Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1860-10-18

WY cPiOos
Mr.. Buchanan, have you or your cabinet
demanded or sanctioned this far.reaching
system of goYetned espiopage2 Is your
Postmaster-General simply or principally the
chief of the vast detective force? We of the
North support the postal service, and we
wish to know something of its character.
The mos. high-handed outrages have been
peEpetrated in the Southwest. There vio-
lence has been repeatedly employed, and our
people 5asely murdered. In Missouri bands
of ruf6ans have interfered with our service,
have committed outrages upon our ministers
which hurried them to their grave, while the
red hand of murder drenched with blood the
grey locks of venerable man loved by all
who knew him, whose crime was a warm at
tachment to the Methodist Church.
The high>handed enormities inflicted upon
the ministry and members of our church in
Kansas need not be repeated-they have
passed into history.
In Arkansas, Bishop james was holding
session of Conference. No mans rights had
been invaded; no instruction had been
preached; no slave had been melted to re.
vo,.. There were in that Conference, no
doubt. some who voted for James Buchanan.
Yet, sir, those men, with their wives and
children and friends, were surrounded on
Gods holy day, while in the house of wor.
shin hN aA bo Hap,opIaI
instant and unconditional abandonment of
their position. Mr.. President. that outrage
has been perpetrateo since you have been our
Chief Executive! What harm had they
done? Had they lost their character as
American citizens, or is the nation which
could resent the outrages of Grsytown and
Paraguay, powerless bsfore those of pro-sla-
very Eaobs?
Later still has come the word that in Tex
as similar to that of Harper's Ferry, has been
created. Mobocracy has triumphed over the
executed.
Among the yictiHs of this reckless slaugh
ter we read the name of A. Bewley knew
that man. lie was cautious, deliberate
man, born, believe, in Tennessee. lie was
no a5olitionist, though an apti-slavery man,
of the Washington and Jefferson school
Modest and peaceful, he never asserted all
the rights mentioned by the author of the
bred Scott decision, quoted above, nor was
be accustomed to speak such words as Mr.
Taney announced himself prepared to utter
in the old Court House at Frederick. He was
twice chosen delegate to our highest eccle-
sias tical council, and was esteemed for his
unoblrusive but genuine policy
A large family, one of which was blind
daughter, was dependent upon him. Yet
without fair trial, without a sworn jury,
without council, without forms of law, this
brave man, this good gray-haired man, is
murdered by mob Tell not this country
that American citizenshipis is prouder boast
than Roman. We of the Methodist Church
who refuse sectional alfix, are almost com
PEELED to say it is a cheat, a sham, something
we pay dearly for. but which brings us no
protection. Have we, the million of Metho-
dists in this country, no rights which the
| Southern shareholders and slave drivers are
bound to respect?
WHAT We DEMAND OF OUR COUNTRY.
1. We insist upon protection in the exer
cse Of our constitutional rights-liberty Of
conscience, speech and press.
2. We irsist upon it that our recorded SEN
timents on the subject of Slavery shall not
WORK practical 70, feiture of our citizen ship.
Why this singing cut of the Methodis
Church Others have borne strong testi,
mony against the evil-why this war upor
us7 ~
3. We demand the protection of the courts
IF any Of our people offend the majesty of the
law, there are courts of fjustice and officers Of
the law, let there be full, impartial and
fair trial, and we will be content. We bow
to the laws. If they are unjust and oppres
sive, we will attempt in all lawful ways tc
secure their repeal. Il becomes, sir, ques.
tior jast now of deep interest. Does mem
bership in the Methodist Episcopal Church
expose to death o. the hands of an unlicensed
mob? Are we to be hunted like wild heastsi
Is our blood 10 be shed like water, to appeass
the insatiable Moloch of slavery
must add, sir, that at this time the ques
tion, Can our brethren be protected? is as
suming grave Importance. We are in the
midst of the excitement preceding the Pres:
idential election, intensified By the character
of the questions at issue. Heretofore WI
have been divided in our votes. Our clergy
have been of different parties, and so hav,
our laity. The Church periodicals, with {
circulation told by hspdreds of thousands
have been silent when the questions of plat
forms aid candidates have been argued.-
Thus should it be. God forbid that the day
shall come when our leading religious demon
nations shall stand as integers in the COM.
putation of political partissss..
F But, sir, Oppression maketh wise mar
mad" The murder of Bewley has startled
US, and the question begins to run through
our million of membership, Can an admins
tration be found which will protect the right
of conscience and the freedom of worship
dsprseats the existence Ct suoh state ol