The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-09-03

II, said nothing could have induced him to hsv.
attended the Convention In his present paysiosi
condition but the deep and abiding interest he
felt IN the'csuse Of his country and the fierce and
terrible conflict now going on between the Exscu.
Tive and Legislative Departments Of the Federal
Government. He remarked: II the President shall
succeed, shall conquer In his purpose, all the
southern Unionists and colored oyalists will have
| 70 leave and seek some other abode.
30 fsr a. am concsrnedShe said I have fed
rom me South for the last time and have sought
.ae shelter Of the mountain gorgss Of Tennessee for
tne last time. 1 would sooner expire at lamp
post unds' the shadow Of the capital Of Tennessee
PHitAnnLrHiA, Sept. IA prayer meeting and
conference Of delegates was held tonight In the
rooms Of the Union State Central COMMITTEES, on
Chestnut street. The pariors, which were capable
OF holding about hundred persons, were crowded.
some ladies being present. Senator Harris Of New
York, presided, and opened the proceedings with a
few appropriate remarks. He said they had a..
ssmblsd In this city from various parts Of the ooun
try to attend convention, the results Of which
might Affect essentially II not vitality, the vol.
fare Of this distracted country.
It was therefore appropriate that on the evening
Of the Christian Sabbath they should meet 70.
gether to commend that country to God, who had
so signay favored the country In the trials through
which II had passed, and plead with God that a.
the country has now entered on expected trials u
would not be deserted by Hin. He closed By an.
nouncing that prayer would now be offered By the
Rev. DR.. Newman, of Louisiana.
Dr. Newman, after reading portion Of the scrip.
turs offered up prayer asking among other things,
that would be assigned to rule over tho country
who would be void of pride and sgotism and smbi.
ton, and particularly Of partisan prejudice.
After prayer, Senator Harris, in view Of the fact
that those present were personally srsngen to each
other, gave general invitation to such as desired
| to address the meeting.
Mr.. Eaton, Of Memphis, was the Arst to respond
to the invitation. His principal idea was the ipdi
vidual responsibility Of man to God, irrespective
Of all intermediate obstacles whether the Govern.
msnt or the Church. The Church In the South
had been the soul and conscience Of the rebellion,
and the clergy there were still busy making the
same arguments as they did before the war, and
teaching that the negro was lower than man.
The Rev. Mr.. Conway, late Assistant Commits.
sioner Of the Frecdmsn's Bureau, next followed
with prayer, in which he asked wisdom for the
ruers Vi 'ne country' anu especially Tor the Prosi-
dent Of tho United States, that he should DO Pre-.
vented from doing mischief and taught TO do right;
that his heart should DO softencd by the spirit of
love and turned from the error Of his ways and
made righteous magistrate, so that he should not
DO afraid to meet his God. IA fervent amen He
also asked blessing on the Presidents advisers,
for he feared that many Of them were going astray.
He would not pray for vengeance, but for justice
and mercy; still, II judgment was necessary, lot
the sstion DO soourgsd.
Senator Lane, Of Indiana was the next Speaker.
| False prophets, he said, were CRYING "Psace.
Peace" when there was no peace. Their brethren
were being slaug htered In the South day BY day
and hour by hour. Conventions legally assembled
were being dispersed, and the streets Of Memphis
were being made to run with the blood of the only
loyal men left there. Even recently In the neigh.
boring State Of Maryland, men Of God kneelins at
the altar were slaughtered BY rufian hands led on
BY that same wild spirit led on BY the institution
Of slavery. He acknowledged that the country
owed much to the newspaper press notwithstanding
the signal detection Of thos. clerical teachers to
whom they had looked in times past with Difference
and respect.
1.-THE Government was to be saved 1t would bs
saved by the interference of Providence and by the
action OF the nooiest poPuiaee that ever inhabi.
ted Gods footstool. Their politicians were in the
} main faithful, honest and true. For himself and
ior mis- household they would DO found standing on
the great platform enunciated BY the Declaration
OF Independence and In the sermon on the mount.
that great utterance which is yet to redeem world
'nat now lays In darkness and sim
Mr.. Strong, Of st. Louis, and Mr.. Maynard, men,
Der Of Congress from Tennessee, briefly addressed
the meeting then Lieut.. Gov. Bross Of Illinois,
led the meeting in prayer, after which the Rev. Mr..
| Conway added something which had not occurred
to him before.
Mr.. Mullins, of the Teppessse Legislature, next
addressed the meeting In rather inoohsrent style.
He was followed By the Rev. DR.. Newman, Of New
Orleans, who remarked that this was the first oc-
oasion in the history Of the country when great
political convention was preceded by a prayer.
meeting. The fact was more interesting As the
meeting had been improvised and not prsconoerted.
lie believed in his heart of hearts that this was
religious struggle. He had lived long enough in the
South to know that all the great principles Of reli-
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