The Van Buren press., 1866-09-01

tors. A number of ladies also present
Gen. Dix absent.
Rev. Mr.. Holsinger, of Tennessee
opened the proceedings with prayer.
"Almighty God. our Heavenly Father, Thou
hast been our dwelling-place in all genera
tions. Before even the lnout,!inS were brought
forth, or ever thou hadst formed the sea. from
everlasting to everlasting Thou art God. We
desire to come in the name Of Thy son jesus
Christ, and at this time. to ask Thee for His
sake to pardon our sins, and forgive all our in
iqtitcs. In Thy providence, we have been
brought here together for a special purpose,
and we ask Thee, kind Father, to give us Thy
spirit on the present occasion. Oh that Thou
wouldst help us to feel the responsibilities
that rest upon us. Millions in after times,
are to be affected for veal or woe by the do
ngs of this Convention. May it be endowed
with infinite wisdom. We ask Thee to make
us thankful for all thy mercics. May we feel
glad that the storms of war have passed by.
and that to-day. we are permitted under the
united arch Of all the States, to be assembled
and present together. We ask Thee. kind
Father that the Constellation of Stars upon
Che blue field of our national emblem may
be cemcnted. May our nation be permanent.
May it be lasting. In order that this meeting
may be a success, we ask Thee. kind Father. to
give us the spirit of our fathers. We ask Thee
that their mantle may be upon MS. May the
spirit Of Scvcnty-SiX, and from that time un-
til our difficulties, rest upon this Convention,
and may God bless US all together. We ask
Thee for temporal prosperity to rest upon our
land May the storms of war die in the dis
tance and may peace abound everywhere.
May our fields produce abundance. May our
tiocks multiply and may our goods be increa-
sed, and may we appropriate them all to the
the benevolent purposes of promoting the
good of our race and the glory Of God
We now ask Thee to bless our rulers. May
they be men hating covetousncss and fearing
God Especially we ask Thy blessing to rest
upon the President of the United States
Give him the head the heart and the hand to
accomplish the mighty work assigned him to
perform and we pray Thee now to cncircle Us
In Thy arms while we are here. May we re-
fleet that we are living creatures, who, in a
few years at most will be called to sleep In the
silence of the tomb as our fathers sleep there
to-day,
Great God, impress our hearts with the SOL
emnity ofthe occasion. May we be honest and
candid men, having an eye single to the vast
interest Of our country. May we fear God,
and keep His commandments. and when done
with earth, may we die in peace with our fel-
low men. and in favor with God, and finally,
through the blood Of the blessed Redeemer,
may we shout the final song Of triumph at
the right hand of the Majesty on high. where
We will praise Thee forever and forever.
Amen.
Gen. Dix said that the first business
in order was the reports Of the commit
tees appointed yesterday.
Mr. Blair, of Missouri, rose and said
Mr.. President, I am instructed by the
Committee on Permanent Organization
TO make the following report:
For President, Senator Doolittle, OF
Wisconsin lia"
The announcement Of the name Of Mr..
Doolttlc was greeted with storm OF
applause.
Vice. President from Arkansas, Hon.
J. M. TIBBErrs; Secretary, ELIAS c.
BoUplNoT. Each State had one Vice.
President, and one Secretary.
Mr.. Doolittle said, on taking thc
chair.