The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-05-27
which was read and referred tc the COM
mittee on Bills and Overtures

1 udrly dppOinteu Uy OtueT ENduB6ilcd
denominations, for the purpose of givin
expression to our desire for more visibl
fellowship, and for securing more Wig
oro,is cooperation in the defence Of Pro
testant Christianity as against the ell
croachment of Roman Catholicism and
| Iniidelity in our land.
| The Assembly then resumed the con
| sideratiOn of the report of the committed
on Domestic Missions, which was laid
over as unfinished business ~ the pre-
vious day The subject was discussed
until the hour of adjournment had ar
rived, when it was again laid over, and
the Assembly adjourned.
o. AFTERNOON SESSION v7
The Assembly was called to order by
the Moderator at 3 O'clock The order
of the day was then called for, being the
report Of the Committee on Bills and
Oyertures, in lelation to memorials from
Richmond Presbytery and members of
Madison Presbytery, regarding the stand
ing of ministers connected with Presby-
teries and Synods in the rebelli0us
States Rev. DR.. Wood, chairman of the
Committee, reported Oh overtures Nos 6
and Z. The first was on memorials from
the Presbyteries above named, asking
the Assembly to drop from the rolls the
names of ministers and members of Syn
DDS and Presbytcries in the so called
Confederate States The Committee
recommended urirute condemning the
secession of the States, and denouncing
the secession of the Southern Synods and
Presbyteries from the General Assembly,
as unjust and unwarrantable /; that in
dropping from the rolls the names of
those ministers, as is recommended, the
Assembly do not relinq1ish the field of
labor, but that every effort should be
made by the Board of Domestic Missions
to re-establish the churches, and secure,
as far as possible, the church property in
those districts. The Committee also
submitted plan that where three minis
ters of any Presbytery in the Southern
States conform to the dclverances of the
Assembly, they should be allowed to
continue the Presbyterial organization;
in case only one member remains, then
the Presbyterial boundaries to be en-
larged until the necessary number are
included The same plan was recon-
mended to be pursued in respect To Syn
ods
Cvertare No. !, WAS a memorial from
the California Presbytery, asking what
course should be pursued towards min
listers formerly connected with the Syn
DDS and Presbyteries in the rebellious
States who may seek to become connect
ed with Presbyteries in the loyal States
As an answer; the committee recommend
ed the adoption of the memorial pre-
sented by ministers and elders members
of the present Assembly
DR.. Wood, in presenting the report,
made an address urging the necessity of
the action proposed. On the conclusion
of his remarks the Moderator announced
that the hour for the reception .afafara
gates from TnsreT6es GsT5ssPSna}i@g PSS9nsa}bioged sr'
Rev. DR. Hickok, of Buffalo, delegate
from the New School Presbyterian Gen
eral Assembly, was then introduced, and
made brief but eloquent address, con
veying the heartfelt and Christian salu
tations of the body he represented to
this General Assembly. He was followed
by Elder Stillinan, associate delegate
from the same body. The Moderator re
sponded in an appropriate manner.
The consideration of the report oi the
committee on Bills and Overtnres being
in order, DR.. Montfort offered n snbsti-
tute for the first part Of the report, set
ting forth the subject more IN detail.
The main point of difference was that
the Assembly should take no action in
reference to the reconstruction OF Pres
byteries, anA no reference be made To the
recovery oi church property.
Dr. Brcckmridge proceeded to address
the Assembly on the question, confning
his rrmarks exclusively To the memorial
proposed 10y the committee as an answer
to tho question from the presbytery OF
California He argued that the proposed
measures were unnecessary, as the on
stitution of the Church had adequate
provisions within itself 10 meet any eX-
igoncy which might arise. He also ar
guel in favor of pursuing pacifcatory
policy. lie had not concluded his re-
marks when the hour fer adjournment
arrived. The Assembly then adjourned
with prayer.
A Conversation with a. III. stephens.
e.. A gentleman who saw and cOnversed
with Alexander H. Stephens on board
the steamer at Port Royal. writes rs fol
lows in private letter.
He looks much older than when saw "
him in the House in ~ He converses
freely and does not appear at all like a
prisoner Of war. He says he never saw
so marked change in four years, in any
two men, as in Abraham Lincoln and
Jefferson Davis. He expressed great re-
gret at the Presidents assassination ad.
mitted the COnfederacy was played ont
and seemed anxious to have peace de
clared and the matter settled as speedily
| as possible. His idea is to have the rebel
States repeal the ordinances of secession
and accept the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, and vote on the Constitution
al Amendment Heexpresses the opinion
that the seeding States will not pass it
He acknowledged that his .Miliedgeyil'
| speech was almost prophetic, and that ht
went with the popular eurreBtto prevent
any clash between himself and Toombs
He appears TO have no concern for him
self; says he is only anxious to seenre a
honorable terms as possible for his Stat'
and people, the majority of whom h'
SAYS never were secessionists. He Is ben
over very much, his hair is nearly white
his voice is lower and not so shrill as for
merly. and his hand trembles when h'
uses it: but he talks as smoothly as ever
and his eyes fash as in days gone by.