Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-06-01

81. Brig VIM. Achorn, overhsuled at Sagua II
| Grande.
y. Barque w. II. Chandler. overhsuled at Ssgut
la Grande.
%. Barqus John Howe, ovsrhauled at Ssgua Ia
Grands.
81. Barque V. T. Martin, overhsuled at Ssgua Ii
| Grande.
25. Barque James Cook, overhsuIed at Ssgus Ii
| Grsnde.
2G. Barqus ssmos, overhauled at sagua lie
| Grnnde.
". Schooner Marcia Trhou, overhauled at Sagus
| Ia Grsnde.
2S. Schooner Lath Rioh, overhsulsd at Sagus il
| Grande
Our leading Statesmen have not been slow to re
spond to the popular sentiment. The orders issued
| Immediately by the Executive, afford earnest o
its recognition of the necessity for immediate action
The motion OF Senator Douglas offers the best form
of Legislative CO operation. This true hearted son o.
Illinois has never given a more concise e1emplhca
ton of the great statssmanshp and unshaken pa
triotism which SO deservedly maintain for him the
confidence and esteem of the nation. Nor is Vlrgi
mia left without representative to place her fore
most in the vudicaton of naonsi rights. As chair
man of the Committee on Foreign Relations, Mr.
Macon has laid before the Senate report unan
lumn We publish the report. 1t is a complete and
mastery assertion of the American doctrine on the
subject of visitation and search. The following re
solutions recommended by the committee furnish a
most favorable index Of the contents of the report.
Resolved las the judgment Of The Senate,l That
American vessels on the high seas, IN time OF pssce
bearing the Amrcan flag, remain under the jursdic
ton of the country TO which they belong; and there
fore any visitation moestaton, detention of such
vessels, by force by the exhibition Of force, on the
part of foreign Power is in derogston Of the soye-
reignty Of the United States.
Resolved That the recent and repeated violation
of this immunity committed by vessels of war be.
longing 10 the navy Of Great Britain in the Gulf
Mexico and the adjacent seas, and otherwise
forcby OBTAINING them their voyage requires, in
the judgment OF the Senate, such unequivocsl and
final disposition Of the subject, by the Governments
OF Great Britain and the United States touching the
rights involved, shall preclude hereafter the
renee OF like aggressions.
Resolved, That tho Senate fully approves the &C.
tion of the Executive in sending naval force into
the infested with orders TO "to protect all vessels
of the United States the high seas from search or
detention by the vessels of war Of any other naon;
aud il is the opinion Of the Senate that II 1t become
necessary, such additional legislation should be cup
piled in aid Of the Executive power ss will make
such protection etfectual
We need no better evidence that the Government is
ready and willing TO yield prompt obedience to the
policy go imperatively demanded by popular feeling
and popular judgment
THE METHODIST CHURCH, SOUTH.
The General Conference of the Methodist Epsco.
pal Church, in session at Nashville, has expunged
from the Book Of Discipline all reference to the sub
isct of buyips and selling slaves. According to the
constitutional law of the Church. three-fourths Of the
annual Conferences must concur in this action, but
thers cannot be question ~ to the result. The vote
stood ayes l4D, noes g. absent 5. The resolutions
thus almost unanimously adopted, was as follows:
Whereas the rule i'm the General Rules of the Me.
thodst Episcopal Church, South, forbidding 1.-THE
buying aud selling OF men, women and children, with
an intention TO ensave ihem, is ambiguous IN its
phraseOogy, and liable TO bs construed rs antagons-
tic to the institution of slavery in regard 10 which
the Church has no right to meddIe except in enforc
ing the duties Of masters aud servants az get forth IN
the Holy Scriptures; and whereas strong desire tor
| the expuncon Of said rule he's been expressed IN
nearly all parts of our ecoeslastca connexlon' here'
| fore,
Resolved, BY the delegates of the Annual Confer
General Conference assembled, that the rule forbid
ding 1.-THE buying and selling OF men, women and
| children with an intention 10 enslHve them, be eA'
plunged from the General Rules OF the Methodlet Ep!s
| copal Church South.
/ Resolved, That in adopting the foregoing resolu
ton this Conference expresses no opinion IN regard to
the African slave trade, to which the rule IN question
| has been "understood' to reier.
Lest the adoption Of these resolutions might be un
derstood as favoring renewal of the slave trade
Bishop Pierce explained the matter thus:
THE whole philosophy Of the proceeding seems tc
be founded on the fact that it is not the province
the church TO decide any question with reference Il
| African slavery. The South Church maintains tina
slavery is not a subject of ecclesiastical Legislation
The single object was, that while we dscaimed ths
right Of legislation upon that eutject, we wished tt
make the Discipline conform to that profession. Int
Conference by it's action this morning has not part
! ed with its authority or the authority OF th'
| church over its members in any respect. Eve
| ry member of the church claims to be loya
citizen. We declare here that African slavery ls
purely civil institution, and there is no reason to-
alarm about losing church control. IL We turn to th
23d Article of Religion We shall find there that th
church retains it's proper authority over lts member
with reference to the subject. We therefore, by th
act simply maintain original posltion-that o
having nothing TO do with the subject OF slavery NOR
| than any other civil matter over which the laws
the country are extended | beg the brethren there
fore TO be easy. There is nothing here to warran
any construction looking towards repeal OF the Law
of the United States in regard to the African slsv'
trade There is no occasion for eensvsness, nor TO
any legislation on the subject any where else. NJ
harm has been done to any body to-day. We hav
only set ourselves right on ve1ed question; and W.
may safely defy all the efforts of our enemies Nortl
and South 10 damage the church Tor taxing a cea
position upon this subject