Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-12-20


TO distufK ihs pssce end order Of society;
oud sub bjesAs-sS national policy may at all
times be freely and fully discussed, In the
pulpit or elsewhere, without limitation or
restraint. ...It Is we'll known that the grad
ual and peaceful abolition of Slavery In
these States IS one Of the objects which the
Methodist society have steadily 10 view....
There is no law which forbids us to speak
Of Slsveff, ,ss W think OF it Any man has
a right VI fdb'hf bic opinions on that sub.
jec, whsnevsr " plesses. It is . subject
ot national conesrn. and may be freely dis.
cussed. slr. fGruber the defendan) did
quote the language or oar great act Of na-
tional indep ependence, and insisted on the
principles contained 10 that vensrsted in
strument. He did rebuke those masters
who, In the exercise Of power, are deaf to
the calls Of humanity; and he warned them
Of the evils they might bring upon them
20 yes. He d spssk Nth adhorrercs Of tto'e
reptiles who live by trading in human flesh,
and enrich themselves by tearing the hus-
band from the wife, the infant from the
bosom Of the mother. shall content NY
sell with saying he had sright to say this,
and that there is no law to punish him!.. :.
We ire prepared to maintain the same prir.
ciples, end to use, If necessary, the same
language here in the temple Of justiee"..A
hard necessity, indeed, compels US to endure
the evils Of Slavery for time 1t was i'm.
posed upon " by spother nation while we
were IN ! s6Hts Of colonial vassaloge. It
cannot BE essi y 'oS suddenly removed. Yet
while il continues, 1t is blot on our nation
al character. and every real lover Of FREQ
dom confidently hopes that it will be effsc-
tually, though II must be gradually, wiped
away, and earnestly looks for the means by
which this necessary object may be best
attained. And until II shall be accomplish
ed, until the time shal come when We can
point without blush to the language held
in the Declaration of Independence, every
friend Of hum inity will seek to tighten the
calling chain of Slavery, and better, to the
utmost Of his power, the wrstchsd condition
Of the slave"
Perhaps, Mr.. President, the above para
graphs have q more decided rhetoric than
the distinguished author Of the Dred Scot
decision would now employ, but they are
, , truthful, and our people will indorss them
8. There are many persons residing Ii
the Slave States who prefer our Diseiplin'
, and ministry tethpse Of the Methodist Epis
copal Church South. They do SO, a. Be-
cause they havea constitutional right TO
! such preference, (2) because they ,hnl
;, our Discipline accords with Holy Scripture
= with our early testimony, and the recorded
: sentiments Of our purest statesmen; e
Because ours Is the church Of their CHILDHOOD
and youth; a. Because It is not section
). al church, emb blazoned as such on the yer.
= title.pages of its Official publications.
These are good reasons. and we have fel
= il our duty to supply them with the ministr
and institutions Of their preference W.
have invaded no civil rights. have melted n
revolt. stirred no sedition. We claim f.
= ! them the right to perfer us--ws claim th
- right to supply them.
II. What treatment have we received
Sir, the civilized world has bcen shocke
!. by the story of the denominations perpetrats
= = by the pruses upQn the Nominal ,Christisn
In Syria, and by the cruel edicts which hhv
= dsgraccd the Goverrme Of Rome, wi,
:, its clerical head. 4 am not sure but
chapter Of history almost as shocking an
barbarous must be written by the historic
: Of Methodism. Our people are under
/, reign of terror 10 some portions of Ii
. Southeast and Southwest. From differer
. quarters in Virginia, Marylsnd AMI Dell
ware, they have received threats Of vioisnc
=. to be inflicted unlsss there shall be witt
y drawal from our church. The mail matt
Of our members Is opened-4postmaster
claim the authority to b reak the seals, on
y degrade themselves in.o Pro- Slavery spies
:" Mr. Buchanan, have you or your Cabin
:, demanded or sanctioned this far.reschir
" system of government s,pionsget IL 20,
= Postmaster.Gsnersl simply or prinsipal
the chief OF vast detective force! W
a Of the North SUPPORT the postal service an
- - we wish to knox spus.hing Of iis ohars
M ter. -
!; The most high handed ou,rsges ha,
!, been psrpetrated in the Southwest. The
~ violence has been repeatedly smployst
T. and our people basely murdered. In Mi,
- souri,. bands Of ruff ms have interfered wi,
:. our services, have co nmitted outrsges upo
.. | OUT miuihloTs WuiCh uuIItou tnem 10 u
.r grave, while the red hand Of murder drencl
y ed with blood the gray locks ofs vsnersb
-, man, loved by all who knew him, who
crime vas warm attachment to the Met
odist Episcopal Church.
~ The high-handcd enormities inflicted uT
= on the ministry and membership of ou
;" church In Kansas need not be res,ated-the
4. have passed into history.
a In Texas. Bishop James was holding
- session Of Conference. No mans righ
: had been invaded; no insurrection had bee
>. preached; no slave had been melted 10 70
"A volt. In that Conference there were, 4
. |. doubt, soma Shoso's3 tss Jsmss Buchsns
- for President OF the United States. Ye
40 Sir, those men, with their wives and chill
~ rem and friends. were surrounded on God
- holy day, while in the house Of worship,
of an armed mob, which demanded an insta
in and unconditional "sbsndcnmsut Of the
,s position! Mr.. President, th,t outrage va
!. psrpetrated since you have been our Chi
n Executive! What harm had they tonel-
hs Had they lost the character OF Anerics
10 citizens, or 10 the nation which can resel