The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-03-11

sylyania. The Rev. DIR. Curley, Rev. Mr..
Charming, D. D., j. j. Marks. d. D., Rev. B.
F. Morris, Rev r. d Johnston. and Rev. N.
r. Crow, of the District of Columbia, met
with the delegation, heard the address pre-
pared by DR.. McIlvaine. the chairman OF the
committee, and gave il their hearty sanction;
most of them signed the address, and waited
on the President with the delegation. Rev.
8: Q. Wylie and Rev. j. r. W. Sloane, with
William Brown, Esq. delegates from the
to the President, also, by invitation, signed
ane address, and acted with the delegation.
through the aid of Senator Sherman. of Ohio,
an arrangement was made with the President
Tor an Interview on Wednesday, at half-past
threc O'Clock p. NJ, when the delegation was
introduced to the President by DR. Gurley,
and the chairman made the following address.
MIR. PREsIDENr-The object for which we
have taken the liberty Of tresspassing mo-
ment upon your precious time can be explain
ed in very few words. We are the represen.
tatives OF mass convention of Christian peO-
pie, without distinction of sect or denomina-
ton, which was held in Allegheny City, on the
9th and 2Sth of January last and we are in
structed to lay before your EXcellency the ac-
ton of that convention. This action, in two
or three brief resolutions we now respectfully
ask your permission to read:
Resolred 1. That we deem it matter of par
amount importance to the life and prosperity
stitution be so amended as fully to express the
Christian national character.
ResOtred, 2. That we are encouraged by the
success attending the labOurs of the friends of
this movement to persevere, in the hope that,
with the blessing Of God, it will speedily re.
suit in the cOnsnmmation of its great object.
ResOLced 3. That the late proclamation OF
his Excellency the President of the United
States recommending the observance of days
of national fasting, humiliation and prayer, as
suggested by the Senate, for the purpose of
confessing our national sins, which have pro-
voked the Divine displeasure, and of implOring
forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and also
days of national thanksgiving for the purpose
of making grateful Acknowledgements of Gods
mercies, we have pleasing evidence that God
is graciOusly inclining the hearts of those who
are in authority over us to recognize His hand
in our national affairs, and to cherish sense
of our dependence as nation upon Him.
Resolred, That the following memorial and
petition be circulated throughout the United
States for signatures:
To the Honorable the Senate and House of Rep
resentdtices in Congress assembled:
We, cetizens of the United States, respect
fully petition your honorable bodies to adopt
such measures as may be necessary for amend
ing the National Constitution, SO that it may
read in substance, as follows:
We, the people of the United States, Thum-
bly, acknowledging Almighty God as the source
OF all authority and power in civil government,
the Lord Jesus Christ as the Governor among
the nations, and His revealed Will as the su.
preme law of the land, in order to constitute
Christian government, and in order to form
more perfect union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility, provide for the common
defence, promote the general welfare, and Sc
cure the iualenable rights and the blessings
of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,
to ourselves, our posterit!y, and all the peo-
pie, do Ordan and establish this Constitution
for the United States of America.
And we further petition that such changes,
with respect to the oath of office, slavery, and
other matters, rs may be necessary to give
effect to these amendments of the preamble,
may be introduced into the body of the COnsti-
tuition, and we, your humble petitioners, will
ever pray, &C., &c.
Resolred 5. That a committee be appointed
to lay this memorial before Congress-, and be-
fore the President, with the request that he
would make it the subject of special message
to the National Legislature.
Here follows long, and, we believe,
very inconsiderate petitionary appeal to
the President ''to do something" OF, in
other words, to change Or amend the Con-
stitution of the United States. TO which
the President replied:
GENrLEMEN-The general aspect of your
movement cordially approve In regard to
particulars must ask time to deliberate as the
work of amending the Constitution should not
be done hastily. Twill carefully examine your
paper, in order more fully to comprehend its
contents than is possible from merely hearing
it read, and will take such action upon it as my
responsibility to my Maker and my country
demands.
A cotemporary also informs us that
these gentlemen, Notwithstanding the eau
tionary reply of the President, proceeded
to make the following arrangements
The form OF petition agreed upon by the
Convention, and bearing the names of the
committee, was prepared for the two Houses
OF Congress. Similar petitions were ordered
to be circulated throughout the various por-
lions OF the country for the signatures of the
people; and all classes of the community
male aud female, who love our country, aud
desire to have it. become that blessed nation
whose God is the Lord - are earnestly request
ed to sign and circulate these petitions, copy
ing the form prepared by the Convention on
two sheets, the one for the Senate and the
other tor the House of Representatives, and
signing the same names to both, and when all
the names possible are obtained transmit the
one for the Senate to the Hon. Chas Sumner,
and the ore for the House to the Hen Judge
Kelley, Washington, ID. c.
We have few comments to add to this.
The present Constitution provides that
Is no religious tests shall ever be required
As qualification to any office or public
trust under the United States" That
means that persons either with or without
religion shall not be disqualified for office.
It also means that we are not to have,
that old hobgoblin Of
Church and Stare.
Now, why do these reverend gentlemen
bitch right into the midst of this war and
public affairs, and urge these things upon
he President? Every hour of his time is,
,r ought to be Outside of his domestic
,ares and Christian devotions), entirely
dedicated to the solution of our dreadful
rational perplexities. And do these men
eally think that, by inserting this in our
rational charter, they will exalt.either the
rational faith Or patriotism We beseech
III such to remember that the wise SoIo-
xoN has said that there is time for all