New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-05-20
The Slavery Question I'm the "a. p. Cszreh-
Senator Pratt-Psliffcsf-FirenB ind Acesscst
Hallway Robbery.
Correspondence OF The Tribune.
,-.o,w Erif an Vvenfr,

Correspondence Of The Tribune
B.LrIsoRE Friday Evening. Msy II,
The snbiect Of Slavery, which / mentioned IN
nv asst az agitating the Qusdrennial Conference
Of the Methodist Protestant Church Of the United
States has been, after some considerable feeling
snd excitement disposed Of for the present The
Executive Committee Of the Conference. % whom
the subject was referred, reported that they had no
Jurisdiction over IT, bat that it a natter which
each annual conference had the right 70 expouBd
Of Itself so that they did not oon,ravene any por
rim Of the Constitution Of the Church The report
was adopted by a large majority. The memorial
Of the Manchester Crcui. Of Virginia, which was
| referred TO the Executive Committee and on which
! the repor. was based, calls the attention Of the
Conference 70 the fact that while i appears that in
the 81 Annual Conferences, there IS ministerial
connection of Al and membership OF O., 305; a
comparison with the returns OF ls4o, shows an IN
crease in four gears of only small fraction over
3OOO-not to each minister within the church. or
not to each one belonging to the travelling con-
necton This astounding fact which presents
an alarming aspect Of the state OF the church the
nemorialsts attribute TO the failure OF the church.
to carry out the principle OF Christs teaching in
reference TO the dOwn.trodden portion of our race
which principle 1t has adopted OF It's distIn-
gushing characteristics SO far as the favored white
portion of the church is concerned-to wit, "all ye
ere brethren" The memorial in conclusion, asked
the General Conference TO " state clearly the ex-
tent OF the power of the Annual Conference to leg
islate on the subject of Slavery. Do they possess
it to the extent OF making Slaveholding a bar to
membership If not TO what extent is it possess
ed by them And further, as 4 case had occurred
in the Wheeling station, in which a eolored men,
harf trial w fho
white brother, and the white brother declared that
If the minister allowed the colored member 10 be
heard in evidence, he would prosecute him at law.
The General Conference was asked to adopt rule
making such conduct cause for expulsion from the
church, unless proper acknowledgment be made.
| have given rather long extract on this sub.
ject but it seems of some importance at this time,
coming as it does from a Slave State, and evi-
deDcing in very conclusive manner the great re-
action in public opinion which is gradually taking
place in favor Of the colored race. Thingscan now
be said and DONE which few years since would
have doomed their uttererers or actors TO prison.
ifno worse punishment.
The nosition taken BY Senator Pratt, OF Mary
lard, in signing the address in favor of establishing
Southern organ ct Washington has created COD
siderable surprise TO many OF he .,,enos The
Mary land deIess;on have kept aloof from all these
Sorthern movements until Col. Pratt went over,
and firmly believe that they were truly represent
ing the majority of their constituents. Maryland,
although Slave State, and heavy loser by the
AboitOniss sympathies, is nevertheless too strong
ly attached to the Union to give any support TO
these Southern iactionsts Senator Pratt has mis-
taken his constituents views in lending his
tenaDce to the contemplated project
Thursday next the Locos decide who shall be
their candidate for Governor. There is bitter
feud in their ranks, land do net believe they can
bring out any man that will secure their individual
vote. The Wings are in high spirits. and will
make their nomination on the 9th of June. We
begin to feel sure of Wing Governor next Fall,
and Wing Reform Convention.
A fire occurred on Wolfst. Fell's Point last
night which destroyed boat house, coopers shop,
and part Of lumber yard. A wall of one of the
buildings fell while the firemen were at work,
crushing Jacob Shinnick, Of their number under
the ruins He was extrcated with his collar bone
broken end dreadfully bruised; but will recover.
German, Just arrived from Bremen named
John Retz was waylaid on Wednesday night on
the causeway, and his watch and wallet taken
from him. belt with $1,000 in it, they did not
find.
Thermometer TO at O'Clock. hGo.