The Chowan Baptist Association of North Carolina meets and issues the following resolution in support of the Confederate States of America:
Resolutions adopted by the Chowan Baptist Association, of the State of North Carolina, at its fifty-fifth annual session, on the 16th day of May, 1861.
(1) Resolved, That this body concurs in the suggestion of the Georgia Baptist State Convention to his excellency President Davis that he set apart and recommend to the people of the Confederate States, of which our own Commonwealth is soon to become a member, a day of humiliation, fasting, and prayer that God in His mercy may avert from our land the evils of war, and in case our sinfulness demands chastisement that our armies may achieve a speedy, honorable, and lasting victory.
(2) Resolved, That this body disavows all claim to binding authority whether in matters temporal or spiritual, and that we as the free citizens of a Commonwealth declare our confidence in the justice and moderation which have hitherto characterized the Southern States. Having failed to live in amity with the people of the North, we hold that they are right in their demand to be let alone in their efforts to establish a separate and independent government.
(3) Resolved, Having an abiding confidence in the justice of our cause, we believe it to be our duty as Christians and freemen to contribute our utmost endeavors to uphold and defend our institutions and to resist to the direst extremity the criminal efforts of Abraham Lincoln and his supporters to subvert and destroy the same.
(4) Resolved, That we admire and approve the heroism and devotion manifested by the patriots of our land, who are volunteering by thousands to do battle in defense of our religion, our liberty, and our firesides.
(5) Resolved, That we look forward with pleasure to the early formal connection of North Carolina with her sisters of the Confederate States.
(6) Resolved, That the presiding officer of this body be instructed to transmit copies of these resolutions to his excellency Jeff. Davis, President of the Confederate States; to the Hon. Howell Cobb, President of the Confederate Congress, and to his excellency John W. Ellis, governor of the State of North Carolina, and to the presiding officer of the convention of North Carolina.
The Chowan Association immediately posts a letter to the Honorable Howell Cobb, president of the Confederate Congress:
St. Johns Post-office, N. C, May 16, 1861
Hon. Howell Cobb.
Sir: In accordance with the instructions contained in the inclosed resolutions, adopted by the North Carolina Chowan Baptist Association, I respectfully transmit them to you as President of Confederate Congress. This association of Christians represents 52 churches, embodying a membership of more than 10,000 men and women. These resolutions passed the body unanimously and breathe forth the sentiments of an undivided constituency. In transmitting these resolutions to you, and through you to the Congress of Confederate States, suffer me to express my hearty concurrence in the positions therein assumed, and if our would-be oppressors continue to deny to us the rights of a free people, and nothing but the arbitrament of the sword can settle pending difficulties, may the God of battles be in our midst and give success to our army.
With sentiments of respect and esteem, believe me ever yours,
G. C. MOORE, Moderator.
The letter and resolutions are read before, and placed into the record of, the assembled Congress of the Confederate States of America on July 26, 1861.
Source: Journal of the Congress of the Confederate States of America, 1861-1865, pp. 283-284.
Photo: Reproduction of a North Carolina Civil War era flag (link)
