22, 1862. R. A. BECKWITH. ELM STREET SALOON, Between Main and Broad Streets, NEW CANAAN, CONN. J. W. EDMONDS, Proprietor. Ors'rnns served in any style, and for sale by the Quart or Gallon. Also, all kinds of FRUIT, CONFECTIONERY, and other REFRESH- MENTs. Private Supper Rooms for Small Parties. Also, in connection with, but in separate apartments, a first-class SEM'ING AND HAIR DRESSING SALOON. FOR SALE. '3' ' PIANO, elegant curved rosewood case, will be sold at a bargain. Apply to tf15 E. C. BISSELL. TO CAPTAINS AND O W NERS of VESSELS. THE undersigned has taken the SHIP YARD and MARINE RAILWAY, (formerly owned by Clark .9: Ritcli,) in Greenwich, Conn., where he intends to car- ry on all kinds of Ship Building and Repairing of Vessels. He keeps constantly on hand all kinds of Pamls and Oils, Timber of all kinds for the repair of vessels. SHIP SMITH WORK done in the best manner, and with dispatch, on as favorable terms as any other routine railway in the country. 04 E. M. MERRITT. NEW FURNISHING STORE, IN JAMES" NEW B UJLDING, Water Street, Norwallc. HAVE at my Store in Norwalk the largest assortment of Household Furniture in this county, consisting of Bureaus of all kinds, Lounges, Sofas, Tete-a-Tetes, Curd Tables, Marble top pier Tables and Center Tables, Wash Stands, EX] ENSI 01V TABLES, CHAIRS and ROCKERS of all kinds, Looking. Glasses, Picture Frames, and everything else in the Furniture line cheap for Cash. Repairing, done promptly and by experienced workmen. Undertaking, I have on hand a large assortment of COFFINS, of the best materials, and Wlll furnish shrouds, carriages, hearse, and every- thing necessary for the burial of the. dead, cheaper than can be obtained elsewhere. I have as good a Hearse as there is in the county; and will attend Funerals in neigh- boring towns, without extra char e. ELBERT RA MOND. . Norwalk, May 1st, 1862. 44 ‘ _. Window Shades. SPLENDID Assortment of Window Shades just received and for sale by MARVIN & PROWI'I T. Nov. 3rd, 1862. . n u . ;: If 'I I | 11 Children’s Carriages, & E. K. LOCKWOOD 8:. CO. 1 / NORWALK. CO NN., TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1862. VOLUME . XLve-NUMBER 52. m [PUBLIsHED BY REQUEsT.] From the C'nrt'stv'mi Advocate and Journal. Confederate Republic of Israel. BY REV. E. THOMSON, D. D. The following discourse was delivered in the Seventh-street M. E. Church (Rev. Dr. Floy’s) on Thanksgiving. day, No- vember 27, 1802, and is published by re- quest Of the congregation : Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I com- mand thee this day: lest when thou hast eat— en, and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; and when thine herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all, that thou hast is multiplied ; then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage—Dent. viii, 11—14. Our position this day is anomalous. In the midst of war we are assembled for praise ; while the fate Of the nation trem- blcs iu the balance, we are convened by our rulers for thanksgiving. There is, af- ter all, no unfitness in the service ; we can at all times be thankful that our case is no worse Today, that God rules ; that he hath not utterly forsaken us ; that fum- iue and pestilence-are not mingled with war ;that our soil has not been iuvmied ; that our credit has not been ruined, nor our commerce cut- 00", nor our manufac- turiug pOpulution unemployed, nor our seaboard cities burned ; that foreign na- tions have not interfered in our struggle, nor our Northern States been divided, nor our national spirit broken, we should be devoutly grateful. While thanking God for his mercies, it is proper that we should trace our misfortunes. to their sourcesuin order that we may learn wisdom, humble ourselves, and thus prevent our utter over- throw. As the passions of men and the gov- ernmeut of God under all the varying circumstances Of life are the same, “His- tory is philosophy teaching by example.” 'I‘he'liistory of ancient Israel during the period of the Judges describes the follies and the fate of their Confederated Re- public, andI have thought it would fur- lnisli us with fitting lessons for the hour. The government of Israel resembled that of the United States : 1. Each tribe had a seperute govern- ment ensign, military force, and municipal rule, and a chief, probably elected by pop- ular suffrage. 2. These tribes were confederated in a general government. '3. Each tribe had its elders, who seem to have been clothed with executive func- tions for the regulation of sections of tribes, corresponding to our county Ofii- cers, and probably chosen by popular vote. 4. The Constitution, though divine in its origin,was first adopted by a conven- tion of elders and then submitted to the whole body Of the people for ratification. 5. The Congress was purely democrat- ic, but as the Constitution embraced a perfect code of civil law, it was not called together except on extraordinary occu- sions ; when it was, each man, according to the Athenian model, appeared in the assembly with his weapon at his side. 6. The presidents, culled judges, seem to have been pointed out by their per- sonal merits, appointed with the divine sanction, limited by the Constitution, and inducted into office by the unsolicited choice of the people. They were charged With the administration of the general government, the settlement of disputes arising between different tribes, the di- plomatic intercourse of the nation, and the command of 'the army. They had power to convoke Congress, and to issue executive orders ; but could neither enact laws, levy taxes, nor appoint Officers, ex- cept, perhaps, the military. They were simple in their manners, maintaining no retinue, and receiving no revenue, except the presents of a grateful people. With- out either avarice or ambition, they felt that to serve their country was their high- est recompense. Though by no means faultless, they were Of deeply religious spirit, acting as the regents, acknowledg- ing the authority, relying upon the aid, upholding the Constitution, and executing the will of the invisible King. Had the Israelites adhered to their government they would have been a prosperous, pow- erful, and perfect republic ; but they failed ; and by tracing their failure we maylcarn our own dangers. Among the steps of their decline mark, 1. First. A gradual neglect of the great design for which they were raised up. Every great nation seems charged with , some step in the progress Of the world, and it is harmonious and prosperous in proportion as it promotes its providentia! purpose. Israel was commissioned to give theology to the world ; as Greece, letters; Rome, law ; and the United States, lib- erty. The twelve tribes Were delivered from bondage, educated in the desert, led over Jordan, and settled in Palestine, with a solemn charge to exterminate the idolatrous nations that inhabited Cannon, and which, if not destroyed, wouldprove a snare to them. Faith, courage, and regard for the divine law characterized them at the outset ; their enemies trem- bled at the blast of their bugles ;their victories were rapid, numerous, miracu- lous, obtained over fortified places, and combined enemies, and without serious. losses or reverses. Their infantry, armed only with bow, and sword, and sling, and battle-ax, routed alike cavalry, infantry, and war chariots. By the boldness and l suddeuness of their onsets, striking panic in the foe, they rendered his superior for- ces and resources useless. Some of the nations submitted to Israel, others fled ; and though some were left, the country was surveyed and divided among ' the twelve tribes, God having assured them that he would enable them to subdue those that remained, and admonished them that if they preserved them they should bouts “ pricks in their eyes and thorns in their sides.” The tribes having entered upon their possession, forgot‘ their great mission.— They engaged in trade with the idoluters, cultivated their acquaintance, formed matrimonial alliances with them, made excuses for their idolatrous practices, lost their sublime faith in the true God, and even became fond of idolatry itself, which they found so tolerant of their vices and passions. When they agreed to let it alone they did not consider that every hour contributed to interweuve it more thoroughly with the commerce, the cupi- tul, the social influences, the politics, the interests, and the sinful passions of the nation ; but thought that, having receiv- ed such a shock in the revolution, and be- ing arrayed us'it certainly was against truth, good conscience, providence, polit' ical economy, and the advancing civiliza- tion of the age, it would gradually die out, and that they should thus get rid of it without conflict or expense. Let those reproach them who have never felt the love of ease or of gain, the power of lust, or the lack'of faith. But mark the result. The people whose fathers heard the thunder, and felt the earthquake, and saw the lightning, and listened to the voices of Sinai; the tribes that stood on Ebal llld Gerizim and responded with simultaneous omens to the curses and blessings pronounced by the Levites on those who should vio- late or keep the la'w, and who marked their paths and possessions with pillars and altars as monuments of their deliver- ances and covenants; the people who commemorated the true God not only in their tabernacle and national feasts, but in their habitstious and persons, and even the very fringes of their garments, min- gled with the heathen and learned their works and served their idols, “which were a snare unto them ; yes, they sac- rificed their sons and their daughters un- to devils, and shed innocent blood, even of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood. Thus they were defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inven- tions.” ' Scorcely had their great Washington, Joshua, been laid to his rest when, almost within sight of his sepulcher, within hear- ing of Shiloh, where Aaron’s grandson still officiated as high priest, a rich wid- ow determined to imitate the pagan aris- tocracy and have a shrine and a god of her own. The loose morality Of this fam- ily is shown in the fact that her son stole the money that she had accumulated for this purpose, and when frightened by her curses be restored it and fell at once into her scheme. Soon they had a. groven image, a moltou image, an ephod and teraphim, a tabernacle, an ark, and a priest to suit. The rapid degeneracy Of the nation is signified in the circumstance that 0. Le- vit‘e should cOnsent to be consecrated by this idolater of Israel to his mountain idol. This debased son Of Levi seems to have been a man of low principle and restless disposition, who had lost charac-. ter, wandered out Of his place, and as an adventurer, out ofpocket, was ready to do anything for money. The low wages for which he sold himself (ten shekels a year, with clothes and victuals) show how destitute of religion his consecration had left him. It is easy to conceive what in- geuious defenses these guilty parties might set up. The tabernacle and the rites were probably according to the Levitical law, and by a natural sophistry they might conclude that what God had an- thorized another to do they might do themselves; the priest was in the regu- lar succession and must have a living.— These separate shrines, they might say, would sustain a. very important branch Of manufactures, cultivate a feeling Of chivally, stimulate to the uquisitiou of wealth, generate a higher order Of char- acter, and, as they might be made con- sistent with a knowledge of the true God would reconcile the surrounding nations to Mosaic institutions, and be an impor- tant means of J udaizing the world. They might even plead the example of J ucob’s family, and perhaps of Jacob himself, if they could imagine an image on the top of his staff. , ‘ » II. The second step of decline wasfi; libuslering. This term, in recent usage, applies to bodies of armed men who no- lawfully invade te rritory' for the purpose of revolutionizing its government. The Dauites, who, in the division of the; coun- try uuder J oshu a, had received an ample inheritance, being straiteued in their set tlements and too tolerant of idolatry to conquer the. residue of their lands, sent on exploring expedition to the northern extremity of the country, where they could plant a colony which, being remov- cd from the supervision of their brethern, might be more unrestrained iu its evil tendency. , On their way they stopped at Mount Ephraim, and made the ac- quaintance of Micah’s priest, whom they found a more convenient oracle for their purpose than that of Shiloh. Proceeding to Laish, they found, on a fertile soil, 8 “a. — . ' ' colony of Sidouisns—humble, inoffensive, quiet, separated from the mother-country by lofty mountains, and having no allian- ces, offensive or defensive, with surround- ing nations. . It was evident that they could destroy this people, and, possessing their. territory, do what they pleased, there being “no magistrate in the loud who could put them to shame.” To this point the Dauites sent a colo- ny, headed by six hundred soldiers. On their way they called at ali’s, house, and stealing his tabernacle, captured his prieht, who was all too willing to be cap— tured' in view of greater power and high- er wages. When Micah and his neigh- bors pursued after his property and fugi- tive, they gave them to understand that they “might get hurt, ” for men who can steal can murder. That such men want- ed a religion of any kind may seem strange to those who have not reflected that all men have some faith in supernal and in- fernal powers and in their influence Over human destiny, and that no man, howev- er wicked, cau deliberately sin without intention of propitiatiou and hope of par- don. Hence the intense wickedness of those priests who reconcile the conscience of men to immortality, either by a. false faith or else hope of impunity. Arriving at Loish, the. fillibusters put the unsus- pecting inhabitants to the sword, burn their city, and settling upon their lands annex to Israel a state recognizing idola- try iu its organic law, and thus give the sin which theretofore had only a. domes- tic charecter a political importance. In this way arival temple was set up which continued all the time that the house of ,GOd was at Shiloh. The original design was not to renounce God, but to localize his presence'uuder the symbols and forms of surrounding nations ; but it was a two- fold violation of the law—the use of a forbidden ritual and forbidden symbols in divine worship, and the acceptance of ministratious from one who could not 1e- gally be a priest. The progress from this deflection from correct principle be- came rapid, and the result‘permeneut.—- It gave countenance and support to the idolatry existed in other states, was of- terward merged in one of the golden cplves set up by Ieroboum, and was not finally eradicated until the captivity. Such a violation of law could hardly have occurred if the state rights party had not gained upon the federal one. A king would have prevented this, and so would a judge, had not the local govern. ment rendered weak the general one. It' is not difficult to conceive that there were some blind or wicked enough to maintain that this extension of idolatry would not increase the number of idols, and, by dif~ fusing sin, might even weaken it. The artists, however, who made the molten and graven images must have known bet— ter. How melancholy to see this people, to whom God had proclaimed himself the King eternal, infinite, immutable, invisi- ble—to whom he had given the tables of the law and the angels of his presence, forget the purpose for which they were separated from other nations, lose the an- imating spirit of their body politic, and ignore the foundation of their declaration of independence ! III. The third step in their decline was secession. Idolatory had become a. dis- turbing element in the republic. Not on- ly were the remains of the Idolatrous nu- tious to be found all through the land, but the Israelites themselves had become infected. Probadly there were various opinions in regard to idolatory in those territories not yet incorporated; some politicians being for non-committal, oth- ers for non-intervention, allowing the in- habitants to settle the question for them- selves; others for protection, regarding idols as a species of property recognized by the Constitution; others for non-exten- sion and gruduaLremovul. Where there- fore, it was strongly intrenched in a tribe it was natural that this tribe should grow restive and seek emancipation from the bonds of federation. It would seem that the worst fruit of idolatory first ripened in Benjamin, whose city of ' Gibeah had become Sodom. In its lust it had com- mitted murder upon the wife ofa. Levite. It was a clear case, but there was neith- er apology nor redress. The common flag had been cloveu dowu, for if a citi- zen of one tribe could not be protected in another there was an end of the common- wealth. A congress was convened at Mizpeh to deliberate upon the case, but the guilty tribe was not represented; it had acceded. The case was stated, and the vote was unanimous not, mark! to ex- tinguish idol atory, that did not come into question, and some of the tribes involved in it had contributed their quota of troops but to maintain the “Union, the Constitu- tion, and the laws.” Four hundred-thou- sand soldiers were organized and the re- quisite tax levied. But befor proceeding to extremities commissioners were sent among the Benjamites to ask that the guilty parties should be given up. The inference is clear that the tribe must have been seeking an occasion to break the federation or they would have complied and it is strengthened by the considera- tion that they were prepared to resist even the vast armament brought against them. .They hand an army of twenty-six \ f thousand seven hundred men, whichprob- ably had the superiority in organization, arms, generals, military stores, and skill. It is mentionedthot' they had seven-hun- dred sharpshooters who‘could sling stones at a hair-breadth and'not mitts; Before- any attack was made the childreu Of Is- rael asked God, “Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin ’.?”' The case was so plain that they did notjas'k whether theyshould- go, but which should lead Ethe'l.llvau.l,.'l‘hey marched toward the. rebel capital‘and Were repulsed with a loss of twenty-two thousand men. It is easy to Conceive W ith'a larger force, greater resources, "a' good cause, and the approbation of ‘God, they had been worsted in their first cam- paign. But the Israelites “encouraged themselves.” They had no need to do so. How many wives were made widows l how many orphans sent up their wail ! how many sisters bathed the cold faces of their brothers! how many betrothed bent in agony over new, made graves! But the nation flinched not. They set the battle again in array in the some place and manner. The general seems to have been infatuated. And the children of Israel again went up to the house of the Lord, this time bathed in tears, ask- ing now, not who shall go up first, but whether they should go up at all, and im- itating their doubts in their form of speech “against Benjamin my brat/ter)? Yet the answer of God is distinctly, “ Go up against him.” He was unwilling that his heritage should be cleft asunder; that a cause Of irritation should exist in its cen- ter; that an avenue of approach to J eru- salem should be left to the Mesopotami- uns, Moabites, and Ammouites ; that the Jordan should be shut off from the west, and that a wedge of foreign territory should seperute from their brethren the two tribes and a half on the east. But the second march upon the rebel capital is also a failure. The Israelites are re- pulsed with a loss of eighteen thousand men. Terrible must have been the thoughts of the people at this disaster. Many doubtless attributed all the blame to the general, and he probably was incompetent or infatuated; but he is lost sight of in the history. There was a. deeper cause : the Israelites themselves were involved in idolatory; the Danites, who had sent of a. colony of idolators, were in the ur- my, and, the nation had forgotten its vows to God. They deserved punish- ment, and God was using their brethren to inflict it. It might be amusing, If we, had the perfect history Of the times, to trace the actions and reactions of parties and prejudices at this time. while some were venting all their indignation against the secessionists, others were venting theirs against the iconoclasts as the troub- lers of Israel. But the great body. of the nation was at length aroused to a sense of its sin, and “went up and came into the house of God; and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day until oven, and offered burnt Ofi'er- iugs and peace ofl’eriugs.” It were not surprising if at this time there were submissionists ; men who would buy peace at any price, even by nationaliziug idolatry and sodomy too, and the whole people are evidently in a more doubtful mind than ever. Their prayer ,now is, “Shall I yet again go up against the children of Benjamin, my' brother, or shall 1 cease?” (recognize their indepen- dence.) " And the Lord said,. Go up, for to-morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.” Probably u change of gen- erals, and certainly a, change of tactics, now took place. Instead of fighting the Old battle of "Bull Run” over again, they send out two or three columns against the rebel capital, and while the main body engages the enemy in front and draws him from his intreuchments, a force enters Gi- beuh, while another attacks the enemy in the rear. The rout of the Benjamites was perfect; they were inclosed, slain trodden down, and the whole tribe was exterminated except seven hundred wur- riors who escaped. to the rock Rimmon. The idols and groves were swept, as cv- erythiug else in Benjamin, with the be- som of destruction. The radical party had triumphed, and doubtless they now insisted that the ax should be laid to the root of the tree, that the, whole land should be purged of the disturbing ele- ment of idolatry which had proved so hos- tile both to the tribal union and the na- tiousl life. But a reaction ensued, and the conservatives again came into poWer. This was verynuttiral. Suppose a father inflicting righteous punishment upon a son. The son turns upon him, the struggle he- comes one of life and death, the son is overcome. The father, who in the heat of passion would have drawu the last drop of his child’s blood, now that he stands over him a victor, and looks upon his wounds and broken bones and gushing blood, and puts his soft whisper of sorrow and submission, feels an entire revolution in his heart. Forgiveness flows, and properly. . . Who by repentance is not satisfied Is nor of heaven nor earth, for these are plea- ed; . By penitence the Eternal’s wrath’s appeared; but the feelings stop not here ; the father says, “ Forgive me, my boy, my precious one, I have gone to for l 0 God, have I killed my sou ! Live my son, live, or I myself will die.” Such was the feeling in the mortificatioc which must haveensued. ~ - the trees? Israel. ” If in the ecstacylfi peace and, the joy of reconciliation, the radicals had proposed the removal of all idolatry, even / though they had spoken the words of -God, “Thine eye shall have no pity upon 'them, neither shalt thou serve their gods, for they will be a snare unto thee,” what would have been the reply? “Fools! murderers ! madmeu !. taxes! desolation ! sword ! fire-l famine ! Willaye blot out another tribe? Will ye utterly ruin the land 1?” So the people departed,:leaving idolatry all through Canaan,- aud legal» ized in an Israelitish tribe. What was the result? , That people, that pussed'safelythrough' ‘the serpents and scorpions-of the desert, and drunk water from the rock and ate manna in the wilderness, who might have been fortified by Omnipotence and anointed of heaven, became divided, dis- tracted, a. prey to surrcuudiug nations: eight years crushed under Mesopotamia, eighteen under Moab, twenty under Ja- bin, seven under Midiau, eighteen under Amman, twenty under the Philistines. In their sufferings they repented and turn- ed to God, and he raised up adeliverer ; but they soon relapsed and suffered again, and repented again. SO that the recti- tude of God’s providence is as clear in their case ashistory and prophecy can make it. IV. The fourth step to decline was. gradual disintegration. Without formal secession the nation, having-lost its spirit and principle, lost its political unity.— The separate interests and power of the tribes gradually absorbed those Of the general government, which could not be concentrated even in times of national peril. When Ehud blew his trumpet Mount Ephraim only responded to its call; all the other tribes resisted the draft. When Barak sounded to arms, Reuben abode among his sheepfolds lis- tening to the bloating of his flocks, and Gilead refused to cross the J orduu with , his quota. While noble Zebuluu and N uphtali fought the kings Of Canaan by the waters of Megiddo, Dan remained in his ships, Asher continued on the sea- shore, aud Meroz was earning the bitter curses of the angel of the Lord because she came not to the help of the Lord against the mighty. When Gideon blew his horn, of the thirty thousand that gath- ered after him only three hundred had patriotism and covrage worthy to blow his. warcry down the mountain. V. Political corruption came in-apuce._ Abiinelch went to Shechem to plot the overthrow of the partial federal govern- ment which yet remained. By appealing to family pride and interest he won over the leading men of the capital, and arous- ed the jealousy of the rush and cliivul‘ rous tribe of Ephraim. In this state of excitement be grossly misrepresented the designs of the children of Gideon. This great man had said to his grateful Count try when she desired to make him a king, ”1 will not rule over you, neither shall my sons ;" nor is there any evidence that they forgot their father's command. The friends of Abimelcen do not name a single mental or moral qualification which he has for government, but appeal simply to personal interests and party spirit, “He is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh,” but upon this ground they expect the ofii- ces. “Geuuflexion before either the idol Ol‘ the dollar atrophies the muscle which walks and the will which goes.” Some- times eveu conscience cannot stand before selfishness; “I exist, I must eat; I am in love, I must have money ; I am old, I want rest ; I have a family, I must have an ofice ; I have a good post, let me alone.’ The conspiracy organized, it must have means. Corrupt politicians can steal ; and if they can have no access to the ‘treasury they may to the Church. The purse of Abimelch'is filled with the odor- ings in the hOuse Of God. Money provid- ed, an army is soon improvised. Vain and light persons are ready to do any- thing Vfor a consideration. Abimelech proceeds to Ophrah, and making a night attack captures and sluys all his bretherii but one. The multitude side with the victorious party, and Abimclcli is crown- ed a petty and contemptible monarch.— How beautiful and instructive the para- ble which Jothani utters on the occasion from the top of Geriziin : The trees make a king ; their first choice is the Ol- ive. But the olive says, “Should I leave my fatness, wherewitli by me they. honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, and reign over us. But -the fig-tree said unto them, Should I forsake my SWeetuess, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over Then said the trees unto the vice, Come thou, and reign over us. And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, wlicb cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees ?—- Then said all the trees unto the brumble, Come though, and reign over us. And the brumble said unto the trees, If in goth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow ; and if not, let fire come out of the brain. ble, ud devour the cedars of Lebanon ;” that’is, “I will rule or ruin.” Here is the great danger in republics : Good men refuse Offices, and wicked men seek them. The Olive was wrong, the' fig-tree was wrong, the vine was wrong ; each should have been willing to make sacrifices for the general good. The rest. f’of the trees were wrong in taking the for- ' ‘waid and worthless candidate ; they must have known that discord. quarrels, strifes (devouring fires) must result. _"The morecorrupt politics become the mere good men do, yet the less they ,s/Lould,'shriok from them ; they should be ‘ willing to meet the lies, the misrepresen- tations, chicanery, of the canvass, the storms of ' the arena, and the schemes and bribes and perjury of sooundrels, yea, even the fires of death,for the sake of their country. We need. not enumerate the treasons and revolutions which followed. MI. The next step is anarchy. At ‘léu'gth there seems to have been no com- mon head of the confederacy elected; therefore, no provisiou for the common defense and general. welfare. The conse- quence was that Israel fell- completely un. der the power of the Philistines. God in his mercy miraculously celled-and super. naturally endowed a deliverer—Samson ; but the nation, in a. mean and cowardly spirit, surrendered him to his foes. There remained now no bond but the religious one to unite them, though the high priest seems to have exercised some judicial and executive functions ; but on his death the disintegration and degeneracy was com- plete. The state rights doctrine triumph- ed, the natioual bonds were suudered, on- ly coutemptible independent republics were left, the public Spirit had died out ; the theocruticliufluence, iu the absence of its appropriate channels, ceased to manifest itself, and there was “no open vision.” Jehovah, however, did not to- tally abandon his people, but renewed his oracles by the child Samuel. After twen- ty years of national prostration, desola: tion, and humiliation; when all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord, the prophet convened a congress at Mizpeh, the federal city, at which he was elected president, and under the rule of this prophet-judge Israel was delivered from its enemies and began to enjoy prosperity and national consideration. As Samuel drew near to his end the elders, or gov- ernors of Israel, fearing the disturbing influence of tribal jealousies, the renewal of secession; the horrors of civil war, the desolatious of anarchy and subjugation from foreign powers, held a convention at Rizpuli and demanded a king. Samuel wasdispleased, thinking it a. reflection upon himself; but God advised him to yield, and said, “They have not rejected thee, but they haye rejected me.” The last republican chief, liOcher, determin- ed that if Israel had a monarchy it should have a constitution. He therefore “wrote it in a book and laid it up before the Lord.” The monarch was chosen by lot; the people shouted, “God save the king!” and thus ended the first. coulederated re- public, which, though originated under the care and protection Of the theocracy, yet through successive steps of degenera- cy all originating in o. neglect of the pri- mal purpose Of the nutiOu and the first principle of its'dccl-urstiou of independ- ence perished. The change ,Of the form of government, though it concentrated the energies of the nation, did not neces- sarily exalt it. When Saul forgot his great function and spared idolatry instead of liewiug it in pieces, he and the people sunk ; and it was not until David swept the land utterly of its idols that Israel arose in its might and majesty, striking terror by its arms, awakening admiration by its splendor, and entrancing the world by its harp. As the Psalmist said Of Israel so may we say of our country : “God hath not dealt so with any nation.” How did he hide our land from the ages until the time of Reformation, and settle it with men of God sifted from the best races, and cast out the heathen before them and lead them to wide plains, and lofty mountains, and broad streams! “Blessed of God for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth be- neath, and for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon, and for the chief things Of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills, and for the precious things of the earth and the fullness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush.” As God called and insolated Israel to proclaim his name and insoluted this na~ tion, endowed with Grecian culture, Ro- man arms, and Hebrew theology perfect- ed in Christianity, to lead the world up another step of progress by proclaiming the natural rights of man and demonstrat- ing his capacity for self-government. The nation is but the development of this principle. Our laws, our Constitu- tions, our free schools, our free press, our free churches: our revolution, our Declar- ation of Independence, Qlll' national Cou- stitutiou, our manners and customs, our welcome to all exiles, our incorporation of all colonies, are but the outgrowth of this principle, as the tree with its branches and fruit is but the development of the seed. As Israel was strong in propor- tion as it adhered to the principle for which it was raised up, so are we. Un- huppily, in our curly history slavery intru- ded into our paradise: Our fathers saw its inconsistency, but they let it alone thinking it would soon perish. Alas! it has grown with our growth and strength- ened with our strength ; it has persecuted liberty and arisen stronger from every con- flict with her. It has already forced the nation dOwn four great Steps of descent,
Norwalk Chronicler