The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-07

THE NATIONAL ERA.
METHODIST PRESS.

Our Southern papers, says the Z'0Ts Herald,
abound in discussions on the question Of Reunion
with the NJ. E. Church. They are the more
singular, as no interest whatever has been indi-
Gated by the Northern press on the subject. Some
Of the Southern editors think the discussion quite
irrelevant; Others, deem it somewhat hopeful.
We think with the former THERE'S, prior to the
question Of reunion, far more difficult question
to be setted--the "question Of abolition" The
profound ethical bearings Of this question will
stand an insurmountable barrier between the two
churches, till slavery is overthrow in the United
States. The essential immortality Of slavery,
except in the few anomalous cases where 1t ceases
TO be virtual though it remains nominal slavery
cases too few to be admissible in the argument on
American slavery-this inherent sinfulness ofthe
institution cannot be connived at by the enlight-
ened moral sense of the North. Wesley himself
has presented the difficulty. After denOuncing
slave-traders be says;
"And this equally concerns every gentleman
that has an estate in our American plantations;
YEA all shareholders, of whatever rank or degree
seeing men-buyers are exactly on level with
men-steaers. Indeed you say, pay honestly for
my goods; and am not concerned to know how
they are come by Nay, but you are you are
deeply concerned to know that they are honestly
come by Otherwise you are a psrtaker with the
thief and are not jot honester than him But
you know they are not honestly come by; you
know they are procured by means nothing near 80
innocent as picking Of pockets, HOUSEKEEPING or
robbery upon the highway. Perhaps you Will say,
| do not buy my negroes | only use those left me
by my father So far is we'll. But is it enough
to satisfy your own conscience2 Had your Ia
ther, have you, has any man living, right to use
another as q slavel 1t cannot be, even setting
Revelation aside Ii cannot be that either war or
contract can give any man such property In an
other as he has in his sheep and oxen. Much
less isit possible that any child Of man should be
born Stare. Liberty is the right Of every human
cyegtuye AZ soon as he breathes the vital air and
no human law can deprive him Of that right which
hederives from the law of natureD
This moral difficulty, brethren Of the South, is
not imaginary-if there is any principle of ethics
fundamental to the rights and progress ofhuman-
49, Inherent in thssnoysl svesSm Of Chris
tianity, il is this original freedom of man. Edu-
,.si41 IN the midst of general and enormous VIC
Anon On IT. ySS pettk ~ ~ -, 80
Importance; you have admitted the violators oft
10 your sacramental table they fill your churches,
they abound in your ministry, they sit upon your
Episcopal bench you not only cOnnive at their
appalling sin, but you defend it, and even give IT
the sanction Of Christianity. Can reunion be ex-
pected under such circumstances God forbid 1t!
The Herald further remarks:
Our old Yankee friend, Rev. C. Richardson,
thus expresses his sympathy with the South Car
DINA Conference, in the last Texas Banner:
1.-THE Southern Christian Advocate contains a
labored and strong vindication of the special edi-
ton of the Discipline. We have deeply regret
ted that the och section, omitted in this edition,
had not been omitted by order of the General
Conference in the official edition. We have sym
pathized with the good people Of South Carolina,
with respect to their grievances in the premises.
But we regret that they did not brook their diff
culties till the next General Conference which,
we feel confident, will expunge the obnoxious sec
ton from the Discipline
How q residence in the South transmogrifesn
q man The leading pro-slayery men ofthe South
ern ministry -- Drs Bascom, Winans, Hamilton,
Richardson, SOule, &c-were Northern men.
The Pafs5ug AdrOcate says of the expurgated
Discipline:
slavery is such an essential part both Of the
politics and religion Of South Carolina, that any |
thing in the least dsrespectful Of the divine in
stitution may not be tolerated. n |
Why the Yankees even if they had hated the |
Discipline, would never have given il up at the
dctatiOn of politicians. They would think bet
ter of the Objectionable section the moment the
politicians said, You must not read it, They
would rebel rather than be liable to any such i'm
putations. One thing is certain, that the church
in South Carolina seems TO be in closer alliance
with the State, and more subservient to political
and secular men, than would be considered at all |
becoming in a church in this latitude"