Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-01-04
rnrnnnsrrNo CORRESPONDENCE.
Letter frsm Rev. j. b. MeFerrIn On the
snhsrrst 81 sr.a navfsfon OF she Methodist
+ r.teco.a4 church, Nogth and South.

cohUArBrA. Dec. "A, 1860
Rrv ia !, xcp aRnrS-Ety Dear Sir. Since the
senarat;en Of the Methodist Episcopal Church into
bodies North Ind South, have had but little hope Of
any satisfactory settlement Of the slavery question:
short of dissolution Of the present Federal Bnsou
If religious communities, organized for Gods holy
purposes, and processing to be governed by the
canon of the sacred scriptures could not by
Of the fanaticisn engeudered by this question: pre-
serve their Union could rot see how civil govern
ment in the hands Of mere politicians, could posi-,
bly, be more fortunate And yet, rather than take
counsel Of my fears, cultivated hope that PrOvi-
dence, in His wisdom, would determine otherwise.
1t were idle to hope longer Relieved of the influ-
ences and prejudices Of partizan strife, with an
anxious desire for the preservation of good govern
ment-such as we have heretofore enjoyed have
reTolved iny mind the subject Of our present diff
fcuIties and examined Carefully its every bearing
and can see no alternative but either to place the
subject of slavery where the Northern mind viii
rest in the belief of its ultimate extinction, where
the Southern mind viii rest in the belief Of its posi-
tive security; to do which necessitates either the
inauguration Of some policy for the abolition Of
slavery, or the separation of the slaves from the
free States. And if such separation must take
place, surely the sooner the better.
To this end it has occurred to me that a review O.
the principal points in the history of the distur
Dances in the Methodist Church, and its final sepa
ration on this subject, would be both interesting
and profitable to the public at this time. Having
myself but an imperfect recollection of the fact
which make up that history, have thought it no
improper to ask it at your hands in such form a.
will admit of publication. OF course do not ash
YOU to give the political bearing of these facts an,
further thar your own judgment aud sense of pro
priety will justify.
If the Union has to be dissolved, am gratifie
to know that we of the South have the example O
that most excellent body of Christian people, tn
Methodist Church, to sustain us. As with the dissc
luton of that Church it did not follow that all rel
gion at end, so, trust, with the dissolutio
of existing Union of the States it will not TO
low that all good government is at an end. As tn
declaration of independence was rsOclaimed-th
revolution fought-liberty achieved, and law an
order established, before our present Union, so
trust and believe these blessings will continue qttt
the Union has ceased to exist / believe that in h
Providence of God, the separation of your ehurc
was intended to the end that infdeiity might nc
obtain possession of the entire body as is likely to
the case with the Northern wing of it. So, if dis
solution of our present Federal Union must tax
place honestly believe it will have wisely been OF
dained by Providence to save us from the crazied f
naticism of the North and to the end that good go7
eminent and a model Republic may still be preserve
among the people Of America,
Respectfully, your friend,
+. C. DUNNINoroN.