The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-05-23

at present. He had no desire to take
wide range in debate, but was sorry
the rule Of the Assembly made it
necessary to confine him so closely.
T. When the time arrived, the major
ity of this Assembly would not shrink
from their duty but would ventilate
the question at issue from top to toe.
We are prepared to vindicate our
past action before the Assembly and
before the country We are hampered
now, but before this matter is finally
disposed of there will be abundant
opportunity to debate these. questions.
The Assembly, by vote of four. to
one, have passed upon the propriety
of excluding the Louisville brethren,
until action can be taken, but we want
the decision. We invite it, and will
gladly. here these brethren. He de-
sired it should be without side issues,
and why24 Because for five years.
these principles have been discussed
and decided. Four times has the
action of 1861 been reiterated, and
the discussion has been heard In every
corner of the land. Last year, the
General Assembly decided to carry
into practical execution the orders of
past years.
Letsus remember that this General
Assemblyis the highest power IN the
Church, representing Presbyteries and
Synods. Now we find one of the
Presbyteries, owing allegiance to this
body, openly defying our action, by
adopting a certain declaration, and
refusing to support any institutions
connected with the Church. Their
grievance is the, slavery question,
which means loyalty to the Govern
ment. They refuse to unite with us
unless the General Assembly rescinds
its action. They have sent their
documents to all, of as, and it seems
if any position were ever defined, this
is one of them. 1,rzsFsg =, f.Tsr-tsisya,
Now, sir, we have all heard the
problem. Suppose an irresistible
force comes in contact with an i'm
movable body, what then /? Why,
something must give way. We had
one single Presbytery against FIVE
General Assemblies, violating its or
ders and refusing to render obedience
to its DEGREES. It is a plain case, and
there should be no diversion on to
side issues. 3ls~rfff f.f.9IrK8E
Now7that Presbytery not only bids
defiance to the Assembly, but. sends
here, one man, who, being absent, will
not be characterized as he deserves,
in sending whom that Presbytery has
offered an affront to the. General As
sembly, the greatest it, can offer.
Why should we shrink from this, is
sue2 What matters it if some Con-
federates living ON the lee-shore of
New York should be with the rebels?
What matters it if some seeessionists
on Brooklyn flights have refrained
from putting on their minutes some
things? Let the Presbytery of Mas
sua attend to that. We shall see
whether the General Assembly will
retract Personally. he (the speaker)
had often differed with the General
Assembly. Twenty years ago. he had
differed with it, but he kept his peace
and naaac his opposition in an orderly
manner. FAss
AS to extending this inquiry In the
manner proposed by DIR. Brooks, he
wanted to know if. when the National
Government found a State in treason.
did it send its scouts to examine the
-namby- PANTY portfolio of some board
ing school miss? No. it dealt blows
hard and strong. This is what he I'M
derstood DIR. 0M'Lain's resolution
proposed to, do.8a seized the bull by
the horns, and when he had the bull
by the horns, he did not mean to be
alarmed by the bleating of the calf. 1t
would be time for those gentlemen not
now accused to begin to talk of mar
tyrdom when the General Assembly,
placed them on trial Let them bide
their timea Tie postponement will
come soon enough. He didn 'tadmire
the sort of courage which talked of
martyrdom.9 1t did notremind him Of
the old times when the various saints
were arrested and suffered punishment
of severe kind. Modern martyrdem
meant very different thing. 1t'meant
applause in the gallery an elegant
mansion ON Brooklyn Heights, trip
to Europe at the expense of a congre-
CATION, and the smiles of angels waving
cambria handkerchiefs. When he
wanted wine, he would have the pure
juice Of the grape, and not the sham
cider champagne. at Rakfm
We will not drive out these men
without hearing, but if they insist
upon going, why, let them go. He
questioned no mans motives, but it
did look as if this threat had been
made to brighten the General Assem-
bly,. IF So. he would remind gentle
men that the General Assembly had
not been asleep for FIVE years. We
met at Philadelphia FIVE years ago,
when the sound of war was heard,
when our fathers, sons and brothers
were barring their bosoms to the ex-
pected battle; when all was uncertain;
when foreign nations lresifafad what