Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1844-05-24
General Conference Of the NJ. E, Church


Harding was presented. 1t appeared that prior to
the sitting of the Baltimore Conference, of which
he was member, he married a woman who own
ed saves-that he was objected to as having be-
come connected with slavery, and he was suspen-
ded from the Office of the ministry until he should
emancipate his slaves; but he refused to comply
with this decision, and appealed to the General
Conference. His case was argued with much a.
bty and at great length by William A. Smith, of
Virginia He argued that the laws of Maryland
rendered it inexpedicnt if not impossible, for Mr..
Harding to emancpate his slaves, or rather, as he
contended his aC[fe'S slaves; and, Cd, that the dis
cipine did not require him to emanclpate under
such circumstances Mr.. Smith admitted that sla-
very was great evil, but contended that some Cir
cumstances justified it, This is very different from
the ground taken by him four and eight year ago,
if he was correctly reported. He was then consid-
cred the greatest champion of slavery from all the
South.
John A. Collins, from the Baltimore Conference,
replied, and defended the action of his Conf. in
suspendng Mr.. Harding in a speech of nearly the
same length 1t contains many eloquent passages,
and some views of pure anti-slavery sentiment.
Rev. Mr.. MatacE, reporter for the True Wes-
leyan, gives the following description of the scene
before Mr.. Smith made his closing plea-of the
two speakers, and the results which followed
Every indication now gave evidence of the APP
proach of great struggle on the subject of slave
ry as connected with the appeal case. The SOL
emu dignity that sat enthroned upon the counte-
nances ofthe Southern men and the Baltimore del
egation,-the lively expression every where seen
in the faces of New-England men and aboltionsts
and the half and half mingled expression Of hope
and fear as to the issue of this great question,
which the northern men and not abolionsts man
Tested all conspired to give an imposing aspect
to the scene that failed not sensibly to impress the
audience that filled the seats upon the lower floor
and crowded the gallerieS-among whom were
found, as Of course you'll find them every where,
those with cheerful smiles and pleasant looks, to
throw around the arena of strife itself the soothing
and checking influence Of angels guardianship.-
At this juncturc, the combatants were seen, as
persons in such relative positions often are, before
the deadly strife begins, in closest Intercourse. Mr.
Smith walked up to Mr.. Collins and shook him
cordially by the hand. 'Ahn thought |, Mr.. Col
Inns, you've got to take it now There are break
ers ahead Look outn
Allow me at this time to present before the eyes
some extent they have heard John A. Collins is
person of middle stature with black hair, small,
sharp features and rapid in in his movements and
style of speaking He is full of energy when spea-
king, has clear voice, but fails in the management
of it, and soon becomes hoarse. He is rather dis
cursve in his style, and lacks in logical acumen
But his remarks are pointed, and his rebukes with
ering. The excitabIe temperament of his nature
while it prevents that clearness and concentration
hOnrht Ins n cti
of all his hearers, at the same time prompts to the
utterance of many opposite thoughts, and led him
to range Of feeling and expression. on the sub
lect Of slavery and sIave-holding ministers, thai
few expected to hear. He evidently forgot the
caution that many would have observed, in his ref
erence to savehodng ministers in view of their
presence | thought he would wake up some
sleeping lions, as Smith afterwards said-and il
proved true. But of the other. VIM. A. Smith is
above the middle stature. His frame is large, wei
! formed. He is somewhat bald. His expression
of countenance is commanding, and his voice hea-
Wy. He is a master spirit. The South could moi
have chosen man who would more truly repre-
sent their character, or more ably plead their cause
lie is truly an eloquent speaker, and although my
prejudces as an abolitionist sided with Mr.. Col
| Inns, my judgment decides that Mr.. Smith is alto
gether his superior, in his power OF eoquence anC
ability for argument
For few moments before the pleadngs on th;
case were resumed, Messrs. Smith and Collins
were seen in close consultation. Mr.. Collins theT
rose, and in a very courteous manner, announced
! his sense of the magnanmty of Mr.. Smith in al
lowing him to occupy the time of the conference il
some further remarks, though he could have nc
claim or right to any such privilege 1t was re-
ported that the Baltimore conference had on its lis
of members several Shareholders He declared i
to be untrue. All preachers holding any connec.
tion with slavery had been brought to the bar anC
required to execute deeds Of emancipation. Sew
eraI cases of this sort were mentioned If the law;
i against emancipation had been ten-fold stronger
than they were, the conference would have takeI
the same course in relation to brother Harding
They could not alter their course in this respect a
the demand Of the Legislature. He reiterated il
the strongest terms what he had said on the previ
Gus day, that the obstacles in the way of emanci
patton were not insurnountabe. Slaves were of
| ten set free, and were not molested, He did no
know single member of the Methodist church ii
! Baltimore, who was Shareholder and public sen
timent was strong in favor of freedom. He con
tended that the pretence now set up that Mr. Har
ding was not stakeholder, because the slaves II
his possession belonged to his wife, was an after
thought, no such defence having been made before
the Baltimore conference. The laws of the State
were produced, to show that he was II joint owne
with his wife, and Mr. Collins contended that thC
4 arguments which had been urged to show that M
H. was not n stakeholder, were eqnally valid t.
prove that his tcfe was not, and that the slaves
were consequently free. In conclusion, Mr. G
reminded the conference that this was not loca
question, but one of life and death to the whole
church. If the decision of the Baltimore confer
ence were reversed, it would be impossible to keel
! the church together. Would the General Confer