New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-07-01
The Presbyterian Church and slavery Dr,
-nodgrass in reply TO DIR. X rcbc.

BALTIMORE. June IN. l-ls
HoFACE GREELEr-De7r SIR. ia writing ms
letter OF the goth inst it was far from design 70
provoke controversy with any one-much less %
do 50 by making mis- statements. meant % give
facts only. But it might appear from the COM
municstion Of Dr. Krebs IN your issue Of the 3d. If
suffered 10 20 unnoaced that had made aagrant
departures from the right line Of truth and fallen into
mistakes calculated TO do serious injustice not only
TO individuals but 10 entire branch Of the Christian
Church ask therefore that may be INDUCED with
small portion Of your valuable space to put m yself
and the cause Of Truth right before the readers OF The
TrDalc.
The first position taken By Dr. Krebs for the purpose
OF proving that have rather more zeal than know
ledge that any inference that Dr. Thornwc Of Char
lesion s c. Wa placed al the head Of the Committee
Bills and Osertures, in pursuance Of purpose TO
keep the subject OF Slavery OF the dseussioas Of
the General Assembly Of the Presbyterian Church, is
not sustained by the facts Let US see whether he
makes out case OF unfair differences against me. OF
course it is question Of pro5abauies-certnty being
GU; Of the question when inquring into motives
fessed. Or. Krebs asserts that DR.. Thornweu was
placed the head Of sad Committee in pursuance Of
the usual custom in Assembly OF placing the head
slmbly" Admit it But does that fact weaken the
force Of my nierences Certainly MOTOR it might be
Inferred with equal fairness that bis election the
previous and still more influential position Of Modera
tor had more OF less reference TO his weknown pro
slavery prcjudces well his admirable business
qualifications In this view OF the facts think DR.
Krsos has only strengthened my position-not estab
lished his own As TO the maneuvering Of the stated
3D. -.
Dr. Krebs himself OF some other officer Of the Assem-
bly-it IS not material, whether did confound ini
yidusls or not so far concerns my second PROPOSE
lion. that such maneuVerlng' resOrted %. But
! think upon a comparison OF notes that must have
mistaken the temporary clerk for the stated clerk
AT any rate the individual who announced the presence
Of the Scottish letter did certainly convey my mind
both by word and gesture the impressions that he
using the advantage OF his official position discredit
said letter and prevent action thereon. cannot remem-
Der his words which far less important than
his manner 1t was the latter that produced the impress
sion Of disposition suppress the Slavery discussion
and which the explanations Of your correspondent
have not suihced 70 remove
confess myself astonshed 40 the assertion that the
Scotch document was treated in the same way that
matters are coming from our own Presbyteres or pr
waite members If read the Minutes Alright a. they
lie before In the War York OOserUg. said document
was in accordance with the advice Of Dr. ThOrnwers
Committee, ordered 10 be deposited among the pa
pers Of the Assembly in the Office Of the stated Clerk
how many tlmllhf NtUOsus sleep IN tle same cOnFt-
nent storehouse OF announcement truths" it not left
wholly 10 the readers Imagination 20 conceive One OF
the transactions Of the Assembly at the instance OF this
same Committee on Oyeriures, reads as follows
" OrcriWe No. ia memorial from the Presbytery
Of Chlicothe on the subject of slavery complaining that
testimony in regard 70 il is not sufficiently defac
and praying that whatever testimony II the General As
scmbly) has borne against IT, be published BY the
Board Of Publication. The Committee recommended
the following resolution, which was adopted;
Resored That no additional publicity IN regard TO the
sary"
From the above complaint the reader will learn what
is that same rdy 10 the great depository in which
sceD the numerous memorials that have from the
non slsveholdng Presbyteres. No wonder complaints
are being made The wonder, rather j. that they do
not come from hundreds Of Presbyterfes laundering 40
the gate of the Assembly DR.. krcbs calls the over
ture Committee in tones that would make the D0Hgh
fans of tie Church trembe Ike Felix under The preach
lug of an earlier and truer ministry Until this is tho
case. ia vain look for an Anti slavery document
ssung from the press Of the Board OF Publication. Not
even In the regular pamphlet issue OF the Minutes Of
az can nd the foreign letters on Slavery received
that year; and fear ! shall look in vain for those OF
this year although referred 20 the same source By Dr.
X a. ! unders tand him.
ind that / did misapprehend the extent Of action
with reference 10 the Irsh letter. thought Mr.. Fin
ney and others had protested against action in the
premises 1t appears IL was against the nature ana
tendency Of the action that was had certainly give
Dr. Krebs credit for moving that The protest against his
own apologize answer should be entered IA full upon
the minutes and yet, if ! understand the usage OF
dehberatve bodies that was rgh which should have
required advocacy seeing that the protest accord
ING TO the testimony OF your correspondent was dec.
OrOus" But must not forget that 10 anti.
sqr0y protest that in question. Only by special
grace could It be expected TO appear on the Journa!
But it appears that Dr. Thonwel threatened 20 pro-
against the reception of the protest Ia this We
have striking illustration of his peculiar fitness for the
post signed, and the time conclusive
swer % the question put by Dr. krebs, IN the words
quoted very ingeni0usly from my former letter. thus
hat fnaU fne ID Fg
nue. whereby the question might by any possibility /
ind an entrance, was guarded with Ceroerushke /
care We behold IN the person OF that same Chair !
man Of the Committee Overtures. the very CERBE
Rus depicted. See how carefully he guarded the |
gate against the discussion of the dreaded sub /
ect-for that was the word used never pretended /
% say that the mere word Slavery would have been /
Sep from the minutes had not been for the nerve
If Mr. Finney" By-the-by, does not your correspOn
lent speak OF Mr. Fnney in rather PatrcnI,HS tone
n designating him as very worthy and modH gen.
leman Certainly, II IS s0m1hiHS for one who was so
Faithful amid the fathless found"
be credited with the quality OF modesty by OF
hose whose own pro slavery "maneuverings he has
eproved by his manly protest
Dr. krebs states amentable fact when he boasts that
PiesbyteTians not IN the habit OF following public
opinion Now, the churches should aim 10 lead public
piEi0n rather than 70 follow H. And yet far better
would 1t be follow the enlightenment Of the age
N the subject under notice than not 70 advance at a
nd sink into the state OF dead Conservatism which
nluckiiy characterzes too many of these bodies.
In my former letter referred 10 the Presbyterian
'hurch the church of my fathers. ! might have
allied her my own church for have held in her for
Many years right Of membership ! confess that II l.
Ut lightly esteemed in these latter days, aud that
felt but little disposed 10 fraternize with her do
lgs and movements, ever since became convert 10
he truths OF Reform The socsled New school"
movement did give me some hope for brief time
NJ that hope vanished with the reveament OF the
lct that be school only in name for
clear that but little improvement was seriously
ontempated with reference 10 the gloomy teach
lgs OF It's creed, leaving cut of the question
nything ike true progress in works OF practical right
business Yes, IL j. this very refusal 20 follow the
rowing light OF oHrard Christianity. that ha-
aused her 10 become stumbling block in the track Of
eiorm TINS Is her grievOus fault OF this her dis
lp0nted children may justly complain. Nor can their
omplaint be expected 10 cease until her membership
hall resolve is one man. 20 meet not only that ques
on OF questions 10 which this correspondence has pe
al reference but All the important questions OF the ,
ay openly and isirly-nOt in trucking tubserviency
any selfish sectional interest but IN setusnying and
eroic obedience 20 that golden rulo ~ ght which
written in lines Of heavenly light pom tn tablet o!
,ery human soul =
have written Whist have written N rather J
IAN IN anger. and in respectful sp.t q ward your (
And now, IN order 10 indicate that :
e no disposition 10 avoid the responsibility OF my /
aemcnts think Il best 20 follow the examples of the
ritter whose structures have called forth this defensive