Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-05-20
The General Conference of the NJ
E Church nm Impcachment.

In the General Conference OF the M. K.
Church now assembled at Chicago, on the
18th inst, Bishop Simpson offered the fol-
lowing, which was adopted by unani-
nous vote:
WHEREAS, There is now pending in the
Senate of the United States the most i'm
portant question which ever engaged its
attention; and
WHEREAS, The evidence and pleadings
in this case have been fully opened before
the people so that all may form an enlight-
ened opinion; and
WHEREAS, Impressed that upon its right
full decision will largely depend the safety
and prosperity of the nation, as we'll as the
religious privileges of our ministers and
members in many parts OF the South; and
| WHEREAS, Painful rumors are in circu-
lation that, partly by unworthy jealousies
and partly by corrupt influences, pecuni-
ary and otherwise, most actively employed,
efforts are being made to influence Sena-
tors improperly, and to prevent them from
performing their high duty; therefore,
Resoloed, That we hereby appoint an
hour for prayer, from to 10 O'Clock A. NJ.
tomorrow, to invoke the mercy of God
| upon our nation, and to beseech Him to
save our Senators from errors, and so infiu-
ence them that their decision shall be in
| truth and righteousness, and shall increase
the security and prosperity of our beloved
| Union.
Accordingly next day prayers were Of
fered by DR.. REDDY, of New York, DIR.
PATTERSON, of Philadelphia, DR.. PEARNE,
| of Tennessee, and DIR. SLICER, of Baltimore,
Md. We are informed that the prayers
were fervent and appropriate, though none
of them were remarkable for their elo-
quence or force The tenor of the resolu-
tions leads us to conclude that the prayers
were for conviction. No doubt, the AL
mighty was supplicated to so influence the
judgments of Senators that they would
vote for conviction. They had resolved Ito
invoke the mercy of God upon our nation,
and to beseech Him to save our Senators
from errors, and SO influence them that
their decision shall be in truth and right
eousness." If they had intended simply to
invoke the Divine interposition in behalf
of a righteous judgment, wherefore the
necessity of setting forth in ''whereas"
that painful rumors are in circulation that
partly by unworthy jealousies and partly
by corrupt influences, pecuniary and 9TH
erwise, most actively employed, efforts are
being made to influence Senators improperly,
and to prevent. them from performing their
high duty"
The manifest meaning of this is, that the
Republican Senators had given inti-
nation that they could not, in a conscien-
tious discarge of their duty, vote for the
conviction of the President. Partisans, to
damage these men politically in their own
party, had represented that jealousies and
corrupt appliances had decided them
| against Conviction. These rumors were
"painful" to the Conference, because they
thought the President should be convicted.
| In one of the "Whereases" the Conference
states that ''the evidence and pleadings in
this case have been fully opened before the
people so that all may form an enlightened
opinion" This is true, and being true the
presumption is that the Almighty, if He
deigns to overlook everything in this
world, had made up an intelligent and a
righteous opinion touching this very
subject before the Conference under
took to enlighten him on it
and invoke Him to assist the Radical scala
wags to force Conviction. 1t is evident
that if He took any part in the matter at
all, it was TO influence Senators FOWLER,
HENDERSON, Ross and VAN WINKLE to vote
with Senators FEssENDEN, GRIMES and
TRUMBULL. Clearly, the object of their
prayer was not gained. Why not? Can it
be properly explained otherwise than on
the ground that the Lord abstains from all
Intervention in the matters of Civil Gov
ment in this world, or that He pays no at
tention to improper petitions? 1t is about
time that clergymen, who profess to do
work in His name, addressed themselves
exclusively to that work, instead Of subor-
dinating it to work for the upbuilding of a
Radical Republican party. Perhaps, if
they were to do so the average annual net
gain to the membership of the Protestant
Church would be more than one per cent.
Grant Don't Inspire any Enthu.
siasm in their Section.
We made inquiry of a Republican on a