Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-10-16
THE CONTROVERSY
From Zion's Herald and Wesleyan journal
fFanclud atI


italicised above Our meaning depends entirely
npon these, and the future course of New Eng
land would be essentially controlled by them-
This brings us to the second inquiry. If Sec
tons Of the South should remain with us on the
first condition, viz, that they are opposed 10
star rp and especially to a pro slacery church,
we believe they would have no reason to lear IN
convenience from any imprudence among U.s.
In this position, VIC recognize our brethren on
the line, especially the Baltimore Conference
We have spoken heretofore too heartily Of these
brethren, to need here any expression Of good
will and we know that none admire their noble
course more than the aboltionists of New Eng
land. Nomau can doubt that slavery is fast has
tennr to its end all through that region, and
from the standard taken by our Baltimore breth-
ren, aad the tendencies of the times, there is
general disposition among us to confde the lu-
ture task of extingulshng it to their own hands.
Our brethren there may rest assured that II they
adhere to their late position, no measure, howev-
er small, viii be attempted by US, ifthere IS dan
ger of its interfering with their own agency
against slavery. We think it was in this sense
that most if not all voted in the Providence Con-
ference against any attempt to alter the section
on slavery. We we're taken by surprise with
those resolutions, and believe they would have
been modified had they been presented earlier
But the meaning Of the affirmative voters was
clear They believed that the remnants of
slavery among US can best be done away by the
brethren locally concerned, and that it would best
favor the cause of the slave to abstain from any
measure, however otherwise desirable, which
might embarrass them. When, however, the
work is consummated, we hope to wipe out eve
ry trace Of that section, and if need be, erect Il
barrier around the church, which can never
again be scaled by slavery
But, in the second place, if churches in the
South should remain with us on the second con-
diton, viz, to Staad on the open platform Of the
constitution, and abide the actiOa Of mgOritics,
as in aHother deGberatiue bottles, then we hold
ourselves bound to recognize them, notwtIIstand-
ing the Plan of separation and join issue with
them on the question of slavery, as on any other
question pertaining to our action Doubtless
the course of abollonists would be much mOdl-
fed The eXtravagnnt men have gone from us,
but the firm ones remain; the feryld excitement
has passed, but the fundamental principles arc
only the better settled There would be a pru-
dent consideration of the difficulties -four South
ern brchren-but the slave could not be for
gotten, and we would be content with nothing
less than betting place among the Christian
bodies which are praying and acting against the
greatest social enormity on our planet
IT, in the third place, large pro-slayery frag-
ments should be detached, by the efforts referred
to- from the Southern movement, on the pledge
of going back to the neutrlIsm Of twelve or
fifteen years ago, they will find no such pledge
recognized by the church in the North. We
earnestly pray to God to avert from US such ;
misfortune, for we believe it would revive much
of our former strife and renew the work of Sc
cession and ruin among our churches
These views agree perfectly with what We
gave some months since, in reply to inquiries in
the Christian Advocate and Journal, Thai
reply which was quoted by the Advocate with
warm APPRECIATION, by all New England, was in
these words;
We come directly to the point and give an
answer, in which we believe all the East will
concur, viz, that while New England agrees witt
the assertion lin our preceding remarks on i'm
mediate ncipatlon) that the Nominal or legal
relation Of slavery may exist without sin, and
therefore it would be wrong to exclude members
from the church for it under all circumstances
while she has no intention, tacit or expressed, o
insisting on such proposition, in our presen
circumstances, deeming it both unjust and i'm
politlc-yet it is her intention to abide by thu
constitution Of the church as it now is, and t.
Nse her constitutional power for the 'eX.irpation
of slavery, as prudence, the best interests of The
church, and the providence of God may demand
and we believe she would not listen a momen
to any proposition requiring her to restrict, t.
her present constitutional rights to discuss
petition, or to legislate on the subject She re
spects herself and the constitution of the churcl
too much to give any pledge whatever, except Il
abide by that constitution prudently and in thu
fear of God"
Thus much for the present position of Ne,
England and her probable course in future w
believe the faithful brethren of Baltimore, an
all similar Mehodsts in the connection, can JON
hands with New England here, and thus secur
peace Tor the failure. Peace, peace, is what W
now want. The South has gone; let it go wit
our prayers; let us not attempt to distract it fur
Their by wrong showing All who now renal
can harmonize by little prudence, and withou
the sacrifice ola single principle Let us tine
proclaim the controversy at an End, and turn t.
our work of spreading holiness over the land
Would that our papers could now drop it, as ad
vlsed by DR.. DIN last week, and devote their col
umns hencelorth to the great interests Of Educa
ton, Missions, Sabbath Schools, and undefle
religion, This, at least shall be our own cours
as it has been for months past
And yet, by peace we do not mean comprom
Use. We hold that the field of the Methods
Episcopal Church is yet unrestricted that