Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-12-10
From The Christian 4dUocate and Journal
Persecution Of the MethOdi>tS in North
amDtOn and ACCOmaC Counties, Va,

We have already informed our readers Of the
disgracelul proceedings Of mob in Norhlmp-
ten, who assaulted the Rev. Mr. Gray, in the
pulpit Of Salem Church, and violently elected
him from the house. The Rev. Dr. Early, of
the Virginia Annual Conference, had availed
himself Of sacramental occasion, in one of the
two seeding Churches of the circuit, to warn
the people of the danger to which they were ex-
posed by suffering Northern preachers to have
access TO their slaves, and as there was no legal
way to prevent it, they could understand Dr.
EARLY in no other way than that it ought to be
done without law. And without law, and in
utter contempt of law, they dragged minister
Of the Gospel out of a church, and ordered him
to leave the county.
The Methodists suffered this indignity and
outrage, without offering any resistance, having
agreed to lay their case before the county court,
on the next day; not DOUBLING that the laws of
their country, and those appointed to execute
them, would apply the proper remedy. Accord
ingy the preacher and some of the members of
the church appeared the next day at the court
house of Northampton county, to present their
grievances, but in the very court house, and in
presence OF the court, the rioters Of the preced-
ing day, ordered the preacher, with threats of
personal violence, to quit the place and the
county, and he was driven away, escaping for
his life, having no hope of protection from those
whose duty it was to protect him and punish the
rioters
But the worst is to come. 1t does not APP
pear that either The Honorable Judge, the pros
ecuting attorney for the county, or the Grand
Jury dlsapproyed Of this violence. The Judge
in his Charge to the Grand Inquest of the
County, did not call their attention to the sub
Iect, and the Jury made no presentment in the
case.
But we find the Honorable Judge again in
the adjoining county of Accomac, Virginia,
calling to order public meeting of citizens, at
tn" Court House of Accomac county, convened
by public notice, "to take into serious consid-
Grafton the serious evils to be unprecedented from
the adherence Of the Methodists of this county
to the Philadelphia Conference, and to urge upon
them the necessity of their connecting them
selves with the NJ E. Church, South" And
we find him also chairman of the committee APP
pointed to prepare preamble and resolutions
for the meeting which we have heretofore an
swered and subsequently, chairman of the com
mittee appointed to prepare "An Address
to the People of Accomac," on the same sub
ject.
The "call" for the meeting had been adj
dressed to the citizens of the county; and the
Melhodists, having always considered themselves
citizens, attended the meeting in considerable
numbers, prepared to consider and determine the
questions to be proposed, but it is likely not &C.
cordlng to the Wishes and previous preparations
Of those whom they had always considered a.
enemies Of Methodlsm, and to all VITAL evangel-
zeal godneSs. But the Judge informed them
they were not expected to take any part in the
meeting, and having prescribed them, the
meeting was ready to carry the preamble and
resolutions by " acclamatIon;" bot the ac-
cIamaion came from only about twenty vol
ces.
1t will be gratifying, not only to all true
hearted Methodists, North and South, but to all
other Christian people, to learn that our brethren
Of Northampton and Accomac bear their suffer.
ngs patiently, but with uncompromisng firm
ness, and that large portion of their fellow
citizens sympathize with them 1t is not likely
that the l.ynching process will be allowed il
Accomac, Notwithstanding the Citizens meet
ing, their preamble and resolutions" and the
Z" Address to the people of Accomac," on Meth
odist affairs; nor do we apprehend the rioters o
Northampton will repeat their outrages. Thu
public mind always reacts after such outrages
The people are degraded in their own esteem b.
suffering public law to be trampled under foo
by "the loose fellows of the baser Sort" AM
can only recover their own dignity by manifest
ing their indignation at the insult offered to tn
majesty of the laws made by the people them
selves. The retribuiion, though slow, will come
or the light of history and experience is wort
/, nothing.
? In one of the churches in the Northampto
circuit, Va, mob attended to eject the preact
S er, but we're intimidated by the numbers of pc