The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-09-04
Report Ofthe. 70 wa Conferences
on the State Of the Country.

Report Ofthe. 10 wa Conferences
on the State Of the Country.
The Committee to whom acas referred the.
su!Ject of any, present National Affairs,
ask leare to Report
While we disavow mere partisan measures,
in the matter Of political parties; as loyal
Christians and Christian Minister'S, we must
adhere to the well established maxim that,
what s morally wrong can never be polit-
cally right. And we believe few errors are
more dangerous, than that which teaches,
that because question is political or civil
ONO, that its moral character is unassailable
because it is placed in the list Of POLITICAL
topics.
We lament to find that political policy is,
now used, to,a considerable extent, to over
look the moral characteristics Off national af-
fairs. From this position it is easy to pass
over to the next step Of. ignoring the moral
Of those whom we choose for the
public service Of the country, after this the.
moral distinctions Of right and wrong in,
common practice. The Almighty, in giving
instructions on this subject, require as con-.
ditions to eligibility to office, that the per-.
sons filing them should be able men. that it,.
men that fesE Gcd and hate covetouspess.
When these qualifications are disregarded,
we need hot expect anything else than dis
cord or wrong or mob law.
individuals may commit such crimes as to.
forfeit life in consequence, such as murder,
treason, oppression, etc. The moral law Of
God required that he who stole man and
sold him, or II he be found in his hand, shall
surely be put 10 death. This. law is rein.
forced in Deuteronomy, aad recognized as
binding by St. Paul, LIST Timothy l chap.
9th and 10th yer. Where man dealers or.
those who deal in buying, selling or holding.
men as slaves, are placed in the list of parri-.
cides, matricidcs, liars, pejiired persons,
manslayers, and such oflkc character. Now.
when corporation or nation as such as
whole nation becomes incurably wicked, that
nation must be destroyed.
individuals are punished in the future life!
nations in this world as the history Of. Gods;
providence shows as far as we can Judge,
the measure of our national iniquity is now
full, and national disorder, anarchy, and,
confusion prevail And these are only har-
bingers Of the future disintegration Which
must ensue. We have four millions Of in
nocent human beings in state ofreligious,
moral, intellectual and social degradation.
Every other nation, heather or christian,
allowed by law that individuals might at
pleasure set his slaves at liberty. The South.
ern States form an exception to this, no
emancipation is allowed, no intellectual cdu-
cation, as far as schools are concerned. The
system breaks all the. commands Of the deca-
logue, especially the fAh. sixth, seventh
and eighth
We see now the. advocates of this system,
in order to support it, have waged war against
the freedom Of the country. They have
already destroyed the constitution Of the
Confederate States, as far as they could !;
and the United States Government alone can,
recover them to the States. They have
formed themselves into military despotisr,
and as far as this prevails, il will destroy
civil and religious liberty. The three great
divisions Of despotism are formed, viz: the
Oligarchy, the Plcbians.and the Slaves, While
the people, as such, are annihila,ed. So IL
was in Rome when imperial despotism a..
cended the throne. There were then the
three divisions Of Patricians, PleLi. ms, and
Slaves, as in America.
AS this great wrong is national, nothing
less than national reformation will answer.
The whole system Of wrong. must be done
away before national peace will return. How
this viii be accomplished we fear to predics.
But we now see the Southern bondsmt n
brought into the field of contest provoking.
the retribution Of arming III, colored leyions
ofthe North and elsewhere to come {, the
rescue. We pause here with horror wife
we must acknowledge God to be good, Just
and holy in bringing these judgments on us.
But to cut short these observations, we pre-
sent the following resolutions sr the adopt.
ipn Of the Iowa Conference OF the. NJ. f.
Church:
Resolged, That the Confederate States had
no just cause for their rebellion against the
United States Government.
Resoloed, That their Government, should
it be established as fact. and even, rec,c-
nized, would BE- a military despotism and
more at variance with civil and religious
liberty, than any Government that ever ex-.
listed, and in this age of the world would be
of short duration.
Resoloed, That the present Government
of the United States should he sustained by!
every American and every resident of the
United States, at any expense Of men and
money in prosecuting this war to favorable
issue.
Resoloed, That it is the duty Of all citizens
of these United States, to confess, repent of
and forsake our national sins, and then look
up to the Almighty God alone, for a favorable
termination ofour present national difficulties.
Raoo1neI That ro thoroforo apkroek tho