The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-05-24

PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY, OLD
SCHooL-Sir;h Day-The committee to whom had
been.refsrred the subject of the destituton of min
isters families made a report, embracing resou.
tions recommending the establishment of fund
for their relief, and that each minister should be
taxed 50, and each church 50, annually, for that
purpose.
The Rev. Messrs r. G. Northruss, of the Gene
raj Association of Massachusetts, and Maltby, OF
the General Conference of Maine, were fraternally
received, and respectively addressed the Assem-
bly, upon the progress and general condition of re-
ligion in their section of the country. Rev Mr.
Northruss (Nass) observed, that he considered the
Church in New England as approaching an unani
nous opinion upon the subject of slavery, abstain
ing however, at the same time from violent arti.
zan vituperation respecting it.
Rev. Mr.. Maltby stated that the General Confer.
ence he represented were Congreg ationaIists -
They numbered II 0C0 members in 235 churches
divided into II conferences. With respect to sla.
very, they regarded il as great evil as this Gen.
eral Assembly did, and so expressed the opinion
often in resolutions 1t has grieyed u.s. (obseryed
Mr. NJ y and 1t may have grieved you, in part; but
we rejoice that it has not divided US, nor severed
the correspondence which prevails between u.s.
The Board of Publication submitted their egh-
teenth annual report The Board has published
80 new works during the year, In all, Ill 900 CO.
pies. The total number of copies of books and
tracts, published since the organization of the
Board, to March lst, 1856, has been 55JO,93s
The whole number of colporteurs at present in
lB numDor or 1dmlleS visited
93, 734; number of volumes distributed 3l4 4se: to-
tai receipts for the last eleven months Se8 500 90
expenditures, SS6039 l3; balance in the treasury
March lst ST. ,O33 96
SIXTH DAY
Nea0 SchOoL-The question of the adoption of the
reports upon the constitutional power of the AS
sembly to medde with slavery, was discussed in a
kindly spirit.
Rev. Mr. Wood of Miss, as q representa- tive oi
the opinion of Southern Clergymen, said:
came here from the remote South-I breathed
the air first under Southern sun. and expect tC
die there Though l feel cordial toward the mem
bers of this General Assembly, we have been call
ed aboltionsts because of our connection with
this General Assembly. Our brethren of Missouri
say they want to know what the Assembly is 90
ing to do upon this question, and the committee
might have said the Assembly has or has not the
constitutional power over this subject, aud we Of
the South would have understood what they mean
So our Southern people all feel. But let me say
that the South is for continued connection with
the General Assembly, and that the Southern
brethren are misunderstood upon this question
Some think that we of the South are fire eaters,
and would desire to force slavery upon you. Now
don't want you to feel or believe upon this sub
ject we do. Not at all. If, however, this agi.
tation is continued in this Assembly, we must
either abandon the subject this body, believe
that is the feeling of the South upon the question
Addresses were made by the Rev. DR.. Smith,
Rev. Mr.. Allen, Rev. ]. M. Beck of Lexington,
Mo-; Rev. Mr. Brainerd, Judge Jessup, and others