The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-16

Thomas Crowder, l.. Fowler, Thomas Johnson
H. H. Kavansugh, c. Fulton, A. L. Il. Green o.
T. Blake, w. McMahsn, 8. w spssr. Fl cs''0
way, p. p. Smith, f. Il. Pcery, John Herren'
The appointments for Sabbath preaching ~ ,ne
city and vicinity were then read by rev Di' WI
ler on the fourth street station
On motion of MIR. Early, the convention adjourn
ed.
MoSpAY MORNING, May S.
The convention met pursuant to adjournment,
Devotional exercises were conducted by DIR.
Winans.
Dr.. Winans submitted the following resolution,
which he moved to refer to the committee on organ
ization:
Resolved. That the committee organization be in.
strucedt inquire whether not anything has TRANSFERRED
during the past year render possible to maintain the
unity Of the Methodist Episcopal church under the same
general conference Jurisdiction without the ruin oil SCUM
As this resolution involves some very important
considerations, DIR. w. said he wished to accompa-
ny the motion for its reference with some remarks.
Necessity (he said) only justify the meeting OF
this convention; expediency could not He assumed
that at the close of the late general conference 'ns
necessity did exist did he deem II necessary Tor
him to adduce any testimony to establish the fact.
He said that slavery was so interviewer with the
texture of southern society that it was impossible
for any one to dsenangle it, nor can any religious
society avoid, if it would connection with this in
sttuiion 1t is also true that public opinion rallies
around this institution with great jealousy and that
he who comes to the South or lives in the slave.
holding States, and arrays himself against slavery,
disqualifes himself from exercising any influence
whatever. He who would oppose slavery can have
no influence in the South civly, politically, or &c
Realistically.
He adyer,ed to the fact that, to this day. the III
Judged course of Bishop Coke the subject is fell
most disad the interests of southern
methodism. The interests put in peril were not
merely those connected with the preachers. They
could have borne the outrages upon their rights
which the action of the majority had PeIpetratec
It was not personal feeling-not the wounded Esprit
dscops the part of the southern delegates which
demanded satisfaction. II was conviction that
those ourages would disquafy them for their great
and sole work---the preaching Of Gods WORD
throughout the southern country. This conviction
had led to their solemn declaration the close OF
the general conference Have they not been borne
out in the judgment then made' Ask the voice
which has como up from every part of the southern
country, whether it is So The answer is, that, il
the delegates at fault, it that they bore 80
long and 90 patiently. And who 10 TO be judge in
this case! Are the northern papers competent TO
Judge, whose conductors view the matter through
the medium of passion, prejudice, and commitment
We cannot hesitate to proceed to separate or
ganization. Has any thing transpired to change
the aspect Of things since the last general confer
encea He knew Of none. Has the South evinced
any u1ApO6ltOn 10 uTaW DdCk IeH HI lNcW UT
leans there ia one member of the whole church OPP
posed to division. In the Nachez district there il
one. In the whole Mississippi conference three
And twelve out of the fifteen conferences represented
here present about the same state of things.
The PROPERTY auEsTIoN.-The cry has been
raised, that by separation we would forfeit ouI
claims to the church property. He would not inn
pugn the motives of those who had started the qnes
ton; yet he apprehended not the slightest danger
but supposing there is danger, should this operate
on our mind2 Suppose we lose every college
church, parsonage-all our titles should that de-
ter us from carrying out our purposes! These con-
sderations should have no weight whatever. There
is equity in courts of justice in these United
States, and they will be open to hear us upon this
subject. If we for good cause separate-as it will
be-we will hold the property of the church. He
entertained doubt Of the validity of our rights
and the man who would swerve from his duty, from
property considerations would prove recreant to the
interest of his trust and deserves to be branded with
infamy.
Propositions for neutrality-suspicious. do they
conner From the NORTH If so, what are the termsi
Submit to mother church The North in made up
of far-seeing Yankees. They have made no propo.
sitons or, If they have, they have been very spar
ing in those propositions. They have condemned
Bishop Andrews's connection with slavery; and to
this we must submit And what do they offer as
the remuneration for the injury inRicAed on the
South That no aboiitionia should be made bishop
GREAr coNcEssIoN /! He had no objection to an
abolition bishop, if he be prudent abolitionist He
may come to the South with his abOlitionism fam
ing in his heart till his bones ache yet he be dis
Greet, keeping his sentiments to himsef-and he
will consult has prudence when in the South--he
will do us no harm. But who il an abolitionist'
You may place your magnifying glass upon him,
but you cannot take his dimensions he is, like the
French fashions, always changing.
Another term of compromise. 1t has been pro-
posed that the Methodist Episcopal Church should
not NEEDLE with the subject Of slavery. This has
is not from the North. The North will give no
such pledge. DR.. Winans said that he knew they
would never rest until slavery was driven from the
church, If the Union be preserved or maintained
But we are admonshed TO pause' He would ask
for what He could see prospect Of rctraction
upon the part of the North? He would be willing
to wait twenty years-to lie down in his grave, If he
could believe that finally, tie difficulty could be am
icably settled He had, however, not seen any ndi-
cations Of better state of things. The last docu-
ment in the Western Christian Advocate shows
more determined opposition than ever. II has been
suggested that we should wait for another general
conference and conciate the majority, recruit our
numbers and whip them by vote. To whip them
by numbers was impossible. They understood how
TO secure numbers. They can manufacture full
four sceeks' recruit out Of tioo lille appointments No
sir we can outspeak them, but they will always be
They will not repent. Postpone action until anoth
er general conference, and they will take il for grant
ed that we have yielded the question; will take heart
and look confidently to our submission in oil things
Let our committee investigate the matter, and, ]
they can see speck as large a mans hand IN thu
religious horizon, we will shout "glory," and like
Elijah, we will wait for the rain. We would wal
il could see the least prospect of repentance II
our Northern brethren. Could the connections
union be preserved, and the South be saved at the
same time, nothing on earth would give him such
exalted pleasure, such heartfelt happiness. But thu
case was absolutely hopeless. DR.. Winans con
cluded with an able view Of tho political bearing
the question. He declared his conviction that In,
division of the Methodist Episcopal Church woult
not have any injurious influence upon the Union o.
the States. On the contrary he maintained that we
should preserve the Union Of the States by dividing
the church. II would put stop to the agitation o
the slavery question on religious grounds. The
Northern portion Of the church would be rid of thc
connection with slavery" and no room would be
IL Il, oU,so u,.,ho The