The Madisonian

THE WAYS OF PROVIDENCE.

We must be allowed to usurp or aid the offices of the Christian Pulpit a little in such a time as this. In the midst of the deep and general grief that surrounds us, we know it will not be ungrateful.

We have been forcibly struck with the resemblance between Moses, as the Captain of Israel, and our lamented Harrison, as the deliverer of the American people, more especially in the correspondences of the two great facts, that as Moses was only necessary to conduct the hosts of Israel through the wilderness, to the borders of Canaan, was permitted only to see the promised land, and then taken from earth to heaven, so has it been with our Captain. "And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days." The people of this country have decreed mourning for General Harrison, some thirty, some sixty, and some ninety days. In the reflections of every religious man, the resemblances in the history of Moses to that of General Harrison, will be found impressively remarkable from beginning to end, and scarcely less so the history of the one people as compared with that of the other. It is unnecessary to particularise them, as they are open to the thoughts of all. Behold the scene, and admire the ways of that Providence which rules over the nations of the earth! Till now, we had thought General Harrison necessary for the future. So might it have been supposed that Moses was, when the people arrived at the borders of Canaan. Not so the thoughts of God.

"Joshua, he shall go before thee. * * * And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him, in the sight of all Israel,—Be strong and of good courage." The people of this country are already acquainted with the dying charge of Gen. Harrison to his successor. "And Joshua, the son of Nun, was full of the spirit of wisdom. For Moses had laid his hands upon him."

No man, standing in the unexpected position of President Tyler, could fail to have some deep sense of the solemnity and responsibility of his charge. It has been imposed by the hand of an afflictive and awful Providence, and he ascends to his high place in the midst of a nation in tears. How strongly will these scenes bind the people to him, if he respects their feelings, and what blessings may yet grow out of the union of all hearts under such a painful event!

Since writing the above, the Proclamation of the President, in another column, for a day of Fasting and Prayer throughout the land, has been handed to us for publication, and it affords us heartfelt satisfaction, that our present Chief Magistrate so highly and justly appreciates the religious sentiments of the American people, as to have done this thing of himself, so exactly in accordance with what we believe to be the prostrate feelings of this whole nation.

God has stricken us with a sudden and terrible blow, and it becomes us to be humbled under the stroke. As a nation, we have celebrated the funeral obsequies of a great and beloved Chief, and decreed a mourning of many days. It is most suitable, that we come not out of this scene, without falling prostrate as a nation before the throne of Heaven, and saying with one voice, Thy hand is righteous, O Lord God, and grievously hast thou afflicted us, imploring his pardon of "our grievous and manifold offences," and beseeching him to anoint our present Leader with wisdom and unction from on high, and to inspire people and rulers with the fear of himself and the love of all virtue.