Year: 1861

This body held its Twenty Sixth session at
Marshall. closing Oh Monday week


The Committee on National Affairs, through
their chairman, Rev. j. Seage, reported that this
land OF peace and plenty, the land ot the Pilgrim
Fathers, is now cursed with the blight of war,
wal fratricidal and hitherto unknown TO history
in its cause and extent. God smiled upon this
land when wrapped in the swadding bands Of
its infancy, and through every successive period
Of its growth his mighty arm has been raised in
its defence. The earth has yielded her fruits in
such abundance that Europe's Kings have sat
secure upon their thrones, knowing that their
subjects would be fed with Protestant and re-
publican bread. In less than one year past this
lovely heritage has been blighted and cursed,
the constitution reversed, the banner of our
ton buried by rebel hands, and the emblem OF
rebellion planted on its grave. Eleven II the
Federal States have attempted to divide the Cn-
ion and take its Capitol its mints, arsenals, navy,
army and everything that appertains to our very
existence as a nation. They menaced the eoun-


thy with large armies and already hundreds Of
families mourn the loss OF fathers, husbands,
sons and brothers who have fallen in defence of
the country and whose bodies have been denied
the right of burial.


Two hundred thousand men are now in arms
against the Government threatening TO destroy
it and build upon its ruins empire for the ex.
| tension of slavery


We hold it TO be the duty of every man 10
use every means TO avert the threatened ruin,
and if there has ever been period in our lives
when We should beseech the mercy OF God for
our Country, It Is now; therefore
Resoiped, That We regard this rebellion as most
unreasonable and wicked, and that the conspira-
tors who have SO long enjoyed the protection OF
n a Il.
mites under the Constitution, and have now risen
up against it, guilty Of the highest crime
known to human governments.
ReSOtred, That the right self lfdefense is the
most sacredrsht guaranteed to nation, and that
in resisting this rebellion by force OF arms, the
loyal people of this land present the spectacle Of
w-abiding and peace loving people driven TO
the dreadful necessity OF meeting their own
brethren on the battle field to protect their pOt-
zeal institutions, their capital, and their homes
from worse than vandal hands
Resoired, That We recommend to our Churches
earnst prayer in behalf of our enemies, that God
| may reveal to our Southern Christian brethren
the unhOly nature of this rebellion and lead them
to repentance and to their allegiance to the Fed
eral Government.


ResOtred, That We recognize the sole cause OF
this strife, the great curse of our land and times,
the slave system, and that in our judgment this
rebellion can never be effectualy and forever
crushed until the be laid at this, its root OF
| bitterness.


| Resolced, That all persons in every State now


in rebellion against the general government, have


by virtue OF such armed rebellion made them


selves outlaws and forfeited all their rights under


the Constitution, and that in the judgment OF the


Convention it is fitting and just that their prop
| erty be cOpfscated and liberty proclaimed tO
| their slaves.


RESOLVED, That We regard our present suffer


ings as just punishment for national sins


especially the great sin of oppression, and We


deem t fitting that all Christians should humtlt


themselves in earnerst prayer for Gods blessing


upon our rulers, armies. and entire people, thai


they may be guided in the path OF wisdom anc
Justice, and in the end deverance be brought


and liberty proclaimed to all the inhabitants o
| the land.


The report was adopted