General Considerations. 



215 



of a united but inactive nation." We are commanded by the best 

 authority to prove our faith by our work. For my part, I would 

 like to see the prayers of the people take on the substantial form of 

 collections, made in the churches throughout the State, for the 

 benefit of the sufferers, and distributed by organized authority ; or, 

 what would be still better, the State authorities, if it is in their 

 power, should offer a premium for every bushel of young locusts 

 destroyed. In this way the more destitute of the people in the 

 infested districts would have a strong incentive to destroy the young 

 locusts, and thus avert future injury, and at the same time furnish 

 the means of earning a living until the danger is past. The locusts 

 thus collected and destroyed could be fed to poultry and hogs, 

 buried as manure, or dried, pulverized and sold for the same 

 purpose. 



Though I may not have overmuch piety and faith my- 

 self, I at least know how to respect those qualities in 

 others, and however much I believe that the insect which 

 was the remote cause of Dr. Yeaman's sermon, is governed 

 by natural laws, which should guide us in understanding 

 and. overcoming it, the reverend gentleman forgot his call- 

 ing, and made himself ridiculous, in charging, for such 

 reasons, that I took pains to " sneer at Providence." 



As the most effective and substantial method of observ- 

 ing the day of fasting and prayer, and as a result of the 

 suggestion above quoted, Gov. Hardin, on the 24th of May, 

 wisely issued a second proclamation, urging the benevo- 

 lent and charitable, who might assemble on the 3d of June 

 in public worship, and felt so disposed, to make contribu- 

 tions and forward the same to certain parties who would 

 attend to the proper disbursement of the same. 



Early in April, I favored the Governor with the very 

 first copy that came from the bindery, of my Seventh Re- 

 port, in which it was foretold that the locusts would begin 

 to leave the State early in June. Whether or not this had 

 anything to do with the date fixed upon in the proclama- 

 tion, certain it is that tho date was most opportune ; for 

 the insects began to leave about that time, and that por- 

 tion of the community which places faith in the efficacy 



