Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1857-06-25

lated to render the condition the more
uncomfortable, and to sunder the ties that
biud our union together. ID this regard
we have been sadly disappointed. In con-
sequence of the political agitation on the
subject, and of the pressure brought to
bear upon them by Congregational church
es holding the most ultra abolition senti-
ments, many Of our western Presby:era
have become more urgentin demanding pro-
gressive action of the Assembly. They
have not been satisfied with past declara-
tions of the Assembly. They have desir-
ed the Assembly to express it's views Of
the sin of holding SO clearly that they
can be made the basis of discipline by the
courts of the church. This action has now
been virtually taken by the Assembly. L;
has avowed thot the relation of master and
servant--which necessarily involves the
idea Of the sight of God, and an offence
in the sense In which the term is used in
the constitution Of the church.
This declaration has been made, although
eonfessedly there IS not the most remote al
lusion to slaveholding in our standard, and
also with the knowledge of the fact that,
when our constitution was adopted, twelve
out of the thirteen States were slavehold-
ing States, and many of those who COM
posed the Assembly of 1880, if not slave
holders themselves, were the representa-
tives of Presbyteries in which were
churches whose member were Shareholders.
We regard this action of the General As
sembly as palpable violation of the letter
and spirit of the constitution of the church.
The principle involved in it, if carried into
practice, would convert the highest judica
tory of the church into an ecclesiastical
despotism as tyrannical as that which has
distinguished the Church of Rome. 1t
makes the Assembly not only the interpret
er of law in an irregular way, but also the
supreme Legislature Of the church, posi-
ton which has been always repudiated by
the Presbyterian Church.
Apart, therefore, from the disastrous
resulting from the agitation of
the subject Of slavery in the General As
semDiy--deslroyinS, as IL uVco, our peace,
keeping us IN state excitement unfavora-
bic to spiritual growth, and paralyzing our
efforts to advance the cause of the Redeem
er through the channel of our admiral sys-
tenn of government--we consider that the
Assembly has SO far departed from the con-
stitution Of the church as to render our
adherence to it undesirable and impossi-
BILE. Having protested repeatedly against
this agitation, and finding that our breth-
ern are determined to continue it, we have
and prayerfully come to the
conclusion that. however painful it may be
10 us, the good of the church and of the
country required separate on from them.
We shall hold our brethern who have dis
urbed our peace, by the introduction of this
Texed question into our judicatories, as
llone responsible for the consequence of
his division.
With these convictions as 10 the neces-
ity Of separation from our once united
nd beloved Zion, the only question that
emains for us now to settle pertains to the
node of separation. The undersigned are
atisfied that but one course is left to US
nd that is, to invite all constitutional
'resbyterians IN the land, who are opposed
0 the agitation of slavery in the General
assembly, to unite in an organization in
Thich this subject shall be utterly eschew-
d. We do not restrict our invitation to
he southern churches. We wish to have
national Church--that is, Church the
onstituent parts of which viii come from
very section of the Union. Holding to
he same confession of faith, we shall have
common basis as to doctrine and govern
lent, and an understanding that, however ,
-e may differ in our views respecting slave t
Y, the subject is never to be introduced
ITO the Assembly either by northern or I
,uthern men, unless, indeed, judicial
ases are brought up regularly from the ]
'wer courts. In the judgment of the t
ndersigned. this course is our only altern- {
i've. There is so much of the same alb /,
ition spirit pervading other churches that !
there to to the same standards of faith, q
lat we could not expect peace on this sub {
ct by uniting with them. We are per- !
iaded that, although this question may
9 suppressed in their judicatories' for a e
hile, the abolition spirit exists to such an S
stent as to threaten their dismemberment. y
he result may be that the disturbing ele- v
ents of the different branches of tie @
resbyteriar churc h may be united in one v
,dy, and that the conservative portion OF d
e same may ultimately be brought togeth- S
III @b,,s nro,,o ,,,<,a. o c,a,f IN rronoo- r