The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-03-19
Reported for tie Daiyy E9changel
LAYAENS CONVENTION or THE METII-
ODLST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, IN SESSION N
AT STA UNION.

STACNTON, A, March 10, 1851.
at ~ O'Clock the Convention assembled having
failed to meet at o'clock on account of the great
number attending the concert of the blind
| Rev. Mr.. Landstreet opened the exercises with
PRAYER ihe ministers were read up, and the Con
| ventiOn proceeded to business.
Col Moher offered scrap of intelligence respect
| ing the fact that Northern churches are seeding
| 1t proved, however a repudiation of the new
! chapter BY circuit in Maryland.
ltwas moved that the debate be terminated at
!, II +. NJ, and the vote taken. The motion was
! laid on the table,
Il. Stockett Matthews addressed the Convention.
lie explained the circumstances Of his presence he
being citizen of Baltimore, and representing East
| Fairfax circuit. He loved the church, and would
plead for it because of his love for the great mother
} OF our souls he would cry spare the church He
believed something must be done but he was not
| for immediate secession.
He had always believed the new chapter to be an
advance step on the subject of slavery He believ.
ed 1t was an evasion by the General Conference of
| that which they had neither the COURAGE nor the
| power to accomplish by law. The NJ. f. Church
has not been hypocritical church, but directly
2ntl-savery since its formation; there is no dis
guising the fact. The NJ. L. Church has fostered
tanaticism. Tear out everything from the discipline
on slavery, and let old chapter 90 in because the
laws of the States settle that matter forever. All
he asked was time We must separate from the
church North, but let US wait until request fer
redress can be accepted or refused; thus MARYLAND
and Virginia can go yet hand in hand-otherwse
we must part.
The speech Of Mr.. Matthews was by far the most
able speech yet delivered. Mr.. NJ. spoke earnestly
and eloquently, urging delay for a solitary YEAR
and pighting the faith Of the Conference to sepa-
rate if relief is not granted.
Judge Bond remarked that he was here TO re
deem pledge given to venerable delegate from
Buffalo. that he would do his best to save the church
! on the Border. He referred to the Laymen's Con-
yention of Baltimore in very complimentary terms
| Virginia could not there,give the voice of Jacob
and here give the hand of Esau. Baltimore was
II Ac ,E 81,
Street Church asks, by resolution, the return of
| Rev. j. 5. Martin, avowed ecclesiastical seces-
sionist. Rev. H. Slicer was the father of the LIGHT
street meeting, and had bridge been placed over
the little stream dividing the two Conferences on
that evening, nearly 300 members of the East Bal
timore Conference would have there paid toll
Baltimore was for secession-it would not 60 to
the Church NORTH, whose action it has denounced
He was not for delays the life of the Church is
at stake. Sixteen years we have waited, and every
year new burdens have been laid upon our dele
gates. The General Conference will do nothing for
US. Nothing but secession can keep our Church in
Virginia. Delay one year, and the Virginia mem
bership will be found quiet in other Churches If
we separate and the General Conference abrogates
the ctapter, then he was for return to the NJ f.
Church. he did not fear the propertv-we are
entitled to it, and the Courts will sustain Ms He
believed that all Baltimore would stand By our
action.
Virginia will not receive men with an anti
| slavery discipline in their pockets He believed
the cessation of the slavery agitation would check
both fanaticsm and disunionism. He believed the
ministry should be instructors in matters of ret-
| gon-not of the political status. Let US make our
ministers such by taking from their path its multi
pied distractions. He wanted peace for his
troubled heart and he believed this measure would
secure it. We gain nothing by our present con-
nexion Let US then sever it.
John C. Hardness, of " Washington remarked that
MS energies had hitherto been directed to Confer
ence secession. His efforts of this kind, however,
must now be stopped; in view of the fact that
without compromise we must be ruined. lii was
Tor delay. He read paper for the information of
the Conference which he had prepared for presen-
tatlon at the proper time.
1T pledged the Conference to secede at its next
session, II previous thereto constitutional guar
antee is not given for the abrogaion of the Chap
ter.
Mr. Daniel of Baltimore, professed properly To
represent Charles Street, which had failed to re-
elect Judge Bond.
Judge Bond rose to a question of order. He was
elected to the Laymen's Convention of Baltimore
by the members of Charles Street Church. Mr..
Daniel was elected to this by a Quarterly confer
ence, influenced By presiding Elders. He presented
the instructions under which brother Daniel repre-.
sented the station.
Mr.. Daniel resumed He was willing to go for
any plan by which secession will not be final until
the next Conference. If secession is now consum.
mated, the fire is transferred to Baltimore, and the
ploughshare is run through it. The old, honored
men OF Baltimore now on their knees pleading
with God for the unity of the Church. Brethren,
don't go yet! In the name of God | plead with
you not to go. Mr.. ID. entered into an elaboration
OF the law points involved in the property question.
lie also reviewed its effects upon the country,
quoting from Calhoun, Webster and Clay.
.. '. Taylor, of Springfield, Va, thought Vir-
Una a knew her disease better than the Baltimore
lawyers: lie reviewed for nearly an hour the po-
sa.on sa 81 the respective districts, establishing the
iact tna1 tne general desire was for srce SION Vir.
Snaa a o9ua stand the pressure longer. he con-
! uemneo tne presiding Elders for exercising their
innuenee on the meetings for the election Of dele