The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1864-06-08
From tie Christian Witness.
READ AMID UNDERSTAND!

| Friday, May 9th, was observed as a fast
by the NJ. H. General Conference. Among
many expressions on tha5 occasion which
sound strangely to American ears was the
following from DIR. Cummings, the Presi-
dent OF the Methodist University, at Mid
dletown Connecticut ~
DIR Cummings, Of New England, was
called upon, and responded. lie indicated
the spirit ofhust in Cod whtch came to this
country acth tile Pm3tons, and the spirit OF
eru that came from ihJittd France, to ui'
| MGt Governments derire their po,cers from
the consent Of the persons gore,ned. He said
| that even our very excellent constitution was
minted ,cuh tbs infdclty, as the name of
God did not once occur it, and the Sabbath
was only incidentally alluded to-.
After saying much that was interesting
that our space precludcs, he alluded to the
fact that the wor ,raS only the grorth and
Development Of seeds so,cn IN the early days Of
the couat,y-of principles that wcre then in
hoduced into or policy, and Uhich had to be
chnagdti, 1chcthcr III peace or az par. He
said, Woe to the men who will in this strug-
gle, speak Of compromises, or recommend
the sacrifice of our principle of justice. Let
us stand fast by truth. It may be that this
days sun-God only knoweth-thit this
day sun may shine upon an army scattered
and torn, and fleeing before relentless foe
God grant thas this may not be And if,
because Of our sin, He cannot remember us,
remember us, oh God, for our fathers
sake! remember us for our humanity's sake!
remember us for the sake of our religion
remember us for the sake of Thy Son, and
give our armies victory! But it may ba
that defeat shall come. Shall we be dis
heartcned Cries of 'No!' Shall we
turn aside, and seek a hollow peace? Many
responses, Never, neyer BY the pre-
cious blood Of the thousands who have fallen
by the memory of our fathers-by our
cherished institutions--by our own con
science and manhood, and trust in God, let
US stand firm still, and, gathering up our
bleeding and shattered ranks, go forth, if
need be, ourselves, that, with Gods bless
ing, we may secure our whole land perma
nently to freedom, the best interests of hui
manity, and Cod S religious kingdom. "
The words in italics are blow at the very
roots Of our civil institutions. They deny
that governments derive their powers from
the consent of the governed and denounce
the doctrine as French mfdehty They de-
clare that "our Constitution is tanted".
with that doctrine, Tainted why, if that
be corrupt principle, not only the Federal
Constitution, but the State Constitutions,
and the whole civil organism Of the country
is not only tainted, but ROTTEN TO THE CORE,
10Th 1t. That principle is the life-blood
which pelvades and animates the whole
body; which built it up from the beginning
and continually renews and sustains it. The
fathers Of the country declared as the first
principle of the government which they
were about to establish, and as the grand
principle to which they appealed to justify
their rebellion against the. government of
England, that "gdrcynD,elstS derite their
just authority from the CONSENT of the GOV
ERNED. >" If this principle be a false one,
then the war of American independence
was a monstrous inquity and crime and