Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-11-07
For the Spectator.

I
| Mr.. EDITOR For some time past a number of
the rush-lghts among the U. b. in Christs Cnurcn'
have complained of the publication Of certain pro-
ceedings of their general Conference, lately IN
session at Western College, perhaps, in Iowa.
Why was this Do they not desire that tneir
own people here, as well as the public, should De
informed of what their highest church judicatory
has said and done, in regard to one of the most
important questions agitating the public mind
Do they feel mortified to find such sentiments as
those embod ed in the long string of resolutions
of the Conference brought to light here, where
they shock the sensibilites of the majority of the
people Who is it that had friend or relative IN
the army of the Confederacy, that would not have
his feelings wounded, yes, his Indignation stirred,
at the sentiments contained in those resolutions,
as we'll as the language of the Bishop, Mt the time
in the chair, when the announcement was made
to the Conference of the capture of Prest. Davisf
This Bishop (NIarkwood,) y has travelled thro' eVey
part of this Valley and enjoyed the kindness ana
hospitality of hundreds of people outside OF his
own denomination. Will his conduct on the oc-
casion referred to, make him welcome guest
when next he asks the shelter of their roofs or
seat at their hearth stones? Again, Mr.. Editor,
the prominent man of their denomination has, for
long wears, been citizen of Augusta, he married
in q highly respectable connexion, and has reared
a most interesting family, that commands the es-
teem as he did the entire respect of all who knew
him. up 10 the ses sion Of this General Conference.
This was the case, as all who read this article
will bear the writer Witness especially outside OF
his own denomination. He was often invited TO
fill the pulpits of Presbyterians, Methodlsfs and
Lutherans, and commanded their sympathy and
respect. Was his course at this General Confer
ence calculated to retain either /? 1t is said, he
was spoken to on the subject by some friend, and
intmated he had no recantations to make, that he
would do the same thing again, under the same
circumstances Will this declaration make him
more friends in the Valley of Virginia Whilst
most persons thought his sympathies were with
the North in our late conflict. yet they gave him
credit for the quiet and prudent course he
pursued. All who were acquainted with the
creed of the denomination, knew they were prac
teal abolitionists and opposed to slavery. As q
general thing, very few of that denomination were
found in the Southern army, and rarely were
prayers ever heard from any Of their clergy or
| Law men. for the sue cess of the South, in her
death struggle, yet who was prepared to find
| this denomination at such a time, giving ute
renee to the sentiment referred to-, or asserting
that broad Black Republican doctrine which Con-
necticut has SO emphaticaly denounced, that
the negro is the equal Of the white man. This Gen.
eral Conference did say so, and endorsed it by
a unanmo~s vote, of eighty AYES to NONE in the
negative, for the five did not vote no, ask to
be excused from voting, and, therefore, in accor-
dance with parliamentary usage, in clerical and
civil bodies must be counted in the Affirmative.
| All members of that denomination, in Va, ought
to be gratiied at the publication of these pro-
ceedings, and if they cannot endorse them, let
each indiv dual Church, hold meetings and de-
nounce lem. This is clearly their duty. Two
or three tri ding errors appeared in the proceed
ings as published. 1t General, and not an
nual Conference, and hence so much more impor-
tant. because meeting but once in four years, and
this was the first opportunity it had, since the war
commenced, of giving expression to their opln'
ions. and such opinions 1t convened at Western
College. Iowa. instead of Dayton, Ohio, and the
extract of the proceedings was from the Western
Religious Telescope, instead Of Telegraph, and
published at Dayton Ohio, by Shuey Sewers.
This Mr.. Shuey was formerly from Augusta, but
was no where referred to as dele gate to the Con-
| ference from the Valley.
| OTTOBINE