The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-27
GENERAL ASSEMBLY (O.S.l
'' NIX VUESIIUN At ISSUE.
Hec'"y debate on Dr.. Springs Resolutions.


rhhob rERlAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY (O.S.)
THE WAR QUESTION ISSUE.
Erc1ttng Debate on Dr.. SDrinq's Resolutions.
EIGHTH DAY.
The order of the day was taken nm heinz the 70
solutions OF DIR. Spring, of New York. advising the
appointment of the 4th of July next as dav of e-
neral fasting and prayer for blessings on our rulers
and the Congress of the United States and for ,bo
restoration of "speedy and honorable ,eaca y
Also,
"Rcsolred, That in the Judgment of this Assembly
it is the duty of the ministers and churches under
its to do all in their power to promote and
perpetuate the integrity of these United States
and to strengthen, uphold and encourage the fede-
raj government"
In consequence of the announcement that the re-
solutions would act test question with the AS
sembly, the house densely filled with persons
OF every denomination, and they took the deepest
Interest in the proceedings. large portion of the
| audience was composed of ladies.
The Rev. DR.. Thomas took the floor on point of
order, as motion had been previously made to Law
the question on the table. He advocated the reso-
luton at considerable length, arguing strongly in
| favor OF supporting the federal government We
have, he contended been protected bv its power
ana now II our blood is demanded for the mainte-
nance OF this government, we as the people of the
rresoyteTlan Church of the United States should
freely pour it out for its support. [Applause.1
The chairman here interrupted and remarked
that no such manit lions could be permitted
DIR. I. continued, and alluded in strong terms to
the eject that the action of the synod would have
upon the brave hearts who. faithful to their coun-
try, stood proud and erect upon the decks of our
navy, and those who had shoudered the musket
resolved, through all hardships and trials to stand
| faithful to the last. Did the Synod but dopt the
| resolutions, the hearts Of these patriots would be
cheered, and their arms strengthened and no OBJ
stacle should interfere to thwart their noble re-
solves.
In conclusion, the speaker alluded to the course
nf Rishn ttirnrl
| Episcopal Church, who demanded the recognition
OF the President of the United States Public sen.
timent will condemn that General Assembly which
will not sustain the Government.
| DR.. Gillespie was the next speaker He thoupbt
Dr. Springs resolutions would be like ignitipg a
magazine. They would produce an explosion Let
us save the church; let contine ourselves to
those things which pertain to the church. Look at
what outside questions have done for the Metho.
dist and Baptist churches. They are rent! Shall
we rend our noble fabric? Our union is our beau
ty, strength and glory, and woe to him who would
| cause divisions in the church. He would be will
ing to sacrifice his life to bring back the Union of
our fathers unbroken He loved Caesar but he
loved the God Of Caesar and the Church more than
CGsar. lie thought the government would not be
strengthened by these resolutions. and it would |
create bad feeling at the South. The North and
South do not understand each other; and if the |
masses OF the people in both sections understood
each other, the present troubles would be obyated
| in thirty davs. |
Rev. Mr. Hopkins, of Ky, condemned the 'ssopb |
istry' in DR.. Gillespies speech. He denied that |
the passage of the resolutions would cause the ey
| plosion of the magazine.
Mr.. Bergen, Of Philadelphia, followed He de- |
precated the introduction of the subject. He was
panied to see it introduced by the Reverend Father
who did it, Not that he did not love his countrv
lie had voted to lay the resolutions on the table IL
They were couched in courteous terms and the
men voting against them would be placed in false
position Men must vote against them no love the
Union, and he would if it were possible like to |
see them withdrawn, and leave the question tbpv |
involve to be answered by the broad history of the
church.
Rev Mr.. Lee, of Indiana, asked who was the
"dead' that are to be "buried." Thank God it is |
not the government of the United States and Jeff |
Davis will find it out Kisses and applause. l. |
A question OF order was raised. The Moderator |
decided that all expressions calculated to cause dis
order are not in order. An appeal from the deci-
sion was taken but Withdrawn.
Mr.. Lee then resumed He reiterated his asser. |
ton that the general government is not numbered
with the dead. He trusted that when the vote |
was taken, all would vote God dictates us to |
vote. Let US sustain the government, and let us
sustain the soldiers of the government
DIR. Hodge said this General Assembly was not
| afraid to announce its allegiance to the general
government or to the constitution and laws and
he therefore thought no member thereof need be
excited in order to force him to do his duty in this
respect. No doubted the LOYALTY of the Pros
byterian Church. 1t had always stood by the GOV
ernment in all its former troubles and no one would
doubt it now. member of the Presidents cabi-
neI on Delng consulted on the subject, said
best thing you can do for the Union is to keep up-
broken the unity of your Church,
DR.. Backus, of Schenectady, here rose and said
that other members of the cabinet wished the
Church to preserve its unity. This fact had been
learned by telegraph Sensation
DR.. Hodge resumed, saying that il the Church |
split, it tended unquestonaby to help the dissou-
tion of the national Union. This process has been |
| begun. The Mehodiss and Baptists have Welded |
The Old School Church has vet preserved its unity
! from Maine to Louisiana. Every man of us would |
say with our our brother from Tennessee we would
lay down our lives for the Union. If this BOND be
broken our blood flows with it. The fate of the |
Church lies i'll your hands brethren. Differences of
p"liticalopinion do not interfere with Church mem
bership. | am fully convinced that the interests
OF our church, and of religion generally demand |
and require that we remain one body
DR.. Hodge thought the resolutions of Dr. Sprpg
were not needed; they were out of place and |
would only increase the i'll feeling which might |
exist among some of the members now He asked |
leave to introduce series of resolutions as a sub.
stitute which he had prepared. The main tenor of
the substitute is that the General Assembly take |
no active part in the present distressed state of
affairs, either upon one side or the other by look
ing forward steadily to the time which they prav
may come when peace honorable to all NAV
be cOnsummated, &C.
The question of postpOnement of the debate on
the previous question then came up, but as there
was no call of twOthirds for the postponement the
debate proceeded with.
DR.. Anderson, of California, obtained the floor,
and advocated the resolutions of Dr. Spring He |
thought it would be eminently honorable consist
ent and even Christian and orthodox, to stand BY |
the federal government in its hour of trouble, to |
say nothing of the obedience we owe to the warn |
ing voice of twenty millions of freemen and Amer
leans, at the least calculation. He said it
less to try to drown the Assembly with such milk
| and-water sophistry that contained in the sub
stute. 1t was entirely too weak. 1t was composed
of about one gallon OF milk to one hundred barrels
ot water. fGreat laughter and applause in the !
galleries.
He would not like to go back to California and |
tell the people there that the Old School Presby-
terian General Assembly had refused to lend its |
voice in prayer and supplication to sustain the |
Federal Government and that it was afraid to an
nounce its loyalty to the world.
DR.. Spring next took the floor. He said |
he would give something, however, tc know |
what caucusing and prying was used to |
ct that member of the Presidents Cabinet
to say what was accorded to him. And he would |
like to know if the gentleman said just that and |
nothing further. He would not be personal, but he |
ventured to say there a falsehOod somewhere. |
[Sensation. If there was any union in the Church |
it was in the Northern and Western States, and |
these loyal States had more than majority of the
communicates, and they must be respected.
Pass the substitute OF DR.. Hodge, and he would |
not like to say how much of the Synod of New
York would meet on friendly terms with the Cen
eral Assembly. He though the church all on
| this side of Mason and Dixon when unity was
| spoken of, and he thought that every church
could stand unmolested with bis resolution in its
| hands
lie spoke at some length, and in conclusion said |
that this probably the last time he would ever
meet his brethren of the General Assembly again |
| on earth, as be was old and feeble, but he |
would depart in peace if it be recorded that in his
last moments he raised his voice and cried "Long
| live the Union !"
| Judge Rverson, of New Jersey, was the next
| speaker. His argument forcibe, and favored |
| the resolutions OF DR.. Spring.
The debate was continued up to the hour of ad- !
! journment.
Presbyterian General Assembly.
! PHILADELPHIA, Nav 26.-Tbe discussion in the |
Presbyterian General Assembly on the STATE of the
country, was continued yesterday with undated |
interest. A telegram received from Secretary
Bates, was read, stating that in his opinion and
that of other members of the Cabinet, the best |
thing which the Assembly could do to sustain |
the Government, was to preserve the unity of the |
Presbyterian Church, by abstaning from any deli |
verances on the present troubles
DR.. Wines offered series of resolutions in ac |
cnrdance with these views, when they were earn
esty supported by the Kentucky delegate and |
others. Adjourned till Monday.
-~s--u-@m%%
HON. j. W. CRIsFIELD.-Hon. j. W. Crisfec, |
nominated a candidate for Congress by the Union |
men of the First District, accepts the same in |
long letter expressing his views on the condition |
of National affairs. One paragraph of the letter
reads follows:
"Ihat the distinctive doctrines of the Chicago
platform are sectional, inconsistent with national
harmony, and ought to be abandoned; that the
course OF the Administration, has not been charac-