Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-06-11

this agitation, and finding that our brethrel
are determined to continue it, we have de
iberately and prayerfully come to the con
clusion that, however painful it may be te
US, the good of the Church and of the coun.
try required a separation from them. We
shall hold our brethren who have disturbed
our peace, by the Introduction of this vexed
question into our j~udicatories, as alone re-
sponsible for the consequences of this d.
vision.
With these convictions as 10 the neces-
slty of a separation from our once united
and beloved Zion, the only question that
remains for US now to settle pertains to the
mode OF separation. The undersigned are
satisfied that but one course is left to US
and that is, to invite all Constitutional
Presbyterians in the land who are opposed
to the agitation of Slavery in the General
Assembly to unite in an organization, in
which this subject shall be utterly eschewed.
We do not restrict our invitation to the
Southern Churches. We wish to have a Ma
tional Church-that is, a Church, the con-
s~tituent ports of which will come from every
section of the Union. Holding to the
same confession of Faith, we shall have a
common basis as to doctrine and Govern
ment-and an understanding that, however,
we may differ in our views respecting Slave
~, the subject is never to be introduced
into the Assembly either by Northern or
Southern men, unless, indeed, judicial cases
are brought up regularly from the lower
courts. In the judgement of the under
signed, this course is ouI only alternative.
There is 10 much of the same abolition
spirit pervading other Churches that ad-
here to the same standards of Faith, that
We could not expect peace on this subject
by uniting with them. We are persuaded
that, although this question may be sup
pressed in their judicatories for awhile, the
abolition spirit exists to snch an extent as
to threaten their dismemberment. The re-
silt may by that the disturbing elements
of the different branches of the Presbyter-
ian Chuch may be united in one body,
and that the conservative portion of the
same may ultimately be brought together,
and thus prove more efficient in promoting
the cause of the Redeemer, and in diffus-
ing through the land a truly national spirit.
At present, however, the union of these
Churches would not afford relief to those
who are wearied of this slavery agitation.
are DESTROYS OF forming an organization
where we shall not be liable to another diyis-
ion from this exciting subject.
The undersigned, therefore, would invite
all Presbyterians, from all sections of the
country, to meet in Convention in the city
of Washington, on the 9th day of August,
1857, for the purpose of consultation, and
of organizing q General Assembly in which,
it will be distinctly understood, the subject
os slavery will not be introduced. We pro-
pose this course, instead of Organizing an
Assembly at once, as being due to the
Presbyteries be called together as o as
possible; and that, whilst the Presbyteries
appoint their delegates tothe Assembly in
the usual proportion, it is desirable that as
many ministers and elders should attend
the Convention as can do so. We ,sug-
gest, also, that i'll case any of the Presby-
leries desiring to be connected with this
new Assembly, should find it impossible
% be represented in the Convention, it
would be important that the Convention
be informed of their action.
Praying that God may o%verrule the dis
fractions of Zion for His own glory, and
that We may be guided in this crisis of
our history by His unerring counsel, We
subcribe ourselves your brethren in Christ.
F. A. Ross. d. d. M. & Sbuck-