Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-05-21
rHE QUEsrloH OF sLAvRRY

The Committee In the course Of their re.
port say: FCt.
ave rejoice that we have from the be-
ginning been foremost among American
Churches in the contest against slavery
Slavery has nothiag to commend II to our
on the other hand, It has in.
dicted upon as Injuries We cannot forget.
II has rent the Church in twain, and seeks
to divide the nation. IL has kiudIed the
dres of tuextinguishsble hatred along an
extended border, and brought ind escribabls
distress on our brethren who have labored
there. These brethren We not only adj
mtre and love, but We pledge ourselves to
shsre with them all that is possible or nec-
esaaty in the iabors of the future. Loyalty
to the Government leads US TO accept eman-
cipation, whenever aud wherever the Pre-
sident proclaims It, or the States decree it,
and devotion to truth and to God impels us
TO bring the controversy TO an end in the
Church by adopting rule which casuistry
cannot distort Into a license for slavery,
We recommend for adoption the follow
ing resolutions:
4tssoEUsd, !. By the delegates of the sew
eral Annual Conferences in General Con.
ference assembled, that we recommend the
amendment to the General Rule on Sla-
very, so that it shall reAd:-SlopGhoLdIa0
Buying o., Selling ISldVes.
ResotSea, 3. That the Bishop be requ ested
to submit the foregoing resolutions to the
Ann0al Conferences At their next session,
and If the requisite number of votes be OBJ.
tanned, to reportto the book agents, who
are hereby instructed to insert the new
rule In all subsequent editions OF the dis
cipIine.
The minority Of the Committee on sla.
very beg leave to say that they have not
been able to concur with the majority in
the conclusions reached by them. For
good and sufficient reasons, ashley think,
i would not be proper to change the gen.
'eral rule on Slavery, so as TO exclude all
persons sustaining the relation of master
rom the lChurchi they, therefore, respect
fully submit the following as a spbstitnte
for the general rule on Slavery, reported
by the majority, Wis.
The selling of human beings, or the
buying OF holding them, except for reasons
purely humane"
Colonel Moody moved the adoption of the
m'J9rity report. BE was glad the breth-
rem bad united at this point. In the words
OF Patrick henry, he deemed 1t duty
which he owed to the sanctity Of our hoiy
religion to declare with emphasis that
Slavery is in utter antagouism with our
holy Christianity. We are about to strike
the fatal blow, and lay this monster,lo bv
the moral vote which we are about to re-.
cord. We are about to cleanse the Church
OF this nuisance. he hoped there would
be vote that would be laundering blow
to the rebellion aud it's sympathizers.
Rev. DR.. Hubbard thought the moment
called for action, and the more silent
about it the better.
Rev, John Lnnahan, of the Baltimore
Conference, said If there were brothers
here in the minority to be heard, let them
be heard, although any opposition to the
report would be like throwing sand against
Niagara. He thought the time had come
when they could move slowly and calmly,
Kew. J. McKendree Riley, Of Baltimore,
sala ne did not claim TO be convert TO
ant.slayeryism. His father, good old
MetnodIst preacher, was himself an IN.
compromising anti-slavery man, He had
instilled into his mind an abborranos ~
slavery. He grew up with these senti.
ments instilled into his mind. and believsd
the day would come when God would solve
this problem. He had been a little anxions
to navigate In the Border through these
troubles, to retain those people who were
not with MS, until they saw that GOD was
against their case. He should vote In the
Affirmative, as he desired that this contro.
Vers should end.
Rev. Nc. Phelps, one Of the sippers Of
the minority report, did not think the nrs.
cedeutS OF the past justify the adoption az
saen rule as Is proposed by the maioFity.
ne commended that. Shareholders, as class,
gave az sure indications Of piety as anv
other. He had known them ali his life
aud for tb<Fty years had been itinerating
among them, more or less. It was also
due to himself to ssy that he had NO sym-
patny With the system of Slavery, and
ne trusted 70 God it would fall, aud il thew
c0uio throw 1t, he was with them but.
Mntle THIS was his own feeling on this
question, he was not prepared to say that
no man being Stakeholder sboni5 he !"
member Of the Christian Church. what
Expresses rs, is that in its dying agonies II
may do US an injury, aud you, 6y vonr
present action, may contribute to this
trouble: -Four years ago our representa-.
tiVes pleaded against the action of the
General Conference. - '1'
But for that action we TODAY vopId
have six delegates where we now have on
y three. He was here to appeal to the
history OF the past-to plead that you MIGHT
stay your action until four years mora. m.
u We shall have passed through this iron.
ole. II was not sympathy for SlayeFv
tnat induced him to make these Remarks.
but sympathy for the people Who wonld he
drawn from the Church by this action.
Rev. W. f. CoWles said he believed the
d6y was coming when we would be aston
= tnat We had ever recognised slave
holders as Christians. Any man or woman
vi VINO loves Slavery better than they love
me me aet9odiSt Church. the sooner they are
eI OF the Church the better for It and
Rev. Mr.. Drummond. of westlyiro,n;.
was opposed to the majority report
Rev. Mt. Harding gave his Fsasors n,
voting against It, as follows: 4Ut
!. i is contrary to the spirit of religion
md the teaching of John Wesley.
2: II is unWise and uncalled for 4, ,ha
midst OF the revolution now being csrrisS
70 IN the Southern portion of onr land