The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-07

Our sentiments in regard to such an action
have already been too frequently reiterated to
need repetition here. We demand, in the
name OF justice, liberty, and humanity, that
this dark blot on our nations escutcheon be
forever erased.
There Is, however, a second amendment
which is now being warmly advocated, but in
a desultory manner. Our religious commu-
nifty have been for some months past laboring
to procure a recognition of the sovereignty Of
the Almighty in our National Constitution.
They have made considerable advancement in
their work. but if the matter had been pro-
perly conducted a tenfold greater progress
would have been achieved They have held
conventions which have never been advertised,
which were composed of no regularly elected
delegates from the various churches, which
had no system of Capitalization, and whose
very existence was unknown to the general
public. If they expect to achieve success,
they must adoptanother plan-circulate freely
the question among the people let the pulpits
speak: let the press be heard; and by con-
certed action a triumph may be procured.
The leaders Of the measure proposed, not to
simply add to the Preamble concise sentence
acknowledging the supreme power Of the
Almighty God, but to alter the text Of other
portions of the article. The paragraphs which
were rounded by the pen of HAMrLToN
or FRANKLIN cannot have their rotundity
made more perfect by any member Of the
Church or State of the present day. IL is
simply presumptuous to attempt to correct;
the only allowable action is to amend, not in
word, but in idea, not in the phraseology, but
in the fact
We deem it both just and proper that a
recognition of Divine Power should be made.
When CONSTANTINE held aloft his banner
with the cross inscribed, bearing the motto,
"By this we conquer,D victory was vouch-
saed to MIN, and the Roman Empire reached
grandeur and power which all her heather
emperors had failed to attain. Let us, then,
add to our national instrument an humble
acknowledgment of the Almighty's power;
let us place upon our "Magna Charta," as we
have upon our coin-"In God we trust"
Then will victory like that of CoNsTAN-
TINE be granted to us, and nation abound
ing in power, freedom, and enterprise hold
under its authority all our American continent.
The omission in the original Of this recog.
milton was purely accidental. Would man
like WAsHINGToN, with his high religious
sentiments, not lend his mighty influence in
favor Of such an amendment, if it had been
called to his notice? Would FRANKLIN have
consented to thus wilfully insult Deity? 1t
was an oversight; and it is reserved for us, the
posterity of the great originators, to perfect
their work, to wipe out the insult, and to
place our nation right in the eyes of God
and man.
1t may be argued that such an action would
bring religious dispu les into the civil Govern
ment, that it would tend to a union Of Church
and State. Such an action as we favor savors
of no sect, of no creed, but is the universal
sentiment of every intelligent man. That
there is an Almighty Power, which governs
all, no sane and moral man of the nineteenth
century will be prepared to deny. None can
therefore take offense at such an amendment.
The religious sentiment of our land demands
it, the progressive spirit Of the present age
Compels it, and the duty we owe to God and
our fellows calls upon us to recognize Jehovah
in the fundamental instrument of our free
! Government,