Year: 1863




THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY.
Your committee on the state of the
country, beg leave to present the follow
ing Report:


Whereas, we regard the present rebellion
as false in its assumption of the right
of States, as such, to secede from the
Union, and wicked in its purpose to ex-
tend and pcrpetuate the institution of
slavery, striking alike at the laws of
nationality and the principles of hu.
manity and religion and


Whereas, the Government of the United
States is so constituted as to rest upon
the will of the majority, under such
as to protect the rights of the minority,
thus precluding the necessity ola resort
to arms, providing for the redress of
grievances either real or imaginary.
through the peaceful agency of the bal
lot-box: Therefore


Resolved, That in our Judgment the
present rebellion is not only without just
cause, but wicked in its object, and SUBJ
versive of the principles which underlie our
nationality, and republican form of gov
ernment.


Resolsed. That as ministers of the gos-
pei, we consider ourselves bound to incul-
cate submission and obedience, to the reg
ularly constituted authority, and to advo-
cate the right, and duty, of the magistrate
to use the sword to defend or enforce said
authority thus placing government above
the necessity of yielding to the demands
of armed insurgents, be they more or less


Resoloed, That all the circumstances
and elements connected with the genius,
and general administration of our Nation
al Government, have combined to render
it terror to evil doers only, and to de-
serve the cordial support of all our citizens.
abating the heretofore lamentable subser-
viency to the slave-power, touching all
questions relating to that institution.


Resolved, That we recognize the Con.
stitution and Laws of the United States,
as supreme throughout the land, within
the limits of the Constitution, all State
laws to the contrary Notwithstanding. and
we utterly detest the anti-national doc
trine of State sovereignty and squatter
sovereignty, and the right Of secession, as
contrary to the letter aud spirit, and in
tent of the original compact, and incOms
patible with nationality.


ResolOed, That we will discountenance
all attempts, direct or indirect, to distract
or divide northen sentiment in respect to
the jutsice of the present national strug.
gle, or its management by the National
Government; and we will discountenanc CO
in ourselves and others, all remarks tend
ing to lessen confidence in those who ad.
minister the affairs of State, concious that
they rather need, and deserve. our SYM
pathy and prayers, in the present nation
al crisis. and the heretofore untried cir
cumstances of our statesmen, and the gi-
gantic nature of the contest, aggravated,
as it is, by the peculiar structure of our
nationality which imprats to sectional re-
bcllion the advantage Of established State
organization.


Resolved, That we have perfect conf.
dence in the overruling providence Of
God, and in the ultimate triumph of the
national cause; also, in the President Of
tn United States. as an able, honest, God
fearing man and whatever may be said
to the contrary, we are of opinion that
the Cabinet which he has called to aid him
in the administration Of government, is
worthy Of such head, and of the conf
dence of the nation, embracing an amount
of patriotism, and craftsmanship. and abil-
ity. which challenge comparison with any
administration which has ever existed in
this, or any other country.


Resolued, That we hereby tender our
most cordial support to the President Of
tho United States and his Cabinet, also
to the officers and privates Of our army
and navy: And regarding the contest as
one in which there can be no discharge
short Of national disgrace and ruin, or