Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1857-07-29

a Deacon Expelled from the Church for Vo-
| ting for Buchanan.
| The Grand Rapids (Mich) Inquirer con-
tains a full report of the trial, conviction and
expulsion from the church of Deacon g. P.
Stebbins, of the town of Alpine. in that coun-
ty He was the first deacon Of the church TO
which he belonged-the Freewill Baptist
1t appears that soon after the last Presidential
election, two elders addressed Deacon Steb-
bins letter, in which he was charged with
crime. and they admonishcd him that lie must
clear himself of the accusation. They say :
First 1t is an established fact that thero
are two principles in active and open opposi.
! ton, viz slavery and liberty; anditis deem
ed that you, in opposition to your -cotenant
| obligations and professed love of liberty, have
so far as action is concerned. supported the
system, principles and power of slavery.
/ Second 1t is an established fact that the
Office Of deacon is second to but one in that
kingdom that Christ set up iinzthiis world, and
that Governors of States. kipgso of nations.
and Presidents of the United States, and tho
Offices they GIT, are of less note than the dea-
con in Christ's church, and the Office he fila
Soon after he was furnished with list of
the charges against him; and after long and
tedious Investigation, the council reported a
| follows: ~ sgIJ Z q sg
-7H SrARrA, Feb. 4, 1857.
The Council appointed by the Grand Rap
ids Q. NJ. Conference to meet With Alpine and
Sparta Church, having examined the .esti-
mony presented relating to the casa of Dea
G. p Stebbins, present the following decis-
ion at a-5 .s,a
Charge 1. Deception,
That, in our opinion, is Lot sustained, Be-
q Unchris;ian conduct T
Sustained. but removed BY confession, ez-
cept the last specification, Wig the accusation
against the church ct the public meeting,
| which demands a more full retracsion aud
confession.
3D. Publicly declaring that he would sup
port slavery.
Not sustained as far as his statement is con-
cerned, but SO far ss his act in voting for Bu-
chanan, he has thrown lis infuance in favor
of slavery -zaf- -T
E. G.. GILLEY. Chairman.
n. *. EvARIs, Clerk.
The Frecwill Baptist church of Alpine and
Sparta, after the Council of Ministers from
the quarterly meeting had examined the above
charges perferrcd against Deacon G.. 2. Steb-
bins, and exoperated him from them all on
his explanation and investigation, not SITS
fed called Mr. Stebbins before single hurch
meeting, voted him clear on all charges pre-
ferred sgainst him, save voting for Mr. Bu-
ch.nan for President of the United States.
excluded him for tbs. ono act BY majority Of
two. --- %
The facts upon which the charges are foua-
ded are rs fellows: -
In the fall Of 1856, previous to the Presi-
Dental election. dissatisfaction toek place in
the church about stebbins voting he has fer
nine years been known az a Democrat In
the town Of Sparta, q man that decidedly
supports the Constitution Of the United Sts.ss-
At this period, Elder Erastus w Morton
asked him if he voted the liberty ticket. He
said hs did. Simen Rouse asked him who
he was going to vote for for President. Steb-
bins did not Immediately answer. Rouse
says, ''You are not going to vots for slavery.
are you?" Stebbins replied, " No." and
, travelled on. as be had met Rouse in the road
For these answers he is charged with deception.
Stebbius admitted that he made the ansxer
but defended himself as follows:
First. That the Democratic ticket, which
he did vote. supported the most liberty prin-
ciples Of any ticket now ia vogue. That il
gives to all new States, whsn annexed or a,
the time Of annexation. the liberty to frame
their own constitution Is best snited them,
only it should be in keeping with the Consti-
tuition of the United States-it might be in
favor of slavery ST net. He believed it to bs
the duty of every American citizen to support
the Constitution Of the United States He
!, believed the Democratic principle snd inHusnce
!, to be anti slavery. To prove ahis, he says
that all the States that ever abolished slavery
had abolished it under Democratic admins
tration which is undenisbly 30. He also
maintained that slavery now covered less ter.
ritory. in proportion to that embraced in .hs
United States, than it did at the time the col
: onies entered into compact for the purpose
of protection against foreign foes; that at thas
time there was but one thirteenth part free
e Massachusetts being the only free State at
c that time And now, out Of thirty-one. thers
n are sixteen free States.