Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-07-12

and that " is auaptcQ 10 DC ueCpiJ iuJuiiouo
in its influence on US. 1t is but Just, in
deed, TO say, that it was frs, proposed and
commenced on our part; and that 1t was
dictated by that spirit ofunsuspec'lng SIM
pliciy and fraternal confidence, which
foresaw no evil. It's mischeis gradually
disclosed themselves and it was not TN.
til they had taken wide and deep root, that
they began to attract the attention and
awaken the fears of the friends ottruth and
of Presbyterian order. 1t was more and
more perceived, not only that this system,
rs before remarked, was most unequal, as
it. in fact. conceded the right Of governing
us to those over whom we coald exercise
no controlling power; bat that its effect
must be, slowly, but inevitably, TO s:ovcrt
the order aud discipline Of the Presbyterian
church. Surely, no impartial Judge can
blame us for wishing this mischlevous sys-
tenn rescinded, or for annulng it when we
had the power. 1t is due to ourselves,
however, to say, that this measure was not
either hastily conceived, or abruptly cxecu-
ed. The union in question has been, for
many years, regarded, by the great body
ofthc Presbyterian church, as perhaps the
most fertile source Of the difficulties exist:
ing among us; especially, when viewed
not merely as a violation of our constitution
and nyasion of our order, but as grIevously
abused BY those who have takenadvantagc
of it, in a manner not intended by lis orIgl
nal trainers, to disseminate their pernlclous
errors. Viewing the subject in this light,
the General Assembly of 1885 respectfully
requsted the General Asso iation of Con-
necticut to consent that the plan OF union IN
question should be annulled. Having now
waited two additional years in vain tor any
favorable action in the case on the part OF
our brethren Of Connecticut, and having
witnessed with the deepest sorrow the ever.
growing evils ofthis relation; we have felt,
at this time, solemnly called upon to abro.
gate the whole plan, and TO put an end, as
far as in us lay, 10 the destructive effects
which have so long resulted from its opera
tons.
lift were obviously equitable and impor-
tant that the plan Of union alluded to should
be annulled, it was, in our view, no less
equitable and important that the cccleslasti-
cal bodies to which that plan had given ex-
istence, and which were animated and gov
erned by its spirit, should be declared to be
no longer connected with our church. 1t
has been, indeed, painful 10 the Assembly.
to declare bodies in which were brethren,
whose piety we cannot question, and whose
activity in extending the visible church we
must regard with appreciation, to be no
longer connected with this body. But We
were shut up to this painful duly. Being
irreguarly brought into our church. and re.
tanning all the feelings and habits growing
out of their original introduction, we could
not hope that they would walk together in
peace with us, so long as the points OF diff.
ference between us were so many and so
serious. Although the creation of more
churches on the plan Of union was made to
cease by the previous act Of abrogatlon;
still, as all must grant that the act which
brought them in was wholly unconstitution.
al; and as, if this were the case, the act it.
self was, of course, void from the begin
ming, and all the acts and bodies growing
GU. of it equally void we have deemed it
necessary to declare the brethren connect.
ed with those judicatories no longer con-
nected with the Presbyterian church. Fully
aware of the painfulness of this decision to
both parties, in order to avoid it, VIC made
overtures TO the brethren who were opposed
to us in sentiment and in policy; which had
for their object an amicab1c separation; Of.
fering them, in order to bring such sepa.
ration, what we deemed equitable, and even
indulgcnt terms. These terms will be
learned from the correspondence Of the
Joint committee, appointed to negotiate on
the subject, which has been already made
public. Our brethren saw fit TO decline
our proposal, and chose rather to abide the
enforcing of the constitution. They can.
not complain Of our course, when the only
alternative was the ruin OF the church, or
the restoration Of our form Of government
to its legitimate and uniform reign:
One of the most formidable evils OF the
present crisis is, the wide spread and ever
restless spirit of radicalism, manifest both
in the church and in the state. Its leading
principle, every where, seems to be, TO
level all order to the dust. Mighty only in
the power to des,roy,it it has driven its deep
aeitations through the bosom of our be-
loved church. Amidst the multiplied and
revolving forms in which it has appeared,
it is always animated by one principle. 1t
is ever the same leveling, revolutionary
spirit, and tends to the same ruinous re.
suits. 1t has, in succession, driven to
extreme fanaticism the great cause of Re-
vivais of religion, Of Temperance, and Of
the Rights ofman. 1t has aimed to trans.
mute our pure faith into Obstructive heresy:
AVN continual order into confusion and