Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-05-15
Southern Rights Convention.
CHARLEsroN, TUESDAY. MAY 6, 1851

The Convention met at 10 clock, a. N
pursuant to adjournment, and the session
was opened with the following prayer b,
the Rev. DIR. Barhman.
0, God, our Heavenly Fatherl w
lift up our souls TO thee, the King, eternal
immortal, and indivisible. We rejoice tha
thou hast been the refuge of thy chldrel
in all generations; and that from everlast
ing to everlasting Thou art the same, un
changeable in power and wisdom, in recti
tude and goodness.
We desire to approach Thee with jus
convictions of thy character, and we pra,
that we may ever cherish such persua
sion of our dependence upon thee, as shal
lead us to ascribe to thee the glory due tc
thy name.
We adore thee as an infinitely pure and
intelligent Spirit, the Creator and Preser
yer of the Universe, the Giver of life and
knowledge, and power and comfort and
happiness. BY thy word, o Lord, were
the heavens made, and all the hosts OF
them by the breath of thy mouth. Thou
art continually in every part of thy domin-
ION, according to the counsels of thine own
understanding. Every good and every
perfect gift comes down from thee; and
without thee we are nothing, and can ac-
complish no good work
Most holy and mcrciful God, we thank
thee that whilst thou art present with indi-
vlduals and families, supplying all with
food and comforts, and numbering the
very hair of their heads, so thou art the ru-
Ter of the nations, imparting wisdom to
or counsellors, preserving them from cr-
ror, and leading them to suggest such REM
ldies for evils and expressions, as are best
calculated to advance the cause of truth
and Justicc--to promote the welfare ofthc
people, and the glory of God.
We thank thee that our holy religion in
structs us in the love of our country-to
labor-to suffer, or to die for our cherished
institutions. We thank thee that whilst
that religion inculcates the doctrine of uni
versal philanthropy-it is opposed to all
injustice and oppression, and requires the
exercise ofour judgment, the practice of
self-denial, and our uniting zeal to be devo-
ted to our country's welfare.
We pray thee, o thou God of wisdom,
and ruler ofnations Thou who hast been
with our country in allher vicissitudes and
dangers, to be present with thy servants
who are here assembled and who have
been delegated by thy fellow men to en-
gage IN such deliberations as are imposed
on them in the present distracted state of
our country, and the danger that surround
the institutions of our Southern land. Wilt
thou, Almighty God, give them wisdom,
hrmncss, and prudence in all their coun-
sells. May they have less of the fear of
man than the fear of God before their ewes.
May they exercise courtesy and charity
towards each other, and not forget the law
of kindness towards those by whose un-
wise Legislation they feel themselves to
have been wronged and oppressed. May
all their deliberations be characterized bv
a love oftruth and justice, and all their acts
be dictated by conscious regard to the
Of Heaven, and an anxious de-
sire to promote the happiness of our peo-
pie, by acting in conformity with the will
Of God.
We pray thee, Heavenly Father, to pre-
serve us from harboring in our hearts sen.
tmcnts of hatred or malice against those
who have heaped upon us injuries and in
dlSnlues, and under all onr cxcitements
may we still adhere to thy holy commands
to "do justly, to love mercy; and to walk
humbly with God"
Heavenly Father, we pray thee, who so
all events as to cause even the
wrath Of man to praise thee, to look in
mercy on our wide extended country-to
check the spirit of fanaticism whose ten
dency Is to subvert the constitution of our
country, and to produce anarchy and
crime. Thou who didst preserve thy
people Israel amidst the dangers of the
sea, and the wilderness; thou who didst
carry terror into the heart of the inpious
Bellshazzar; thou wilt also preserve us in
the midst of our dangers; and we pray
that thou would turn the hearts of the de-
luded from the error of their ways, and
the folly and wickcdness of their inten-
tons.
We bcsccch thee, Almighty God, in be-
half of that institution which recognizes the
right and responsibilities ofthe master
and the obligations and duties of the SER
want. We thank thee that in thy divine
and holy word thouhast laid down rules
for the government of both-so that the
former may not become an oppressor, or
the latter be led on by wicked passions
and evil advisers, to rise up in rebellion
against his lawful master, protector and
friend. We pray that we may be the
humble instruments in thy hand of she'd
ding the light Of thy Gospelover the minds
of a benighted race. fnat the folly of
those who would reduce them beyond the
level of humanity, and incapable Of under
standing, or receiving the truths of chris
tianity, may be made manifest by the or
derly department, the afectionate obedi-
ence and the devoted piety of the humble
servant who, whilst he Is identified with
race of higher intelligence, who will be
his protector and guides, approaches also
the altar of the same God, feels that he has
an equal interest in the atoning blood of
the same Saviour; and that, cfter having
actually performed their duties in their
several stations in their families on earth,
they may have an assured hope of being
reunited In land of light, Of happiness
and immortality, in the regions of eternal
Glory.
And now. mercifnl Father, we COM
mend these thy servants to thy directions,
and invoke in their behalf thy blessings
May our rights be secured-may our lib
critics be preserved-may our land be wa
tered by the dews of Heaven, and our peo-
pie become the people of God and the
heirs Of Heaven, and finally receive US in
to thy kingdom of rest and glory, through
Jesus Christour Lord, AMEN.
The roll ofthe delegates was then CALL
ed over
The unfinished business, which was the
report of the conmiftee on rules for .he