Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-06-05

A CoMHUNICATIoN
We direct the attention of tho reader to the
communication Of &C." In another column. We
thank correspondent for bis Explanatory state
men,s," as We have no doubt they will prove Of
benefit and interest TO our numerous readers who
feel concern in the fearful controversy now sgita
ting the Church. We bad discovered, before we
received the communication Of our correspondent,
that We had fallen somewhat into error in our re-
marks last week. We s,sted-"if we understood
the matter rightly, the action Of the Methodist
Convention at Louisville not final" We sup.
posed such to be tho fact, from the action Of the
Georgia annual Conference, which appointed
her delegates to the Louisville Conven:onit pass
ed a resolution at the same time that mo action
o. the Convention is binding upon il until ratified
by the Conference" and as the Christian Advocate
remarks, "her delegates have voted her out Of the
Old Church. but could not take her into the new
organization" This we supposed wouli form an
obstacle in the way of the complete success of the
Louisville action, in case the Georgia Conference
under any circumstances should refuse to ratify
provisions made for the Border Conferences"
and hence one Of the chief objects of the Conven-
tien to provide for the complete exercise of the
ministerial duties with profit to the master and
slave" would be destroyed. The action, however.
of The Convention is final. and now, unless the
Georgia Conference comes into measures, it may
find itself in something of the same position of Nr
w ebsier when he out from among the Tyler
ties, enquirng--schere he should go'
We must, however, insist that the grounds which
we assumed in relation to this aclion Of the Church
on the Slavery question, correct We agree
with our correspondent that the South are right to
"be all thisgs 10 all men-thst they may save
some." Wecondemped then, as we condemn now.
all legislation upon the subject OF Slavery, come
from what quarter or section Of the Church il may
We thought the action of the General Conference
upon Bishop Andrews case wrong, and thought
then thu, it was only paving the way for general
wreck of the peace and harmony of the Church
Slavery was perpetualy sounded in the ears of the
Southern Methodists by the AboIitonists, and
therefore we cannot but justify the acts OF the
Louisville Convention, as far can justify any
action rhatsver by the Church upon the Slavery
question. We take the ground that the Church
having no right under the Lars and Consultation
Of the country to interfere with or egislate upon
the institution of domestic Slavery, ought not. un-
der any circumstances. to suffer it to be brought
before her public Conventions for delberaton and
action. The Southern or Slave-holding States are
the only constituted authorities competent to &C,
upon the subject of Slavery existing within their
borders-and therefore the whole Christian Church
of this land, with one voice and one accord should
dismiss its consideration to them, asd confne their
deliberations to subjects more nearly connected
with the high and important position which they
occupy in the world. As.ep Of this kind would be
by far the most "prudentiar one which the Church
South and North could take. The Church North
and South have acted thus far together in peace
and harmony-havins the same end and the same
cause in view There 10 reason now for sepora-
tion--if they will meet in the proper spirit and
dismiss from their deliberations all such questions
as cannot possibly be effected for good or evil by
their legislation. Let them look as enlightened
christian patriots ought To look upon the fearful
consequences of their divisions upon the civil nsti-
tutions our country. The Southern States, with
as mach 2ropriety and upon similar views, might
announce to the world that from prudential
consideration" they had Withdrawn from the North,
and henceforward would establish Congress to be
known by the name ofthe Congress fine United
| States South" We look upon separation as only
another name for dissolution, and we very much
fear if these separations of the Church continue,
! they will only widen the breach and finally term-
nate in a dissolution of this glorious Union Of
States What good would then be produced to
| the cause of the Church or to the cause of civil
and religious freedomi Strike down and divide
this Union, and you rob the sun of freedom of all
his vivifying power and introduce night of anar-
chy, blood and confusion with aspect darker
than the grave. Again we say we hope the Church
will not separate, but come together and in proper
spirit labor for the anton of civil and religious
institutions, and the spread Of light, knowledge,
and truth throug bout tho world.