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Resolved, That, in the assassination of Abraham
Lincoln, late President of the United States, we are compelled to
recognize the fruit of that spirit of rebellion, which, blinded by its
own wickedness, seeks to found a government on human slavery as its
chief corner-stone, and can see no rights in a colored man which a white
man is bound to respect. We aver that, in our opinion, murder and
assassination, and every outrage which can subserve the ends of
unhallowed ambition, may be regarded as the just sequence of trampling
under foot the most solemn oaths, and setting at defiance the
Constitution and laws which hold a nation in security.
Resolved, That, in the premature death of Mr.
Lincoln, the country has lost a great and good man, whose name, in the
annals of our history and of freedom, will stand second only to the name
of Washington. His life was long enough for fame, but all too short for
his country’s good.
Resolved, That we tender our heartfelt sympathy
to the bereaved family in their heavy and most bitter affliction.
Resolved, That we give to President Johnson, in
the great and trying responsibilities which the death of Mr. Lincoln has
imposed upon him, our united and untiring support. As God has permitted
one illustrious leader to be cut off by violence, so we believe He has
prepared another to conduct the nation to peace and universal freedom;
and it is our ardent prayer that this may be done in such a manner as to
add new grace to the charms of mercy, and new dignity to the majesty of
justice and of law.
We may add that the above resolutions express the unanimous feeling of
the largest denomination of Christians in the State.
We are, very truly, your most obedient servants,
- JONATHAN BRAYTON, President.
-
Rev. A. J. PADELFORD, Secretary,
Hon. William Hunter,
Acting Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
