Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-01
The Chapter on Slavery.

The Chapter ON slavery.
AS we intimated in our last issue, we TO-
day lay before our readers the Chapter in
the Methodist discipline en Slavery, which
is as follows:
Question. What shall sbe done for the
extrpation of the evil of slavery?
Ansuer.-Wc declare That we are as
much as ever convinced of the great evil Of
slavery. We believe that the buying, sell
ing, or holding Of human beings, to be used
as chatteis, is contrary to the laws of God
and mature, and inconsistent with the Col
den Rule and with the Rule in our Discip-
line which reqsires all who desire to con-
tinuc among us to 'sdo no harm,' and to
"avoid evil of every kind" I'VE therefore
affectionately admonish all our Preachers
and People to keep themselves pure from
this great evil, and to seek its extirpation
by all lawful and Christian means.
We shall not consume space by discuss
sion Of the various counts in this indict-
ment. 1T 50 entirely free from dissimu-
lation or equivocatien, that the gist of its
intent is presented at glance We will
remark, however, that its phraseology, SO
far as applicable to the slave States, ia
wolves logical absurdity, inasmuch as no
means for the "extirpation" of slavery
| can either he Atlawful" or ''christian" when
put forth within slave territory. Efforts to
accomplish that end are denounced by our
statutes as 'incendiary." Any means, .
therefore, which contemplate Interference
with slavery as 1T exists among us, are tie
gal, and any one who directs his efforts to
its "extirpation'' at once comes under the
ban Of the law.
Hereafter we may discuss the various
propositions involved in the extraordinary
assumptions Of this extraordinary chapter.
Certainly, the Conference must either re-
cede from the General Conference, and blot
out the Infamous rule, or relinquish at once
its jurisdiction in slave territory. If the
ministry do net believe in the dogmas of
the Chapter, then, as honorable men and
conscientious christians, they cannot longer
remain in connection with a body that en-
acted it. If they do believe in it, as
law abiding citizens and disciples Of the
Prince of Peace, they will not trespass up
on Southern soil to create discord, defy our
laws, and mock the very idea Of christian
religion.
It is Impossible to trace the origin Of the
old Chapter to the Legislation of any Con-
ference Or legitimate body. It is an lille
gitimate spawn, without the sanction Of &C.
clesiastical law, and consequently impotent
because not binding. The present Chap
ter, ten times more offensive and heretical,
comes to us with the imprimatur of the
highest teibanal known to the Church, and
hence we must treat it as an authoritative
exposition of its views, convictions and pol
icy in regard to slavery. The various parts
composing the general body must repudiate
IN toto the chapter, or be held respon-
sible in all respects for the sentiments it
inculcates. We cannot permit doubt to
enter our mind as to the action of the Bal
timore Conference. Distinguished for its
conservatism and loyalty to civil law, it will
without hesitation, repudiate both the Chap
ter and the General Conference that enact
ed it. In doing this it will ouly be COM
sulting the true Interest of the Church and
carrying out its legitimate mission.