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II THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL. WILMINGTON, N. C, OTTRSDAY, NOVEMBER 83, 1866. Act Committed During the War. One of the saddest features attending the close of the late struggle between the North and South, is the enmity and bitterness left behind, consequent upon the general lawlessness and violence produced by the demoralization of society. The war not only excited the worst passions of the peo ple, but the restraints upon crime were withdrawn, and violence and outrage ran riot. The inability of civil officers to exe cute the laws and the universal carelessness into which their observance fell, even with the better class of citizens, caused the res pect our people felt for the majesty of the law, and the regard for the rights of others, which constitute the foundations of social harmony, and form the dividing line be tween order and discord, to be entirely lost siVht of or totally disregarded. The for mer character of our people and their pres ent conduct are evidence that these irreg nlarities and outrages were the result of the wide-spread demoralization and de structive influences of the terrible convul sion through which we were passing, than caused by any ire-dispositicn to injure in dividuals or certain classes of people. In certain portions ol our State, espe cially in the extreme Western counties, where communities and districts were di vided in their support of the State and A A Confederate Government, we are sorry to see that the enmities and ill-feelings, en gendered then, are still rankling in the hearts of many, and in some neighbor hoods the most deplorable condition of af fairs exist. The criminal and civil dockets of their courts are crowded with indict ments and suits for offences or injuries committed upon one another during the war. The efforts of their best citizens and the advice of friends have failed in many instances of stopping these prosecutions, and in not a few cases, violence, even to the taking of human life, has attended these unhappy affairs. Those who have been offended and wronged on either side, not being willing to relinquish their claims to reparation or vengeance, and compromise in a spirit of harmony and good feeling, the re-establishment of which should be the honorable aspiration of every patriotic citizen, but insisting upon the rigors of the law being visited upon their neighbors, have caused others to retaliate, the conse quence of which has been that neighbor hood feuds and personal quarrels, disturb ing the general peace anil prosperity, have become rife in many counties. How much better would it have been to have met together in mutual harmony and forgiveness, and by general consent to have declared universal amnesty, conditioned only upon the future good behavior of tho offen ding parties. The Convention, by all means, should have passed the ordinance discussed by that body, declaring pardon from all criminal responsibility for acts committed during the war, and under the influence of causes then operating upon our people. We trust, they having failed to do so, that the Governor will, in every instance, extend the clemency of his par doning power, to all thus convicted. Or, better still, the example set by his Honor, Judge Fowle and Mr. Solicitor Settle, at tho late term of Rockingham Superior Court, in the case of Capt R. E. Wilson, which we publish elsewhere, will, we trust, be accepted as the just compromise between il 111 11 m mo law ana me ieu-spirit ot vengeance now extant. By this means, we know ma ny violent and lawless men, who have just ly forfeited their lives, will escape righteous judgment, but, as in the instance we have cited, good men will be saved from the prosecutions of enemies, for acts, in strict conformity, at the time of committal, with orders and laws in force, but made crimi nal, if so, by the result of the war. We can approach the General Government with appeals for universal pardon and amnesty with but a poor grace when our own peo ple, yes, neighbors, are seeking the blood of neighbors, for these same offences. . The case of Captain Wilson came under ' our attention during last fall and winter, while he was held a prisoner by the milita ry commandant at Raleigh, for acts com mitted under tho orders of his superior of ficers and by virtue of his commission as Captain in the Confederate army. He was especially, an object of the tenderest com passion of any one, in his cruel and wick ed confinement, as he was then an invalid, by reason of the recent amputation of a leg, made neccessary from a wo and received in one of the final engagements around Pe tersburg. General Grant, upon the occa sion of his visit to Raleigh, on an investi gation of the matter, summarily discharged him, but he was thrown into prison im mediately upon his return home, by the same parties who had occasioned his first arrest and imprisonment, and was saved from a lengthy and loathsome in carceration by means of a writ of habeas corpus tried before Judge Fowle last Spring, We are confident the conduct of this officer, as well as that of Mr. Settle, in the mat ter, will meet the approbation of the entire State, and we trust the result of this case will be the harbinger of the re-establish ment of good feeling, and that indictments now pending against some of the best men in thatsectionof the State may be dismissed, or that the same judgment and good sense. which so happily and properly adjusted this trial, may prevail when similar cases come up for hearing. Our people have already suffered enough ; distress is already too familiar to our citi zens, and blood sufficient has been shed to appease the appetite of the most insatiate The President of one section died by the hands of an assassin, and that of the other is wasting his life in cruel confinement. The bones of hundreds of thousands are bleeching on the hill-sides or lie buried in the valleys of the scores of battle-fields throughout our land ; our homes are yet in blackened ruins ; our lands are yet despoiled ; and widows and orphans, bowed down with mourning and cramped with poverty, in vite the assistance of every tender feeling of humanity and pity, and eloquently call us away from all feeling of vengeanco and revenge. The result of the war has caused to be made so many heart-rending appeals to our charity and forgiveness, that certainly before their irresistible claims, and in view of a common ruin, the less hallowed feel ings of the heart should be consumed. Let us so conduct ourselves, that when we ap proach the Throne of Grace, craving par don, we can with contrite hearts repeat, ' Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." Southern Histories of the War. Below we eive the circular of General Hood making known his intention to pre pare a history of his campaigns. Whatever may now be thought of this officer, he was one of the few in the Confederate army vrho rose by successive gradations in less than three years from a Lieutenant to the command of an army. He bears as serious marks upon his person of the dangers he encountered as any survivor of the struggle. And while we recognize the fact that this is no time to discuss his merits as a soldier, still the reference to these facts will not detract from the modest and soldierly ap peal he makes to the officers of his various commands. Tho object he proposes must commend itself to all. While the North is overflow ing with histories of the Rebellion, we have seen but few attempts upon the part of Southern authors to place upon record an account of the War, and in most instances these efforts are from men who will carry but little weight with them. It is said General Lee is .preparing a history of the Army of Northern Virginia, and that Gen eral Alexander, at the request of General Longstreet, is engaged in writing the his tory of Longstreet's corps, and we are glad to see that General Hood will gather up the records of his command and hand them down to posterity in an authentic form. We hope, as Jackson s corps has, in the lives of that illustrious officer already pub lished, found a "local habitation and a name," that some persons will be found to gather together the glorious annals which tell of Ewell and Hill, (A. P.,) and the achievements of their veterans, and sincere ly trust that General D. H. Hill will con tinue to give, in the pages of the Magazine over which he presides with so much abil ity, the history of his campaigns. It may be too soon to write an impartial historv of the war, but it will be too late vhen the actors have all passed off the stage, with no authentic record of the deeds ac complished, and with no official reports of the most important battles. Not from any fault of ours should our children be com pelled to learn from Northern histories of the rebellion of their section and the treason of their fathers. Bather let them, from manly, dignified and impartial records pre pared by those, at least, not hostile to the South, read of deeds that must render the actors renowned as long as gallantry and heroism is honored. Wc hope, therefore, that the example set by General Hood will be promptly follow ed by others, so that the future historian may have reliable facts to base his work upon. General Hood's Card is as follows : " History cannot be compiled from official re cords alone. Personal memoirs often explain Eoints on which official papers are silent ; and it is y comparison of different authentic accounts of the same Bcenes viewed from various points of view, that a just judgment of events is formed. It is too soon to write an impartial history of the late war. But it will be too late when the actors in the struggle shall have passed away, to collect facts which will die with tho actors unless collected in the mode now proposed and embodied in narra tive form. We, therefore, heartily approve the design of General Hood, and commend his exam ple to the imitation of other commanders." New Orleans, Nov. 1, 1SC6. Deeming it a dnty to the officers and men who served with me in the late war, to place on record a brief account of tho operations they performed, I have the honor to request all commanders of batteries, battalions, brigades, divisions and corps to forward to me, without delay, reports of all bat tles in which thev were engaged while under my direction. This will begin with the companies of Virginia cavalry which I first coram andeded under Colonel John B. Magruder, atllorktown, in May, 1861, and pass through the successive gradations of com mand to the period of the surrender of the late Confederate army. I would also request the commander of each separate organization to send, with his report, his photograph, and the photograph of any one of his commanders killed in action, together with such facts relating to his career and death as may be interesting. All officers who served upon my staff are reques ted to furnish me with their photographs and re ports of their labors and observations. The following is regarded as tne nest iorm to embody the most important facts : FORM. Battle of , Date of , 186- Hours of action. Position on field. Troops on right, Troops on left. Troops ia front and rear. 1 With diagrams. Number of officers and men present. Names of all complimented. ) Officers and men in official reports, f Number killed. Number wounded. Number missing. Captures of oiacers, men, guns and flags. Losses of officers, men, puns and flags. The battery, battalion, brigade and division commanders, who were under my direction at the battle of Chickamauga, are particularly desired to send me reports of the parts they bore. The officers wuo were thus associated with me are to be found engaged in the occupations of ci vil life from Baltimore and St. Louis to the Bio Grande, and I must, therefore, appeal to the newspaper press to assist me in accomplishing my undertaking by publishing this circular. It is not my intention to attempt to write a his torj of the war. My object is simply to collate facts with regard to military operations. li will remain ior tne Historian, who shall a-pire to draw a truthful picture of the eventful and in teresting epoch, with which I was somewhat con nected, to assign to the facts embraced in these memorials their proper place and just significance l wish to devote the time 1 can spare from my business to relate with the directness and brevity of a soldier, what I saw on many battle-fields and arduous campaigns, and the part my comrades performed. Respectfully, J. B. Hood. Political Troubles. The Radicals having carried the entire North by a series of unbroken successes, and secured the requisite majorities in both branches of the National Legislature to render the veto of the Executive powerless, are now, without taking breathing time, marshaling their forces and adjusting their lines for the grand onslaught upon the South, the President and the Constitution. In what form or in what quarter the attack may be expected we cannot tell, nor do we think that their political leaders have yet definitely settled. Thad. Stevens, Bout well and the more honest among the fanat ics desire to "phiBg in medias res" and aim their shafts full breast-high at the Presi dent of the United States, and overcoming this mighty bulwark of the Constitution by a grand and signal coup de main, become immediately masters of the situation. To proceed further in their schemes against the South without resort to some new plan of operation, or bold and sue" cessful attack upon the President, seems impossible. Congressional legislation has crone as far as possible. The Freedmen's O m Bureau bill and the Civil Bights bill, passed over the great constitutional objections urged by the President in his veto mes sages, seems to have exhausted the legal limits upon that line of operations, and it was abandoned for another, by means of constitutional amendment But as this line of attack forces the South into the en gagement, it is not likely to prove so sue cessful to the Radicals. The ten excluded States, with Maryland, Delaware and Ken tucky, are able to control amendments to the Constitution until the number of States are increased to fifty-two, which is not pro bable during the present generation. Tho New York World, in discussing this question, very forcibly says that the South, then, has nothing worse to fear, as a conse quence of the late elections,"than a pro tracted exclusion from Congress. Negro suffrage cannot be forced upon them ex cept by an amendment to the Constitution, which they can checkmate. New penalties for treason are equally impossible, by the prohibition to pass ex post acolaws. The old penalties have been remitted by the President's proclamation of amnesty and his individual pardons. The State govern ments which have been formed in the South cannot be upset, because Congress never comes in contact with them except in judg ing of their competency to furnish creden tials to members of that body. Congress having already done its utmost against the South, that section has nothing to fear in consequence of these elections beyond what it already suffers. Congress being powerless to wreak ad ditional vengeance on the South, will pro bably concentrate their hostility ujon the President. If they could replace him by a Radical, they might admit the Southern Representatives without endangering their t i ii i power, ana tnus escape me oaium an odium which will grow of preventing a restoration of the Union. With every Southern Senator and Representative in his seat, tho Radicals would still have a ma jority both with this Congress and the next. But so loner as we have a President dis- posed to veto their bills, they would sur render their power by admitting the South. With the South excluded, the Radicals aro too strong for the veto ; with the South admitted, the veto would be too strong for them. If they could depose President Johnson, their chief objection to the imme diate restoration of the South would be the Southern vote in the Presidential elec tion. On account of this inability of Congress to inflict further punishment upon the South, having exhausted legislation and being unable to amend the Constitution, we are prepared to see them attempt the more bold and less prudent plan of direct attack upon the President, in which entire success or utter defeat and destruction at tends them. A powerful organization, in toxicated with uninterrupted and brilliant victories are not easily checked by obstruc tions of an ordinary character, and wid hardly be curbed by the more prudent when the objects of their desires are nearly attained, and between them and the goal of their aspirations stands but one man, even though he be panoplied in the robes of law and order and peace. It has been proposed, by papers in the interests of the dominant party, that their objoct could be attained by laws cur tailing .the President's patronage, and thus render him utterly powerless to in terfere with them. They pretend to allege that the victories of their party have defeated a plot of his to set up a bogus Congress, aud as the complexion of that body is now settled for the remainder of his term of office, that he will, by fair seeming professions, so as to induce a hope for his return to the embrace of the Re publicans, attempt by diplomacy and in. trigue to accomplish what he has failed by open opposition. Members are therefore warned not to regard any professions the President may make, and Congress urged to use the power lodged in their hands by the Constitution, to take from the Presi dent the power he has abused, and to es tablish some permanent system of appoint ments to office. The general sentiment of the country they declare to be that the au tocratic power of the national Executive is fraught with peril to our liberties and free institutions, and ought to be reduced. This mode of attack is subject to two drawbacks, one of power, and the other of policy. In the first place, to change the mode of appointments to office, will require a change of the Constitution; and if it did not, in view of the probable certainty of a Radical President and the uncertainty of a Radical Congress in 18G9, such a change might crush its own authors. We, therefore, rather expect an attempt to impeach the President, and by his ex pulsion fill the Executive chair with one of their own partizans. Unless they do some thing of this kind, we see no practical re sults attained by Radical successes at the late elections, except tho power to exclude the electoral votes of the Southern States in the next Presidential election; and in the event of their being necessary, with the Conservative vote of the North, to elect the Conservative candidate, a resolution de claring they shall not be counted will pro bably be more easily and 6afely passed by both Houses of Congress, than carried into practical effect. We shall see. Titles in tlie South.- The Raleigh S'midard urges that the re jection of the Howard amendment may lead Congress to the reorganization of the State- Governments, and the consequent making null and void of everything that has thus far been done, and says, " the re sult will be that all pardons granted by the President will fall to the ground." It warns purchasers, therefore, to be careful about their titles. In reply to this the National Intelligencer says that Congress ia not likely to be guilty of any such f oily ; but, in any event, it cannot touch the pardoning power of the President. That is secured by the Constitution, and is beyond the reach of a two-thirds vote. Tlie Official Vote for Governor of North Carolina, I860. We are indebted to B. W. Best, Esq., Secretary of State, for a statement of the official vote in the late election for Gover nor in this State. Mr. Best informs us that not one of the returns were informal, bat all came ud strictly as the law directs. We give the table of returns as follows : Counties. Worth. Dockeby, Alamance 5C3 Alexander 393 Aleghany 220 Anson 513 Ashe 512 Beaufort 413 Bertio 260 Bladen 427 Brunswick 335 Buncombe 582 Burke 57(1 Cabarrus ."4s) Caldwell., SOS Camden 294 Carteret 327 Caswell 342 Catawba 449 Chatham 884 Cherokee 299 Chowan 124 Clay 129 Cleveland ... 619 120 31 51 9 199 178 155 000 000 334 56 25 44 000 79 20 178 211 147 60 95 83 9 Columbus 259 Craven 3t2 Cumberland 590 Currituck 316 8 17 5 598 50 4 17 267 3 252 4 Davidson Via Davie 476 Duplin 433 Edgecombe 310 ForsUhe 044 Franklin 300 Gates 252 Gaston 119 Granville 534 137 122 Greene 179 Guilford 882 438 Halifax 391 Harnett 300 Haywood 378 Henderson 423 y 36 207 4S2 2 21 109 28 280 5 120 2 47 49 2 108 10 153 386 361 10 6 000 5 37 19 84 3 41 173 793 113 69 4 2 648 38 130 216 153 2 51 311 7 175 68 59 462 Hertford 126 Hyde 320 Iredell 870 Jackson ? 404 Johnston 189 Jones 16G Lenoir 290 Lincoln 203 Macon 334 Madison 271 Martin 130 McDowell 440 Mecklenburg 334 Mitchell 116 Montgomery 23o Moote 433 Nash 389 New Hanover 498 Northampton 453 Onslow 190 Orange 916 Pasquotank 347 Perquimanj 221 Person 479 Pitt 297 Polk 72 Randolph 562 Richmond 250 Robeson 309 tckinsham 616 Rowan 592 Rutherford 382 Sampson 465 Stanly 407 Stokes 500 Surry 474 Transvlvania (see Henderson.) Tvrrell 109 Union 432 Wake 718 Warren 383 Washington 203 Watauga 232 Wayne 492 Wilkes 530 Wilson 201 Yadkin 490 Yancey 333 70 459 83 Total 34,245 10,74'J 10,749 Worth's majority 23,496 For the Journal. Internal Improvements. Messrs. Editors : A writer in your is sue of the 15th, who sigus himself a "Friend of Wilmington," writes of the "Future of Wilmington " with some feeling and consid erable truth and reason. It is the first note in the way of revival of business by new avenues that we have heard in many a day. It reminds us of the old days of " Internal Improvement Conventions," "Biver and Harbor Improvements," new lines of rail way to be opened, &c., &c. Really, let us look around and see if noth ing is to be done, and if nothing can be done to revive the prosperity of our dear old town, now beoome a ctiy. This is a good time ; our two oldest rail ways aro about to Hold tneir annual meet igs Here, when and where many of our citizens from the country may' bo expec ted. We propose that a Convention, to be called an " Internal Improvement Conven tion," be held in Wilmington some day or evening next week, say Wednesday even ing, after the Wilmington & Weldon rail way Stockholders get through with their meeting, and if need be adjourn it from that to the following Wednesday, when the Wilmington & Manchester railway hold their meeting. I will propose a subject for consideration at the meeting, on Wednesday evening, 21st viz : a Jtsrancn itanway to tne Uoal and Iron Mines of the Old North State," either by way of Fayetteville or by way of a direct line to Deep River, from, say Faison s Station. A most favorable route, it is said io De, irom j?aison to ueep Kiver via Averysboro', making a very short line from the coal region to Wilmington, not exceed ing 120 miles from the mines to tide water at Wilmington. From some point on the Wilmington & Weldon Railway, say about 30 to 40 miles from this point, a line can be found to Fayetteville not more than 50 miles long. To this, add the Western Railroad distance 45 miles making 95 miles, and 35 to Wilmington, whole distance ldO miles by waj of Fayetteville. Either of these lines will do ; and as we desire to connect ourselves with our sister town, Fayetteville, we are inclined to that line, and its extension to the West by which much produce and business may be made to reach this city for a market, and from this city supply a vast region of North Car olina and Virginia. We have but touched upon the advantages of this line to the city oi wnmington. Ijook lor yourselves, mv fellow-citizens, and see what a country you may reach by connecting our old railway with Fayetteville, and thence by rail to High Point, or some other point on the N. C. Railroad, and thence to the foot of the mountains, and ultimately across to Asheville. Or, better still, by way of Sa lem (from High Point) to the rich borders m tt ... ' oi Virginia i Look it oat on the map, and see if you can't tap Virginia. She has tapped you long enough, and deep enough, to satisfy her people. Try the counter-tapping, and see now sue liKes it ! Then, again, a hotel must be built Don t let us sleep on that any lonaer. Ilelrj ourselves, and others will come and help us. apnai can De nad lor all these works. ii we are in earnest, and will show our car nestness by our actions. What say you? S. L. F. lugnt liev. to. A. Kutledge, Bishop of Florida, died in Tallahassee, on the 6th of November, in the sixty-eighth year of his age and the forty-fourth year of his min istry. He was a native of South Carolina, and the earlier years of his ministry were spent in that State. He was educated in Yale College. His father was the venera ble Chancellor Rutledge. ; A telegraph line, thirtv miles loni? - ia under the control of Oberlin College, for the use of the students who are studying that branch ol science. , Consecration of . Bishop Wilmer. IflLPOSIKQ IUELJGIOTJS CEREMONIES. Tne Consecration Service and Sermon. On the 16th of May, 1866, the Diocesan Convention of tlie Protestant Episcopal Church of Louisiana, assembled in the city of New Orleans. The most important of its deliberations and actions was the select ing1 of a Bishop for the State of Louisiana, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of that venerable and beloved man of God, Bishop Polk. The choice of the Conven tion fell upon the Kev. J. P. B. Wilmer, D, D., of the diocese of Maryland and the Presbyteries throughout the State warmly gave their adhesion to the selection. The 7th of November, Wednesday last, was fix ed upon as the day of the consecration. We copy from the Crescent, of Thursday, the subjoined interesting account of the ceremonies of the occasion : THE NEW BISHOP. The Rev. Dr. J. P. B. Wilmer was born in Scottsville, Albemarle county, Virginia, and received a thorough collegiate and theological education. He is about 45 years of age, and in thepossession of good health. He was for many years the rector of St. Mark's Church, Philadelphia, and while there made a reputation for piety, energy, goodness of heart, and oratorical .abilities, which was wide-spread throughout the country. At the commencement of the war, in 1801, he resigned his rectorship and repaired to Virginia. For some time past he has been attached to the diocese of Maryland, and throughout that State has many warm friends and admirers of his Christian zeal. His wife, daughter and niece accompany him to this city, his new home, and new sphere of religious duties. Much of the present week will be devoted by him to receive the calls of the clergy and laity of this city, the State and muni cipal authorities, and all citizens who may see ht to do honor to and congratulate the new incumbent of the Episcopacy of tha State ; this being generally customary upon the inauguration of Bishops of any denom ination into their new See. THE RELIGIOUS EXERCISES. Christ Church, corner of Canal and Dauphin streets, Rev. Dr. Leacock, Rec tor, was selected as the place of consecra tion, it being the mother church of this city, and also said to be the largest and most central. The ceremonies were an nounced to commence at 11 o'clock, A. M., but by 9 o'clock the church was well nigh filled, and at the appointed hour was liter ally crowded with a congregation all evi-; aenuy anxious to witness tne imposing ceremonies attending the consecration of a bishop. Ihe bishops, viz : Right Rev. John Henry Hopkins, D. D. L. L. D., pre siding bishop of the States : Right Rev. Chas. S. Quintard, D. D., of Tennesseo : Right Rev. Richard H. Wilmer, of Ala bama, and the Right Rev. Wm. M. Green, D. D., of Mississippi, attended by about twenty of the clergy, all surpliced, marched in procession from the vestry through the side yard to the front entrance to the church, and thence to the altar, the bish ops taking seats withinside the railing, and the clergy in the front pews. Upon tho entrance of tho procession, the organ pealed forth a new chant, and the services were fairly begun. The Rev. Dr. Wilmer took a seat outside of the alter railing just in front of the centre aisle, until after the consecration was performed. The religious exercises of the church, known as the morning prayer, were then duly and fully observed, the Rev. Dr. Hedges, rector of St. Luke's, the Rev. Robert F. Clark, of Covington, La., the Rev. J. W. Beckwith, of Trinity Church, and tho Right Rev. Bishops Green and Quintard, reading or singing the various prayers and hymns. THE CHOIR. During the morning prayer exercises the choir, with the organists, Professor Theo. Wehrlein, rendered some very beautiful and enchanting music. The Vent Sanctus Spirit us, ly Madame Sawyer, soprano, and Mr. Tracy, tenor, was grand, and indeed the music rendered throughout the entire services was no small feature of the impo sing ceremonies, and reflects much credit upon the performers. THE CONSECRATION SERVICE. After the morning prayer was concluded the Right Rev. Bishop Hopkins the presi ding bishop, commenced the consecration services, by reading the collect. Then fol lowed the Epistle, the Gospel, and the con secration sermon was delivered. THE CONSECRATION SERMON. Bishop Hopkins then ascended the ros trum, and read for his text from St. Paul 1 Tim., iii. : " This is the true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop must then be blameless." We give in substance the sermon of the Rev. Bishop as follows: He regretted the absence of Bishop Elli ott and announced tho disappointment felt by the clergy as well as the laity. The elo quent head of the Church in Georgia was to have delivered the consecration sermon. His unavoidable absence was much regret ted by Bishop Hopkins, and he asked the kind indulgences of those present in his ef forts to deliver the sermon instead. He would present in plain and simple terms the subject of the text just read, and also ad vert to the solemnity of the occasion. In the most learned manner did Bishop Hop kins dwell upon the reasons and necessities and actual rights of the existence of bish ops for the Protestant Episcopal Church. To the text he referred frequently, accept ing it as the Word of God, given by inspi ration. He dwelt at length upon the argu ments and objections of many in the church to the creation of bishops for the episcopa cy. "If a man desires a bishopric, he de sireth a good work " a " good work," said the apostle; and all good works should have a government. He contended that the of fice was not an unnecessary one not su perfluous as many, doubtless good per sons, thought and yet think. Ie drew the line cf distinction from the Roman Church. and said tho fact should not be drawn from popery, but from God. He called on his hearers to refer to ecclesiastic history. The bible and history of the church should be observed, and the higher authority of heav eu lonoweu. j-iio .iieau oi tne unurcn is God. What is the church ? the kingdom of Christ upon earth. It must have its visible government here, from whence em anates His doctrines and His benevolence. Through these organs of church govern ment all truth comes. The church has suf fered trials and persecutions. He came for redemption; the church was established. Is it possible that we could think for a mo ment that God intended that church to be without a government on earth ? It is ab surd; and yet the highest christian men may be found, even now, who think differ ently. The government of the church, the reverend gentlemen contended was an inspi ration, an an act of Christ He referred in full extent to the acts of the apostles ; to the Holy Scriptures crenerallv: to the conrl drmn in the church of Israel; the Hich Priest th Priest andtheLevites,and the instrumentali ty of Moses. Suppose, he asked, had it been left without system, without government, would it not have been an absurdity ? We expect in every work of man much care as to every detail, and as we progress to be so perfected as not to sink into oblivion. This could not be done without form. Re ligion -was intended for man. Has he no form ? . Why not religion as well man ? The reverened i speaker drew the compari sons of the ; nature and necessity of the church and civil government and the spir itual analogy, and referred to the true ex emplifications of the apostles, drawn three fold, viz: a Bishop, tne High .Priests, a Priest and a Deacon ; the government of three in one ; the government of three per sons one God. He drew many learned comparisons, and alluded to the manner in which we clung to civil erovernment, the constitutional an thority, and reasoned well the church's Tjroper position to the sacred right. He remarked that having considered the of fice and its rights and necessities, he would pass on to consider the work of the office, as set forth in the scripture. He (the bishop or governor of the church) must feed the flock of Christ with the food of wisdom and religion ; the lamb as well as fold ; the little ones as well as the matured; feed them with the word of God. Admon ish, rebuke, with all authority, when neces sary ; raise the afflicted with apostolic zeal; be kind, gentle, humane. All these quali fications should be had. For such an office, strength from Christ should he sought for, by him that shall seek to be a bishop. When Christ ascended into heaven, he said : "I am with you al ways, even to the end of the earth," and the church is with that promise, and the government of the church looks with hope and joy to the always promised help cf that Great Power, to enable them to do well their duty, and give them strength and zeal. He continued, that it was hardly necessary to say that of the nature of the office there was a prejudice existing, but he contended that it was even patriotic in its character, to be exercised in a spirit of love in and out of the church ; for all Christians in the religion of love a true foundation of the holy system, to be administered in that spirit of love that seeks to forget itself in the happiness of all others the love of all it3 true character. This is the true govern ment of the church, which, if rightly un derstood, no man would or could feel pre judice against He continued then by re-! ferring to the often-asked question of why the office was ever abandoned, and in de tail referred to the action of the Roman Church ; as to its corruptions and innova tions ; to the actions of its heads or popes, and its adoption of a vicar of St. Peter, or lord of lords upon earth. He desired it particularly understood that he wished not to refer to tho Roman Church with any feeling at this time. He referred to the many good men in that church, and of the vast amount of good they had done in this world, and spoke in his many references to them in the same feeling of Christianity with which he hoped to enter the kingdom of Heaven. But ho further said, history does not change ; and he fully reviewed this history of the Roman Church in the seventh century, and fully developed its innovations, etc., etc., of that period. He then reverted to Martin Luther and the Reformation, and the period of Christanity from 1517 to the present time. Of tho ac tions of Henry VIH, and of his son Ed ward VI, and of the times then of Luther Calvin and others, and refuted tho charges that they would not have bishops. They would have been glad to have had them, only made a virtue of necessity, and they were created as soon as practicable. I his church is the government of Heaven "My father sends me, so send I you" It is of the kingdom of Christ, by his own authority. He then compared tho church to all life, joys and happiness, and after death, of that boundless hereafter, and marked it that thero was nothing better, purer or holier a solemn subject the government of Christ's children ; that there was no dignity equal to that position, and tho satisfaction of the lasting joy and felicity, in that government of Christ. The reverend speaker then addressed himself to the newly consecrated bishop, saying : My beloved Brother In tho presence of God, you have been called to that apostolic office ; you have the name reverence, you have the same humility as any Christian man, and it has pleased tho Lord, glory to him, to call you to the sacred trust I have known you many years, with affection and Christian brotherhood, am sure you are perfectly placed in the faith, and capable of the full performance of your duties, and thus, by your christian zeal, you will have that stength to labor in your works of good and pace. Bishop Hopkins then made full and feel ing remarks, as related to the late Bishop Polk, the predecessor of Bishop Wilmer. He said in substance : Your predecessor, the late Bishop of Louisiana, was a man of uncommon ener gy, elevation of character, nobility of soul. You are the successor of such a man ; none who knew him but admired and loved him. I was often connected with, and met him frequently at one of the universities of his founding, (many of these will you meet with, that were of his erection,) and upon frequent occasions oi Christian duties, and it is among the pleasant and sad recollec tions of the past You will find in your patn many mementoes ol his zeal ; monu ments of his worth ; it is indeed a high privilege to be his successor. We claim no perfection for Bishops, he may have erred in his career ; he may have made mistakes, but his soul of Christianity and magnanimi i-y, wuicu ins me exnioitea, is a true pres tige for you, and God grant you all the faith and support to its proper ends. I hold it a great privilege to bestow the dignity of .Liisiiop upon you, and 1 do it m the fullest confidence that heaven has and will con tinue to give you strength, and direct your course, ana in your zeal relieve your every Christion exertion for the well government oi tne cnurch, anil 1 call upon all to pray i or you. Here the reverend bishop delivered a most beautiful prayer, and with the apos tolic blessing of Father, Son and Holy Ghost, concluded his sermon. It was listen ed to throughout by the congregation with marked attention, and was most eloquent and impressive. ' CONCLUDING CEREMONIES. After the sermon, Bishop Hopkins re ceived the new candidate for the bishopric. He was presented by the Rev. Dr. Hedges and the Rev. Robert F. Clute, with the in troductory words, "Reverend Father in God, we present unto you this godly and well learned man, to bo ordained and con secrated bishop." The thirty-sixth Psalm was sung "My heart showeth me the wickedness of the ungodly." Then the lessons were read by the Rev. J. W. Beck with, of Trinity Church. He also read the testimonials from tho various State dioceses, and certificates from the officers of the T iv ijuuisiaua diocesan uonvention, announc ing liev. Dr. Wilmer as their choice for bishop of Louisiana. Tho Rev. Dr. Wilmer then made tho fol lowing promise of conformity to the doc trine, discipline and worship of the Pro testant Episcopal Church : "In the nam of God, amen, I, chosen bishop of the Pro- l A M. T -1 1 , . . ujsuini episcopal inurcn in ljouisiana, do promise conformity and obedience to the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Pro testant Episcopal Church in the United States of America ; so help me God, through Jesus Christ." He was then fully enrobed in the bishop's religious habiliments, and the presiding bishop continued the ser vices by asking the many questions, and repeating tho prayer incident to their being answered by Bishop Wil mer. The enrobing being concludedand tho questions answered, the Veni Creator Spir iius was sung by the choir, the clergy and the conerrecration. and at its conf Inni nn fit a Disnopspresent placed their hands upon wo uvau w ui9 eiecieu wsaop, ana repeat. ed the prayer " Receive the Holy Goat for the omce ana woric ot a Bishop in the Church of God." The presiding bishop then delivered him the Bible, he entered the inside railing of the sanctuary, and was ordained bishop. Communion was then partaken of by the bishops, clergy and many of the congrega tion and the grand and imposing sacred ceremony was concluded by an Episcopal benediction from Bishop Hopkins. From tho Western Sentinel. Tne Case or Capt. R. K. Wilson. This case which has attracted so much attention in North Carolina, came before his Honor, Judge Fowle, at the late term of the Superior Court of Law and Equity, held for the county of Rockingham, tne cause having been removed from the coun ty of Forsythe to that place. Tho impor tant witnesses for the prosecution, as we understood it, all being in attendance, and after due consultation and investigation, outside of the bar, the Hon. Thos. Settle, the Attorney for the State, agreed to tho rendering of a verdict of " not guilty" in all the charges whereof the defendant stood indicted. Whereupon the defendant, Cap tain Wilson, agreed to a compromise in all the civil suits for damages that had hither to been instituted against him by paying to the parties claiming such sums of money as were then agreed upon as being satis factory. And thus, one of the most unfor tunate cases growing out of the late war has been brought to such a termination as can but be gratifying to all good men. A brief statement of the history and tho facts in this case, now that it has termina ted, may not be uninteresting ; and in jus tice to that unfortunate, l)ut gallant offi cer, we give below a statement oi the in cidents in the case, as we understood them to have occurred. In the county of Yadkin, and in some por tions of Forsythe, as in many other sections of the Confederacy, during the last year of the war, it was understood that recusant conscripts, and men who had deserted from the army, had banded themselves together for the purpose of mutual protection against the Confederate authority, and in some in stances serious depredations were commit ted upon the persons and property of citi zens who were endeavoring to sustain the Confederate cause. To resist and put down this lawless conduct, county guards, under the control of enrolling officers, were first established, but it was soon discerned that such guards were wholly inefficient to effect the design, and tended but to aggravate in stead of cure tho evil. The question was then submitted in bold and defiant terms to tho Confederate authority after all gentle means had been tried and failed after every appeal had been made which patriot ism could suggest, and every inducement which a pardon for crime couid afford, had been tendered to induce these rebellious spirits to return to their allegiance to tho Government, to either enforce by a strong hand its laws, or ignominiously submit to their overthrow. The Government, through the military, attempted tho former. Capt. Wilson with his batallion of Sharp Shoot ers was detailed to come into this section, as many other officers were,t into other sec tions of the South, under strict orders to suppress and put down all lawless conduct, to arrest and return to the army all who had deserted their posts. In doing this he had every discretionary power, and a strict chargo from his commanding general, that in the performance of his duty to use "pow der and ball freely. " Indeed, it was under stood that his instructions were to make ex amples. When these extremes and rigid orders were tendered the Captain, we have under stood that he asked to be excused, stating that he was not in tho habit of disobeying orders when communicated to by his su periors, and that he shrank from no duty that tho country required at his hands. But at the same time he thought that thero were reasons why ho should bo excused from going under such orders into the com munities where ho was born and raised. But to this remonstrance, ho was only in formed that ho had been selected for tho very reason that the General commanding could rely upon him, and had confidence that he would f ally carry into execution his orders. It therefore appears how it camo that five men were shot After the surren der designing persons, believing that tho shooting was not in accordance with even military law, procured the arrest and im prisonment of the Captain who had been so unfortunate as in the very last fight in de fense of the "lost cause," at Petersburg, to lose one of his legs, and all his papers and orders under which he acted, fell into the hands of the enemy. He was thus confined in prison until February last, when General Grant visited Raleigh, where he was then confined, and released him from military imprisonment, when he was immediately taken chargo of by the civil authority and imprisoned for a short time in the Forsythe jail, but un der a writ of habeas corpus he was brought before Judge Fowle, and was set at liberty under bonds to appear before a civil court of proper jurisdiction for trial. And as we have before stated, the case was removed from the county of Forsythe to that of Rockingham, and terminated as already shown. In its final disposition the Court and the Solicitor displayed a moral sublimity that raised them above every groveling propen sity of malice or political spite, and with the highest encomiums of the entire bar, acted as men only can who are possessed of high souls, noble minds and patriotic and generous hearts. They viewed all the circumstances in the case, and well com prehended the fact that even if by prosecu ting to final verdict of guilty and execu tion, if such a thing were possible, all that could be effected thereby would bo the ad dition of another victim to the long list of those who have fallen in consequence of a ruthless war. It could have no other ef fect, and would benefit no one. Therefore it was deemed by the Court and the Solici tor best for the country, and best for all parties to bring the matter to an early close. JUcwagc of Governor Patton ot Alabama lie Opposes the Constitutional Amend ment. Momma Nov. 13. Tho Governor's Mes sage takes strong grounds against the Con stitutional Amendment After reviewing the whole subject, he says : lam decidedly of tho opinion that this Amendment ought not to be ratified. The first section em bodies principles dangerous to the people of the whole country, and is applicable to New York, Massachusetts and Alabama. The third section would brin&r possiblo good to represented States. It would re duce those unrepresented to utter anarchy and ruin. Weare sincerelydesirous for com plete restoration to thoUnion, and want con ciliation, harmony and national tranquility. We feel that we have given every evidence of honest purpose to conform in good faith to tho condition of thing surround ing us. Alabama is as true to-day to tho Constitution and Laws of the General Gov ernment as any State in the Union. Un der tho Internal Revenue Law tax on cot ton tho people of this State now pay reve nue to the Government to the amount of nearly two million dollars, per year in tho enactment of which laws they had no voice. The Amendment was proposed when nearly ono-third of the States were unrepresented, and all its harsh features are aimed at its features thus excluded. Tho ratification of such an amendment, under such circum stances, cannot accomplish any good to the country, and might bring irrevocable disas ter. Tho Governor of Florida is very ill.
Wilmington Journal [1844-1895] (Wilmington, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 22, 1866, edition 1
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