Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-06-25
RECONCILIATION WITH THE SOUTH

South Carolina, Georgia and Massachusetts,
sat down together on Wednesday evening. 10 the
Old South Chapel. to a table OF no ordinary fare.
The spirits drank on the occasion. were from the
Champagne founts of Southern eloquence. The
topics were Union, Education and Religion. A
number Of gentlemen had assembled By invita-
ton, "to consider the best means OF promoting
the moral and religious interests OF the Southern
States, especially Of the slave population" The
meeting was organized BY the choice OF Rev. b.
B. Wisner as Chairman, and William 6 Lam
bert, Esq. Secretary, and addresses were deliv-
cred by the Rev. Messrs, Chester and Davis,
Agents of the Theological Seminary Of the Synod
Of South Carolina and Georgia, Col. LumPkin OF
Georgia, (brother Of the Governor,l and by the
Chairman and John Tsppan, ESQ. At the close
of the meeting, upwards Of $1,000 were subscrio'
ed by the gentlemen present, to aid the objects
of the Theological School located al Columbia,
South Caroina-thus affording substantial ar
pumeut. that the people of the north are ready,
on All oroper occasions. to testify their attach
ment to their brethren at the south.
The remarks Of our southern friends, were cha.
yacterized by gentlemanly and Christian feelings,
and we felt proud that we were feliow-citizens.
The Rev. Mr.. Wisner, on recent tour through
the Southern States, had invited the government
If the institution at Columbia, to test the feelings
of New England by an appeal in behalf OF their
seminary.
The Rev. Mr. Davis stated, that this was the
first time that the people of his section OF the
country had crossed their waters for similar
object, and it would form an era in their an.
nails They wanted to educate their own sons
ON their own soil, for the work ct the ministry
and WHY? Because they could endure the eli
mate, and were acquainted with the peculiarilles
and idoms Of the country, and because there was
prejudice against northern ministers, who
could not have free access to the slave population
He alluded to the recent attitude Of South Caro-
lima, that many Of the people thought New En-
Gland men were only actuaIed by s0rslld inter
est, in their connection with the south, that we
had now an opportunity to falsify the charge
This was the only theological Institution. stu
ated 10 climate similar to that Of the great field
of missions in Southern Asia, &c. One student
born and educated at the south, would be Of more
va than FIVE from the temperate or northern
regions, as missionary TO Africa or Asia.
Colonel Lumakin, who spoke with much en-
thusiasm, stated, that his clerical friend who'o he
had accidentally met in this city, had solicited
him TO address the meeting; he did so. knowing
the responsibility he and his friends assumed in
making this appeal. There were strong feel.
ings at the south against the north, and he and
others had s,riven TO disabuse the public mind
The Union had been in danger, and this meet
ing formed a strange contrast to the notes OF de-
iance which had recently been sounded in bis
own state, and the state of South Carolina. lie
spoke Of Slavery with much feeling and phan.
thropy. and remarked, that, strange as 1t might
seem Tor him. coming from slave state, he would
call upon his Maker to witness, that the most
violent aboltionist at the north, could not more
seriously desire the dissolution OF the ties be-
tween the master and the slave than himself
Several circumstances were now concursihs 70
hasten that result; change had taken place
even within wear. in the sentiments Of the plan
tiers: he truly believed that the interests Of the
owners, and the slave, were alike identified in
emancipation. aud the time was rapidly coming
on, when the principle would be abandoned, and
the only difference Of opinion would be. How
can the thing be done in the best manner! He
pointed to a card Of the Sabbath School hanging
on the wall. inscribed with the precept OF our
Saviour, "Love one another," and said that
this commandment, which was called in the BIZ
blea new commandment. he hoped would be
strictly observed, hv the brethren of the north
and the south, and that the meeting would forge
a new link, to be added to the chain which en-
circles our common country.
Rev. MIR. Chester addressed the meeting
briefly at the close. reinarking that the time had
nearly elapsed, which would prevent him from
saving what he had intended he would simply
call their attention to the precise object Of the
meeting, i. e. to procure funds 10 support The
illogical Professor at the Seminary, Rev. Mr..
W,sner was exceedingly pertinent and happy in
summing up the claims OF the institution. which
be bad personally examined. aud was ready to
declare, as the deliberate conviction Of his un-
derstanding, that there was not more worthy
and pressing object to be aided, than the one
now presented. Mr.. Tappan was willing to re.
main until midnight to hear remarks upon this
subject; but as the only difficulty was In sing
ling out motives, not in multiplying them. he
moved that the meeting Immediately proceed to
the business Of subscription.
The meeting thus terminated, producing emo
tons Of pleasurable misunderstanding a
bright spot in our country's history; auG the in
1uence ~e trust viii be Eel, in more kind and
fraterua feeling among the citizens Of the Ameri-
can Reuubiic-Boston Courier.