Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-06-26

government. Inc full force and bear
ing of the law, however, were more
distinctly brought to view, and author
itatively asserted, by the General Con-
ference Of 1910, after the most careful
examination of the whole subject, and
the judicial determination of that body,
connected with the language of the
discipline just quoted, gives in still
clearer light the true and only law of
the Church on the subject of Slavery
After deciding various other principles
and positions incidental to the main
question, the decision is summed up in
the following words: "WhiIe the gen
eral rule Tor law,) on the subject of
slavery, relating to those States whose
laws admit of emancipation, and per-
NIT the liberated slave to enjoy free
com, should be firmly and constantly
enforced, the exception to the genera!
rule for law applying to those States
where emancipation as defined above,
is not practicable, should be recognized
and protected with equal frmness and
impartiality; therefore
Resolved, By the several Annual
Conferences in General Conferenc &c
assembled, that under the provisional
exception of the general rule for law
ofthe Church, on the subject of slave
ry, the simple holding Of slaves, or
mere ownership of slave property, in
States or Territories where the laws
do not admit of emancipation and per-
nit the liberated slave to enjoy free
dom, constitutes no legal barrier to the
election or ordination of ministers to
the various grades of Office, known in
the ministry of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, and cannot therefore, be
considered as any forfeiture of right, in
view Of such election and ordination.
This decision of the General Confer
ence was not objected to or dissented
from by single member of that body.
1t was the unanimous voice of the great
representative and judicial council of
the Church then acting in the charac-
ter of a high court of appeals for the
decision of an important legal ques-
ton. 1t will be perceived how stri-
kingly the language of this decision
accords with both the features of the
law of slavery which we have thought
it important to notice, the prohibition
and the grant of law in the case; what
may not be done as the general rule,
and at the same time what may be
done, under the provisional exception
to the general law, without forfeiture of
right of any kind. 1t is also worthy
of particular notice, that beside the
plain assurance of the original law, that
where emancipation is not legally prac-
ticable, and the emancipated slave al
lowed to enjoy freedom, or where it is
practicable to emancipate, but the eman-
cipated slave cannot enjoy freedom,
emancipation is not required of any
owner of slaves in the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, from the lowest officer
up to the Bishop, but the rights of all
thus circumscribed are protected and
secured, Notwithstanding their connec-
ton with slavery. Beside this, the
full and elaborate decision Of the Cen
eral Conference as a grave and formal
adjudication had upon all the issues in
volved in the question, published to
all who were in or might be disposed to
enter the Church, that the law of slave
ny applied to states where emancipa-
ton is impracticable, and the freed
slave not allowed to ENJOY freedom, this
clear and unambiguous decision, by
the highest authority of the Church,
leaves the owner of slaves upon the
ground-upon basis ofthe most per-
feet equality with other ministers of
the Church, having no connection with
slavery. Such, then, is the law; such
its construction; such the official and
solemn pledge of the Church. And
these had to great extent, restored
the lost confidence and allayed the
jealous apprehensions of the South, in
relation to the purposes ofthe Church
respecting slavery. There was In the
South no disposition to disturb, dis
cuss, or in any way agitate the subject.
The law was not objected to, or COM
planned of, but was regarded as set
tied compromise between the parties, a
medium arrangement on the ground of
mutual concession, well calculated to
secure and promote the best interests
of the Church North and South.
ITO be continued
@IS sW~
ApT TTTTTCTp ATTONC