Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-10-31

the South. They encouraged no insurrec-
{ tions, they stirred up no violence, they
= made no interference with State laws
We stand upon the same platform, and hold
: similar views.
Ii 50 happens. sir. that l am able to
give you the views of our church in Vir-
ginia at somewhat later period. In
! 1918 a minister preached sermon in
Washington county. Iii which were some
illusions to the relations to slavery, and
was indicted for attempting to promote
, insurrcction and seditiOn among the slaves.
BY change of re1Ue the trial was held in
Frederick. in March, 1919. The senior
counsel for the accused was Roger B. Tan
ey. new Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court of the United States One of the
attorneys read from the Discipline of the
Church the law bearing on slavery, which
may lie thus condensed; (l) n strong de-
claration against slavery; (2) A requisi-
ton upon such as unite with the church to
cmancipate their slaves; (3)FOrbidding any
STAKEHOLDER to be travelling preacher; (4)
Forbidding the sale of slaves, or their
purchase, except for the purpose of enamel
patton; % Admcnishing slaves to obe-
dicnce and industry.
These were read Ii. Virginia Court, to
. Virginia jury, in the presence Of a Fir-
ginia Judge, and the position boldly argued,
that there was nothing in them contrary to
the peace and safety of the State. The ae-
cused was acquitted. Mr.. Taney said of
the Mcthodists living under these rules
that they equalcd any other people in ''their
moral department., and in their habiss of
obedience to the laws" He also said:
No man can be prosecuted fer preach
ing the articles of his religious ereed. IN
less, indeed, his doctrine is immoral and
calculated to disturb the peace of society; !
and the subjects Of National policy may at /
all times be freely and fully discussed in
the pulpit or elsewhere, without limitation
or restraint. 1t is well known that the I
peaceful and gradual abolition of slavery in
these States is ono of the objects which the
Methodist society have stcsdily in view
There IS no law which f5rbils Us to speak
of slavery as We think of it. Any man has
a right to publish his opinions on that sub
ject whenever he pleascs 1t is subject
of national concern and may be freely dis
cusscd. Mr.. Grubsr (thc dcfendant) did
quote the language Of our great set of na-
tional independence, and insisted on the
principles contained in that yenerated in
strument. lie did rcbuke 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
selves. lie did speak with abhorrsncc Of
those reptiles who live by trading in human
flesh, and enrich themselves by tearing the
husband from the wife. the infant from the
bosom Of the mother Shall content NY :
self with saying he had right to say this,
and that there is no law to punish him! {
We are prepared to maintain the same ;
principles, and to use, If neccsS Sary. the {
same language here in the temple of JUS
tice \ hard necessity. indeed, {
,ompels US to endure the evils Of slavery '
for time. 1t was imposed upon Us by '
another nation while We were in state Of 9
Fassalagc. 1t cannot be easily or sudden l
y removed. Yet. while it continues, it Is c
4 blot on our national character, and every
real lover of freedom confidently hopes that '
t viii be efectually. though it must be 7
wiped away. and earnestly looks t
or the means by which this necessary OBJ l
Get nay be accomplished. Until the time Q
:lrall come when We can point without '
,lush to the Language held in the Declara- '
ion of Independence, efery friend OF hu-
nanity will seek to tighten the CALLING
hains of slavery, AMI b:ttcr. to the utmost E
f his power, the wrctehcl condition fthc 0
lave"
Perhaps, Mr.. President, the above para 3
-raphs have more decided rhetoric than the n
author Of the Dred Scott de- 2
isiOn would now employ, but they are truth J
ul, and our people will endorse them. b
3. There are many persons residing in V
he Slave States who prefer our discipline
nd ministry to those of the Methodist f. c
iscopal Church South. They do 50, (.) n
because they have a constitutional right Il
or such preference; (2.) Because they think fl
ur discipline accOr1s with holy Scripture, b
nth our early testimony and the recorded j.
cntimcnts of our purest statesmen; (3) il
because ours is the church of their child c
God and youth; a. Because it is not a t.
,ciiond church, cmblazoncl as such on the
cry title pages of oiiieial publications h
These are good reasons, and We have felt b
our duty to supply them with the minis t
y and institutions of their preference ii
We have invaded no civil rights, have in
tied no revolt, stirred no sedition. We q
lain for them the right to prefer 'is--we Is
lain the right to supply them. il
1. WHAT TREATMENT HAVE We RECEIVED? &
Sir the civilized world has been shoc';- e
i by the story of the denominations perpe- t.
rated by the Druscs upon the nominal Q
christians in Syria. and by the cruel edicts A