at the thought of shedding blood when traitors were inaugurating this most sanguinary and inexcusable of wars? I confess, to my mind, the very argument of such men not only looks suspicious, but breeds distrust. Another class plead for tolerance and pardon to subdued rebels upon a much better principle. Actuated by the most humane sentiments, and sincerely desirous for conciliation and peace, they deprecate the possible execution of the guilty criminal, and I respect their humanity though I am obliged to disagree with them as to the method of kindness. I would be distinctly understood as pleading that nothing be done through revenge or in the spirit or at the dictate of retaliation, but solely to promote the authority, stability and influence of law, and thus advance the best interests of all the people. Treason is a crime and a sin against all the people. It is a violation of law, which is the safeguard of the people. It is a repudiation of the authority and a resistance to the duty of the civil magistrate, who is the guardian of the rights and interests of the people under the law And in such a case of treason as this-when the plot has been laid deep and long and the conspirators, by previous perjury and crime, were prepared utterly to overthrow all government that the people had ordained, and were only defeated and prevented in their wicked designs by the strenuous efforts of the government, and after a struggle of years-to pardon indiscriminately is to destroy the authority and sanctity of law.

Had this rebellion been the result of sudden excitement and, as must have been in such a case, of short continuance, without time for men's passions to cool and without opportunity for the government to show that it did not intend to oppress any man or class of men who complained, it were vastly different. But such is not the case. The leaven of treason has been working for years. The government has by many, as I believe, unwarrantable concessions removed all occasion to rebel, but all in vain, and now for such criminals to seek pardon or for persons of doubtful loyalty to plead for their unconditional forgiveness, to me appears the farthest removed from that brave, chivalrous spirit that, having risked every thing upon the appeal to the sword, only shrinks from the result when it is overcome. What would be the temper of those men had they triumphed, had they their hand now upon the throat of the nation as they have desired and vainly sought to have? I repeat, while I would do nothing out of retaliation or malice, I insist that we must maintain the authority and sanctity of law, or we shall leave the interests of the loyal and true citizen insecure. Treason is the highest crime against the state. Upon the power, authority and purity of the state depend the peace, safety and rights of the people. Slightly to pass over the most flagrant treason or, indiscriminately to pardon rebels, is to weaken if not destroy the influence, authority and power of the state. And such a course is itself a betrayal of every interest committed by the people to the state.

I do not advocate indiscriminate punishment. This, too, were not only improper, it would be radically unjust, for many, if not most of the rebels, are but the dupes and creatures of the master spirits of the occasion. But I will say that, in my judgment, those men who conceived and adopted this scheme, and plotted to plunder that they might destroy the nation, who have accepted place and power to injure us, and especially those who perjured their souls, more effectually to work our ruin, the officers, the master minds, ought to suffer the just penalty of their great sin. Something must be done for justice, and something that shall forever deter men from pursuing a similar course, or we shall cheapen crime, and unsettle the fundamental principles of society, and destroy the foundations of government. What we may call mercy and magnanimity to the guilty, may be the cause of ruin to the loyal and innocent among us. I pray God to bless Andrew Johnson, and the cabinet, and all the people, and especially the emancipated slaves, and give to all, wisdom to devise and power to execute for his glory, and our prosperity and peace.

SUBSTANCE OF A DISCOURSE PREACHED IN THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

BY REV. HUGH P. MC ADAM.

Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.-JOSHUA, vii, 12.

The history of this nation, in the present crisis, is in many features, the history of the Jewish nation repeating itself. There are many circumstances in our national experiences, corresponding with theirs. In our success we find a counterpart to their prosperity, in our reverses we discover a likeness to their calamities. In whatever circumstances we may be placed as a nation, we may look into the glass of God's word and see ourselves reflected. In every possible condition, we may find some portion of that word suited to our case, and containing a lesson, a warning, or a promise from which we can draw consolation or derive instruction. For the purpose of obtaining this consolation and instruction we have selected for consideration the portion of sacred history, embracing a record of God's dealings with Joshua and the children of Israel.

We propose to notice the similarity between some points in the history of the Israelites, and some circumstances in connection with our own national experience: also to present some of the lessons of instruction which these events are designed to teach.

The "accursed" was that which God had devoted to destruction. Of the spoils which should be taken from the enemy, God commanded Joshua and the children of Israel to destroy everything save the silver and gold and vessels of brass and iron, which were declared to be consecrated to the Lord. To be guilty of trespass in the "accursed thing" was to appropriate these spoils to some other purpose than that which God had commanded.

In

As long as the Israelites obeyed the command of God they were victorious, every effort was crowned with success. But when they disobeyed His command, nothing but defeat and disaster awaited them. obedience to His instructions, they make an assault upon the city of Jericho, and the walls of the city totter and crumble before them. When they make a subsequent assault upon Ai, they meet with overwhelming and serious defeat. This calamity was unexpected. The God of battles who before had fought for them and given them the victory, was now turned against them. In view of this catastrophe, the hearts of the people sunk within them, and they betook themselves to mourning and humiliation. "Wherefore the hearts of the people melted and became as water. And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads." In their emergency they humble themselves before God, and inquire why it is He has thus frowned