Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-05-04
The Patriotism of the Presbytery of Har-
risburg.

t1oOoi
The following paper, writ ten by the Rev.
Robinson, of Harrisburg was unanimously a
dopted by the Presbytery of Harrisburg, at
its recent meeting u Carlisle. The paper
breathes the true spirit Of Christianity and
patriotism, and is another evidence Of the
devotion of the Presbyterian ministry to the
cause of the country
Called once again, in the providence Of
God, to convene while the civil war, caused
by an unholy rebellion, is still raging in our
beloved country, this Presbytery deems it TO
be eminently properto renew the expression
of its sentiments in regard TO matters that
vltally affect the interests of government,
liberty and religion, put III peril by the con-
splrators against our national Union.
And that we may not be misunderstood,
nor our question be in manner equivocal,
We do hereby soiemnly reaffirm the testimo-
ny we have given on former occasions, 50 far
as it bears upon the wickedness Of the rebel
lion, IN its inception, IN its continuance and
in its objects, and upon the duty of all citi-
zens to sustain the government of the coun-
try by every means IN their power, till the
rebellion be utterly suppressed. This duty
OF unconditional, unreserved loyalty to the
constitutiOnally: elected government of the
nation, we desire distinctly to reafirm as a
principle of our holy religion and part of
our allegiance to God.
We desire furter TO put upon record that
three years of terrible strife and suffering in
the destruction of property, the loss of life,
the sorrows, the desolations. and the sad
moral influences Of the war, have in no de-
gree altered our conviction that our duty to
our country, to posteI1ty and to God demands
that we count these sacrifices cheap 70 gain
the great end OF eXterminating treason, pre-
serving the supremacy of law and saving the
country from anarchy and ruin but on the
other hand have greatly deepened ourabhor-
renee of the principles, the spirit and the
conduct of the leaders of the rebellion. and
of all who by word or deed or by silence
show any sympathy for them or for their
object
And rising above the transient passions
and political excitements of the day to those
large interests of human liberty, we return
thanksgiving to God that through his nigh
ty providence that system Of human bon
dage which is The root Of the whole insur-
recyionary movement and whose perlnanence
was the avowed object of its leaders, is mel
ting away-that by the powerful hand of
war, by the action of dsenthralled States
and our National Legislature, we hope soon
TO see the last vestiges of the great iniquity
removed from the country
w T. WOulu cSllOTU our DreCflTen every
where and all who love our common coun-
try to rebuke and oppose this spirit of dis
loyalty, to speak words of truth and sober
ness, to discountenance all lovers of sym
pathy with treason-to give cordial sup
port to all who are entrusted with civil or
military authority-to pray for our rulers,
and the officers and men of our army and
navy to be unremitting in kind attentions
and charities to those who toll or suffer for
us in this war-to stand by the country,
patient unconquerable, hopefully waiting
on God, till he gives to disciplined, purifi-
ed and re-cemented nation peace based on
principles of everlasting righteousness
We would also express the qualification we
have felt to-day in being permitted to visit
the Z. S. Barracks near this town; to re-
ceive the attentions of the commandant and
the worthy chaplain of the post. to speak
woods of sympathy to the soldiers and TO
see the flag of our country waving over the /
ruins caused by the soldiers of treason.