The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-06-12
J.F. McCOLLAM,. Printer.

business the mere presiding officer o.
an annual or triennial assembly, eIected
too, only for the session. Though
slaveholder,' his Office is at once ephem-
cral and confined in its scope, and a
non Shareholder may be elected next
time.
In the case Of neither is the question
of slavery lRely to array conscieness SO
directly and uncompromisingly against
each other, as in that Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. If there had been
no episcopacy in this Church, if the leg
islative, judicial, and administrative pow
ers had been lodged with the annual con.
lerences and subordinate bodies, if in
other words, the principle Of Congrega-
tionalism had prevailed to greater ex-
tent, the Methodist organization would
to this hour have been united.
But, it has taken the lead in the work
of division, and no one can calculate the
influence of its example. The probabil-
ity is that the proceedings of its last
General Con ference decided the fate Of
the connection of the Baptist denomna
ton which was already trembling; and
the action of both these influential bodies
will doubtless determine the majority Of
the next General Assembly of the New
School Presbyteriaus, to take such ac-
ton against s. avery, as will drive Oft
their saveholding associates.
What will be the course Of the Assem-
bly, now in session? Some time since,
the Southern papers sounded the alarm.
The Protestant and Herald Of Kentucky
sad-"The subject deserves the special
consideration OF the Presbytenes in the
slaveholding States. That the Adolf
tionists are preparing by correspondence
and other means, to produce q DIVISION
in our ranks next spring, is manifest,
and that every delegate should go up TO
that Assembly, fully prepared to meet
the whole subject with calmness and
christian dgnity,is duty which we need
not stop to urge at this time
Inrepty TO suggestion that the whole
sebject should be permitted to be debat-
ed in the Assembly, the Waterman OF
the South remarks-'That the South
should be gravely invited to consent that
the General Assembly should be con-
verted into debating Society Tor the
purpose of discussing Abolition, is in
deed so preposterous that we hardly
know how to express our ideas ofsuch an
absurdity. The South. will never con-
sent to such folly. The Southern MEM
bers will unanimously retire from such
a scene.'
The Charleston Observer in reference
to the probability Of struggle during
the present session, said-'We notice it.
that the Presbyterahs at the South NAV
be aware Of the movement, and provide
a full representation Of their wisest and
best men,in the Ministry and Eldership'
and it adds, 1--WE are less disposed 10
trust this matter 10 the professed auli.ab-
oltionsts at the North than formerly, az
their sympa,hies are rather against us
than in our favor
So far as we can learn, these appeals
to the South were not in vain. The
slaYsholding section Of the church la
strongly represented
The views of The delegates from that
quarter may be inferred, we presume,
from the tone Of the extracts quoted
above. The South will never consent
that the subject ofslavery shall he. dis
cussed in the General Assembly This
is the language OF the Southern religious
papers.
The question is a moral and religious
one. Many portions Of the church ieel
their consciences involved in The matter,
through their association with their
Southern brethren, and they ask mutual
consultation and deliberation, to- see
whether something may not be done to
relieve them from this responsibility
But, the answer of these brethren is,
we will consent to no such policy.
The various documents concerning
slavery have been referred, as The read.
er may recollect, TO select committee,
the composition ofwhich is Of such a
character, as to give assurance that no.
thing will be done this year to disturb
greatly the quiet Of Shareholders. Gin.
HeraLd.