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of the people, to right, so far as that can be done, that great wrong which we as a nation have committed against God, in leaving Him out of our political system.

The President replied as follows:

GENTLEMEN: The general aspect of your movement I cordially approve. In regard to particulars I must ask time to deliberate, as the work of amending the Constitution should not be done hastily I will carefully examine your paper in order more fully to comprehend its contents than is possible from merely hearing it read, and will take such action upon it as my responsibility to our Maker and our country demands.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, (O. S.) in session at Newark, in May, 1864, in answer to an overture on the subject from the Synod of the Pacific, adopted the following preamble and resolutions, offered by Dr. MUSGRAVE:

Whereas, Almighty God, the God of nations, is the head and source of all authority and power in civil government and nations as such are the subjects of his moral laws, and his revealed will is the supreme law of national life;

Whereas, The Christian and loyal people of our country are everywhere beseeching God to interpose for our deliverance as a nation from the assaults of a most groundless and wicked rebellion, and to establish and maintain the national unity and authority; and

Whereas, Resolutions have already passed the Senate of the United States, and are pending in the House of Representatives, recommending the amendment of the National Constitution in several other particulars: Therefore,

Resolved, That it is our solemn national duty so to amend our fundamental and organic law, that the preamble of the National Constitution shall read in substance as follows: "We, the people of the United States," &c., (in the words of the proposed amendment.) Resolved, That this General Assembly recommend to all the people in the congregations under its care to memorialize Congress upon this subject.

As the Allegheny Convention was an intermediate meeting to effect a permanent organization it was determined to call the first annual meeting of the Association in Philadelphia in July following. It was held accordingly in the Eighth St. Methodist Episcopal Church, on Wednesday and Thursday, the 7th and 8th days of that month. Though the meeting was not large the character and position of those present, and the interest manifested in the cause were exceedingly encouraging. Addresses were made by the Rev. D. C. EDDY, D. D., of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, and the Rev. J. H. A. BOMBERGER, D. D., of the German Reformed Church. Dr. EDDY was elected President of the Association for the ensuing year. The Revs. T. P. STEVENSON and W. W. SPEAR, D. D. and Wm. GETTY, Esq., were appointed a Committee on Correspondence, and were directed to prepare an address to the public in behalf of the cause. From this address, the first issued after the organization of the Association, we extract the following passages:

Many Christians are convinced that we have failed to give our civil institutions that definite and practical religious character which is worthy of a Christian people and essential to national permanence and prosperity. We are not aware, that in the formation of our government, by any act or any declaration we recognized the divine origin of the institution then set up. While we have distinctly asserted, and jealously maintained, the right of the people to set up forms of government for themselves, we have not acknowledged-it would seem we have not felt--that the constitution of government

is an act of obedience to God, and that all legitimate civil authority is ultimately derived from him. Neither have we recognized the moral responsibility of the nation in its organic character, nor its obligation to accept and obey the will of God revealed in his word. And this defect is made painfully conspicuous by the omission of the name of God even from the form of oath prescribed in the Constitution, which simply reads, "I do solemnly swear or affirm."

THESE AMENDMENTS RIGHT AND NECESSARY.

We respectfully submit to your consideration, whether these amendments are not simply an appropriate recognition of the relations which all just human authority sustains to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe. Is not anything less than this wholly inconsistent with those relations? We propose the recognition of God, not only because he is the supreme ruler of all men and all organizations, but because it is he who has given the institution of civil government to man, and the just authority of the magistrate is derived from him. "There is no power but of God. The powers that be are ordained of God." It is surely fitting that a Constitution framed by a Christian people should recognize a higher source of civil authority than the mere will or consent of the citizen. And in presenting civil government thus, as a divine institution, we enforce, by the highest possible sanctions, its claims upon the respect and obedience of the citizen. The true strength of a government lies in the conscientious regard felt for it as the ordinance of God. Thus only is the magistrate clothed with his true authority, and the majesty of the law suitably preserved. "The sanctions of religion," says De Witt Clinton, "compose the foundations of good government."

The moral character of a government has a powerful reflex influence on the moral character of the people. Especially is this felt in a popular government, where the people are brought into constant contact with it, study its history, admire its provisions, and drink deeply of its spirit. An irreligious government begets an irreligious people. It must be deplored that in a Constitution so universally and so justly admired and loved and studied by the American people, there is nothing to turn the mind of the nation to God, to inculcate reverence for the authority of his Son or respect for his word.

JUSTIFIED BY OUR OWN HISTORY.

The principles which we here present are not new in American politics. We are able to plead many precedents, which must have the weight of authority with the American people. Our country was originally settled by men of high religious character, whose only motive in seeking a home in the wilderness was the freedom and safety of religion and the glory of God. They left the impress of their character on the civil institutions which they set up. In the cabin of the May flower, and before landing on Plymouth rock, the Pilgrims agreed upon a constitution of civil government, in which they declared the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith" to be among the ends of their organization. This Constitution, beginning: "In the name of God, Amen," invokes, says Webster, "a religious sanction and the authority of God on their civil obligations."

The Constitution of the first government established in the limits of the present State of Connecticut, declares that "where a people are gathered together, the word of God requires that there should be an orderly and decent government established according to God."

The first form of government that existed in Pennsylvania asserted "the origination and descent of all human power from God," and the first legislative act of the Colony, passed at Chester in 1662, recognized the Christian religion, while it established liberty of conscience, and declared that the glory of God and the good of mankind are the reason and end of government, which is, therefere, a venerable ordinance of God. And the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, in 1824, on a trial for blasphemy, referring to this early statute, says: "Christianity-general Christianity--is and always has been a part of the

common law of Pennsylvania: not Christianity founded on particular tenets, nor an established Church with tithes and spiritual courts, but Christianity with liberty of conscience to all men."

The State Constitutions of the era of the Rovolution present the same characteristics. In 1780, the Constitution of Massachusetts declared "that the happiness of a people, and the good order and preservation of civil government, essentially depend on piety, religion and morality." And in the Convention of that State, met in 1820 to revise the Constitution, Mr. Webster said: "I am clearly of opinion that we should not strike out all recognition of the Christian religion. I am desirous that in so solemn a transaction as the establishment of a Constitution we should express our attachment to Christianity-not indeed to any of its peculiar forms, but to its general principles." But it is needless to multiply examples; for of the thirteen States existing originally, not one had failed in its Constitution to make recognition, more or less explicit, of the authority of God and the claims of his law. And it is a matter of deep regret, that when we were enabled, after the triumphant assertion of our independence, to set up a statelier governmental structure, we left out that which constituted the chief strength and glory of those earlier commonwealths.

Whatever explanation we put upon this unfortunate omission, it cannot be considered presumptuous, after the experience of nearly three-quarters of a century, to propose amendments to any constitution, however admirable and beneficent. It has already been amended in some particulars. The present rebellion has led to a general conviction, that additional amendments are necessary to secure universal liberty, and prevent even the possible recurrence of the evils which we now suffer. We propose, that the Constitution be made unmistakably christian, as well as free.

IN ACCORD WITH OUR NATIONAL ACTS.

There are well established features in our government, which are consistent only with such principles as we seek to introduce into the National Constitution. Through our whole history Chaplains have been appointed by Congress, prayer is offered daily during its sessions, and the nation is called at intervals, by both Congress and the Executive, to thanksgiving, or fasting and prayer. A recent resolution of the Senate on such an occasion, recognized the mediation of Jesus Christ, and the President called us to give thanks "for preserving and redeeming grace." We have gone to the Christian religion for the only bond we have for the integrity of the ruler, or the fidelity of the citizen--the divine ordinance of the oath. Such acts can have no meaning, unless as a nation we acknowledge God. If such implied recognition of God be proper and becoming, no objection can be urged against the express recognition which we propose. Its necessity will be felt when we remember, that one chief magistrate once refused to appoint a day of fasting and prayer in an hour of public calamity, because the nation in its constitution recognized no God, and another, in contracting a treaty with a Mohammedan power, hesitated not to declare that "The Government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the christian religion. It has in itself no character of enmity against the laws and religion of Mussulmans."* Surely our christian character should be so well defined, that the chief magistrate of the nation could not doubt or ignore it, so clear that all the world should know us as a nation whose God is Jehovah.

In this movement, prompted by pure christian patriotism, participated in by various christian denominations, all of whom are opposed to any sectarian establishment of religion, we invite the co-operation of every lover of his country, and every follower of Jesus Christ. We invite all ministers of the gospel to proclaim to the nation the claims of Him whose ambassadors they are. We invite the co-operation of all ecclesiastical bodies in this effort to return to our fathers' God, to honor our common Redeemer, and to secure the best interests of our land.

* Treaty with Tripoli. Art. xi. Laws of the United States, vol. 4.

The next Convention was held in the West Arch Street Presbyterian Church, on the 29th of November, 1864. Ex-Governor POLLOCK presided, and addresses of unusual interest and power were made by JUDGE STRONG, Dr. EDWARDS, Dr. McILVAINE, Dr. GEORGE JUNKIN, Dr. JOEL SWARTZ, (Lutheran,) of Baltimore and the Rev. Dr. GODDARD, (Episcopal,) of Philadelphia. Delegates were present from different parts of the country, and altogether it was a very encouraging meeting. The following resolutions were adopted:

Resolved, That a national recognition of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Scriptures, as proposed in the memorial of this Association to Congress, is clearly a scriptural duty, which it is national peril to disregard.

Resolved, That, in consideration of the general diffusion of religious intelligence, principles and institutions throughout our country-in view of the many express recognitions of Christianity by the Constitutions and the legislative enactments of the several States-and in view also, of the religious history of the founders of this Government, it is a striking and solemn fact that our present National Constitution is so devoid of any distinctive Christian feature, that one of our Chief Magistrates once refused to appoint a day of fasting and prayer in an hour of public calamity, because the nation, in its Constitution, recognized no God; and another, in contracting a treaty with a Mohammedan power, hesitated not to declare that "The Government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion. It has in itself no character of enmity against the laws and religion of Mussulmans."

Resolved, That the measures proposed by this Association are not sectional, nor sectarian, nor partisan, but the general voice of Christian patriotism, asking that which is right and wholesome, which is in keeping with our antecedents, and which will not operate oppressively upon the conscience of any citizen.

Resolved, That the state of the times, recent and present, and the state of public sentiment, warrants and encourages the attempt to secure the amendment to the Constitution which is proposed by this Association.

During the year 1864, petitions were actively circulated and very numerously signed, and being duly forwarded to Congress, were referred to the Judiciary Committees of either House. Before the adjournment, Mr. Trumbull, of the Senate, asked to be discharged from the further consideration of the petition for the Recognition of God in the Constitution of the United States. In the language of the report: "The Committee deem it unnecessary to make the asked for amendment, as the Supreme Being is already recognized in the Constitution, in the requirement of oaths, and the prohibition of interference with the full exercise of religious opinions."

Amendments to the Constitution of Indiana being under discussion in the Legislature of that State, through the exertions of the Rev. John Crozier a convention was assembled in Indianapolis, on the 15th of February, 1865, to secure a similar acknowledgment in that instrument. A petition prepared by this Convention, and bearing four hundred and fiftytwo signatures, was laid before the Legislature and referred to a Committee, which afterward reported favorably, recommending the adoption of the amendment, 1. Because it contained nothing sectarian; 2. "It is in harmony with our republican form of government;" 3. It places our government in harmony with the "government of God, from whom all power is

derived;" 4. "By adopting this amendment, we will propitiate the favor of Him who chastises nations for national sins." There was a minority report adverse to the petition, and the Legislature adjourned without acting.

The first Auxiliary Society was formed in the southern part of the State of Illinois, and its influence, by means of public meetings, delegations to representative bodies, the active circulation of tracts and petitions, and by the earnest labors of the Rev. James Wallace, has been felt throughout all north-western states.

The next meeting of the National Association was in the City of New York, May 16th and 17th, 1866. Adresses were made by Dr. Craven, of Newark and Dr. McILVAINE, of Princeton, and Dr. McILVAINE was appointed to lay resolutions before the approaching Constitutional Convention of the State of New York, and urge a similar expression in the Constitution of that State.

The admirable "Appeal to the voting citizens of the United States," prepared by DR. JONATHAN EDWARDS, was issued during this year, and widely distributed. As it is still actively circulated by the friends of the cause, we make no extracts from it.

The next convention assembled in Philadelphia, March 5th, 1867. Addresses were made by Prof. McIlvaine, of Princeton, the Rev. J. R. W. Sloane, of New York, and the Rev. R. Audley Browne, D. D., then a member of the Pennsylvania Senate. The Hon. Wm. Strong, now of the Supreme Court of the United States, presided at this meeting, and was elected President of the National Association.

On the ninth of April ensuing, a convention of the friends of the cause in western Pennsylvania assembled in Pittsburg, and organized a local association with R. AUDLEY BROWNE, D. D., as President. The spirit and convictions of this meeting may be judged from its first resolution, viz. :

That it is the mind of this Convention that these amendments ought to be made: First, because they state facts which are as incontrovertible as they are solemn; second, because they truly express what, if properly understood, is the firm conviction of the overwhelming majority of this people; third, because God commands it, and it is perilous to disregard a Divine command.

Meanwhile many articles in magazines and papers, the influence of the pulpit, addresses and resolutions in deliberative bodies and public meetings, were employed to further the cause. In particular, the pens of DRS. PRESSLY, SPROULL, and WILLSON, of Allegheny did constant and invaluable service; DR. BENJAMIN KURTZ, of Baltimore wrote earnestly in the Lutheran Observer, and DR GEORge Duffield, of Detroit, from a special committee to whom an overture on the subject was referred by the Presbyterian Synod of Michigan, reported and advocated a paper which was adopted, resolving that "devoutly recognizing in our present calamities and distresses, as we do, His avenging hand, who is 'Governor among the nations,' we bow at His Sovereign feet in humble submission to His righteous will; and while we cordially sustain our civil authorities, in the

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