Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-06-19

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mistaken, the Patriot thought that the game VI
with Bragg then. 1t was slight error of judgment
which it found out in August. 1t will discover i'll
error in the case of Smith Us. Shaw about a weel
after August election.
The Breach IA Presbyterian Church,
| New SehOoD.
| The New School General Assembly of the Pres
byterian Church recently met at Cleveland, Ohio
Its heightened session has been brought to close
and with it, fear, the unity of the denomination
throughout the country. All progres sed harmoni
ousIy until the question of slaveholding in churches
came up There were 228 members present, Of
whom thirty were from the South. Ofthese Southern
members, twenty signed and presented a paper, in
which they say:
Slavery does exist by Divine ordination and re-
cognition for wise purposes. hat sin cannot be
predcaed of the relation itself, but of the abuse oil
that relation. That it stands in the same category
with the family relation in the fact that it is ordained
of Cod in the sense above explained When
say it is right fer churches to hold slaves
der the present circumstances we mean to say that
they acting consistently with the spirit and letter
of the Gospel in so doing"
The result was the adoption of resolutions, ly a
vote of l67 to 25, affirming the past testimony of The
church against slavery from 1887 to The present time
and further stating
I" 1t is with deep grief that we now discover that
portion of the church at the South has far de.
parted from the established doctrine of the church in
relation TO slavery to maintain that 1T ordi
of God, and that the system of slavery exist.
ing in these United States, is scriptural and right
Against this new and alarming doctrine we feel con-
strained to bear solemn testimony. 1t is at war
with the whole spirit and tenor of the gospel of love
and good will, as we'll abhorrent to The conscience
of the Christian world. We have no sympathy or
fellowship with it; and we exhort all our people 10
esehew it as a serious and pernlcous error" &c.
Against this act twenty Southern members entered
protest, Of which the following is copy:
"The undersigned, Southern Ministers and Ruling
Elders, protest against the present decision Of the
General Assembly.
I'VE protest because, while past General Assem-
bes have asserted that the system of slavery is
wrong, they have heretofore affirmed that the slave
holder was so controlled by State laws, Obligations
of guardianship, and humanity, that he was, IS thus
situated, without censure odium as the MASTER
This aVerment in the testimony of past Assemblies
has so far satisfied the South as to make unneces-
sary to do than protest against the anti
slavery part of such testimony.
We protest then, now that the present act OF the
Assembly is such assertion of the sin of slavery
degrades the whole Southern ChuIch-an assertion
without authority from the Word of God or the or.
ganc law of the Presbyterian body.
eve protest that such action is, under present
conditions, the virtual excluding Of the South what.
ever be the motives of those who do the deed.
eve protest that such indirect excision is un-
righteous, oppressive uncalled for, the exercise of
usuped power destructive Of the unity of our branch
of the church, hurtu TO the North and TO the South
and adding the peril of the union of these States.
F. A. Ross, Jas. 6. Hammer,
Isaac w. K. Handy, VIM. E. Caldwell,
| Gideon S. White, E. A. Carson,
Geo. w. Hutchins, Rob't. NJ Morrison,
George Painter, Rob't. McLain,
| Henry Matthews, A. ]. Node,
John F. Chester, P r. Grattan,
J. v Banks, T. H. Csland,
John B. Logan, A. c. Dickerson,
Chas M. Atkinson, Rob't p. Rhae,
F. r. Gray, M. S. Shuck.
The Assembly, through the Moderator, appointed
committee to reply to the protest, who, after with
drawing from the House for the purpose, re, ,ored
the following response
In reply to the protest against the action tax en- by
the Assembly the subject of slavery the Assembly
make the following remarks:
"1. The present action of the Assembly on this
subject is in perfect harmony with the testimonies
of former Assemblies, and consists chiefly in reaf-
frmation of those testimonies The General Assem-.
bly, has affirmed that the Shareholder was so
controlled by State laws, obligations of guardianship
and humanity that he was, thus situated, without
censure or odium as the master has only conceded
that certain exceptional may exist, such are
defined in the resolutions adopted by the Assembly
of 1850, and approved by this Assembly.
90. We see nothing in the present action which
is unconstitutional or reflects upon any portion
of ihs Southern Church, which stil abdes by the
old doctrine of the Presbyterian Church in relation to
this subject
3. With respect 10 the comp amt that such &C.
ton is, under the present conditions, the virtual ex.
GLIDING of the South the Assembly observe that no
such cxcsion is intended and we cannot perceive
that it in anywise involved even by remote mpli,
cation. We have simply affirmed the established
views of the Presbyterian Church the subject of
ter doctrines which have been declared aod defended
by some within our bounds.
a. With regard to the allegation that our action
in this case is ghteous, oppressive, uncalled for
usurpaory and destructive of great interests need
only say that it rests on the groundless assumption
that this action is indirect excelsior of the South
If Southern brethren shall break the unity of the
Church because stand by one common position,
as in duty bound the responsibility for the conse-
quenee:will not rest on the Assembly"
The future course of the Southern delegation is
indicated in the following