The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-04

Rev. DIR. Van Dyke offered the FOLLOWING
protest:
The undersigned respectfully protest
nrainst the actionof the General Assembly
in rejecting proposal to extend to the
Presbyterian ministers and churches IN the
southern States the same expressions oil
fraternal affection and Of desire for organic
union which have been so freely extended
to that other branch of the Presbyterian
Church commonly known AZ the New
School. Without expressing any opinion
as To the practicability OF communicating
the proposed reunion with the last name"
BODY "upon the basis of common stand
ard" the undersigned desire to declare
their solemn conviction that the commands
of our Divine Master, and the exigencleS
of the times in our country, forbid the
continuance of division and strife between
brethren who maintain common lalth'
and upon whom Providence has imposed Il
common work for the extension OF the hoS-
mel. And we are further persuaded that
every consideration which can render
Christian union desirable tIany case has
a pccuiar and prominent force in the reia-
tions we sustain to the Presbyterian minis
ters and churches in the southern States.
we are therefore constrained, by our regard
for charity, truth, and peace, to protest
AGAINST the aforesaid action of the Assem-
bly upon the ground of its manifest neon
si,tcncy. This inconsistency appears 10 us
the more clarng in view OF the following
incontcStible facts:
The soundncss of the Presbyterian
ministers and churches in the southern
States in regard to the distinctive doc
trines of the Gospel and the fundamental
principles of ecclesiastical order mas never
been questioned by us, and indeed tpen
title to our confidence and affection on
these high grounds cannot be lmpngnc9 D!
this Assembly without denying notorious
facts. rcvoking our own most solemn 'eSu-
monials in their favor, and lnVoNlhS our
selves in condemnation for having so ions
and SO pcnitcntly held communion WIFI
them. I'LL
. The questions in regard to clNii
rovcrnmcnt and domestic scrvitudc, which
have separated them from us during lhc
continuance of the late civil war, (queS-
tions which, in the opinion OF the under,
signed. ought to be held subordinate ana
inferior to the great doctrines ol the HoS-
pclD have been practically decided ny l,lc
result of the war in accordance WIN INC
views of the Assembly, and to that deci-
sion they have unanimously submitted.
slavery has been abolished; and, 50 far as
,vc have any information of the SUBJECT,
there is not n man in the Presbyterian
churches at the south who expects or
desires its establishment. In regard to
the dutv of Christians to obey civil maglS-
h,
IA he subject to every ordinance OF man,
not only for wrath but for conSclenc"
sake" there never has been any tunda-
mental differences of opinion between them
and us. The only ground OF dispute be-
tween them and us in reference to this
subject has been the practical and polltl-
cal question, "Who are the powers that he,
having jurisdiction over the southern
States p This question, also, has been
practically decided by the results OF the
war in accordance with the views OF this
Assembly; and To this decision the Pres
bvtcrian ministers and churches In the
southern States have unanimously submit
ted. Their representatives, in General
Assembly met, have Solcmnly declared ana
published to the world that "thc higher
powers now bearing rule over us are con
tcsScdlv the Government OF the United
States, and those existing in the States
wherein we reside" To these higher
powers they solcmnlv profess their allie
glance, and cxhort all under their care to
submit "with Scrupulous fidelity There
is therefore no practical difference pc
tween them and us even in regard to the
subordinate questions OF freedom ana
loyalty.
2. The inconsistency of the Assembly,
actionis further apparent when we consider
the relation which the Presbyterian minis
ters and churches in the southern States
sustained TO the great unsolvcd problem IN
regard to the cvangcliZation and elevation
of the negro population. The fidelity with
which they have prosecuted this good WORK
in former wears, and the blessed fruits ot
their laborS in this field, are fully set forth
in the narrative on the state of religion
adopted by the Assembly in 1854, an cX-
tract from which document may be found
ON page SIS of Baird'S Digest. That the
same spirit of love and fidelity to the spirit
ual welfare of the negro, which, according
to the testimony Of our Assembly, actuatcd
them in 1874, still animatcS them, and Is
greatly increased in view of the peculiar
miScricS and temptations TO which the negro
is now exposed, there is abundant and noto-
rious proof. 1t is the firm conviction OF the
undersigned that the Presbyterian minis
ters and churches in the southern States
have done, and, if they shall be left free to
cultivate their own field without interior
cnce from strangers, that they will still do
more for the conversion and salvation OF
the negro than can ever be done by any
BODY of Christians not residing in the south
ern States: and for this good work, if for
no other reason, they are entitled preeml-
nently to the expression OF our lraterIlal
confidence and affection.
4. The inconsistency of the AsSembly's
action is further apparent III the opinion
of the undersigned when we consider the
influence which it is likely to exert i'll re-
tarding the permanent pacitication OF the
country and the restoration Of good will
among all the people; and our apprehcn-
sions on this point are rendered stronger
bv the fact that the representatives OF
the southern churches have "dcclared
concerning other churches in the most cX-
plicit manner that we would willingly hold
Fellowship with all who love our Lord
Jesus Christ in sincerity, and especially d"
We signify to all bodies, ministers, and peo-
pie of the Presbyterian Church struggling
TO maintain the true principles OF the time
honorcd confession, our desire to establish
the most intimate relations with them,
which NAV be found mutually editymg,
and for the glory of God" (See pastoral
letter of the General Assembly which