The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-07-04

dHu promises 10 De one OF the best III the Confer
encr. Now, sir, IS 1t Just, is 1t fair, is a
righteous, that a Conference-a people who
have thus IN peril and multiplied difficulties
stood by the old land marks--by the Methodist
Church-by the discipline, as handed down to
us by the fathers, should be oppressed by the
measure before us-that will paralze all their
efforts, and send disaster and ruin in all their
borders! VIII this General Conference re-
quite them for heir devotion in this way
LIST. shall in the first place, before coming
TO the discussion Of the main question, notice
some points made by Dr. Thompson, in his
speech on yesterday. | wish TO break the force
Of that speech, adorned as II was with classic
beauty and refined taste, which think can be
done with simple replication.
And first, he alluded TO the Hebrew practice
/ IN the cases Of fugitive servants who fed from
their pagan masters 10 their jurisdiction. By
the law or custom of the Jews, the fugiiiyeS
were not returned so neither were servants
who lied from them sent back. In reply state,
the jewish government was a tht0crucg-the
most simple form OF government, next, if not
equal, in this respect, to absolute despotism.-
This Is not the case in the United States. Ours
IS complex system Of government We have
Federal and State authority. The national gov
ernment exercises executive, legislative and iu-
dlcla powers: so do the States in their reSpec-
tive spheres. In several Of these STATES slavery
is sanctioned by law; and The Constitution,
which IS the bond OF union for all the States Of
th- CoHfederacv, DOES contain unqueStionahie
provisions in relation to slaves, or persons held
to service or labor and these provisions consii-
ute the compromises Of that instrument. Three
hfthS OF the slave population represented IN
one branch of the National Legislature
may be taxed and provision IS made for their
recovery II they flee from the service of their
owners. The church Of God is found in the
slave holding States and ! submit, sir, that
though this was an eloquent passage in the Doc
tors sPeech-fnely put and rIicitug hearty
rrsPonses-it Is not applicable to u5--in our pc
culIag circumstances and under our iolm Of
government, which believe 10 be the best the
world ever saw.
In the next place, Dr.. Thompson referred 10
the emancipation OF slaves which has taken
place in the Eastern and Northern States. and
attributed it wholly TO the high moral sentiment
tha; prevailed there. l admit that there is as
pure moral sentiment in New England and the
North as elsewhere; that ii has as mucll niin-
ence there as any other part Of be globe: ave,
more, that ii has done vast good IN It's outward
spread. | willing to grant as much in this
connection, as can be claimed, or ought TO be
granted. Bot, am far from believing, that
the emanci patton Of slaves in the East and
North, was brought about simply by the nAu-
encp of moral sentiment. State policy had
large stare in it. The soil Of New England,
and the North, except III detached portions, is
not adapted TO slave labor. 1t could not be
made profitable there. As a general rule,
gram growing countries re not suited 10 slave
labor, which can only be employed Advantage
ousIy and profIabIy where cotton, sugar, hemp, |
rice, or indigo IS the staple product. And
there can be no doubt, this law had It's Influence
in accomplishing the emancipation referred TO.
To prove Sir, that ibis was not the result OF
moral sentiment superior to that which prevails I
IN the Southern States, have simply 10 call /
your attention to the ordinance of l7S7. BY /
hich slavery was prohibited in the whole of
what was then called the Northwest Territotv +
out of which five powerful States have been
Iormed-O Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and .
| believe Iowa, whose stars now COMPOSE part
Of the bright galaxy that emblazonS the Nation T
al flag. Who was the author OF that ordinance
1h0m1s JeHerSoR, Il JirginiaA-a man whose
fame fills The world. He wrote II in 1903 or
1901 and though it did not pass at that time,
il was adopted with a slight amendm-ut as to
the timr il should 90 into effect, by the Con-
gress of the Conlrderacy, which sat cotemrora-
npousIy with the Con, ,entian that framed the
Constitution in 1887. That ordinance, the
production OF Southern man, voted for by
Southern men, has formed the basis for freedom
IN he five States have named.
Since Ohio has become a State efforts have
been made, either in her Legislature. or in
Conventions, to form or re- model her Constitu-
ton TO introduce slavery, but they were una
vailing When Indiana was a Territory 81 the I
United States, The Territorial Legislature pri- t
TONED Congress to suspend the operation ol The
ordinance If 81, so far as it bore upon Indiana.
in order that slavery might be admitted into
the Territory. The petition was presented in
the House Of Representatives and referred to
special committee, Of which John Randolph, a
VirgInian, the owner of 300 slaves, (which he
at his deaih) was chairman, who IA
reported in substance. that the ordinance Of
1897 had worked we'll, relieving the Territory
affected by IT., Of great incubus, and hat il was
improper 10 sUpend il or comply with The pray
er of the petitioners. The report was adopted
and by the aid OF Southern votes. Indiana waS
preserved from slavery and came into the L.
mon as she now remains, free State.
Sd. Dr. Thompson says that slavery is on |,
the increase that Il has more power than it
formerly had. ! beg to say that if this is true
the .hethodiSt Episcopal Church is not tespon-
sible for ii as the Doctor iniiratps Slavery is
The creature of eicH not ecclesiastical law, and
is beyond the direct control of church action
Methodist Episcopal Church is
not the author OF lt-ror is she accountable for
4 r