Letter from Roderick R. Williams to Abraham Lincoln, October 3, 1862
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Pittsburgh Pa. Oct 3, 1862
To His Excellency Abraham Lincoln President of the United States of America
Dear Sir
Below please find a translated copy of Resolutions passed by the Congregational Welsh Association of Pennsylvania held this year in the Welsh farming settlements in Susquehanna and Bradford Counties commencing on Sep. 6th and closing on the 15th. Compared with the thousands of other tribes ours would be but small, yet we feel that we have in common with others our part to perform in the great drama now enacted on this Continent, and have our views and feelings and trust you will not regard us as intruders upon your precious time, in presenting to your notice a brief expression of our sentiments for the purpose of assuring you, as our Chief Magistrate, of our sympathy and support.
I am Your Obedient Servant Roderick R. Williams Pastor Congregational Welsh Church Pittsburgh Pa.
Resolutions
Whereas that continued attempts are made by unprincipled rebels to destroy the Government of the United States, and by so doing destroy our national existence, overthrow society, subvert law,
create anarchy, establish despotism and take away from us and posterity those noble and beneficial institutions handed us by the fathers of the Republic and render even life itself insecure.
1st Resolved that it is the duty of all citizens and of all others living among us, who would promote the interests of humanity to stand firm by the Government and do what they can to resist whatever force is brought against the national existence, and give all the aid in their power for the vigorous prosecution of the war so unnaturally and unnecessarily forced upon us, in order to bring it to a speedy close, let the cost in man, and money, be what it may.
2nd Resolved that we greatly sympathize with the President of the United States in view of the trying circumstances, which are unparalleled in the history of nations, under which he has been called in the providence of God to preside over the destinies of this nation, and we will cordially unite in prayer to that God, who holds the destinies of the universe in his hands, and rides upon every storm, and stands in the congregation of the mighty, that He should give our President wisdom, understanding, and strength of purpose, and protect him in his person, and thus enable him to do unreservedly and boldly whatever he may conceive to be his duty, adopting as his motto, God, the Right, and Our Country.
3rdly Resolved. That we hail with peculiar pleasure all movements in connection with this unhappy war, tending towards the Abolishment of Slavery, such as the Bill relating to Slavery in the District of Columbia, the Confiscation Act, and the increase of opposition in the national mind to the inhuman, and sinful, and hateful institution All of which we regard as hopeful signs leading us to believe that the day is not far distant when our President will clearly see it to be his duty and feel it also to be his privilege to proclaim liberty to the captive, and universal freedom within the domain of the United States, to all mankind, irrespective of color.
4thly Resolved. That we recognize it as imperative upon this nation to humble itself before God and confess to sins against Him and also against humanity especially in permitting so long the existence within its bounds of that heaven condemned oppression, viz human slavery, which has deprived so many innocent and unoffending persons of liberty and the pursuit of happiness and in many instances of life itself. And that we recognize in our national calamities the chastening hand of the Most High upon us, and that we should
implore Him to remember us in mercy, and cause the fiery ordeal through which we now pass to be the means of purifying us and of correcting us entirely of those sins, which so displeased Him, so that we might henceforth be established in righteousness which alone exalteth a nation.
5thly Resolved that we deeply feel for our sick and wounded soldiers who so heroically met the foe and devended our rights on the various battlefields and that we will do all in our power to succour them and mitigate their sufferings and shall not forget the widows and orphans created by this calamitous war
6thly Resolved that a translated copy of these resolutions be sent to the President of the United States and one also sent to the New York Independent publication.
Roderick R. Williams Scribe
David Thomas Moderator.
Congregational Welsh Association at its meeting held at Welsh Settlement of Bradford Co. Pa
Sept. 15, 1862
[Enclosed in a letter from R. R. Williams to Seward Oct. 3, 1862]