The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-22

the general conferences on the subject of slavery.
Amidst their special regrets, the hope OF ~beiter
time coming" gives trtie of consolation. ave
have reason for believing" rays the ~ C..
Advocate shat another general conference will
do what this has failed 10 do. Ii is full time
that the church put away the abomination."
And yet not satisfied with the ample slice of the
abominaiion which belongs to the connection and
annual conference has been organized in a slave
holding State, and more shareholders are in
vited into the immaculate fellowship. IL must
have been rich scene when Porter OF New
England arrested j. A. Collins in one of his ex-
travaganzas-his eye in tine phrenZy rolling, and
tis arms tretched out 10 take 10 al the South
to the bosom of the Northern church. Porter
said that public opinion in New England CON
sdered slave holders as bad as horse thieves
and asked whether they were going to throw
their fraternal arms around all the villsi in the
countryl This sort OF free and easy talk pro-
duced sensation at Baltimore. After sundry
telegraphic dispatches between Baltimore and
Boston, Mr.. Collins received the night before
the adjournment 'long aud strong memorial"
on the subject of the leit-handed compliment
which Mr. porter's fraternal and courteous cpl
theis had paid to number Of the Baltimore
brethren. Mr.. Collins had leave granted him to
make his statement. The following is the off
cal report of what ensned
Mr. G.. said discussion occurred in the gene
raj conference, few days ago, which, unfor-
tunately, took direction which had awakened a
great sensation in the city of Baltimore, and he
had no doubt it would wake up still greater
excitement in other sections of the work. This
led to the protest or memorial r ierred TO, which
is signed by several of our ministry, travelling
and local, and laymen of highest responsibility
and pieiy, including such men as brothers r. G
Armstrong and Isaac p. Cook.
| 1t Will be recolected, that in the discus ion to
which alluson is had Mr.. ii. Bangs made some
remarks in regard to certain class Of citizens
which drew from him (Mr. Co. reply, in which
the ground was TAKEN that wherever went the
Methodist Episcopal church, in its doctrines and
organization, there went the tue gospel and
true Methodism, and that of course, all who
joined the Methodist Episcopal church, did 80
under the discipline, and according to the dsci-
| pine. That speech of his, seemed to have been
misunderstood or misconstrued somewhat, ana
| in reply to il, or rather following it, member
of this conference in speech had INDUCED in
! highly offensive remarks, which had produced
great excitement in the city of Baltimore. In
the speech Of the member il was distinctly stated
that, not merely in his opinion, but in the senti-
ment of New England-of the great West--oi
| the general conference and the entire church,
shareholders were placed in the same category
with horse. thieves and men stealers; accom-
panied with the decara ion that we had AS many
Shareholders in the church nowas we wanted, and
that those who were in, were only there by sut-
ferance and not by right
James Porter, of the New England confer
| ence, Ito whom the remarks of Mr.. G. were un.
derstood TO apply) rose and said---the statement
of Mr. G. was not entirely correct 1t was said
| in his remarks the other day, that to New Eng
land people, and the citizens of Boston, and to
Boston Methodists, who regard many slave
holders the Same as men-stealers and horse
thieves the remarks of brother Collins were
| tantamount to saying that the Methodists are
disposed to throw their arms around all the vii
lains in the country. The speaker said nothing
on the merits of slavery, but simply referred to
| the views entertained OF it in certain quarters,
to chow the necessity of a reply to Mr.. Collins.
In subsequent statements he gave his own opin-
| ion, "a for instance, that we have slavery enough
now in the church and wanted no more, and
this was in order. He hoped brother Collins
| would be permitted to go on and that he would
be allowed to reply.
! Mr.. Collins said he supposed, then, the brother
meant it was the opinion of Garrison and Com
pdily, LOT IL CSIthlily WAS IOI gGUtTdt, ilH Ut-
leved there were bot very few who held it. 1t was
not the sentiment of New England, nor of the
| West the general conference or the church, and
was unjust in its application. to that section to
which he referred and, what the people there
complained OF is, that this statement goes out to
| the church and the world uncontradicted, that
| they are no better than horse thieves and men.
stealers, and that they are in the church simply
| by sufferance and not by right. They claimed
| to be in the church by right, and under the dsc;-
| pne Of the church, and that they were not here
merely by sufferance and tolerance. They
wished it TO be understood that that is their
position, and they wanted the general confereI ce
to disavow the opprobious epthets Of horse
thieves and men stealers and he endorsed
their views fully and completely.
/ He knew well the community upon which
these assertions fell, in and out Of the chu CHI
and he must say that they were wholly unmerted
The citizens in this section of country referred to-
| are distinguished for their intelligence, integrity
and high sense of honor And the members OF
our church there, to say the least, will not lose
in comparison with their brethren for piety. and
Christian character. Theyare as sound and con.
sistent Methodists as can be found in this land
or any other. He would also remark that the
course pursued in certain quarters, upon the deli
cato subject referred to, had been productive Of
mischief aud evil. In the convention which
formed the rev constitution of Maryland
Mr.. Collins was interrupted by Mr.. f. D
Bangs, who objected to his proceeding
| B. S. Hill, of the Erie conference, said that
Bro Collins made remarks the ether day that
were offensive in some sections, and perhaps
| Bro Porter had made remarks that were often.
sive to Mr. Colns's section. He was prepared
to hear Mr.. Collins, provided other brethren
could have the privilege of making speeches
| A motion was here offered to allow Mr.. Col
Inns to proceed, and Mr.. James Porter said if
| Bro Collins deemed it necessary for the peace
of the Southern portion of the church, he did
not object to his proceeding and he hoped no
brother would object. He knew what he said
and all he wanted was, that he might have an
opportunity to reply, if it was necessary, to place
| the matter in its true light,
| ]. l. Smith moved that Mr. Collins have leave
| to speak ten minutes and Mr.. Porter ten minutes
in reply, but afterwards withdrew the motion.
| Mr. Goode then moved that the whole subject
| be indefinitely POSTPONED