The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-11-13

4
| md the purest blood Of the race, had oerh -
dnccd In Mexico TO the lowest degree OF arSaa.
| iation by it's mixture with the lhaiah INV 10
gro. obo,d
| IN yirpinio and the sentiments OF one OF its
| colorcd members, who represents " uls.iict
| which formerly sent to Congress IN ehI'ncu
| statesman. This man had declared 20 gen
| t.,,,n who asked what was the extent OF ms
,snira tons in respect Ia his relations with the
whites that he expected TO have tue same
rights at that gcntlcman's table and In asking
his daughters hand that the white man had.
VIII not the same privileges be claimed IN
ecclesiastical affairs? Will the assumptions
of the colorcd man be confined 10 secular con
cerns2
His next position was that we cannot get
from them an available and reliable class OF
Church officers. The grace of God does not
obiteratc nature. They cannot make Prcsby-
terrain rulers. Two instances show that we
cannot rely upon them They have deserted
the churches of their fathers, and they have
torsaken the States in which they were born
a Presbytery in which the blacks we're in
the majority might carry over your churches
and property 20 another General Assembly.
The Spirit does not contradict himself, and
the sense of n call in the heart OF black man
to the ministry in our Church Is not to over
rule the sen tment Of the whole congregation
that he is not thus called.
DR.. Dabney next took the ground That the
difference in color and blood has not been maze
ny our prejudice or by man. 1T is the work OF
| Divine Providence. God has made the diff
ference emotional, moral, esthctical, phys-
| cal and He permitted them 10 be placed here
among us. Is not His Church 10 apply the
same principles of discrimination and respect
| the barriers interposed by His hand?
DR.. Dabuey indicated his view of the method
| III which this question should be practically
dealt with. HI was in favor OF separate or
! CARNATIONS and orGaniug colored men to rule
and preach among themselves. He would say
| 10 them, "Stay, worship with us If you VIII
| but II YOU 20 we will ordan your ministers
| There might thus grow up by our side a CO.
| lorcd Church with which our body would ii''
| on terms of aTnity.
| He wished tins paper laid on the table be
| cause it was ambiguous. Il would not satisiy
orr carping enemies, who did not deserve 10 De
| satisfied The South would understand IL III
Il contradictory manner III we were no'
| ready to resolve that our Prcsbyteries be COM
| PEELED to ordan colorPd men, let us DO nothlng.
The General Assembly has acted once too
often.
| At the conclusion Of DR.. Dabney's speech,
| of which the foregoing is Il bare outline, Dr..
John Leyburn rose and said that as he had TO
| leave, he asked the indulgence of synod that
he might in q few words express his antago-
| nism 10 the views of his brother who had Just
spoken He had never heard q speech III the
synod of Virginia with more surprise and
pain II was utterly unacrountabc TO him
how DR.. Dabney should hold su ii sentiments.
Why, sir, all that he has said about the mise
~ OF the races and our Humiliation is the
mere outpouring OF tho feelings that we ~!
have about the results of the war. He has
left the Bible out or the question. DR.. Ley
burn regretted the action of the General AS
sembly, and thought that body had made Il
mistake. He thought the matter should have
been left to the moral sense OF Presbyteries.
DR.. Dabnev had said that our action would
he revolutionary. Is thatany reason why we
should not do right? He was surprised n the
logic that had been presented to this intelli-
,pI II
danger in the performance of our duty. lie
did not think there Was any need that Dr..
Dabney should trouble the good ladies so
much. He had no fear of any such conse-
quences rs had been fcretold.
DR.. DaGncy had spoken of the corruption Of
the Castilian blood. If he will go TO Spain
he will find the old Spanish gentleman whose
blood never received any faint from The Moor.
He is the pure Castilian. \ ct you VIII not
find :: mcaner fellow anywhere. He has no
energy and 40 value to society. This is
nothing more than the natural decadence of
races. 1t is the same cause, and not any mix
ture OF bloods, which accounts Tor The uegehc-
racy OF modern Greece and Rome. Dr. Ley
burn had entire confidence in the prevalence
of the Old Virginia spirit: 1t would main
tain its supremacy over all blood and race.
Let them come from every quarter and settle
within her borders. Virginia would be Nir-
gnia still, and her spirit will conquer. lie
had no fears of what the Radicals may do
here. He had lived in Philadelphia fourteen
wears. That city CT 100000 stll fears the
Quaker type. And how many Quakers are
there? Not more than l',oo1. Why, then,
should we fear any Socla! revolution mere,
especially when We do right?
Dr. t. was aSlonished at DR. Dahncy's
Illus tration from the Levticai priesthood.
Was that argument? Was that logic?
We have among the colored people mis-
sionary field which cries 10 us for help we
must take.thc position demanded Of us. We
must do right, if the blood and the crown OF
the MARTYR he the consequence. If we do
wrong we shall have another sort OF crown !;
we shall be prosecuted, but not for righteous
ness sake He wished his hand might be pal
sled and his tongue silent rather than he
should be governed by 4 fear OF consequences
more than the Word of God
MI. John kirkpatrick, elder from Lynch
burg, wished 10 correct statement when
had been made rs to the sentiment of the
laity on this subject. He did not profess TO
he ;;ctuated by the nagnannnity ascrlbed TO
The supporters Of this measure lie was Il
poor, sinful man, and wished To be guided by
The Spirit before this venerable body, ana
prayed that the Spirit would deliver us all
from the influence of prejudice and passion
We all believe, aS Dr.. Dahney says, that the
Assembly was unwisc i'll touching me sup ,,
ieot. Since they have acted we iiHSI - *
will We hold that they have not cone So
| They have wounded the conscience OF ShEisl
| nponle. and it becomes us 10 speak from theSe
| what Is III our SOUS.
| know that many are IN favor OF the lhueii-
| tito most ponement, because they wish 10 get
rid of a disagreeablc subject; but tins we are
not permitted TO do.
| mr. Dabney says we cannot act IN TINS mat
| TOR now because we are TOO much under the
| innneuce of feeling; but, sir, the circHm-
| stances before us will tend 10 increase tAis
! antipathy.
| If there is TO be n OF races, let us be pure
and undeflled; let us walk down into this
crucible held by the hand OF Him who loved
MS and gave himself for us. Let US realize
| what is before us. Now is the time TO take
| the true position on this subject; let US pray
| that the Sun of RICH tcouSneSS may stand sui
and shine upon us while We ascertain ouI
duty, and in Il spiritual sense, fight this bat
| tie of the Lord.
Brethren say these circumstances which
have indicated will never arise, and IL Is not q
| practical quest but have taken Il
wrong step, and therefore it is practical
question.
Recurring to DR.. Dabney's remark thai
| there is too much passion i'll the minds OF the
Church TO decide this question, Mr.. Kirk
patrick believed that u Siaccre desire 10 do the
will of God and promote His glory pervadeo
the hearts OF the brethren here assembled.
| But DR.. Dabney had spoken under tremendous
feeling. Our spirits covered when he stood
UP and, like Il lion, shook his mien.
1t is no assumption 10 say that The Synod OF
| Virginia occupies Il commanding position on
| this cues tion--a position acquired 10y The his
| tory and loca alton, the bearinS. the talents,
and pety Of our State and the heroiSm dis
! played in the recent struggle.
DR. Dabney asserts that it is derogatory to
the dignity of our Church TO make any de-
claration on this subject because the negroes
are not now of us, and do not desire II connec.
ton with us. l do not believe they are be.
| Soud the reach of our influence. l 90 nol
| believe that every black face Is IN enemy 10
every white face. This is no unworthy hu-
initiation of ourselves at their feet. Brother,
| do YOU feel that YOU would be degrading your
self by passing this overture? Some OF them
are friendly to MS. Night after nj sht that gal
lery has been crowded with colored people,