The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1853-06-07

Gus reward from the British and
American Governments.
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The Presbyterian Assemblies.
The Gcnesal Assemblies of both
branches of the Presbyterian Church
have been in session for the past eight
or ten days-that Of the New School
at ilutialo, New York, and the Old
School Assembly at Philadelphia. We
have given occasional abstracts of the
more prominent transactions of the
latter body, as they are ofsomc inter
est to . number of our readers.
In the Old School Assembly, on
Saturday last, the most important busi.
ness transacted was the location of the
proposed new Western Seminary,
which, as will be seen from the
proceedings annexed, was fixed at
Danvillc, (Ky.) We extract the follow
ing from the proceedings:
The unfinished business being the
discussion of u site for the new Wes-
tern Seminary, was then, on motion,
taken up.
DR.. WIN. l.. Breckenridge address
sed the Assembly upon the subject.
He regretted tho circumstances un.
der which he was compelled to ad-
dress the house. He would, however,
be rs brief rs possible, and endcavor
not to weary the patience Of the dele.
gates.
He admitted that Peoria was a
most delightful spot, but there
were circumstances which would
preclude the practicability Of locating
tho Seminary at that point He con
sidcrcd that any claim on the part
OF Peoria was dead letter. ST. Louis
had stronger claims by far, but he on
ly echoed the views and policy of the
church when he said he was opposed
to erecting a Theological Seminary in
q large city. lie had no doubt that at
a future period q. seminary would be
required on the banks of the Missis.
sippi; but for the present time the
valley Of The Ohio IS, in Els opinion,
the proper 1ocation,for the seminary,
He did not believe that the Sytod Of
Missouri desired that the institution
should be located there, he thought it's
establishment would tend to burthcn
and cmbarrass the church in that
Slate. The Rev. Jno. A. Cowan, Of
the Synod of Missouri, was unwilling
to admit that his Synod was divided
upon the subj jcct.
DIR. Breckenridge was satisfied from
circumstances that there was dvis
ion upon the subject, The high cost of
living 1T St. Louis was dwcIt upon.
The speaker did not think man
could live respectfully in that city upon
less than $1,000 a year.
The claims of Cincinnati were
next considered. The principal ground
upon which the claim Of Cincinnati
is urged. is the fact that Lane Seminary
is located there, and that the Old
School Presbyterian Church has a
legal right to the property. This,
the speaker thought: was too remote
and uncertain contingency TO be
thought Of.
The speaker had long been friend
of New Albany; he was still its
friend. He does not regret anything he
has done in its support. lie considered
the men who had been instrumental
in the management Of the institution
had done great and good work But
he was reluctantly compelled to
say that il had come to q dead stand"
The finances Of the Seminary were
in n dcploral,lc condition, and there
was no use striving to disguise the fact.
DIR. Breckenridge. in alludng to
the claims Of Danvillc, and in refer
cncc to the argument that it would
be ineXpcdient to, locate it in a
slave state, declared himself no ad.
vocate of the .ihs,ituton of slavery.
he considered it a calamity for both
slase and master. lie thought as
Henry Clay thought, and as George
Washington and Patrick Henry
thought. He was unwilling to be
deprived Of any Of his rights in tic
church because he lived in slave State.
The church in the South will not
submit to being told that institutions
will not be placed on their soil b.
cause they arc residents of slave States.
The delegate from Kentucky, af-
ter descantng upon the advantage to
be derived from locating the Seminary
at Danvillc, concluded his remarks with
an earnest and eloquent appeal in ia.
vor Of that point.
After DIR. Blcckenbridge had con-
cludcd, Fine obtaincd the floor. He
said the Assembly were growing weary
OF the subject, although it was ilnpor-
tant and interesting. lie would
move that the tulther consideration of
the subject be postponed until the
next Assembly. If. those who, are
interested would agree that the qucs-
ton be taken forthwith, he would with
draw his motion. The motion to
postpone was Withdrawn, and Judge
Fine moved that the previous question
be taken. The question being taken,