Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-06-27

i III NAAtAh H. - hF' $500
and, after mature dc.ibsration. VS. unanimously
adopted.
Gro WooDsEi0sE, Secretary.
Bsetdsrn and EHar-ciazsss: Il.
The undersigned, Ministers of the Gospel, Of
different Christian denominations, in the city OF
Richmond, do not think that we shall transcend
our proper sphere in addressing to you. respect
fully and earnestly, a few conservative remarks
on The present alarming crisis il cur national at
firs.
Our clerical profession, though it has restrain
ell US from taking an active part in political mat
tiers, has not quenched the ardUr Of our patriot
ism. We cherish, as our invaluable birth-Fight,
the liberty, civil and religious, secured for US by
the toll, vaior and blood of our fathers We are
~fe-vcntiy attached TO our national institutions,
planned by the wisdom, and consolidated By the
conservative spirit, OF revolutionary patrols
{ We love our colatTy-Our whole ccuntry-our
country with all its faults. We look upon the
citizens of every State Of the Union q our breth-
ren. OfalI the people On t:le face of the earth.
thev have the greatest cause to be thankful and
/ coHtentcd. The sun does not shine upon q nation
50 free So prosperous, as ours. We deem it our
solemn duty a. patriots and Christians, To con-
tribute in every lawful method TO the perpetua-
ting blessings so numerous, 50 various ana so
rich.
We have seen, with painful so.icitude, the
I agitations which have married tac peace ard
threatened the stability, Of our Union. Sectional
icalousies and bitterness have, to . great dc
gree, usurped the place Of patriotism aud BROTH
er,y lore. Citizens Of the same country, deSceil-
beats OF the same race, inheritors OF the same
priceless privileges, guardians of the same be
niiccnt institutions, are set in deadly hostility
against each other. The spirit Of violence,
showing itself in misrepresentation ion all ahuFs, IN
the :icentiousneS$of thetounge, and of the press,
in personal assaults, in INSTRUMENTATION, and II
armed resistencc to lawiul authority, Is rife and
spreading in the country. The tiacleS OF civil
war are kind!ing on our borders. As Ameri-
can citizens We are hum5led, and as Christians
we are deeply mortified and grieved attii!s state
2f things.
We have seen that, in various parts of the
country, meetings are called, conventions are
held, speeches are delivered, resolutions are
adopted, and all, or nearly all, are designed TO
Ggitate, in1ame, excite the worst passions OF
the human heart, and add fuel to the flame that
threatens to consume the noble fabric OF orr
government. We have read no account of any
mectingasscmbled for the patriotic and Christian
purpose of allaying the popular excitement, ava
king the conservative spirit of the people, and
invoking the blessing Of the Most High on our
rules and on our nation.
We believe that God Teigns, in righteousness,
over the nations Of the earth. His gracious and
controlling providence has been c;nincutly dis
vlayed in the history of our beloved country
Our revolutionary fathers acknowledged the
sovereignty of God, relied on his sustaining
power. and sought. by fasting, humiliation and
PRAYER, to deprcciate his wrath ard to secure
His guidance and protection, in the unequal
struggle in which they were engaged. Nor did
they appeal to him in vain. BY many wonder
ful interpretations, He gave them the victory and
enabled them to establish q government, which
mas been the admiration of the world and the
hope of republican liberty. From the ]aus?ici-
Gus dawn Of our republic to this hour, lie has
been the guide, defence and benetnctcr OF our
nation. The perpctuity of our national instItu-
tons and the prosperity of oar country, depend
on Ills blessing; and We humbly trust that He,
WHO watched over our national Infancy, and
nouriShed us to vigorous manhood, viii not
if now forsike us. We are sure he will not.
by our national iniquiues, we do not forfeit Ills
favor and provoke His wrath.
We regard the law of God as the foundation
of all human law binding by its prcceptsal men
of every sphere and calling in the life, and the
standard by which all human actions should be
judged; and VIC therefore, earnestly dcPreciate
all eXasperating personalities, all asperity and
intemperance of language, all resorts to physical
force for redress, as Contrary to the teaching OF
Gods word, and as derogatory to that elevated
civilization of which that word Is the origin;
the rule, and the safeguard.
In view of these considerations, it seems good
to us to address a few words of cXortntion to our
fellow citizens. In the present circumstances,
it is the obvious and imperative duty of all To
cherish Il patriotic. candid, kind and foTbcaring
spirit. Let us scdulousiy avoid every word and
deed, which can tend to increase the public eX-
Citcment and irritation. Let US give no counter.
ance TO lawless violence, whether in low or high
places. Let US seek, by every practicable meth
cd TO strengthen and brighten the bond of fra,
tcrnal union, which SHOULD embrace every citizens
tr -. -, S.,t,. ,1l T,rr;+ori,- And ahn-n
all let Christians f~srvently pray to the Father Of
Light for his blessing on our rulers-that they
may be wise, firm, conciliating, and patriotic
and for our people, that they may be peaceab.c,
prosperous and happy. We arc called iIaivid-
ually TO determination, the confession OF chr
sins, pcnitencc, and a reformation of our lives
and by theses methods, far mnre readily than by
fierce discussion, we avert the dangurssS which
are impending over our beloved land. And now
we cntreat YOU, by every consideration of patri-
ot:sm and piety-by the memory of our fathers
by the blood which purchased our liberties
by the illustrious deeds of Hill and York
t0wn-by the history of the past-by the mil
lions, living and unborn, whose welfare depends
on the preservation Of our Union-and, especi-
ally, by our religious prosperity, so greatly In
erased under our excellent government, TO FOL
low things which make for peace
In conclusion, we earnestly request our fellow
citizens to unite with us, on the Sunday proceed
ing the fourth of July next, in prayer, secret,
social and public, to the God Of nations, that
he would Incredibly restrain the angry passions
of men, inspire our rulers with a moderate and
pacific spirit, dispense tao clouds ovcrhanging
our favored republic, restore tl:e harmony which
once existed amoug the States Of this Union,
and enable us to transmit to our posterity, in
their emtireness, the incStimable privileges which
We have received from our ancestors.
j. Il. JsrER, I. II. JoSEs,
r. b. c. HowELL, j. D. BLAcEwELD.
j. L. BuEEows, W. a. SxrrH,
Il: F0ND, Il. ID. HoGE,
H.. WATKINS, I. Y. Moore,