Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-05-29
From the Washington Union
CONVENTIONS AT AUGUSTA AND
Al LOUISVILLE.

HioSt important proceedings OF these
two conventions : of the Baptist church
at Augusta, and of,he Methodist Epis-
copal church at Louisville. Both are
measures of self-defence; both have
been forced upon the southern churches
by the fanaticism of their brethren OF
the North. Cut off from equal privi-
leges in their respective chusches-
doomed, as they were,to an igno,nin-
ious vassalage, and, as it has been
termed, ga virtual outawry," on &C.
count of their peculiar institutions,
what were the Souihrons to doa Were
our Methodists to be told, "You shall
haze no bishop in our church, because
he may own slayes?" Were our Bap-
fists to be informed, "Not man OF
you, however pure and virtuous he may
be,shall be employed as a missionary,
who has slaves, and insists on retain
ing them as his property" This is a
species of exeommunication Of the
whole South, in consequence of her
peculiar institutions, which presents a
painful alternative to every man who
values both his church and his country.
Submit, and he becomes degraded. in
his own eyes, as Southron and free
man. Resist this diclatorial and ex-
elusive spirit, and he runs the hazard
OF separating himself from the churches
OF the North. But whenever igno-
minlous yassalage and an honorable
separation are presented 10 an indepen-
dent man, he cannot hesitate long,
The Presbyterians were the first to be
driven INTO the necessity desperation.
The Baptlsts and the Methodists Of
the South are now following in the
same track; but whatever consequences
may result to the church or to the state,
let the responsibility fall upon those
who first strike the blow. In this
state of the case, we might suppose a
conference of,he two sections OF the
country, and the Souru might thus adj
dress the NORTH:
"Whv force our churches to this
painful separations You cannot sup
pose that they would remain united to
you upon unequal and degrading con-
ditions' Our country itseltconsists of
a eonfederacy of States. They are
equal partners in one federal govern
msnt which unites them a!l;equal part
ners they are in all the great rights of
soverei gnty-and equal parties to the
same glorious compact. Our political
connections founded upon this great
principle. The constitution itself was
avowedly Gas its President, George
Washington, declared) 'the result Of
spirit Of anaity and Of that mutual de-
ference and concession which the pecu-
llarity of our political situation render
ed Indispensable Your fathers were
aware of our peculiar institutions
They saw that we had slaves among
US. They attempted to restrict US on
that account, and to deny us the privi-
leges which we claimed. Their wis
dom, however, finally yielded in the
spirit of compromise. At that time, of
course, they Were willing to enter into
apolitical partnership with US, notwith-
standing our fathers were possessed of
slaves. They were too wise and liber-
al to deny US a fair participation in all
the Offices of the republic on that ac-
count. A Southron may be the chief
magistrate of the United States, or a
vice president, or cabinet secretary,
OF foreign minister. The ermine Of
the judge-the generals sword-all
the insignia Of every department of the
government, have graced the citizen
Of the South as well as of the North.
The author of the declaration of your
independence was STAKEHOLDER. The
first President Of Congress was slave
holder. The first man Of the nation
and of the age-he who led your ar
mics to glory, and your country 10 in
dependence, the illnstrious Washing
ton-was trusted by you, although he
was STAKEHOLDER. Your first, third,
fourth, ff,b, seventh, and ninth Presi-
dents, were all them owners of slaves;
and yet whose names stand more prom
nently forward to grace your annals
than Washington, Jefferson, Madison,
Monroe and Jackson Who have con-
tributed more to raise our national fame
abroad, or to cast more lustre upon
human nature itself, than these men,
and men like them,
owe ask you, therefore, why should
you introduce different rules in our re-
]iglous communities, from what our
fathers have SO wisely provided in our
political confederacy. We are equal
partners in the State. Why shenld
we not be equal in the eye of the
Church. You waive the question of