Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-05-25

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Lisbon on the state of the !
. Country, and the Assassina-
tiOn of the Late President of
the United states. i
The Preshytery of New Lisbon, in session
at Pleasant Valley lAprl 26th, 1865, adopted
this report, as expressive of their mind, in
regard to the state OF the country, and the
assassination Of our late Chief Magistrate.
The PresbyteIy desire to recognize the
band Of God, and to learn His voice in His
feaifol judgments upon US as a nation. He
is Justly angry with us for oui sins, and,
therefore, His hand is stretched out still
In addition to all the dreadful calamities
which, in His righteous providence, have
hitherto falen upon us, we are now laid
PROSTATE before Him in bereavement and
sorrow by the awful and atrocious assassi-
nation OF the Chief Magistrate, and the plot
nearly cehsummated, by ungodly and wick
cd men, to cut eff Others high in place and
honor, the design being, by one fell blow, to
overthrow the government OF the country
and destroy the nation. .~a1f. %
We would call upon the mem bers of the
Presbytery and our people, and all whom
our voice may properly reach, to consider
and to humble themselves before Him who
is thus terribly smiting us. when thy
judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants
OF the world will learn righteousness.
We cannot but remark, that in this ter
rble deed, we behold a new and strange thing
in the land. Hitherto private assassna-
ton has not been resorted to for the redress
of public wrongs, or the avenging OF polti-
cal grievances, real or imaginary. This
event marks a change in the national char
scter and manners.
We ask whence this changer 1t is the
demon OF slucery, which has prompted this
foul deed. This spirit has possessed and
/ animated the hearts, and Derved the arms
| OF those who have perpetrated all these
! deeds of treason and blood of which the
crime of transcendent iniquity, which We
this day deplore, is only the eliminating
/ act of the otrocious evils moral civil and
social, of the system of slavery and of the
I treason, rebellion and war growing out OF
! this system. ......... ...... ..-.... n
The General Assembly Of the whole Pres
/ byterian Church, and the Presbytcry oil
New Lisbon, for themselves and their peo-
pie, have delivered their testimonies SO re-
Gently and so explicitly, that the Presbytery
do not deem it necessary at present, to go
into details upon this subject. We regard
il sufficient to declare our steadlast and un
wavering adherence to those deiverances
already on record, and before the church aud
the world.
But the recent deplorable and cruel as
sassination Of the late Chief Magistrate
and the plot to murder others in high place,
warn us, that the. demoniacal spirit of sa
very still survives in all its virulence.
The Presbytery apprehends that our ma
tional difficulties and dangers are by no means
altogether over To the real and permanent
interests of tho country the perils of re con
struction may be greater in the future thar
have been the perils of overthrowing tht
military power of the rebellion in the past
The majesty of the law must be maintained
and the claims Of justice vndicated. If MAJ
does not execute righteous judgment, God
will and if man assumes 20 be more enien
than the just and mercfu God, and t,
stand botwen tho violation law and,a jus
retribution, the evenglng stroke Of vindca
tive wrath may strike even the righteou
and the good who stand in its way. CO.
, will surely uphold his righteous moral gov
ernment in the world. Tho great and tn
righteous Ruler may now be teaching us
lesson on this subject.
The Presbytcry, appreciatng the excelIon
personal character aud the eminent publ
services Of our late honored and believe
f President, regret that he should have bee
call I'D from earth and time amid the scenes
of dis!ipating and sinful worldly pleasure =
We regard the example Of our rulers a
matter of public interest. We, with ou
; rules and poodle, have sinnod, and withou
tho favor of God we cannot prosper. Th
nation which will not serve him and hi
Anointed shall perish. Let us honestly an
:, diligently examine ourselves, that we ma
find wherein we have offended. Let u
pentently and humbly return unto the Lor
our God. Let us break Oft our sins 10y right
eousncss, and fJrsake our iniqpitles, whicl
have separated between Him and us. lie
us do what lies in us to advance truth an
righteousness in all departments Of socic
ty. Let us cover, with continual earnes
and importunate prayer, the person of ou
| rulers and public servants-especiay hlm
who, in the sovereign and adorable prov
idence of Ged has been called to act
: Chief Magistrate of the nation,
/ The PIesbytery adopt the following resc
, lutions:
: Resoirea, That this Prcsbytery, in com
mon with the people of the United State
and of the civilized world, regard with ab
, horrence the decd by which, ia the permits
) sive providence of God our late Chic
: Magistrate has been suddenly cut off in tn
. midst of his days, aud of his great publ
r services
!. Resoirel, That in this last fearful act q
treason aud rebellion, we behold an exem
pllication Of the same spirit which has rule
/. ia this whole nefarious movement, from
its incipency to the present hour. ...
Resoleed, That this Presbytery solemnl
pledge themselves, aud earnestly exhort an
i. entreat all the people under their care, t
, continue with faith and prayer and energ
i to the extent Of their power, in this grea
! crisis Of the nations life, to sustain tn
: United States Government in its efforts 70
: the complete and final suppression of thi
. unhallowed rebellion, Undertaken in defenc
> and support of the iniquitous system Of sa
/ very-fnr the re-establishment Of the lawiu
\ and rightful government Of the country owe
. all parts.
: Resolced, That this Presbytery bcliey
r that sure aud permanent removal of ou
q difficulties and dangers can be accomplish
y ed only with the total and final removal {
= slaJe,y, tho immediate aud proximate oaus
y of the present rebellion and war. They ais
a declare their belief that condign punishmer
i should be inflicted upon those who hay
: been the guilty agents in bringing upon U
q our great and terrible national calamities.