Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-23

below. The committee was composed Of the
following gentlemen: Rev. B. +. Morris,
Chairman; s P. Giddings, II. A. Brewster,
William Wheeler, G. II. Buxton, G. s. Ma
toon, Z. L. Stevens, w.. S. Bailey, e. W.
Robinson, ]. Brown, WIN. Russell, A. T.
Longley, II. Barber, ]. B. johnson, G. H.
Bliss, L. Dean, A. II. Reynolds.
The following resolutions were read by the
chairman:
WASHINGTON Cfrr, Oct. 22,Isc5
To ANDREw JOHNSON,
President Of the Unfted States:
sIR: We have, as the committee Of the First
Congrega rational Church Of Washington, the honor
to present you as President Of the United States,
tho following resolutions, adopted by that body
the evening Of the LIST instant, and directed to
be committed TO you:
whereas the hand Of God has been signally
displayed In the deliveranee Of our nation from
the perils OF the recent and great rebellion and
and people to recognize and proclaim officially
our dependence on Almighty God, and to ac-
knowledge Him As the source Of all our national
prosperity therefore, be It
Resotued, That q committee be appointed to
wait upon the President Of the United States, and
express to him the respectful wish Of this Church
aud Society that ho will appoint and set apart
Tuesday, the SOth day Of November next, lthe
States Of the Union) as day OF national thanks
giving and prayer to Almighty God for all His
goodness unto us as nation 10 specially for the
suppression Of the recent rebellion; for the do
struction Of slavery, the cause Of our civil war;
and for the restoration Of peace within all our
borders; and to offer devout supplications that
He still would keep us, as He has done In all our
national history and trials, under His Divine
guardianship, and inspire all our rulers and peo
pie to deal Justly, love mercy, and walk humbly
before Him. And thus the whole nation presents
the sublime spectacle, at one and the same time,
Of assembling before God in His earthly temples
and presenting their grateful offerings Of praises
Resolred, That we tender to President johnson
our prayers that he may, In the discharge Of the
high and solemn duties which Providence has
devolyed upon him, be sustained by the God Of
our fathers, and be guided by that wisdom W which
cometh down from above.
After reading the above resolutions, Rev.
B. F. NORRIS, Of Cincinnati, Ohio, made the
following address;
Mr.. President I'VE appear before you as COM
mittee OF the First Congregational Church and
Society Of Washington city, and as Christian cit
iIens Of our common country, to present to you
az President OF the United States the resolutions
adopted by that body.
In presenting, Mr.. President, these resolutions,
allow us to state that recently there has been
formed In this capital Of our nation Christian
organization under the name and title of the
First Congregational Church aud Society Of
Washington, which has begun Its existence under
hatterlng PROSPECTS Of enlargement and success.
1t is composed Of earnest, Intelligent aud loyal
men and women, who thus seek to promote true
Christianity and the highest welfare Of the ma
tion.
In common with all the churches Of this city
and throughout tho land, 1t is the aim Of the
church and society we represent. through the be-
nign doctrines and influences Of the Christian re-
ligion, to add much strength to the administra-
ton Of the Government, and to ditfuse those
Christian and patriotic principles which consti-
tute true life aud moral glory Of nations.
The doctrinal basis and loyal faith and sentl-
merts on which we have planted the church and
society are those which laid the foundation OF
our civil institutions two hundred and fifty years
ago, and which, In spirit have been Incorporated
into all our forms Of free government, and given
us as nation, the political prestige and moral
the earth.
We are associated with 5000 other Congrega-
uonal Churches, Of kindred faith and policy, To-
Gated In the Eastern, Central and Western States
and Territories Of the Union, the grand council
OF which met, In June last, in the city Of Boston,
and which numbered 800 ministers and laymen
as delegates, many Of them eminent In church
and State, and all, with the churches they repre-
sented, earnest and loyal Christian citizens Who,
In our great struggle for nationality and freedom,
stood among the foremost In the defence Of the
Government and for the preservation Of our ma
tlonal life.
That council, Mr.. President, sent to you their
Christian salutation and assurance Of their pro-
promising to you their loyal support aud their
prayers, and the hearty cooperation Of all the
churches they represented with you in extend
ing the institutions Of civil and religious
pleased to reply that you felt the need OF coop.
Grafton and sympathy Of the people, and Of the
OF the Great Ruler Of the universe.
One great end that will inspire and control al
the efforts OF the Congregational Church and So.
ciety will be to carry out the purpose and spirit
expressed to you by that great Council,
The religious element, as embodied and deyel-
oped In all the Christian denominations Of the
Northern States, gave to our recent national con-
nict and triumph a sublime aspect and an ire
sistible forcei and your illustrious predecessor,
our lamented and martyred President, whose
grave Is still moistened with the tears OF the
nation, and whose virtues and memory will ever
be honored and cherished as precious part Of
our national treasures, said, in the midst Of the
great conflict, that he relied on the religious
timent OF the country for the hnal victory Of the
Government and nation over all Its enemies.
To you, Mr.. President, and those associated
with you In the administration Of the Govern
mont, Is committed the grave and difficult task Of
restoring the STATES to their political harmony
Of resettling, on fat and firm foundation, the
political and civil rights OF all their citizens and
recementing the bonds OF perpetual peace and
national lbrotherhood-on impartial liberty, equal
Justice, and immutable rights.
In this vital aud mportant work the Christian
religion, with Its mission and message Of peace
on earth and good will to men, will supply a
healing balm and healthful influence, and by
It's benehcent power tend strongly TO relieve the
different sections and States Of our great con-
federacy In one harmonious and happy family.
In this work Of Christian patriotism aud love
the Church and society we represent, centrally
related with our national capital, with their
scriptural and imposing doctrines, and demo-
cratic form Of Church government, promise you
their cooperation and prayers
We sincerely invoke, Mr.. President, the God
OF Washington aud the God OF Abraham Lincoln
whom the nation profoundly believes were
aided and guided by God In their respective
works-the one to found and the other to pre-
serve our free institutons-to direct, uphold, and
bless you In the administration Of the Govern
ment, and to enable you and your Official advis-
ers aud helpers to reconstruct and re-establish
our civil Institutions on the foundation Of
righteousness, and so receive the crowning and
perpetual blessing Of Almighty God, and our
transmitted to coming generations.
Mr.. JOHNSON replied to the address sub.
stantially as follows:
GENTLEMEN: All ! can say to you on this occa-
sion, must necessarily be reeapitulation Of what
| have already said on other occasions, and
what my policy will be In the work OF reorgani-
Lation and reconstruotiOn Of the nation, time will
develop. The measures that | shall adopt you
will all know In due time, and hope they will
be guided and directed in such manner as to
promote the best good Of the country aud people,
and sincerely trust my conduct will meet the
full appreciation OF all true and loyal men.
1t Is true, gentlemen, the present life and vital
ity Of the Government owes much to religious
influences. The church has labored faithfully
during the late national struggle to second the
endeavOrs Of the Administration In establishing