The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-10-09

the Committee on the state of the country,
through Rev. T. c. Gardner made the following
report, which, with the accompanying resolu-
tions. was adopted unanimously:
The American people have received from
God. through the wisdom, patriotism and reli,
gion of their foretathers. the richest inheritance
of civil and religious freedom ever bequeathed
To any nation in ancient or modern time. They
hnd ia their institutions of government and re-
ligion--the great conservator OF the public
pesce-ihe order, the happiness OF society
every possible reason for chershing an honest
and manly pride Of ancestry, and, aso, every
possible Incentive to the maintenance OF atiOnal
credit, virtue and integrity. the territory al
lotIed them in the arrangement OF Providence,
| for the development of national life and power
il, perhaps the finest that could be traced out
| on the surface OF the globe, and is siguay de
signated by nature herself as the theatre If the
evoutous Of only one general government
Two separate nationalities are foi hidden by the
impresciptibe laws of nature TO CO exist in this
fair land. II is With the deepest sorrow, there
foie, that every true citizen and patriot conteIn-
plates the parIiciCal attempt MADE 10 uproot In,
Institutions, to destroy the government, aud To
aniihilate the existeLce OF the nalIOn. When
We review the history OF the government in ir-
rtorics, 10 the industry, TO the prosperity, to
the constitutional rights, to the entire we'll being
OF the whole people, and then trace the rise anu
progress of the real causes of the present rebel
hon, We see how naturally that sorrow should
pass into indignation, and indignation again into
tine stern military resolves and measures Of pa
{, ,iOtism intensified by the bOliest remembrance
Of our revolutionary struggle, and by ali the
hallowed sentiment Of that pure Christian Faith
that anchors a nations trust in God.
There has been only one prime disturbing ele
ment among all the forces OF our national lite
The ordinary questions relating to national inter
ests that divide men into political parties have
never, of themselves, been able to weaken the
attachment of the people to the government, or
to OF ganize treason into anything like we'll con
certed attack upon the peace Of the county,
| All history shows that in modern civilization ev
cry event of this character takes its rise in the
deeper questions of the rights of man, and the
rights OF conscience, and the teachings of reli-
giOn. Anything operating in national life TO the
violation of these rights, aud the subversion Of
these teachings, must inevitably, by the very
laws of existence, in process OF time, violently
| agi.ate a nations life and government.
Such is the true character of the prime ele-
ment of disturbance that from the beginning
has operated, directly or indirectly, to the dis
grace and injury OF our beloved country. The
slave power in the United States has ever been
antagOnistic to the rights of man, to the rights
| of conscience, to the teachings of religion
| Those rights it has violated in every way In
which violations could be practiced; those teach.
ings it has subverted by every process that can
turn the truth of God into lie. The ingenuity
that coud devise any method untred by the
| minions Of slavery of ;0rturi the utterances
Of our adorable Christianity into its support, is
fairly beyond the depth and compass of the hu
nian mind. When this power was restrained
within its original usurped domain il did not dis
tract the cCuncils of the nation. When il sought
enlargement into free virgin territory, it ava
kened the conscience and shook the passions O
the people. When it accepted territorial com
promise, uniting in a solemn compact that wal
to remain intact forever, IL gathered up its re
sources, strengthened its Notifications shaped
its measures for controlling the general govern
men,, aud, succeeding in that it poisoned tn,
fountain of national legislation, corrupted tn,
supreme judiciary OF free people, annihilatet
its own positive enactment to abide within it,
prescribed boundaries. and then boldly strucl
for its very enthrOnement in the nations exist
ence. In Hebrew phraseology it enlarged il
mouth like he'll to swallow up our whole inneri
tance of freedom. When Divine Providence
stirring in the hearts of the people, breaking il
pieces party organizations thwartng the plan
of cunning men, checked its terrific advance
and overwhelmed its columns, then like it
original predecessors in rebellion against God,
precptatcd all its force into open warfare on tn
principle on which evil itself can only act-bet
ter reign in hell than serve in heaven. Here
the origin, here is the deep, the unaterable sig
, n6cance of the great civil struggle in which, a
q people, We are now engaged. Thank God, III
F people are equal to the contest. Discsrding a
partyisms, they are pouring out their treasure
asd their life freely. showing themselves worth
OF their renowned revolutionary sires.
|. The war is now waged On the part of freeme
, for the maintenance OF the government, for tn
support of constitutional liberty in the ne
world. for all the rights of humanity. for all tn
interests OF Christianity in its civil aud socii
| relations, for all the rights of God as they ar
represented in law and order and justice, an
for the perpetuity of all those institutions ths
for eighty five wears have adorned our nationa
, ity with every attribute Of excellence, and mad
. il q power among the nations OF the earth.
Christian ministers, loving our country for Go
, and Christs sake, salutiug the stars and stripe
as next in our prayers and affections to the ver
cross of our Redeemer, We hereby pledge to th
! government all the reverence and love and dui
, and support tha, a loyal Christian ci,izensLi
J can render, and if need be, our lives, our fo
tunes, our sacred honor.
; We submit for adoption the resolutions 70
: lowing:
RESOLVED, That the rebellion uow wage
against the government is not only without ju
I caus. aud therefore wicked, but is characterize
{ in its commencement and workings by ever
piece of aggravaiion that can provoke the ind
nation OF man and the just adherence of God
D Resolved. That We will incucate in our mini
t trations all the sentiments Of high toned Curi
+. tan patriotism and the highest regard for civ
{ government as q divine institution and will ers
: our people, By every consideration Of truth 81
{ righteousness TO firm and cheerful support
D the govern mcnt of their fathers.
0 RESOLVED, That, as the forces Of humanity ar
= religion are in happy combination in the suppo
: of the government, We rejoice in the discipl;r
n now maintained in the army, in the dscourag
!. me nrs exerted by those high in authority esp
cially against the use of intoxicating drink
3 aud in the general order of the commandiI
officer on the Potomac enforcing the prop
observance of the Sabbath by all under b
D command.
! Resolved, That We affectionately exhort o.
r beloved brethren in the ministry, who are nc
o laboring "a Chaplains in the army, to all possb
:; fidelity ana diligence. that the influence OF O.
d holy religion may strengthen the strong, hi
. soothe the wounded and suffering, and suppo
o the dying soldier far away from home and XII
!. dred, and that we viii remember them in O
J. prayers, especially our brethren from this Co
u fe,enca and will hold thern and THAR families