Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-03-13

where, a sort of encyclical letter from
that well known legal gentleman Of Fair
mont, Frank H. Pierpoint, on the Methodist
persecution question, and on the course OF
the Democracy towards the reported here
sizes of both the ecclesiastics and the lay
men of that denomination on the subject
of slavery.
BIZ. Picrpoint's letter is a good one, SEN
sible and we'll written, and but for lis ex-
treme length, we should publish it entire.
In our opinion, he takes the rational and
judicious view of the Bible phase of the
matter, when he says:
We thiEk, the man who denies that in
voluntary servftude of some kind is not
tolerated in the Bible, is equally at fault
with the man who looks to the Bible for
authority for the abuse of the system
We further think, that the man who at
tempts to draw an analogy between He
brew servitude and African slavery, is
also at fault. There was involuntary SER
vitude among the Jews-there is inVolun-
tary slavery in the United States; but here
the analogy almost entirely ceases.
Speaking of the political rights of Meth
odists, and of every body else he observes:
All our modern notions of liberty are
founded on the rights of person, property,
speech and the rights of thepress. None of
these rights are to be used in a licentious
manner The assembled wisdom of Virginia
on the 18th day of June, lT76, in our blu
of rights affirms.-"That no free govern
ment, or the blessings of liberty, can be
preserved to any free peoples but by firm
adherence to justice, moderation, temper
ance, frugality and virtue, and by fire.
quent recurrence to fundamental princi-
pies. That religion or the duty which we
owe to our Creator, and the manner of
dischnrging it, cum be directed only by
reason and conviction not by force or
violence; and therefore, all men are equally
entitled to the free exercise of religion
according to the dictates of conscience,
and that it is the mutual duty of all to
practice christian forbearance, love and
charity towards each other"
Concerning the Methodist Church South,
Mr.. Pierpoint makes this observation:
The most remarkable change has taken
place in the sentiment of the II. E. Church
South that ever took place in any church,
or sect, on the face of the earth in the
space of time That church organized in
May, 1886, adopting the same discipline,
very that the old church had, tho preach
ers had ever been eminent for their con-
servatism on the subject of slavery and in
twelve short years afterwards in their gen
eral conference they declare that tho rule
! in the book of their discipline OH slavery
| referred to the African slave trade, and abol-
ished it; but not satisfied with it's repeal
they declare that they will express no oP'n-
ion rs to the moral qualities of the African
slave trade, thus expressing sympathy for
q trade condemned by all civilized nations
of the earth, and denounced by the United
States, piracy-to be punished with death.
Aud now the great body of the preachers
| in the church with new literature are sla-
very propagandists, and in Virginia are ac-
tive in poisoning the minds of the people
with the idea that everybody who does
not agree with their new dogma on that
subject is an abolitonist; and certain
class of politicians are banded together
with them in circulating the same idea with
q common fratcrual spirit the one to build
up his sect caters to popular prejudice
the other to build up his party does the
same thing; both with no higher aims
than the proPagandism of slavery.
The highly judicious and proper tone of
the whole of Mr.. Pierpoint's letter is woll
cxampled in the following opinioP which
lie expresses about the duty of preachers
don't think preacher should preach
politics, enveigh against the laws of the
land or disparage rulers-I find no prece-
dent for this in the New Testament. 1t is
not in the great commission. Know moth
ing among the people but the Lord Jesus
Christ, aud him cruciied. Treat the in
situations of the State as established by
"Thc powers that be-" Preach Jesus
Christ and his righteousness, and leave it
to God and His Holy spirit through good
men to correct all abuses. If American
slavery is in accordance with the will of
Cod He will in his own time vindicAtc it
to the conscience and understanding of
all good mcu. If wrong, hope,
in His tender mercy he will abol-
ish it, without the destruction of this
| great nation, in His own appointed
way l would that could reach every
NJ. E., NJ. P, Baptist aud Presbyterian
preacher in Virginia, I would tell them to
stand fast in the faith of their fathers, to
abe as wise as serpents and harmless as
doves" and in the fear of their Divine
Master, deliver their whole message to
and sinner as the Holy Spirit gives them
utterance; to set down naught to any man
through malice or i'll will, but to deal
/ faithfully with ALL as for which they will
have to answer in the great day of God
, Almighty; and l would say to the mem
i bership, rally around your preachers,
support them with your means, your
prayers, your sympathies and your coun-
sells.
Speaking of the late Opposition Con-