The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-05-03

Church, South, is in session at New Orleans.
The debates afford illustrations of the spirit
which prevails in the Church, a. we'll
as in the State in that section. Here
are few specimens: On . motion
to appoint two of the bishops TO
proceed to Washington and thank the Presi-
dent for the restoration Of the church prop
erty in the north, Rev. Mr.. CoTTRELL re-
marked that he would as soon think of thank.
ing the Sheriff as President JOHNSON. A
practical resolution would be to ask for the
release Of JEFF DAVIS from Fortress Monroe.
He admitted the impropriety Of such q peti-
ton. but averred that though he had taken
the oath, [l] he felt bound in the person Of
the prisoner at Fortress Monroe. His politi-
ical life was hid with him in prison. Others
expressed similar views
In discussion respecting the American
Bible Society, that institution received spec
tally rough treatment for alleged disrespect
to the Southern patriots. 1t seems that DR..
SPRING, of New York, made some remarks
respecting the rebellion, at the last anniver-
sary Of the Society, extremely distasteful to
these gentlemen, and DR.. TAYLOR, one of the
Secretaries of the Society, was charged with
bringing forward resolution, in which the
assassination of Mr.. LINCOLN was spoken Of
as the result of the action of the Southern
people in the late war. A Federal General,
FISK, was also charged with indulging in .
TRADE of abuse of the Southern people. Some
resolutions referring to cooperation with the
Bible Society, afforded the opportunity to
these men to pour out their feelings of hate
and rebellion. For instance, DR.. McTYErRE
read from the report, as follows: sour
wicked rebellion, which has had it's culmina
ton in the murder Of our Chief Executive"
etc. He denied that the late war on the part
of the South was "a wicked rebellion" or 20
rebellion" at ALL 1t was "a righteous confict
for rhich aur people poured out their prayers,
as ,ceu as their blood DR.. SPRING, he al
legged, had slandered the Southern clergy by
asserting that "but for the influence of the
ministry, the South never could have se-
ceded." This he declared to be q slander,
and he would not consent to be called "a
rebel and traitor Immaculate menl Your
only wrong seems to be that you allowed
yourselves to be defeated No wonder that
these rebels think that they were right, when
not traitor has been punished for his treason,
and men plead for the unconditional restora-
ton to the rights and privileges of American
citizens, of crowds of just such unshrived
wretches as these Southern clergymen, Cor
TRELL and McTYEIRE.
In debate respecting the proposed change
ofthe name of the church from the N. E.
Church, South, to The Methodist Church,
referring to the effect such change might have
upon the security Of their church property,
we find these utterances of one DR.. KEExER,
of North Carolina "But want to know if
you have any confidence in the courts of this
country, from the least to the greatest? If
you have, have not. know that We have q
strong friend in rery high position, and had
it not been for that strong friend, the Con-
ference would not be in this church to day.
But there is limit to this poscer, as zee haze
so recently seen.' Yes, gentlemen, there is q
power behind [nay, rather, before] the trhone
greater than the throne itself. How changed
the tone ofthese men since Old Mortality laid
the ermine of old ROGER B. TASEY to one
side! Then, if the least courts did not suit,
the greatest did But nosci Alas, how are
the mighty fallen
These men who have preached rebellion
from Virginia to Texas, who have stumped
the South for the war, and who have been SO
completely defeated and ruined, now pretend,
hypocritically, to ignore politics. Mr.. Ros-
SER, of Virginia, affirmed that the Church
should avoid secularity and political allan
ces. He was favorable to . sublime isolation.
Pity they did not think of that earlier.
Now, the question is: Are these men, and
men like them, to be restored to all the privi
leges of citizenship, without acknowledge
ment for the past or security for the future
If so, how long will it be before they will at
tempt the undoing Of all that has been &C
complished? And will they not speedily
again inaugurate the righteous conflict" II
which they glory. Republican institution
will never be safe in America until such out
spoken treason can be punished as it de
serves.
The Fenian invasion of the British provin-
ces by way of Eastport il ssplAyed out" O