Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-07-02
For the Richmo.d W1ig.
RIcHxoxD. June asth 1850.


the Wing containing your letter Of the gath inst in reply
to mine OF the sst the relative positions Of the Old
aud New School Presbyterian Assemblies on the slavery
question Among the lew things which your letter sug
gess a matters deserving OF brief notice at this time
let me first express my satisfaction that the spirit o.
yo~T letter Is so courteous that you appear 70 see ~.
points which deem of chief Importance and that they
few.
With respect TO the medium Of qualifications have moth
ing to say, save that wanted and Freedom, such a.
supposed from your joint private letter OF the 18th IL
might not be convenient and agreeable for you TO afford
me IN the columns OF the Central Presbyterian III have
erred in selecting the Wing, pardon me "de gsti6.,
| dispntdad,aa."
You state the 'man question at issue between u.s.
thus-"Do the Old and New School Assemblies occupy
the same platform on the subject Of slavery" And you
represent me saying that "they do" Craving YOUR
indulgence that not precisely the issue both your
tcle OF the lt,h and mine Of the 2is go show In
your article OF the l4ta you undertook to 'erAi6tt
The nadeniabe progressive dnsarery position of ths
Ner aekooi assembly that your olicr-and a.
You declared distinctly aud eibrdeir iAaf IL a. MOI
true that the Old School Assembly entertains the same
views with ours or occupies any such platform do
on this question
In determining the question OF progress in given d.
rcction II is necessary to tx upon starting point or
standard.
Hence very naturally looked along the history OF the
past until by the aid Of Digest found the position
and doctrines of 1918. With that position and with
those doctrines reasserted and rearmed by your Assem-.
bly, in s46and so, compared the position of our As
declaration Of important constitutional principles in 1856
refung your charge easily and, my own mind SO
successfully. that have nothing add present that
head
With respect the second main point that is wherein
entertain the retcS, and wherein we differ l
leave readers to their opinion, made up from the
records.
You do not seem to relish" the doctrines Of 1915 re-
asserted and affirmed by your Assembly in ls46-50
but there they stand uneaced, and far this argu-
ment between us Is concerned, unehaceabe.
/ amused Sc how nv ~ the point and
power OF that testimony. You say "harp upon the
solution Of former generation" when spread the
action OF 1878 The harp may be Old one but il has
been newly strung and to pitch by the
oil ls465O. The tune play on il may please you
but the dscord is an the iHStToaen tits old fashioned
downrghtaboton organ and from the extremes of bass
alto through all the scale sounds out-7Ae slare is DE-
p,ired Of his natural right" II all your men,
bers North South East and West, to earnest and
wearied eudeavors correct the OF former times
and speedily possible 10 edee this dot on our Aolg
religion, and 70 obtain The COMPLETE ABOLITION Of
ddrry throughout CHRISTENDoN, and, if possible,
throughout ne WORLD
But this doctrine OF 1918 be gotten rid of some
ho aud alas for poor Mr.. White, hope he lives he may
your notice OF him. he is made your scapegoat
lou say that find sHedking iife resolution which
passed during that Assembly, asserting that the
ton of the Assembly of s45 was intended deny or
rscd the testimony often uttered by the General Assem-
bles previous to that date.
Now sir, please to pause moment The resolution of
Nc. White has place your miRies in regular order
and due form No matter who offered it-wheu how,
Assembly.
yerest sneak may offered it. in the sneaking
manner but when taken of his sneakng hands by the
Assembly and passed by them without DIVISION
has all the force OF their undivided voteit is THEIR
ACT
You generously give little information about that
resolution, that |, a candid man. and acknow
ledge how weak the hook is upon which hang INV whole
argument You inform that lat the opening OF the
afternoon session, time when the house is usually
thin do fluid that in the minutes but accept your
supposion-Mr White took advantage of the opportu-
t,tfv ha h.va haap Einrn rtnfa
Introduce his resolution which had been laid on the
table" Thank you for the information.
aware that afternoon sessions apt sometimes
and then business Is not importantly to be 'thn." am
inclined almost To look the records Of ASebes
aud what part of their action this subject which
not exactly what some OF us like, have passed in tie
afternoon"
am aware that in some deiberatye bodies after din
resolutions and yoies even than sneakng-
But badnage apart need not inform you hat your As
semby like own, reads over each morning its previous
minutes when every false step is exposed and be cor
rcIed Moreover these annual minutes are published
and circulated far ANA wide among all your ministers and
churches These minutes circulated again COMMONLY
the opening OF each Assembly, and thus every pos
sble facility is afforded 10 detect aud expose and
consider and rescind any and every eakng and oen-
ve act And vet there stands the VOTE at 1915 aud OF
1880 holding you all fast to the testimony Of 1918.
Mr.. Wh;tc's afternoon resolution" them suomt is
not $50 fraH Peg' a. You suggest 0ocosely, must
think which % suspend argument II the argu-
is good as the peg is strong. it will hold you
firm yet awhile.
But my respected friend and brother, must in turn
give YOU little piece
pass along. Rev Robert J. Breckenridge ID. ID. ol
Kentucky, is of some note with indeed he
has been called your MdgnHs Apoio,-and remember
WELL how when the Assemblies met in Philadelphia
in 1910, when acting committee of Assem-.
bly, to endeaEoT 10 bring about joint communion with
yours he had influence enough 70 prevent such
sure. This eminent in your body the head OF
one Of your Theological Seminaries may be Justly regar-
ded extent the exponent OF the doctrines OF
your bod In debate between him and tho celebrated
George Thompson in Glasgow, Scotland, he oonpel
cd 70 hear passage read by Mr. Thompson from Of
his speeches delivered here at home,-in which
speech DR. Breckenridge had said that slavery il exists
among deprived the slaves Of the entire earnings OF
their labor except oiy much as is necessary
continue labor ITSELF by continuing beathful existence
thus committing clear robbery and 10 similar strain
In accepting Mr. Thompsons challenge DIR. Breckenridge
said -" feel my self encOmpassed with many difficulties
for mas consider me offending the Institution of
sldrery whereas myself believe il 10 Be contrary 10 ne
spirit 9f he Gospel, and he natural rights of mn" Mr.
breckenridge quoted follows from the at Gf 1875
we consider, (aay the Assembly, the voluntary ensavmg
o part of the human by another violation Of
the most precious rights Of hGasa nature utterly in
consistent with the law Of Cod &c
H. a-o quoted that part which urges earnest and
ded endeayors Obtsn the complete abolition OF slavery
throughout Chri-tendom aud Ihe vord and then he
added, "If be had expressed sentiments differing from
these, or he had incucited me principles N his
tcekrea any thing differing from thee j and noble se-
tq>qt, let the b3me be hcaped upon his bare hend.'
These sentiments they had held from period TO which
the principles Of he PTesJytTiaa Church Of c Uni.
tel Siae' She has risen ieiM hcH she ,oW stand Dr.
u hJe God'v iriH. hc cW fdH nth Ms,q."
Nov will no longer do to parry this testimony by cal
ling il a "WeGkiHg expression Of a man. He
speaking Of you, aud far you and quoting YOUR r.,
oodod dorHo before the world and the platform Of
the Old world He teaches your theology and ethics today
in Of your eeminanes The witness is your dispo
sal, II you wish % cross question him.
have another little piece Of Information fDT yop-oT
rather let me refer you your exchanges the ~ v %
serye) for the report Of Doc " L. Recs speech recent
before the congregational conservation Of Rhode Island
boot Rre, the last moderator ~ you General ssembly
but one aud delegate elected in " York in May lat
represent you in Rhode Island said, reported IN the
T. Observer. "SO Church has dOHe much for enan.
cipation ours. Not il doHg much Of Mis koHr.
We have been crpDlei ~ sdoyts by brethren who
have tied hands and then say hard things Of be-
cause will them. suppose disifkc siarerJ
a. aneh asaBv man, and ~oad c0Haopizc any vLo
qAld tell hoe Ia his erH and eurie from tie
i,orid"
AZ another time, during the same meeting Doct Rice
said-"Wheu Lovejoy was killed at Alton declared in
Kentucky that would fight for freedom o speech had