Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-10-26

bDt OCnOlNtI AcnCtuOiyt tiR fWVdtA w oP
proving OF direct unconstitutional action
| of the General Assembly, as any person,
evena school, boy, could see and know. No
man was more loyal than be. Loyalty was
obedience or submission to the constitution
and dconstitutional laws; to resist or exceed
those was disloyal; and all men who did so
| ought to be put down. He was opposed to
usurpation OF power. and to uncOnstitu-
tional acts of the administrators of Govern
ment; and was sorry to see professedly re-
ligious papers approve Of usurpations, and
I OF the trial, condemnation and execution OF
men by unconstitutional meaps,rv, ~,
On the subject6 of slavery shemight Just as
well be told that God never prescribed reg
Isuiations for husband sand wife, parent and
child, &C., as that He did not do so for mas
ter and sefvaut.N God knew Abraham. that
he w0uld command his children aud his
household after him, and they should keep
the way Of the Lord, to doiustice and judge
ment; and his household was composed
largely of slaves, bought with his money
and born In. his house,, He (Mr. W. be-
lieved the Institution of negro slavery In
the South had been blessing to master and
slave,, He was, perfectly satisfied with the
tact Of slavery having been done away with,
but not with the manner of its abolition.
There, was avery great difference between
the peaceful means of God and the cannon
aud the sword, a VI VI AI4 .SnT{NbO1t
Mr.. Wilson referred to the condition of
the negro in'Africa; the manner in which
the, negro Chiefs took gcaptives and sold
them, and how they were brought to this
country-all of which he disapproved. But
when men, in nathe course Of Providence,
found themselves possessed OF slaves, they
could no more release themselves from their
l,,t, tn than f., thatr ahilAran onH
their God. He did not believe 1t true that
all. men werecreated exactly free and equal,
in the sense in which the phrase was now
used. He believed that men had, equal
/ rights TO unequal things-that the poor man
had the same right to his cottage that Che
rich man had to his palace.
i Here followed speech ofno consequence
from one of the, ultra loyal extremists; af-
ter which, 80 l..ua
Rev. C. c. Bombeyer, of West Carlisle,
| said, the resolution Of the General Assem-;
4 bly, prescribed a new test OF ministerial
character and qualification. Ministerial
candidates were now to be examined by
IlPresbytery and certified to the Board OF
Domestic Missions, but to be examined and
passed upon by DR.. Janeway and Board OF
Missions as to their cYloyalty"-a require
ment net warranted by the Constitution OF
ItUnt WHICH uCuAldu6WQlub
Not only SO, but it was most inexpedient
policy az this time. There were different
meanings, by differentmen and parties,of
Iwhat constituted loyalty; and the applica-
tion OF such an uncertain test could do no
good, but would Lead to- distraction and
trouble. twas the most indefinite and nn-
certain thing that could be required Ofmin-
| listers presenting for missionary labor. He
meant, by loyalty, submission to constitu-
| tiOnai government and powers in accord
ance Herewith. The most loyal man is he
| who will correct wrongs in violation of the
Constitution and laws, not by rebellion, but
| bymoral suasion. Some other persons had
very different view Of the matter. With
them, loyalty was abolition views on
Slavery. He belieN ed Abraham was a good
man, who held slaves: and that twas no
sin to hold slaves Claa, . StSrrl al
Hon. Samuel Galloway, Ruling Elder, Of
| Columbus, next spoke. He said all talk
| In taking his seat here, he placed the church
above the world. He owed obedience to
Che United States Government, but higher
obedience to the Church of God, The
Presbyterian Church had heretofore exer-
cised the power of legislating on questions
for the benefit of the church, which had
been, most loyal, as was his boast. The
church testified against what was calcutta
ted to injure the prosperity of Zion. His
desire was that the Presbyterian Church
should take position on the question to be
consistent with itself and faithful to its
record on civil liberty In Europe and Amer
lea. On loyalty, he remarked 1t was like
love-easily seen and known. 1t could not
be hid. No man doubted his loyalty to, his
church and tohiswife, and 30 in relation
to his country. He took brethren at their
word. and believed they were just as loyal
as he was. 1t had been said that the church
was making new tests.But these were new
times. We had had flood, the last five
years. Some had survived the flood, but
there were some antediluvians.n Most of the
Presbyterians in Alabama and other South
ern States wereloyal.l - Lolslg 81
Rev. Mr.. ferguson, inquired II Mr.. Gal
loway regarded all the Presbyterian min
isters north Of Mason & Dixons line as
Mr.. G. said he did not regard man who
considered slavery divine institution as
loyal, But he believed the present minor
ity members to be as loyal as himself He
had opportunity to know that three-1ourths
of the Southern people were forced into re!
bellion. These 6Outherners wanted q strong
infusion of the Northern loyal element sent
to them as missionaries. Let us show that
our noble old church is willing to aid the
Government in restoring civil liberty in
the South3 Let as use our influenceItO re-
store peace aud prosperity In the country.
Rey, Mr.. Platt spoke again, under the
rule allowing each member TO speak twice
on the same sqdestion. He delivered HIS
views on the immortality and wickedness
of slavery. While the rebellion had been
crushed, and slavery abolished In the South,
the spirit of slavery WAS there still =. Soptfi-
-ern society prescribed those who were abo-
litionistso He did not want men sent to the
Southern people who were In sympathy
with Them or their principles; but WE must
Establishing gtite0usness by going and preach
ing righteousness amongst them, and re-
claim them from their errors and delusi0ns
in consequence of their sympathy with the
iniquitous institution, Of human bondage,
Rev. Mr.. Ferguson replied that brother
Platt was a. recent convert, and, like all
such, "a little over=zeal0us. He had said,
three years since, in, his Mr., Esd presence,
that no one who believed In the Bible could
deny that slavery was sanctioned by God.
Rev. Mr.. Platt-I did not, sir. 1-dyigl
..Rey. Mr.. Fergus0n-YOu did. can take
IlS oath that YOU did 'Mf FergussonIprof
ceeded. The Intention was to'seud men 10
the South who hated the Southern views
ahd people, and whowould denounce them,
ana bound them into conversion! Loyalty
was an English term introduced and con-
tinued In, the feigns Of Henry Ivy, and
W., and Richard Ill, to. signify obedience
TO the King, andw proper only in . mon-
archy..d Itf the United States, OF america,
we swear to support the Constitution
the king; or PRESIDENT, or Goyernersor Leg
oath is required OF all In