Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-09-18
PubIic Meeting Az Accomnck.

izeus OF this county was held on the 3ls Of Aug. at tho
Court House, To take into consideration the serious evils to
be apprchendcd from the adherence OF the Methodists of
this county to the Philadelphia Conference. and to urge up.
on them the necessity Of their connecting themselves with
the Methodist Episcopal Church. South.
The meeting was called to order by the Hon. George p.
S~carb0rgh, who, in n brief address stated the objects OF the
,eeung-respeetiuly but firmly demonstrating with tho
Methodtsts upon their present position; imprcssing upon
them the dangers which may result TO the safety OF tho peo-
pie, and calling upon them, as pious, intelligent met, to
sever their connection with the Conference alluded TO, and
attach themselves TO the Virgins Conference.
Tho meeting was then organized by the appointment Of
the following officers.
PreadeRt-Rober J Poulson.
p,ee P'ssidsnts7s'eph Hopkins, VIM. PauamOre.
Richard + Read, Edward o Finney. WIN. Mock, VIM. ?
Moore. Jr- James Nottham, John X Bowdoin.
S~eerefary-John W. Gillet.
hwas moved that a committee be nominated by the chair
TO prepare the business OF the meeting; whercupon George
I. Searburgh, VIM. L. Bayy, Edward p. Pitts, John w.
IL. Parker. Charles b. Dufield, Thomas I. Chopper. Louis
g: Finnoy, William Straw Gusts, Liul. Mock. James
Walker, VIM. Saml Custis, Richard J. Ayres aud Lewis
L.. Snead, were appointed.
The committee, through the Hon. George p. scar5urgh,
their chairman, reported tho following preamble and reso-
luton as expressive Of tho views Of this meeting, which
were unanimously adopted, viz:
Amongst the business OF the General Conference Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. held in the city OF New York.
in May, A. ID. le4t, was an appeal OF the Rev. Francis A.
Harding from a decision Of the Baltimore Conference, by
which he had been suspended for failing to mauumit GER
tain slaves which had come into his possession by virtue OF
his marital rights. IL clearly appeared that, according TO
TIM laws of Maryland, no person. in that State, can eman-
cipsie a slave to remain therein; and, moreover. that a hus.
band there has no other OF further rght. 10 hs Wife. slaves.
than their labor while he lives; that he can neither sell nor
hbcrate them, nor can he and his wife, either Jointly OF SO.
peratey, manumit her slaves by deed or otherwise. New
~erthelcss, the General Conference, by n vote of III TO Sc,
refused to reverse the decision Of the Baltimore Confer
ence.
Afterwards, at the same General Conference. on the mo-
ton Of tho Rev. Mr. Collins. OF the Baltimore Conference,
a Preamble aud Resolutions were adopted, suggesting tina,
one OF the Bishops OF the Methodist Episcopal Church
had become connected with slavery, and insirucung the
committee on the Eplsccpacy 10 ascertain the facts in the
case, and report the result. According 10 the report OF this
committee, made in pursuance Of this resolution, II WAS ne.
certancd that Bishop Andrew was connected with slavery
under the following circumstances. a female slave had
been bequeaAod q him in trust, 70 take care OF her till she
should be 10 years ofage, then Ioith her consent, to send
her to Liberia, and, 10 case OF her refusal, To keep her and
make her as free as the laws of the State OF Georgia would
permit. When the time arrived, she refused to go to Libe-
no, and, OF her own choice, remained legally his slave, al
though he derived no pecuniary advantage from her, and
she resided in her own house ON his lot, and was at liberty
~ 60 TO a tree State AT her pleasure; but the laws Of Geor-
ga would not permit her emancipation, aud she refused to
leave that State. lie became entitled as hus6and TO anoth.
er slave left his former wife by her mother. Emancipation
being imPraeucable where he lived, he declared that this
slave ShOuid be at liberty TO leave the State whenever he
the Bishopl should be satisfied that he the slave was pre-
pared to provide for himself, or he could have sufficient Sc
cunty hat he 1.-THE slavcl would 70 protected and provided
for IN the place 10 which he might go.
At the time OF his inermarnage with his present wife,
she was possessed OF slaves derived from her former hus-
bands estate, and belonging to her. Shortly after his mar
rage, being unwilling 10 become their owner, regarding
them rs strictly hers, and the law not permitting their
emancipation, he secured them TO her by n deed Of trust.
Under these circumstances, resolution was adopted by
a vote Of Ill 10 90, declaring II the sense Of the General
Conference, that Bishop Andrew dsHTt from the exercise
OF HI, office - long a. the %impedimentt Of his eonncNion
with slavery by marriage and otherwise should remain
The members 81 the General Conference from the South
and Southwest lusly regarded This act as u direct attack
upon the dearest interests, and an alarming encroachment
upon the rights and peace, Of the slaveholcing States. A
| proposition YVES thereupOn submitted for the division of The
Church, and this proposition was sanctioned by the Gener-
slCOnterence.
A Convention Of Delegates from the Southern and
Southwestern Conferences Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, elected on the basis Of the Plan Of Separation
adopted by the General Conference, assembled IN the city
OF Louisville, Kentucky, on the LIST dSy % May, a. ID,
1915. Ar this Convention the organzAuon oi the Me.
thcdist Episcopal Church, South, was effected. TO this
Church, II Is believed by your committee, that all the Me.
tIodist Societies md Congregations in the slayeholding
States, except those in Delaware and Maryland, and q few
IN a small portion Of Virginia, are now attached.
The Methodist EpiscoIel Church, South, ~ based upon
the discipline Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, compre-
henGInE tie doctrines and entire moral, ecclesiastical and
economical rules and regulations Of said discipline, except
only IN 50 FAR esVerbal alterations are necessary to Z dis
unct organization.
According to the plan OF separation, and 4 resolution
adopted by the Louisville Convention, any society or sta
ton adjoining the limo Of division. is at liberty to unite
with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. There can
be no doubt, therefore, that the societies IN the county Of
AccOmac have 1t in their power TO unite with the Southern
Church; and in doing 50, Il will not be necessary for them
to make any change whatever. Of faith or doctrine, or OF
Church organization, a. they will be subjected to the same
Discipline, TO which they have always been accustomed.
IL Is with feelings Of the deepest regret, that your Com |
mitee have to report that oil the societies IN this county, |
with a solitary exception, still continue their connexign |
with The Methodist Episcopal Church, North, whilst their
brethren Of the slnye.hold.nR States, with the exceptions
already ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS with whom they are idenii-
fed in interest, and with whom, it seems u your Commit
tee, they ought 10 be Identified in ieelirg-are united as
ono man in the Church, South. IL will be borne IN mud
that the cause Of feplsauon was the illegal and uuauthor. |
lzed acts Of The General Conference upOa the subject Of
~Siayey-acts,d dangerous alike to tho interest Of the Church
and Of all others in the Slave holding States. II has excl
ted tho deoPestiniercst IN the entire South. We forbear,
however, for the present, to make further comment upon II
Ia is more general aspect, and proceed to present It "a i
more directly affects this community.
We deeply regret the present position OF tho Methodist
society in thI5 county,, because We believe 1t - calculated
To exert a most dangerous and alarming influence upon our
slaves. The subject has long since reached their ears. and
they already look upon those in fayor0f the Church, North.
a. their friends, aud upon those IT, favor Il the Church,
5 nth, a. their enemies. a spirit Of disshecu9n and Dis
sarHfacuOn - tho necessary result Of such I state Of feel
ing; aud ho is butts poor Judge Of frSil human noiuIe, who
does not perceive that the transition from this feeling 10 that
innaucsl spirit which excited the Southampton nsurec-
ton, - too easy not to be Justly appfehendcd.
We do not believe hat the members Of the Methodist
Chufcbin this county are actuatsd by other than good mo-
lives 10 Tho course which they se pursuing. They com
Pose q largo aud highly respectable class Of our iellow.ci-
uzerg, and are aspatIOuc and a. much devoted 10 the eause
Of peace and good order md the welfare oi society. ~ my
other portion Of our people. They would, We arc fully "a
nshed, be very unwilling u do any thing ia the lolst calcu-
lated 70 inlet a pnblic injury, or 10 impair the value Of our
property in, aud. more than oil, a. excite dissatisfaction
amongst. our slaves; or ~ do other than good Ia thst porion
81 our population, and 70 our slaves, ~ We stand connected
with them. But, whilst We take great pleasure IN doing
justice o. she motives and 10 the high character Of our Me
thOdi-t friends, u j. with tho most unfeigned and profound
regret thni Ne feel constrained 10 declare % D. our clear and
tetied conviction, that the inevitable tendency OF their pro.
cent position is ~ The mort dangerous and alarming chauc.
Ter. And We believe that a very large portion OF our poo
pie, out u the Methodist Church. folly concur with u ,p
ibis opinion; and that hero are hpniods amongst No, who
onisunip The most serious oppfeh'nuons and alarm upon
ibis SUBJECT
Under hhess circumstances we feel it to be our duiy-a
duty We owe bike m Ourselves aud N tho Methodist Church
frankly and pubIc'y b. e1prs.s our views, end 60 tnts al
proper measures 90 enughten The public mind upon this cub.
l Io,t md respectfully 90 nsE tho member n the Methodist
Church 90 thif county ~ ilks % into consideration, aud ~
restore peace aud q fe.ltngof security 60 tis c1nmunitf,
by SovsrnR uef connection with he Methodist Church,
/ Nyrtn, and uniting with tho Methodist Church. South.
We will uut suffer Ourselves W believe that tho members
81 tie Methodist Church in Accomack. hitherto ~ disun-
guisied Tor theIf zeai IN every gDod work, will persist In a
course which, ~ 10y the least II II, jeDpards he posco Of
spcisiy. md iends 10 eSpyso our very ]hfcsidra, not only 10