Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-01-19
TEAMS es ApvEsssssn 9.
Section 81 Il is the duty ot the psopl. 10

--....s-.ns.E< l<gYB
(section II is the duty Of the psopl. TO
pray tor magistrates, to honor their per-
sons, to pay them tribute and other dues.
TO obey their lawful commands and be sub.
ject to their suthority fer con science sake?
Are not these political MATTERS 10 the sense
spoken Of by the complainants. Are not
ministers swora to maintain and teach the
principles Of the Confession Have not the
compiainants themselves given their sssent
to these rTinciples9 In the sense OF teach
ing. men their moral duty in political, that
-, in civil matters, is not the Bible full OF
politics; aud how can men be faithful to
their ordination vows, and keep silent on
these matters2
This is no new construction Of Prssbvts-
rian views on the subject. We have never
heard the Presbyterian clergy ofthe Amer.
icaR Revolution blamed With preaching poli-
tics, nor their Presbyterias blamed for the
ChIistian patriotism OF their actien. With
politics, as more question Of party, the
presbytery docs not iBtermeddle With
the morality Of political acts, it has CON
cern.
! The com plainsuts oljeot in substance to
the action Of Presbytery in reference to the
siders and abettors Of rebellion and fYesson
in our land. They virtually com plain that
Presby terry has been making ne " terms of
comm union, when they say, we wiIfnot
fellow ship the aiders and sbettors Of armed
rebels and traitors" and I'VE judge all who
aid, abet, or sympatbize with this wicked
rebellion unworthy to partake Of sealing
ordi nances iD any OF our consIeFaticns.''-
We suppose this ia the part of the Prssby.
tery's action referred to, when it is said.
The ftness Of members to be deemed oem-
AMI al IL. l.. l.
from their moral and religious life and de-
pertinent; and not, under any circumstances.
by reason OF purely political views enter
tanned by them er.t s.
The action of the Prosbytery does not
deal with views purely political; but with
the ,iDnorality OF treason and rsbeliien.
The complalnants refer to the Constitu-
ten OF onr Couptry to show tbs Presbytery
what kind Of lberality should be exercised
toward the congregations under its care
We hope the brethren will permit US to re-
fer to tho same Constitution to teach them
the moral character of that treason and re-
bellion which the Presbytery seem to have
had in view, when they refused to hold
Christian Communion with men guilty of
It, or with its aiders and abettors. To these
brethren We would say, DO you know what
treason Is? Ave tell you it is the highest
crime known 10 the civil law, more heinous
than murder itself Its char acter is not
h1ed BY the Presbytery, but by the laws Of
all civilized nations How does the Con-
stltution Of your country define treason p
Treason against the United States shall
consist only in levying war against them, or
in adhering to their enemies giving them
aid and comfort Cspst. U. 8. Art. 8,
Sec. 3.
Are the rebels against our government
guilty Of treason rs fixed by the Constitu-
ton. Did they not. without proyocatieu,
and without single act Of violence on the
part OF the government, seize arsenals, forts,
public treasure and vessels. Did they not
organize and equip armies, and commence
war that has since ragged in all its horrors,
and one Of the most unjustifable wars that
the world has ever seen? Does not the
Constitution class aiders and abetters along
with the actors, as liable to the punishment
Of treason7 Would you think of continu-.
ing convicted thief or murderer in the
communion of the church, If not, how
shall we continue men whose life ia forfeited
to the law, and whose only right is to be
hanged, as soon as they are tried and found
guilty? Surely, the cemplaiuants are NOS
the flesh, and the right OF the Presbytery
cannot be questioned to exclude man con-
victed Of treason by the laws of his country
and guilty before God, from place in the
church. The Prcsbytery's action does not
reach any other
The complainants speak of dictotton By
the Presbytery on the subject Of choosing
civil officers.
The question of the expediency Of the
action of the Presbytery may be raised; but
there is no dictation. The Presbytery warns
against the danger of incurring guilt by
particular course. What is said about die
tation, and ''prestly dictatioa. is utterly out
OF place in connection with Presbyterisl
church polity. You are aware that minis
ters and elders make upa Presbytery tits
enough for iDfidels to use such phrase;
but for men who ought to know that Pres
bytery possesses no legislative power who
ought to know that no regulation intended
to he permanently binding can be of force.
until it shall have been submitted in over
ture to the Presbyteries, and approved By
majority of the votes. of the whole church,
to use such language, is a thing that grievss
us, ff f.lfs ,Tf..iI. E1t
As far as we know, no person has been
subjected to the discipline Of the church
under the action Of the Presbytery. Shcald
any person be tried for an offence under il.
and be dissatifed with the decisicn. the
right Of appeal to a higher court oan be AK
ereissd. >Dr