The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-09-20


power, are deaf to the calls Of humanity, and
he warned them of the evils they might
bring upon Themselves. H. did speak with
adherence OF those reptiles who live by tra-
ding in human flesh, and enrich themselves
by tearing the husband from the wife, the
infant from the bosom OF abe mothor. .
Shall | content myself with saying he had
right 10 say so, and that there is no law 10
punish him? We are prepared to
maintain the Same principles, and to use, if
necessary, the same language here in the
temple OF Justice, r II 4 hard ne.
cessty, indeed, conpels us to endure the
evils of slavery for a time. 1t was imposed
upon us hyanothQr nation, wbilewe were in
a state of colonial vassalagc.rr Y cannot be
easily or suddenly removed. Yet, while it
continues, il is bot on our national charac,
ter, and every real lover of freedom conf
IDENTIFY hopes that it will be eftectually, though
it must, be gradually, wiped away. and earn
cstly looks for the means by which This nee
cssary object may be best attained. And,
until it shall be accomplished, until the time
shall come when we can point without blush
to the language held in the Declaration OF
Independence, every friend ofhumanity viii
seek to Tighten the CALLING chains Of Slavery,
and better, to the utmost Of his power, the
wretched condition CT the slsys." -t ..aa.t
Perhaps, Nj. Presi lent, the above para
graphs have a NOR, decided rhetoric than
the distinguished author of the Dred Scott
decision would now employ, but they are
truthful. and our people will endorse them
>. There are many persons residing in
the Slave States who prefer our discipline and
ministry to those Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South They do so. a. Because
they have Constitutional right for pref r
ence ca Because they think our discipline
accords with holy scripture, with cur early
testimony and the recorded sentiments Of
our purest statesmen; 81 Bccause ours is
the church Of their childhood and youth
(4.) Because it is not n sectional church, en-
blazoncd cs such on the very title pages Of
official publications.
These arc. good reasons and wc have felt it
our duty to supply them with the ministry
and institutions ofthcir preference. We have
invaded no civil rights, have melted no re
volt, stirred no selition. We claim the right
for them to prefer us-we claim the right to
supply them.
H.. WHAT TREATMENT HAVE WE RECEIVED ?
Sir. the civilized world has been shocked
by the story of the denominations perpctrated
by the Druses upon the nominal Christians
in Syria, and by the cruel edicts which have
disgraced the government of Rome, with it,
clerical head. ] am not sure but a chapter
of history almost a. shocking and barharors
must be written by the historian Of Method
ism. Our peopleare under reign of terror
in some portions oftha Southeast and South
west. From different quarters in Virginia,
Maryland, and Delaware, they have received
threats Of violence to be inflicted unless there
shall he q Withdrawal from our church. The
mail matter af our members is opened--post
masters claim the authority to break the seals,
and degrade themselves into pro-Slavery
spies Mr. Buchanan, hare you or your C95.
met dsmanded or sanctioned this tar,rench-
ing system of Gouernmeat cspioH0gsp is
goVr Postmaster General simply or priRei-
i'ally tie cAiefcfa east detectire force p
| We Of the North support the postal service,
, and we wish 10 know something of its char
acter. ...
The most high-handed outrage have been
perpetrated in The Southwest There vio-
lence has been repeatedly employed ,and our
people baselY mur lered In Missouri bands
of ruffians have inter(ered with our services,
have committed outrages upon our ministers
which hurried them to the grlva, while the
red hand Of murder drcnched with blood the
grey locks of venerable man, beloved by all
who knew him, whose crime was a warm
attachment to the Methodist Episcopa!
! Church. @ .r .. asE
The hieh handed enorrnities inflicted upon
The ministry and membership of the church
in Kansas need not be reStatad--they have
passed into history. ..,
In Arkansas, Bishop James was holding,a
session of Conference. No man rights had
been invaded io insurrectioh had been
preached no slave had been incited 20 revolt.
/ In that Conference there were, no doubt.
some who voted for James Buchanan as
President OF tie United States Yet sir,
those men, with their wives and children and
friends, were surrounded on Gods holy day.
while in the house of worship, by an armed
mob, which demanded an instant and uncon-
ditional abandonment of their position ! Mr.
! President. that outrage was pcrpetratcd
since you have been or chief executive -
! What harm had they done? Had they lost
| the character Of American citizens, or is the
nation which can resent the outrages of Grey
town or Paraguay, powerleSs before those of
pro slavery mohs ~
| Later still has come the word that in Norh-
ern Texas, panic similar to that of farper's
Ferry, has been created Mobocracv has
triumphcd over law. Men suspected have
been seized and executed.
Among the victims OF this reckless saugh-
ter we read the name of A. Bewley. knew
that man. Hewas cautious, deliberate man
born, believe in Tennessee. He was no
abolitionst, though an anti-slavery man Of
tba lyaub:pctan apJ TaffarSnp Schpol Mod
est and peaceful. he never asserted all the
rights mentioned by the author of the Dred
Scott decision, quoted above, nor was he ac-
customed to speak such words as Mr.. Taney
announced himself prepared to utter in the
Old court house in Frederick. He was twice
chosen adelegate to our highest ecclesiastical
council, and was esteemed for his unobtru-
sivc bu' genuine pety.
A large family, one of which was a blind
daughter was dependent upon him. Yet
without fir trial. without swcrn jury,
without counsel, without forms OF law, this
brave man, this good, gray haired man. is
murdered by a mob Tell not this country
that american citizenship is prouacr boast
than Roman. We of the Methodist Ep;sco-
pal Church, who refuse sectional affix, are
almost compiled to say it is a cheat, sham.
something we pay dearly for, but which bring
US no protection Have we, the million Of
| Mcthodists in this country, no RIGHTS which
Southern Shareholders and slavedrivers are
bound to respect?
Ill. WHAT WE DEMAND oF orE COUNTRY.
/. We insist upon protection in the excr-
else of our constitutional rishts-hberty Of
conscience, speech and press.
/ q wv "a 4, 4 I