Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-06-25
The OhlO STATE oOnGresatiOnal o66Ferenoe.

The Ohio state Congre enti0uni Conference
This body held its annual Session at Gin.
cinnaii, at the Ist Congregational Church,
DE. StoIrs) commencing or THURSDAY even
ing Of last week. The Conference was
largely attended and the meetings and re-
ports very interesting, showing that oOngre-
gationalists in Ohio, are greatly increasing in
their numbers. Ne give below the preamble
and resolutions OF this body upon the state Of
the country
Reeo, Mining the present calamities OF our
country as the just judgment of God, our
Heavenly Father, sent upon Us because Of our
sins, and designed for our reformation, We
are led to inquire for the causes which have
thus brought His Christening hand upon US.
The brief remuneration of these calamities
presents the spectacle Of uUusti6able and
wicked rebellion. A band OF eOnspirators in
the interest Of a gigantic system of unright-
eous OPPRESSION, condemned by the Word of
God aud the Spirit Of Christ seiZing 10y fraud
and force upon the Government of States,
trampiug under foot the liberties Of their
people, reasonably arraying their power
against the General Government, and its prin-
ciple of universal human freedom, and inau-
gurating civil war with its train of fearful
and demoralizing evils to desolate the land.
The spectacle Of large bodies Of professedly
Christian Ministers and Churches uniting with
these conspirators in prOstituting the Word
OfGod, and debauehing the public conscience
to the service of this monstrous sin. The
spectacle of National industry paralyzed and
impoverished the hard earned wealth of
years and generations destroyed in a mo-
mentb by an immoral and prOAigate repudiation
OF Just obligations and the consuming neces-
tiles of war-the spectacle OF a united, pros
porous and Christian nation approaching con-
ditions Of unexampled power for the king
dom Of Christ evidently checked in mid Ca
reer, its integrity aud greatness impaired,
and its good name and usefulness among the
nations threatened with disgrace and de-
struction.
Reviewing these calamities, We are COM
PEELED TO behold in them signal tokens of the
Divine displeasure with US as nation, for
that cupidity and pride which has led US to
tolerate or even maintain by direct or indir-
ect means that vast system Of human chattel-
ism, for whose further aggrandizment this
great nation is thus threatened with dismem-
berment and ruin, or the distraction of its
free aad Christian institutions.
As the conference of the Congregational
Churches of Ohio engaged in establishing
that kingdom whose foundations and spirit
are righteousness, peace ard joy, in the Holy
Spirit, and the overthrow OF everything Op-
posed to this, we are, therefore
Resolpsd, That we see in the madness and
wickedness of the cOnspirators against our
Government a new proof Of that disorganiz-
ing tendency of Slavery which Christian
statesmen and Christian philanthropists have
ever asserted
ResolUsd, That we acknowledge the Di-
vine hand in our present troubles, and that
we discover in them a sigrof righteous in
dignation on the one hand, at the iniquity
which has 50 cruelty degraded the bondman,
and on the other, at the mercenary spirit
which has persuaded this whole people to
strike hands with oppression, for the sake of
gain.
ResOlued, That with devout gratitude to
our God we recognize the presence and power
Of the Christian element OF this nation in the
present conflict for the cause of truth and
our national integrity, and that we regard
this cheering fact as an assurance Of ultimate
and complete re establishment of the Govern
ment authority throughout the whole extent
of our ccuRtry, upon purer and irmer foun-
| dations.
ResogUed, That with humble acknowledge
ment of our sins and unworthiness as a ma
ton, we make our united supplications unto
/ God that lie will turn US away from our sins,
/ giving all our people q heart to do justly,
love mercy, and walk humbly before Him
and that while we yield ourselves to main
tain The cause ofright and righteous Govern
ment, at every cost He will be graciously
pleased to bestow upon our rulers, the Presl-
dent of the United States, and all in author
ity with him, wise and understanding
heart, that he will protect and strengthen
our armies, and that he viii at length bestow
upon our nation that union and peace which
shall be founded in righteousness, enduring
forever.
u, II