Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-09-04
The New School Prcsbyterians.

Some time ago. the General Assembly of the Presby-
terrain Church, New Schcol) met at Cleaveland Ohio
Certain action taken there ON the subject of slavery
which caused the withdrawal of the delegates from the
South and the ISSUE by said delegates of call for
convention to be held at Richmond to form church Or
ganzaton from which the disturbing influences of the
slavery question should be excluded.
The convention, meeting in pursuance of this CALL
sembled at Richmond, Va. on Thursday, the 28th Au
gust.
There present delegates from Virginia, East and
West Tennessee Mississippi, Pennsylvania and Ken
lucky. letter received from Hon. Samuel Jefer
son. of Port Penn, Delaware giving his for not
with the action of the General Assembly and that they
sympathise with the Southern members.
The following preamble and resolutions were reported
on Friday by the committee on business:
WRereas all acts resolutions testimonies of past Cen
eral Assemblies aud especially the action of the last
General Assembly, whereby suspicious and doubts ofhe
good standing and equal rights and privileges of slave
holding members of the church, mputatOns and char
ges against their Christian character have been implied
expressed contrary to the example and teachings
of Christ and his Apostles, and violation of the
Constitution of the Presbyterian Church.
And qrhereds, the relation of master and servant,
itself consdered further than the relative duties aris-
ing thererom and slavery institution of the State
do not properly belong to the church udicares as sub
iects for discussion and enquiry
And, rhereds in the Judgment of this convention there
is prospect of the cessation of this agitation of slavery
in the General Assembly solong there Shareholders
in connection with the Church, therefore,
Resolved, That in the judgment of this Convention
nothing be made the basis for discipline in the Pres
byteran Church which is not specifically referred to in
the Constitution, as a crime or heresy
Resolved, That the Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church have power to pronounce sentence of con-
demnaton on lower judicatory individuals for any
cause unless they have been brought before the Assem-
bly in the way presented by the Constitution.
| Resolved That the Convention recommend to all the
Presbyteries in the Presbyterian Church. which are op
posed to the agitation of slavery in the highest udicato
~ of the church. to appoint delegates in the proportion
prescribed by form of government, for the appoint
ment of commissioners to the Assembly, to meet in
Knoxville, Tenn, ON the third Thursday IN MaH 1858
for the purpose of organizing general synod under the
name of The United Synod the Presby Church
in the United States of America.
RESOLVED, That the members of this Convention adj
here to and abide by the confession of Faith of the Pres
byerian Church, as containing the system of Doctrine
taught in the Holy Scriptures and that we adhere tt
the form of government and book of discipline of sale
church.
Action was postponed until Saturday On Saturday
the convention proceeded to the consideration of the
solutions reported the previous evening by the Com
mittee on Business. The first read as follows:
Resolved That recommend to the Presbyteries il
convention with the New School General Assembly o
the Presbyterian Church, to withdraw from said body
During the discussion on this resolution good dea
of anxiety was manifested by some of the members t.
0 strike out the words New School, The resolution
was finally amended and passed as follows:
Resolved, That the Presbyterians sympathising wit
the objects of this Convention invited to Withdraw
from their present ecclesiastical relations
fl The second and third resolutions were then dscussa
+ and adopted as follows:
Resolved, That in the Judgment Of this Convention
nothing can be made the basis for discipline in the Pres
byterian Church. %hich is not specifically referred to
e the constitution crime or heresy.
y Resolved, That the General Assembly of the Presby
! terrain Church has power to pronounce sentence
condemnation on lower judicatory or On individual
for any cause unless they have been brought before h
C Assembly in the way prescribed by the constitution.
The fourth resolution then came up for discussion
:, RESOLVED, That the Convention recommend to a
Presbyteries in the Presbyterian Church. which are
posed to the agitation of slavery in the highest udica
ry of the Church. to appoint delegates in the proportion
prescribed by our form of government, for the appoin
9 ment of commissioners to the Assemby,oto meet
Knoxville, Tenn on the 3rd Tuesday in May 1858 ft
the purpose of organizing General Synod under I'll
name of The United Synod of the Presbyterian Churc
81 in the United States of America"
J the course of which an able speech made by NJ
j. Randolph Tucker, of Virginia. Pending the cons
Grafton of this resolution, the Convention adjourned
Monday
/ HoRR1BLE.-A Rhode Island paper says that Mr.
Cunningham hes succeeded in recent attempt She
mt with the determination of hninr confined and sho