, 1860-09-12

EDUYsS LETTER.
In 1874 number o. the Southern Confer
ences Withdrew from the General Conference
Of tue Methodist Episcopal Church, and organ.
lied themeclvcs ioto the Methodist Episcopal
Church South. This step was the result Ct the
actioa Of the General Conference in Euspend-
ing Bishop Andrew frc1n the exercise Of Episco-
pal functions for having becoms the owner Of
slavcs through marriage. Prior TO- that periodthe
Church had torre constant and unvarying tes-
timoDy against Slavery; although the grow
ing pro-a]are1y sentiment Of The country had
invaded the membership in the Slave statea, and
had in few instances found advocates
amorg the Methodist clergy OF those States.
cana thorough pro-slavery body. Its
pseache1s we're Jealous in their efforts to st1s-
tain slavery BY Bible authority. To keep tho
preachers Of the old church from entering
within tue boundaries Of tbs seeding confer
sncza, they were d:criei as Abolitioniats, and
sycry possible device was Tesorted to to iuaams
tae Southern people against them. This Tas
co-i1cident with the revival Of proslavey
sentiment in the Southern S;ates, set On foot
BY John G. Calhoun. The clergy Of the Church
South vigorously co-operatcd with The politi-
cians Of the same period and the aa1ne lati-
tuds in the work of eradicating anti-slave1y
seniuent, aud Of organizing reign Of terror
which should suppress its utteranes+ The
politicians repaid the favor by lending their
nd in keeping the clergy Of the old Church
olt Of thoschos n field Of the Church South.
4 tys!em cf persecution, Of misrep-
rssontation, and Of intimidation was To-
sor:ed to, which was quite enec.ual in
ths accomplishment Of its purpose, in most Of
tae slaveholding S:a:e.;5 In some Of the bor-
der ssates, however, the Methodist Episcopal
Church has succeeded in maintaining foot.
hold. Bat it has had to contest every inch Of
ground with the Church South aided BY DEM
ssratic politicians. Atfirss only intimidation,
social interdict, and petty personal annoyance
were resorted to. But Of liter year., az ls
pso~slavcry sentimsnt aas strengthened, and
ho:h politicians md pr=-s1avery preach
cra have grown boider in conse-
qu.ncc, these comparatively mild mesns
hare btca superseded by the ferocity Of tie
NOT and the piti1ess tribunl Of Judge Lynch.
Q: tho outsages that have been perpc.
1rased in this way, tho readers Of
tho PRESS Aso TRIBUNE have been Kept cd
vised. we allude to the,n now as a means cf
Recurring better understanding Of the letter
Of Or: Epnr, editor Of the North Western
Chrtstian Advocate, 10 President Rrcu.x.x
which We publieh in ano.her column, wo
cannot add anything to t.: effect which that
letter must produces upon the public nitd.
Nothing has appeared in tho American press
for lorg while 60 well calculated, either in
nna.ter OF in manner, t. riyet attention or to
provoke tic most serious reflection. tits a
timely production. In reading the brief ard
hurried enumeration Of the outrages lcared
nroa The preachers and laity Of the Meth
<dist Episcopal church. which it containe, enc
CAM: but wonder that they have not sooner
provoked go A'PPS@ ~ Ia0 CuEkLllu1lQ
authorities. 12u. after all, whnt can Mr. b.
caaoan do-what csn or will aoy Democratic
President do? The Democratic party exists
only ior the purpose of maintaining the supre
macy Of the slave-power in lie nalion-of
carrying slavery where it is not, a1d Of per-
pstuatinE and strengthening it where it is
M neho ncra+;. pre o;6-,t d.rn .3;e,I1r IT, =.
hsss. No Democratic President dare protect
hs Methodist Clergy o. Laity in Tue exercise
Of their constitutional rights IN the slayehold-
lag satee. Democracy recognizes slAyery as
right Fer .. and holds everybody; criminal
who regards It ns 4 violation Of natural ius.
aas. 1ts policy is based upon this
hslef It il futile to call upon Mr. Buchanan,
~ ths representative Of that party, for pro.