New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-10-29

h.rXv oumarous enough TO 90 through tire for
mahty of public deliberations. Now, however th'
case Is very different, and Mr.. rrapier urged mum
her Of reasops-espcc:aIly the false reports IS tc
the doines Of the body which got into circua'ion-
vbv the Bishops should sit with open doors except
when transsctng business OF an Executive nature
HIS resolution. however, did not meet very
courteous reception. The mover of il was almost
# not actually insulted, and his resolution speedily
tsbed. under the pretense that for the Convention
70 tske the initiative in this matter would be an in-
fringemept. il not on the rights OF the House OF
B;.bops At least on the courtesy due 10 it. But
the real ground of the opposition evidently was the
idea Of the exceeding virtue of secret deliberations,
and Of keeping the community from any knowledge
Of State secrets which certain antiquated gentle
men still look upon as sort OF philosophers stone
in matters of legislation and governments sent-
ment of which We have recently had Development
on large scale, with no very profitable results
that We are aware Of in the organizations Of those
dark lantern politicians who have brought forward
Mr.. Fillmore as a Presidential candidate. 4 SINH
lar and equally bitter opposition Was made, fifty
wears and more ago, to the opening OF the doors oil
the Senate of the United StateS-a body after which
the House of Bishops is evidently modelled. Yet We
are not aware Of any injurious results from the
open-door system in the case of that body-unless'
indeed the pretty full disclosure thus obtained OF
the meanness, Ittle1ess, and selfshness of large
number of its members is 10 be so regarded. II
can not. We trust be any fear OF similar develop
ments "a 10 the reverend the House of Bishops that
nspires the advocates of the secret sessions OF that
body.
Another subject of more general interest which
occupied large portion Of the time OF the Conven
ton related to ecclesiastical trials. AT present the
trials Of officers of the Church below the rank OF
bishops is conducted exclusively by the diocese TO
which they belong. This method OF trial. it is d.
legged. is attended with many inconvenience. In
the first place, there is no uniformity in the law
under this system, each diocese being law for
itself. In the next place as is alleged, many
offenders escape trial; and in the third place when
trials do take place they are often, according 70 the
stroDg expression of one OF the delegates, mo bet
"ter than mockery Of Justice Still, the proposal
70 give to the General Convention authority to insti
tute uniform system Of ecclesiastical trials was
very yehemently opposed; and in the debates the
political conflict between the theory Of State Rights
and the idea Of consolidation and Capitalization
came out in full vigor.
The proposition in its original shape was defeated
after warm debate by very close yOte-a ma
ority of the clergy for it, majority of the laity
against it-but toward the end of the session the
matter was again brought forward in new shape
in proposition TO give the General Convention au-
thority to establish Court of Appeals for revising
the decision of the Diocesan COurts-this revision to
be confined to matters Of law, the determi-
nation of the Diocesan Courts, as to matter of fact
being taken as final and conclusive. This new
proposition received the preliminary appreciation
required by the rules Of the church, and will accord
ipsly come up to be finally acted upon in the next
Triennial Convention. The debates, however, In
dictate stumbling block in the way which, most
likely, will prove too serious to be overcome.
Among other questions Of law is the question what
testimony il to be received; and the establishment
of the proposed Court of Appeals will bring d.
rectly before that Court (or the Convention which
shall define it's powers,) question which has
already proved so embarrassing 10 many of Our
American church organizatons-the question, 20
wit. whether a Christian brother COMMUNICATE,
perhaps Deacon or Presbyter, who happens to be
black-or if not decidedly black, to have portion,
more or less, of African blood in his veins-the
question whether such Christian brother and
communicant is fit to be believed upon oath.
The prevailing opinion, we believe, OF Chris
tians. OF OF those who call themselves such, at
the South. or at least of Southern doctors OF dl-
yinity. is that such Christian brethren and com
municants are not to be believed upon Oath-rather
pregnant commentary, by the way, on the advant-
ages they have derived from the religious abOrs of
their teachers and pastors, and tending directly to
the rather embarrassing question, how a man not
fit to be believed on his oath can be received as q
Christian communicates point we should i'm
agine still more knotty than the question raised in
the Boards of Commissioners for Foreign Missions
about communicates having two or more wives.
How serious this difficulty upon the question of
testimony is likely TO prove will become apparent
to those who read the Memorial on the subject in
another column, which, though specially calculated
for the meridian of South Carolina, will answer for
any Of the other slavehOlding States.
close reading of the manifesto of yesterday