Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-07-29
Erie Annual Conference Report on
the State of the Country.

~ L. Shultlls at AollNstlLlsA, TIC Hollow
ing named gentlemen were appointed a
committee to report on the State of the
Country: c. Kingsley, Z. J. l.. Baker R.
NJ. Warren, z. P. Pinney, d. c. Wright,
r. II. Hurlburt, w. W. Warner, C.. c.
Brok, J. Balm.
The Committee, through their Chair
man, DIR. Kingsley, submitted the follow
ing able report, loyal to God, Man, aud to
the Government, which was adopted with
entire unanimity and enthusiasm:
REPORT.
The present gigantic rebellion is a
conflict between W a~ntagonistic powers
of civilization, the one founded on the
Declaration of American independence.
and recognizing the dignity of labor; the
other founded Slavery, and a supreme
disregard of the welfare of the laboring
classes. The one seeks to elevate all
classes of society, the other makes the ell
ovation of the few depend upon the per
petual degradation of the vast majority.
Slavery be it remembered does not de
grade the black man alone; the whites.
on account of the Odium attached to Ia
Dor, are reduced to a condition so low as
to be despised even by the negroes them
selves. The determination to extend,
perfetuate and ~nationalize the system of
American Slavery, making it the central
idea in the entire national policy, domes-
tic and foreign and demanding that a
minority amounting to less than one sew
enty-fifth part OF the entire population Of
the United States, should nave a control
ing influence in every department Of the
Government, has for many years been
the settled policy OF those now in rebel
lion. Not content with domineering oy-
er the helpless victims of their selfish
ness at home, they determined to rule
both North and South with "A rod Of iron.
The fear that owing TO the greater pros
perity and more rapidly increasing popu-
lation of those parts of the country con
secrated to liberty, this power to control
everything, and have everything their
own way. was about TO 90 out of their
hands, has led them to the deliberate
purpose of breaking up the Government
of the United States. An institution or
~iginating in theft and robbery, and whose
continuation from generation is but pro-
longed theft and robbery. now rises up to
destroy the Government. and lay waste
the goodly heritage which God and orr
fathers have hequeathed to US.
AS ministers of the Gospel we should
deem ourselves guilty before God and
man did We not feel a lively and abiding
interest in the preservation of our I'm
ion, and the continuance of IL free in
situations. Christian men and Christian
ministers have rs great an interest as any
class of men, in all that concerns the well
fare of our common country. In the first
place il is a duty directly eniOined upon
them by God himself, I omaintain and up
hold good governments, as n divinely or
dained 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 with
politics shall never induce us 10 look on
with Indifference, and sec our country ia
ken TO pieces. We care nothing for ap-
stract political partizan 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
rltory, 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 lie put out of the way
as an enemy in the human race. 1t seems
to us that the signs of the times strongly
INDICATE the will of God that slavery, the
wicked cause of the rebellion. shall per-
ish with the rebellion itself. The negroes
everywhere hail the approach of our ar
mics as the opening of the Year of Jubi-
lee. 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 praver.
They are all willing and anxious to aid
the Union cause, aud willingly offer up
their lives to our common country. To re-
fuse their aid is 10 strengthen the cause
of the rebellion, for if not permitted to
help save the country, they are Compel
! cd reluctantly toaidi in destroying it. May
God grant that aiding the cause of free
dom, theY piay themselves all become free
men.
I'VE 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. # the
rebellion is to be put down it requires
men to do it.
40 oppose enlistments therefore, or 10
oppose the draft, is to aid the rebels, a
matter they understand very well and
count upon. If men 90 forth to defend
the government, they must be fed and
clothed, and this requires money. To op-
pose the raising of money for this pur-
| nnga = To ha1n fha rnh,1ISa, H. -
so well understood and counted on by
the rebels.
These men make a wise distinction
between the government and the admin
is:ration. The will aid the government,
but they will o co operate with the ad-
ministration. Do they not know the gov
eminent Is carried on through the adj
ministration, and not otherwise? To re-
fuse to cooperate with the administra-
ton III the present crisis, therefore, Is to
help the cause of the rebellion. He who
at a time like the present, cannot rise
above the miserable trammels of party.
so far as TO cooperate with all necessary
methods of an administration for sup
pressing the rebellion, is utterly unworthy
the name of an American citizen. We
hold it to be the duty of every man tit to
live under such a government as ours, to
be willing to give his influence, his
money, and his life if need be, for the
suppression of the rebellion and the in
tegrity of the union. We submit, there
fore the following resolutions:
ReS0Lred,-That we are Steadfastly de
voted to the preservation of the union.
and maintenance of the government of
the United States over the entire terrific
~ belonging TO it, and we pledge our
selves TO heartily sustain the administra-
ton in its efforts TO put down rebellion
and treason from what every quarter they
may como.
,. That we render our devout thanks
to Almighty God for the recent great vic
tories he has ~vouchsafed to the loyal arms I
of the United States.
3. That the noble men who have i'm
periled their all in the cause of the coun-