Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1862-09-25

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vote Of the. West Wisconsin, Conference
Of the NJ z. Church, held in Dodge
| vile, carly in September 1862, TO fur
nish you q copy Of the following report
which was adopted BY a unanimous vote
j. G. A.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON THE STATE
OF THE COUNTRY.
Your committee respectfully report
that the war, which is now so cruelty
rending and wasting cur country, is es-
sentially war of principles---we OBJ
| tanned our independence as a nation
upon the principle of the equality and
common brotherhood Of man but in
the formation Of our Federal Govern
ment a vile system of oppression was
recognized and made power in it
This induced politicians to cultivate
and strengthen that system, and disap-
point the general expectation Of its
peaceful termination at no distant pc
Rod Instead Of waning out, its VIC
Tins have increased from a little over
half million to four millions, and from
generation to generation their cry has
been going up into the ear of the Lord
God of Sabaoth The evident design
Of this vile institution was the entire
control Of the government, and for many
years it seemed verging to that point.
But by discussion Of the nature and
evils of slavery, the late elections indi-
Gated that it's territory must be limited
Had these discussions been allowed in
all parts Of the country, according to
the provisions Of the Constitution, there
is little doubt it would have been over
thrown by peaceful means; but this
vitality important part Of the constitu-
ton has been nullifed in nearly all
slayeholding territory for many years.
The leaders in this awful rebellion have
long been engaged in making extensive
preparations for their internal work,
both at home and in foreign countries.
They saw long ago that slavery could
not bear the light of discussion could
not grapple with liberty in argument,
and prepared to. resort to brute force.
Hence, the foundation Of this war is
simply slavery. Slavery and rebellion
are SYNONYMOUS terms: where there is
the most slavery there is the, most re-
belhon where there is the least slavery
there is the least rebellion where there
is love for slavery and q sympathy with
it there is love for rebellion and sym
pathy with it. Weare now brought, in
the providence Of God, to point where
we must destroy slavery in our nation
Or slavery will destroy what liberty it
has not already destroyed. The hope
that we can have anything that deserves
the name Of peace while slavery exists
is simply ridiculous And if slavery
was destroyed to-dsy there would be no
real cause for another day Of bloody
strife Why, then, does God permit
our government to linger so long in
coming to this point? Probably to
punish us for our sins, for we have be-
come an awfully guilty nation. We
have held in cruel bondage number Of
our fellow men one fourth greater than
there were inhabitants in all the Colo
MES at the time of the Revolution. A
bondage the wrongs and suRerings Of
which are greater in single day than
an age Of the expressions inflicted on
the colonies by Great Britain. til
singular fact that while we have united,
North and South, to despise and Cypress
Gods colored children, and are slaught-
ering each other by hundreds Of thous-
ands, they, who arc the innocent cause
Of the war, are Standing looking on or
else compelled to furnish supplies for
their oppressors. When before has the
world seen nation foolishly refusing
the help of millions Of friends in its
very midst, while struggling for its
existence as a nation? Viewing the
matter philosophically, there is Iittle
doubt that the balance Of power is with
the colored force. 1t is true the North
has the most men and means, but do
not the advantages of therebels in being
on home territory about balance this diff
ference? But, in our opinion, there is q
principle connected with this, which God
requiresus tor cognize. Does not the sec
ond branch of his law require us to do to
others as we would have others do to US !?
Has not the violation of this great prin-
ciple brought all this trouble upon US ?
Can we appeal successfully to God for
aid, while refusing his children their
liberty, or the privilege Of contending
for it, because Of a difference which he
has made in our physical organizations :
Is it not manifest that he intends to
bring us to a practical acknowledgement
of the political equality and common
brotherhood Of humanity the very
principle on which we appealed success
fully to Him at the commencement OF
the Revolution
We greatly rejoice in the progress
that has been made in the public mind
and in the. government, even though this
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