The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-03-26
BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY, MARCH &c, 1861.

The Baltimore Annual Conference of the Meth
odst Episcopal Church closed its session at Staun-
ton yesterday. It's labors have terminated pre-
cisely in the manner we expressed our belief that
they would. By a vote of eighty-three in the
affirmative, against two nays-forty-four delegates
declining to vote at all-it has formally severed
its connection with the Methodist Episcopal
Church North. Several other resolutions were
also adopted, which favor reconciliation and re-
union on the basis OF an ultimaum demanding
The expurgation Of the new Chapter on Slavery:
but there is not the remotest likelihood that the
slightest possible concession on that point will be
made by the General Conference 10 whom the
appeal is addressed, aud which is composed of a
majority of Northern delegates. The Declaration
of Ecclesiastical Independence, emanating from
the Baltimore Annual Conference, has its origin
solely in the unwarranable Interpolation of a new
article of belief into the Discipline. and
does not, in anv manner, relate to points of doc
trine. In the latter respect, all the Conferences
are at ore with each other. The discussion at
Saunton was prolonged through several days,
and was marked not less by the great ability
which distinguished the speeches of many Of
the disputants, than by the courtesy and for.
bearance that characterized the debate from its
commencement to its close. There was indeed
no difference of opinion among any of the mem.
bers present in regard to the obnoxious nature
of the clause in question, but only as to whether
it was advisory or mandatory. Those who re-
garded it as simply advisory were disposed to
refer it back to the General Conference for modi.
fcation or withdrawal; whilst those who be.
lieved it maudatory-and the latter numbered
nearly two-thirds of the delegates present-were
for its immediate reputation. The whole num-
Der of delegates present was one hundred and
thirty-two, but of these, besides the forty-four
who declined voting at all, there were three who
reserved their votes. When, however the vote
had been taken, and separation was determined
upon, many of the dissentients frankly gave in
their adhesion. All knew that the question was
one which admitted of no delay in its adjustment;
but while some would have quietly ignored it al
together, as having no binding force on their con-
sciences, the great bulk of the delegates were sat
isfed that any further connection with the
church which had foisted the new Chapter
into the Discipline, was utterly incompati-
BILE with their own sense of self respect, and
seriously restrictive Of their usefulness in their
appointed field of ministerial labor. The intoler-
ance of the Northern Conferences, on the sub
jecofslavery, and their aggressive spirit have been
manifested so openly and so arrogandy that harmo.
NOUS cooperation in the future was wholly out
of the question. The Baltimore Annual Confer
ence has therefore acted wisely in cutting loose
from those Conferences which were ''rapidly be.
coming abolitionized," and in resolving to exer-
else henceorth an independent ecclesiastical iuris
dction. Sympathzing as they do with the South
and devoted to Southern interests, the day is MOI
far distant when all the border Conferences viii
unite their fortunes with the Methodist Epscopa
Church South, and, thus consolidated, pursue thei
career ofusefulness .unmpeded by the lets and hin
ORANGES to which they would be subjected by con
tinuing their relations with the Methodist Epis-
copal Church North.