The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-05-27

NENEhAL CONFERENCE, THURSDAY, MAY Io-
After the opening exercises, the case of Bishop
Andrew was continued.
DIR. Bangs proceeded to reply to the remarks Of
Mr.. Winans. In the course of his remarks, he
stated that Bishop Andrew had disqualified him.
self for the office, and as exempfying the doc
trine of expedency, he instanced the Apostle
Paul, who said, II by eating meat, offend my
brother, | will eat no more so long as | live"
If Bishop Andrew, he said, had acted this prin-
ciple, they would not have been involved in the
present unfortunate difficulty.
Mr.. Finley then offered substitute for the
resolution under consideration, the substance of
which is, that Bishop Andrew, having become
connected with slavery by marriage, &c.--and as
it was calculated to embarrass him in the duties
of his office-therefore he is requested, while
the impeachment remains, to refrain from the ex-
ercise of his office.
Mr.. Spencer moved to amend so as to require
the Bishop to free the slaves. This was declared
to be out of order.
Dr. DIN stated that he believed the preamble
to be true, but he was not prepared to say that
the discipline of the Methodist Church contained
any provision against the election of slave.
holding Bishop. He said that he could not vote
for the preamble, as he did not like the issue that
it sought to produce. He believed that the men,
bers had the best intentions whatever be the
result and if Bishop Andrew be an incompetent
man, this was probably the best way to get rid Of
him. good man, he thought, might entertain
doubts about holding slaves, vet the mere fact did
not disqualfy Bishop under the Constitution /;
i was question of expediency altogether. DR..
DIN concluded by passing high euIogium upon
the character of Bishop Andrew.
Mr.. Drake said that there was no one in the
Conference from whom he would expect more
concatory measures than from the member who
offered the substitute to the resolution. With
due Difference to Mr.. Finley, he did not see in
what important point the issue was changed.
Asking man to resign his office, is merely a
mild manner of turning him out. He asked the
Conference if they were prepared to commit an
act which must cut off from the Methodist Epis.
copal Church 100000 persons. The business
also, he said would not stop here.
The speaker read a resolution to the effect
that the rules be so altered as to allow the Gen
eral Conference to district the work among the
members of the Epscopacy.
Mr.. Crandell said he could not appreciate the
motives of the brethren in presenting these reso-
lutions. DR.. DIN explained, that it referred to
the general discipline of the Church. Mr.. Gran
dell sad if he certain that the substitute had
no loop hole, he would vote for it, but he was not
certain of this
Mr.. Cass said he understood the question, that
the removal of Bishop Andrew was on the ground
of expediency, under some definite rule which
gave authority to do SO. The ground of expe-
diency was, that the views Of the North were OPP
posed to slavery. This was not the view of all,
and therefore II was not correct sentiment on
which to act. AS regards Cancellation, he stated
that he was as willing to conciliate as the rest,
and equally to Southern as to Northern man
but when Cancellation would injure the interests
of the Church, he would not conciliate. Mr.. Cass
concluded by stating that if the views of the
North were wrong, they ought not to be ratified ;
and cited the opinion of John Wesley to shew
that slavery is moral evil, and that they were
right in the views which they entertain on the
subject.
:, The discussion was continued on Friday by
Messrs G. F. Pierce and Longstreet, of Georgia.
and J. I. Peck, of the Troy Conference, without
coming to conclusion.