The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1857-10-03

The leaders of the Southern seeeders from
the New-school General Assembly, in their
Convention at Richmond, developed their
views and feelings sufficiently to convince
all who look beneath the mere surface Of
things that they did not really desire a
union with the Old-schoOl Assembly except
on conditions which they knew never could be
complied 18th. And yet they passed resO-
luton asking the Assembly to confer with
their newly organized Synod, in reference
70 a union. The editors Of the Central Pres
5yieiaa, who we're present atthe Convention,
thus give their impressions on the object of
the leaders in taking this course. They
say:
.'Dr. Ross declared openly that he want
cd a new denomination, because a new
denomination was a new territory into which
new ideas could emigrate and grow, that
would be repressed by the overshadow-
ing influence Of large Church like the
Old-school Assembly, and he believed that
the mission Of the New-schoOl body was to
develop peculiar type Of Calvinism, and
his new ideas on the subject of slavery.
Hence he did not want TO unite with us now,
but wanted the new denomination. This
was also the feeling most obviously Of other
leading men in the body. They want more
latitude than they could have in our Assem-
bly,. Hence they will never consent to any
such terms as our Assembly could agree to,
for the simple reason that they do not want
the union. They differ with US widely on
important doctrines, and could not act har-
moniously with us; and hence, however wide
ly the door were opened, they would not
enter. We need not discuss the question
whether our Assembly could consistently
receive them, for that question needs no dis
cussion, and We wish to avoid every express
sion that would SAVIOR the least of unklnd-
ness. 1t is enough to say that they wish to
set up for themselves and develop their
new type of Calvinism; and hence the ques-
ton of union is already decided by them in
advance. They Will consent to q proposal
for conference with our Assembly, because
that does not necessarily involve union, and
because the odium of the continued sehism
NAV be thus thrown on us before the world,
and so they will retain many that are waver-
ing. but they never will consent to union
on terms we could accept. We are then
out announcing what they have already de-
termined beforehand, and what with their
great influence and ability they can secure,
that the new Assembly must be formed, and
the new denomination added to the already
long list of sects into which the Protestant
world is divided. They think that their best
interests demand this separate organiza-
tion."
After carefully reading the reported
speeches, We have come to the same cOnclu-
sions with the editors Of the Central Presby-
lerian, as TO the animus of the leading men,
with Que or two exceptions. If we are cor
rect as to the state of their feelings, We ask,
Is it candid in them to be making oyertures
for union with us when they do not really
desire it?-WilI not al! men Of perception
see through the shallow device at single
glance and brand it as piece Of double,
dealing unworthy of straightforward Chris
tian men? If they do not wish to unite with
us, it is their undoubted right to keep to
themselves, and no one has q right to COM
plain OF them for so doing; but they ought
TO assume the responsibility of that position
themselves, and not to attempt to throw it
upon others. Let every man bear his own
burdens. Chivalrous Southern gentlemen,
not to say Christians, have ever been noted
the world over, for the contempt in which
they have ever held those who attempt to
dodge the responsibility which attaches to
their own conduct. We do not wonder at
all that Dr. Boyd and Mr. Marshall opposed
the passage of the resolution in reference
to union with the Old School as inconsis-
tent with what had already passed in the
Convention. 1t was manly in them to do so,
Others urged that, unless something like
this was adopted, many individuals and
churches that now were wsvering, would sc
over to the Old School, and that to retain
them, and to avoid the odium in the eyes Of
the world of Perpetrating this sehisn, it was
necessary to take such action as this. DR.
Ross consented to it, because, as he termed
1t, it would be "sop to Cerberus;" some
thing that would serve to retain those who
were wavering, while itwould not prevent the
new organization, II was urged that, il