The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-05-17
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION.
IMPORTANT REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE
COUNTRY.

Ia Convention at savannah, May 1Sth, 1881 9,
pr Richard Fuller, OF Md. from the Com.
,oittee on the State of The Country, made the
following
EEroRT
We hold this truth 20 be selfevident that
Governments are es stabished for the security
prosperity and happiness of the people
Nhea, therefore. any Government is peryer ted
from lis proper design, becomes oppress i've
and abuses its power, the people have IA
TIght tO change 1t.
A. 10 the States once combined upon this
continent, IL is now manifest that they can
no longer live together rs one Confederacy.
The Union constituted by our .forefathers
was one of co equal sovereign States The
fluatical spirit OF the North has long been
seeking 20 deprive US OF rights and franch ses
guaranteed by the Cons titution and, after
ysHfs Of persistent aggression, they have q t
isst coomplshed their purpose.
In yIudication of their sacred rights and
honor, IN seif-detence, and for the protect ion
Of All which IL dear % man, the Southern
States have practically asserted the right of
seeding from a Union SO degeuerated from
that established by the Constitu ton, and
they have formed for themselves Il Govern
luent based upon the principles of the original
compact-adopt!Bg charter which secures
% each State its sovereign rights and privi-
ltg"s.
This new Government, la thus dissolvug
former political connec tiOns, seeks TO cUIti-
ysl- relations OF amity and good will wits
tls late coGfederates, and with all the world ;
and thev have thrice sent special commission
ers 10 Washington with oyertures tor peace,
md for Il fair, amcabe adius tmeut of all df-
tCultes. The Government at Washing ton
has ms ultingiy repealed these reasonable pro-
postls and noT insists upon Devastating our
land vi u hr" aud sword, upon letting loose
hurGo> OF armed soldiers TO pIlage and desc
late the entire South, for the purpose of fore
lug the secedea States back into unnatural
MON, or OF subIugatng them and holding
them "a conq uerkd provinces.
While the TWO sections OF the land are thus
arrtyed against each other, il might naturally
have been hoped that n least the Churches of
lh~ North would 'nterpose and protest against
this appeal to the sword this invoking OF
civil war, this deiuging the country ia tratrI-
Cld1i blood bat with establishment and grief
we IND churches aud pastors of the North
breathing ont slaughter and clamOrng fOr
sauSuinry hos tilltles with IA ferceness which
We would have supposed impossible among
The disciples OF the Prince OF Peace. In view
ut such premises, this Convention cannot
keep silence. Recognizing The necessity that
The whole moral influence OF the people in
"hateTer capacity or organization, should b.
enlisted IN aid OF the rulers, who, by their
sufTaRrs have been called 70 defend The en-
daug"Ted Interes Is of person and property, of
honor and liberty, it bound 10 utter it's voice
distinctly, decdedly, emphaticallyi and your
Committee recommend, therefore, The sub
lAined resolutions.
lst. Rtsoired. That impartial history can
nor charge upon the South the dissolution OF
the Union. She was foremost in advocating
and e. 'menting that Union. To thst Union
she chung through long years OF calumny, in-
Jury and insult. She has never ceased 10 raj sc
her warning appeals against the fanaticism
which has obstinately and necessarily warred
against that Union
II. Res"2red, That we most cordially ap-
prov" OF The formation of the Government OF
The Confederate states OF America and admire
and applaud the noble cense OF that Govern
m"nt mp To this present time.
-. HtsGtred, That we will assiduously in
woke the Divine direction and favor, in behalf
OF those who bear rule among us, that they
may stil exercise the same wise, prompt, ele
waited craftsmanship which has hitherto char
Hct"fIfd their measures, that their enter
prises may be attended with success, and that
they HAY attain great reward, not only In
seeing these Confederate States prosper under
'ht'r administration but in contributing TO
the progress OF the trauscendant Kingdom of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
lth. RtSofrti, That most cordially ten
der 10 the President of the Confederate States,
10 ms Cabinet and to the members OF the Con
gre~s now convened at Mont merry, the as
surances OF our sympathy and entire conf
dence. With them are our hearts and our
hearty co operation.
9TH Rssoired, That the lawless reign Of ter
Tor at the North, the violence comnItted up
on unohrndIng citizens; above all, the threats
tpWase upon the South warfare OF savage
hArb4lty, to devastttc our homes and hearths
with hosts OF rui!ians and felOns, burning with
tand rapine, ought to excite the horror of
All civilized people. God forbid that we should
80 far forget the spirit OF Jesus to suffer
malice ana NlndiCtYenesS TO insinuate them
selves into our hearts; but every principle of
religion, OF patriotism, and OF humanity,
calls upon rs to pledge our fortunes and lives
lA me good work OF repelling an invasion de
signed TO destroy whatever is dear in our he
roIe traditions, whatever is sweet in our do
nestle hopes and enioyments, whatever is es-
'rnittl To our institutions and our very man
hUoi, whatever Is worth living or dying for.
6lh. RfSoiped, That we do now engage iii
PRAYER for our friends, brothers. fathers, sons,
ana CITIZEN soldiers, who have left their homes
10 go forth for the defence of their families
and friends and all which is dearest to the hu
Wth nrart, aud we recommend TO the churches
represented IN this body, that they constantly
invoke n holy and merciful CIod 10 guard them
trom the temptations to which they are eX-
posed to cover their head in the day of ba ttle
ana TO give victory 10 their arms.
''h. h'Eotred, That we Will pray for our
enemies IN the spirit OF that Divine Master,
VINO, when he was reviIed, reviied not
AGAIN trusting that their pitless purposes
may he frustrated, that God will grant to
'hrin more polite, Il more consiterate and a
NOR" Christian mind; that the fratricidal
strife " which they have decided upon notwith-
eV'hding all our commissions and pleas for
pc ttr may be- arrested hy that Supreme Power
VINO mhketh the wrath of man TO praise him;
ana that thus, through Divine blessing, the
prosperity OF these sovereign and once allied
states may be restored under the two Gov
'f"in"niS 10 which they now and henceforth
respectively belong.
Aih. ResoiCed, We do recommend to the
Nhnrches OF the Baptist denomination in the
southern States, to observe The first and sec
oua days Of June, AS days of humiliation,
Tasting and prayer 20 Almighty God, that he
may avert any calamtias due 10 our sins as a
people, and may look with mercy and favor
upon US.
Sth ReSoIeed, That whatever calamities
may eome upon us, our firm trust and hope
hE~ rod. thrnupn the atpnpmpnt of his SON
ana We earnestly beseech the Churches repre-
h"niefi in this body. IA constituency of six or
seven hundred thousand Christians, J that they
oe ItrFrnt and importunate III prayer, not
only Tor the country but FOR the enterprises OF
ihr Gospel which have been committed to our
care. In the war of the Revolution, and in
.Hr war of 1872, the Baptist bated ne lot of
LeArt or hope for the Redeemer cause. Their
~TfH and Ioeraiity abounded i'll their deepest
aLlICtiouS. We oeseech the Churches TO cher
SH me spirit and initiate the example of this
noble army OF saints and heroes; to the follow
~ oi them, who through faith and patience,
inherit the promises, TO he steadftst, unmoye-
I1"'ri aiways abounding in the work of the
l-1td, for as much as they know that their la
NVi IS NOT IN vain in the Lord.
ID h'soEred. That these resolu tious be COM
H.Hntcated 10 the Congress of the ' Confeder-
"'r States" at Montgomery, with the sigma. |
t"Its Of the President aud Secretaries of the |
Convention
In the course Of the brief debate upon the |
report. We learn from the Savannah Re |
publican
Ar Dudley, of Kentucky, desired to ex-
80 @ ne embarrassment he felt in casting a |
@ @'ole on this report. Were il simply ques-
tiou WIN himself individually, there would |
oe no olIicaity; bat he represented the Gen |
sl"' " association of Ken tucky, and could not |
~ rer ~hether they would approve vote for
No report or not. There were three parties
,iis yn .niS ques ton in Kentucky--one for posi-
'''oEhd perpetual Union one for Immediate