Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-07-23
VOL. XVII.


Erie Annual Conference Report on the
state Of the COuntFy.
At the late Annual Conference Of the
N. E. Church, at Ashtsbula, the following
named gentlemen were appointed Com
mittee to report on the astate of the
Country -: c. Kingsley, z. J. L. Baker, R
NJ. Warren, P. P. Pinney, D. C. Wright, R.
4. Hurlburt, W. ". Warner, C. C. BrOk, J.
Balm.
The Committee through their Chairman,
DR.. Kingsley, submitted the following atle
report, loyal to God, to Man, and to the
Government, which was adopted with en-
tire unsnimity and enthusiasm
REPORT.
"The present gigantic rebellion is a
conflict between two sntagonistic powers
Of civilization, the one founded on the De-
elaration Of american independence, ahd
recognizing the dignity of labor the 9th
eF founded upon Slavery, and supreme
disregard Of the welfare Of the lsboring
classes. The one seeks to elevate all class
es of society, the other makes the elevation
Of the few 10 depend upon the perpetual
degradation Of the vast majority. Slavery
be it remembered does not degrade the
black man alone; the poor whites, on ac-
count Of the odium attached to labor, are
reduced to a condition so low as to be de-
spised even by the negroes. The deter
mination to extend, perpetuate and ma
tionalize the system Of American Slavery,
making it the central idea in the entire
national policy, domestic and foreign; and
demanding that minority amounting to
less than one seyenty-fifth part of the en-
tire population of the United States,
should have acontrolling influence IN ev-
cry department of the Government, has
for many years been the settled policy Of
those now in rebellion. Not content with
domineering over the helpless victims Of
their selishness at home, they determined
to rule both North and South With rod Of
iron. The fear that owing to the greater
prosperity, and more rapidly increasing
population Of those parts OF the country
oOnsecrated to liberty, this power to con-
troll everything, and have everything their
own way, was about to 60 ont of their hands
has led to the deliberate purpose Of break
ing up the Government Of the United
States. An institution originating in
theft and robbery, and whose continuance
from generation to generation IS but pro-
longed theft and robbery, now rises up to
destroy our Government and lay waste the
goodly heritage which God and our faith
ers have bequeathed TO rs. .f
f" As ministers of the Gospel we should
deem ourselves guilty before God and man
did we not feel a lively and abiding in
terest in the preservation Of our Union,
and the continuance Of our free institu-
lions. Christian men and Christian min
listers have as great an interest as any
class Of men, in all that concerns the well
fare Of our common country. In the first
place it Is a duty directly enjoined upon
them by God himself, to maintain and up.
hold good Governments, as divinely or
dsined institution. In the second place
the labors of Christian men and Christian
ministers, have contributed in no small
degree TO the prosperity Of our country.
The senseless cry about meddling will
politics shall never induce us to look on
with indifference, and see our country
taken TO places. We caro- nothing for sb-
stract political paFtizan issues. The only
living issue now is, whether the Govern
ment shall live or die. Our convictions
are as strong as convictions can be, that
the Government of the United States, ex-
tending over every square inch Of her ter
ritory, should be maintained at all costs
and at all hazards and that whatever
stands in the way of this, no matter what
it may be, should be put out Of the way as
an enemy to the human race. Il seems TO
us that the signs of the times strongly
indicate the will Of God that slavery, the
wicked cause Of the rebellion, shall perish
with the rebellion itself. The negroes ey-
erywhere hail the spproaeh Of our armies
as the opening Of the Year Of Jubilee -
Their uniform testimony is that they have
long been praying for this hour. They
come within our lines with their eyes
streaming with tears Of gratitude, and
with prayer and praise mingled with
songs Of thanksgiving. They ascribe their
deliverence to God in answer to prayer
They are all willing and anxious to aid
the Union cause, and willingly offer up
their lives TO our common country. To re.
fuse their aid is to strengthen the cause
Of the rebellion, for if not permitted to
help save the country, they are compelled
reluctantly to aid in destroying IL. May
God grant that aiding the cause Of free
dom, they may themselves all become free
men.
awe have no fellowship with that pro-
fessed loyalty which, pretending to be IA
vorable to the Union, opposes every meas
ure that can possibly restore it. If the
rebellion is to be put down it requires
men to do it.
I" To oppose enlistments therefore, or to
oppose The draft, is to aid the rebels, a
matter they understand very we'll and
count upon. If men 90 forth to defend the
government, they must be fed and clothed,
and this requires money. To oppose the
raising Of money for this purpose is to help
the rebellion. Thisis also we'll understood
and counted on by the rebels.
"These men make wise distinction be-
tween the government and the admins.
/ tration. The will aid the government, bui
they will not cooperate with the admins.
tratiOn. Do they not know the government
| is carried on through the administration
and not otherwise To refuse to cooper.
ate with the administration in the present
crises, therefore, is to help the cause Of the
rebellion. He who, at time like the pre-
| sent cannot rise above the misera ble
trammels Of party, so far as to cooperate
with all necessary methods of an admins
tration for suppressing the rebellion, is
utterly unworthy the name Of an American
| citizen. We hold it to be the duty ofevery
man ft toliVe under such government as
ours, to be willing to give his influence
his prayers, his money, and his life if need