Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1864-08-13

sdence among US. and the many Offices 10 which
he has served our citizens, commend him to
the sympathy and good feeling of all that know
him.
Fast DAY was observed 10 this place by
general suspension Of business, and respect
full regard for the recommendation of the
Chief Magistrate. The religious exercises
consisted of a union prayer and conference
meeting at the Baptist church, conducted iu
the absence Of the Pastors of the Cohgrega-
of the Presbyterian and Baptist churches A
conviction of national siu, and tolerably well
grounded apprehension Of individual completely
in il, led US to turn in with the faithful. with
the wish 10 mingle whatever of coutrition and
devotional feeling we might have. with those
who sought reconciliation with an offended
God, aud relief from the inflictions which our
Offences had justly brought upon the people
Not doubt of the national guilt had been for
q moment entertainedi and the cause of that
guilt aud consequent suffering, in our simplicity
we looked up on, as clear and as well defined as
anything in the history of this fallen world, and
for that, we felt that, as people we stood
specially arraigned before the high court of
Heaven. 10 our simplicity, too, We supposed
the people, their religious teachers. their rulers
and the civilized world, so regarded it, These
then, were the feelings and sentiments which
led Us to take an humble place at the feet OF
our religious teachers, and with profound re-
spect and veueration to take the attitude le.
coming peniterce and humble confession for
the sins which had placed us ID such fearful an
tagonism with the great Jehovah.
The exercises we're opened With the reading
Of selections from scripture sustaining the doc
trine Of Gods direction, of his punishment Of
wrong, aud the Influence OF humility, penitence
and suppcation In securing the divine favor aud
reconciliation, and giving his people triumph
over his and their enemies. The reading was
followed by prayer earnestly invoking divine
did in the restoration Of peace, the staunchiug
and drying up of the streams Of blood that are
drenchiug the land and filling II with lamentation
and mourning in which prayer we noticed
among the confessions single and somewhat
casual mention of the national sin Of oppression
while sa5bdtt.breaking aud some similar evils
made up the catalogue of offences for which
we had convened to propitiate the favor oI
Heaven upen guilty nation. The inference
naturally followed, that oil our well settled con.
victions were at fault, and we were carried back
in thought, to the days of Col. Dick johnson
and Sunday mails for a stand point in which to
estimate national criminality and guilt before
high Heaven. o
The exercises were further continued, and
the waiting people we're addressed briefly by
the pastor of the Baptist church. This address
gave us q comprehensive view Of our national
short comings. The catalogue embraced Sab
bath desscrdtion. igfdeiity. injustice TO The red
men Of &e land, stiatinR and sidrUiag The elsr-
gy' Hegisctiag The iyuaetiOa to se'id the gospel
10 erery creature. and mol 10 speak of slave
ry about whieR enough had already been
said" We:were enjoined to love our enemies
and the name Of JEFF Davis was especially Civ
en-, as the sort Of subject for the exercises o
our generous sympathies which should be broad
enough to include the South. for the reason
that both North and South we're sinne RS before
God. For the exact difference. IL any. between
their moral conditions. we were lef. to inference
The tenor Of the prayer that followed was no,
calculated 10 clash With The sentiments Of The
address. This concluded the part taken BY The
home clergy. The remaining exercises were
prayer BY tho Rev. Mr. Lawfescs O
G..f.. s'!... =. sdarsss By Rev. M, NshmVsdf 1T
merly Of the Baptist church in this place