The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-12
From the same paper qf Nay 8.
THURSDAY, May 8, 1851.


The convention met at 10 o'clock, and was open
ed with the following prayer by the Rev. DR.. Gil
man.
almighty God who holdest in thy hand the
destinies Of thy children, and art acquainted with
all our ways. We would begin, continue, and end
all things in thee. Without thy blessing, We feel
ourselves to be poor, blind, and miserable; but
with %hy blessing, we may hope for the hnppicst
issues out of every trial and every difficulty.
1--WE invoke Divine benediction on the assem-
bly, which 10 here convened. Az they are soon
about to return to their friends and their homes,
may they carry with them the consciousness that
thoy have aimed at the best interests of their inn
mediate constituents, and OF the beloved State be-
meath whose sheltering wing we all repose. May
the spirit Of sound wisdom and patriotism pervade
their deliberations, whether together apart, whe
Their in larger or smaller bodies, and wilt thou
tify the influence which they may exert over their
friends and fellow-ctizens. ta h5q3
Father! we pray for the peace of our Jerusalem.
For our brethren and companions sakes we will
say: Peace be within thy walls and prosperity
within thy palaces. May no weapon prosper which
ia formed against her, Fulfil, we beseech thee
the promises Of thine ancient prophet: In thy
righteousness thou shalt be established; thou shalt
BIO far from oppression for thou shalt not fear; and
from terror, for it shall not como near thee' Dis
trusting the arm Of public flesh, may realize the
precious truth. that help IL in the name of the
Lord, who made the heavens and the earth. s
"Most merciful God! Wilt thou be pleased 10
bless os in tho various rotations Of life, and esps
cially do ask all needed light and aid in refer
cnce TO that class of our fellow beings whom thy
wise providence entrusted to the of our FORE
fathers, and who have been bcqueathed to the pre-
sent and future generations a. great, solemn,
and . responsible inheritance and deposit. May
We learn from thy sacred word our special and
prescribed duties in regard to them, and may we
butte 70 their temporal and eternal good, to our
peace and safety, and to the general benefit of
mankind. Restrain. we beeecch thee, the un-
righteous and unhalowed interference of those
t6~psp Ia ns>k~ 49,
turo Of our institutons and grant that every COM
munity, ourselves among the rect, may faithfully
explore, and probe. and rectify its own evils and
develop IT: own true destiny. May those States
whose institutions and interests sympathiss with
our own successfully combine to secure our guar
anteed rights and privileges. 80
'And yet, oh God! with fond and lingering
hopes. we presume TO implore thy blessing on the
great Confederacy Of which we still form part.
May the letter and the spirit OF that renowned
Constitution, which we have received from our
fathers, and which was ccmentod and sealed by
their blood and tolls. be faithfully reverenced and
fulfilled by every party concerned in it. May
the kind advances and concessions, which are
made BY one portion OF our fellow. citizens, be
generously interpreted and accepted BY the others
asnes tie cloud which now 1s 70 p,en
over our destinics. May . spirit of mutual har-
Wony and justice pcrvadc every portion Of our
common country. May. We all be enabled to
70 b. smpeIled in one direction towards the COM
mon good. Whilst maintaining and defending
whateac party may believe to Be the right, grant
that all parties may be preserved from rash coun-
sels-from precipitatc action--from magnifying
ipeEinations-from exsggerAting fears, and from
scfdostructive purposes And blow thou, from
thine own heaven, some wind upon the reeling ves-
eel of our onwealtb, which may spoedtiy
right her again on her onward course, 90 that the
bloaspgs Of civil and religious liberty Of public
and private ORDER Of individual, social and politi-
cal self government, and Of pure and undefilcd re-