The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-03-22

No more significant movement has taken place
in these latter days, growing out of the slavery
question, than that which has just been inaugu-
rated by the border Conferences of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. The Convention of laymen
which assembled recently at Staunton, comprised
many of the most influential members of the va
rious churches connected with the Baltimore Con-
ference, and the conclusions which they reached
are well known to be in accordance with the opin-
ions of the great bulk of those whom they repre-
sented. The memorial adopted by them and adj
dressed 10 the Baltimore Annual Conference, in
session at the same time and place, ave have reason
to believe reflects also the sentiments of large pro-
portion of the ministers to whom it appeals, and
whose duty it is to take final action upon it. So
far back as the meeting Of the laymen's Conven-
ton in this city, in the early part of December it
was well known that majority of the ministers
who were to assemble in annual Convention at
Staunton, was in favor of repudiatinp the new
chapter on slavery; of Immediately seeding from
the Methodist Episcopal Church North, and OF
assuming an independent position by the election
OF Conference President or Bishop Even at
that time the disabilities under which many minis
tiers of this denomination labored, in consequence
of the obligation imposed upon them, by the
new Chapter to refuse the communion to
all shareholders within their respective districts,
were so serious and embarrassing as to coHstrain
them, unless measures were taken for their imme-
diate relief, either to abandon their charges or to
sever their connection with the Conference
In was the danger of rupture that led to
the call for the primary Convention which met in
this city, composed of lay members only, and it
was owing to the resolutions adopted by the Con-
venton that the tendency to secession was checked
until such time as the joint Convention-the An.
nual Conference and the laymens Convention
be held at Staunton, should take into considera.
ton the grievances under which the border Con
ferences labored, and should provide an adequate
remedy. We have spoken of the two bodies as
sembled at Staunton as "a joint Convention -
The term, however, is not strictly correct. The
lay and clerical delegates each held its sessions
apart and acted independently of the other The
laity drew up the memorial and resolutions which
we published on Tuesday last, and after submit
ting the result Of their deliberations to the Annual
Conference, as the proper appellate tribunal,
broke up the session and returned TO their
several homes. 1t is so we'll understood
that the Annual Conference will defer
to the wishes of the laymen's Convention, by de.
claring the separation of the Baltimore Conference
from the Methodist Episcopal Church North, tina
it would be scarcely worth while to notice tn
propositions of the minority, were it not for tn
fact that similar resolutions have been adopt
ed by vote of l65 TO 8, by the Eds
Baltimore Conference, which has Just closed
its session at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
The members of the latter Conference repu.
date the 'new Chapter" and demand that the
Methodist Church North shall either repeal it OF
shall empower each Conference TO make such reg
ulations on the subject of slavery as it may
deem ht-in brief that the slavery dogma re
Gently introduced into the Discipline shall not bt
regarded as part of the creed of the Church.
We may here remark, that one of the resolution:
adopted by the Convention of laymen at Stauntor
looks to a reunion with the Methodist Episcopal
Church North upon the following basis:
Resolps 3d. That, nevertheless it, in accordance will
the spirit foregoing preamble three ourths of thu
several Annual Conferences to be held prior to Decembe
1851 seeing the great wrong and injury done thu
Baltimore other border Conferences shall unite in
demand that the most thorough and satisfactory redress
sna De given and shall instruct their delegates so Il
cnapter; second by ignoring the whole subject
the peyodc as Discipline third that fair proportion
an1 direction OF said Conferences then and not till then
lowship. NV ''hu' VI oni'''''n ie'
Everybody who knows anything of the tempe,
OF the North, and of the intensity of its pre-
JUDGES in regard to slavery, must be aware
that neither the ultimatum of the Ralf,
more, nor of the East Baltimore Conference
will be conceded by the dominant section This
power is in the hands of the Northern Confer.
ences, and they will exact obedience to the new
article of belief incorporated into the Discipline o
the Church. By the action of the Baltimore anG
East Baltimore Conferences, assembled at Stauntor
and Chambersburg respectively, they have yirtu
ally separated themselves from all further connec
ton with their Northern brethren; and they