The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-03-19

ginia from death. He had toed and suffered long
in his efforts to sustain Baltimore Mehodists agans
the persecution of Southern Meth odism. Virgini;
now asks the question of the Baltimore Conference
will you go with us, or shall we go to the Churct
South? Separation annihiaton is the only al
tentative left Virginia. 1t not SO with Bati
more. We might sustain loss, but it will not b.
demoralized and become extinct.
He plead with them by the memories of the past
by the sixteen years of suffering Virginia had jus
| passed; by their natural love; by the glory ant
| prestige of Baltimore Mehodism, not to give Vir
ginia up forever. We must go. We plead viii
you to go with If you vii! not, you must make
your bed in strife and lie there. You hold this
knife. Will you plunge it in your vitas, viii
you initiate the noble, sei-sacrifcng example Vir.
gnia has set you, in the fire of persecution and be-
with her, sinking or swimming, living or dying
surviving or perishing?
The Convention adjourned at 10 o'clock to meet
at A. NJ. on Saturday. S. V. l..
SrAUNToS, Va, March lG, 1861.
LAST DAY.
The Convention met al o'clock. John c. Hank.
ness offered amendment to the majority report.
All the reports, amendments, &c. were referred to
a committee of fourteen, said committee to report
at IL o'clock after which the Convention adjourn
ed until that hour.
SECOND SESSION
The committee being unable to report the con-
venion adjourned to B. P. NJ.
THIRD SESSION.
The Convention met at >, j. Nj. Religious servi-
ces conducted by Rev. j. W. McCauley. The
committee presented report signed by all bat
two members. Speeches made by Col. Ridge
ley, of Baltimore, John c. Harkness, of Washing
ton, L. c. Brown, OF LoudOn, Benjamin Fawcett
of Howard, Robert Ricketts,, of W Washington, and
j. Summertield Berry.
AT O'Clock the previous question was demand
ed. The ayes and nays were demanded on the
amendment to the majority report presented by J.
y. darkness. This report advocated everything
asked by the seperatists, excepting the consum-
nation OF the act of sepAratiOn), but desired one
year to prepare for united action. The amendment
was rejected, "a voting in its favor, and 81 in oppo
suon thereto. The main question was now put,
and the memorial requesting the Conference to
separate Immediately from thc Northern Church
was adopted, 81 voting for and 80 against the
measure.
MEMORIAL ADOPTED BT THE LArMEy,s CONVENTION, AT
sTAUNTON, MARCH 16, 1861.
To the baltimore Annual Conference at Stanton as
Fathers AND BRETuREY-The Convention of Laymen
the bounds of the Baltimore Conference convened in
Staunton, under call of the Presiding Elders and an
equal number OF aymen, the 18th of March, 1861 for
the purpose of devisng harmonious plan of action
to be pursued by the ministry and aity of said Confer
encc in relation to the offensive charge of the Discipline
oil the NJ u Church upon the subject of slavery have
reached the following conclusions and present the same
to your most favorable consideration
Whereas The late General Conference which assembled
at buffalo, substituted, without proper authority, an
entirely new chapter upon the subject of savehoding
making, in the opinion of many of people, rule
OF doctrine, namely That slavery is sin, contrary
the first restrictive rule, and thereby virtually making
test of membership and utterly clio
sing al doors of entrance the people against the preach
ers of your Conference if they endorse submit to it,
The Baltimore Conference has, by unanimous vote,
again and again assured people in the midst of strife
by this agitation that it dSclamed having
The least sympathy with Abolitionsts the contrary
that they determined not to hold connection with
any ecclesiastical body that made non-slaveholding a
condition of membership in the Church. and that it was
opposed to any inqustion upon the motives underlying
he relation of master and slave. The people demand
| fatfment of those pledges;
No sufficient be given for the maintainance
connection which we are Of opinion is not desired by
large majority of our Northern brethren except upon
erms which would prove our ruin;
We would like to accord to the views Of many OF our
ethren to await the call fan extra session of the Gene
al Conerencen 1862, did any hope of said session
eing held any relief from the action of extra ses
ion of the General Conference
IT, however it would unite our preachers and peo
lie in combined action, by waiting until December the
tn 1861 to give the other Conferences opportunity to
ecare the action of the late General Conference
ututonal and TO concur with us in the action proposed
re would wait until said date.
We do not pretend to conceal that whatever course you
nay take to aaY the strife and excitement amongst us
will be involved in difficulty. After due deibera
ion therefore, have determined to ask preachers
f the Baltimore Annual Conference that for the sake of
uiet in borderS for the sake the preaching of the
ospe that it may find ready entrance among us for the
ndne ofconroversy and to promote the best
lethodsm and religion, they redeem the pledge given
me after time, to our people, and sunder connection
nearly nominal which is full of strife and posi
we death to all hopes Of peace the advancement of
hrisanity in our midst in the prescribed in the
ReSolred 1st Th2t the Baltimore Annual Conference
nght at its present session declare that the General
nnfereace of the u T. Church. held at Buffalo in MAY
st, by its unconstitutional action has sundered the &c
eSiasteal relation which has hitherto held us together
Church; and that the Baltimore Conference does
OF and cannot longer recognize its connection with their
riSdiction.
ReSolred ID That the Baltimore Annual Conference
assert that the said General Conference has hy its said
;tiOn violated the first restrictive rule which declared
lat the General Conference shall not revoke, alter or
range our articles OF religion, establish any new
aldards rules of doctrine contrary to our present
visiting and established standard of doctrine and there
have separated the several Annual Conferences repre-
'ned therein and concurrng in said action from the
altmore and other noncoacurring Conferences and
the Baltimore and other nonconcurring Conferences
institute the Methodist Episcopal Church proper and
ay execute AL the rights, duties and powers apper
lining properly to their position as such.
ReS0ired Sd That nevertheless, it, in accordance with
spirit OF the foregoing preamble three ourths of the
veral Annual Conferences be held prior to December
H. 1851, seeing the great wrong and injury the
baltimore and other border Conferences shall unite
emand that the most thorough and satisfactory redress
hall be given and shall instruct their delegates to
oe in General Coaerence-frst the abrogation of the
ew chapter; second, by ignoring the whole subject of
avery in the Discipne third that fair proportion of
nd direction of said Conferences then and till then
i'll we unite with them in the bonds Of Christian fe
wShip
Resolred 4th That a committee be appointed by this
onventon present the proceedings the same to the
resent session of the Baltimore Annual Conference
lrough such members of the Conference as they may
ect and that they be instructed to do the earliest
raCtiCabe and that the Conference requested
communicate the action had TO the several Annual
and to take at the proper time such action
the position we occupy requires.
A committee was appointed to present the above
} the Conference, and after the passage of various
esolutions of thanks by the Convention, adjourned
me de. STELLA.