The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-03-13
THE NEW YORK OBSERVER.


WASHING A BLACKAMooR WHTE.-We
remember to have seen, long years ago, In
some book for children, picture with the
above title, representing jet-black-a-Moor,
seated in large tub of water, and persons
around him, with soap and brushes and all the
usual appliances in hand, engaged in an effort
to remove the native color OF his skin. The
effort, of course, was not successful.
We have often been reminded Of this incl
dent by witnessing the strenuous and persever-
ing efforts made by the Southern Presbyterian
newspapers to wash the action of the Memphis
General Assembly, in the case OF the Freed
men, white. Some of them have for weeks
and even months, devoted from two columns
to a whole page weekly to the task, but, ac-
eording to our judgment, they are no nearer
the point Of success than when they COM
menced; and if we may judge from the ener-
gy with which they ply the work and the in
creasing space which they devote to it, we
should say that, they too regard it as despe-
rate undertaking. The New York Observer Is
the main point of attack, when we have faith
fully set forth the action of the Assembly in
its own words, and given the comments OF Its
own members and advocates. The amount OF
detraction which we have received for bringing
up the subject, would be enough to set up any
newspaper ludO WIS 1OI SAlSlcuCS.
The Central Presbyterian OF Richmond,
which has devoted itself with the most untir-
ing energy to the task of making black appear
white, and of proving that the action Of the
Assembly was Just what it should be, has, for
some time, been illustrating Its point by at
tempting to prove that the North, in the treat
ment Of the colored people in Church matters,
is far blacker than the South; asif this proved
ANYTHING pro or con In regard to the action of
its own Assembly. Last week it again devoted
some two columns and more to US, making q
great pretenee of proving that we were quite
ignorant on the subject when we wrote, we
do not know where, In all ecclesiastical history,
there is another record of race being cut off
from their rights and privileges in the Church
on account of the color of their skin. The
Central Presbyterian maintains that the Meth
Odist, the Episcopal and the Baptist Churches
South, have taken the same ground, and even
stronger against admitting colored men to the
ministry, but quotes no documents to establish
its position, excepting a single sentence from
the journal of the Episcopal Church of Vir-
giuia, in 1866, which saysof the colored church
es and ministers ut appears that this Church
is willing to organize and ordain them They
shall be considered under the care Of the Coun-
Gil, and their interests as represented In it by
OlIUUl00
tons The only evidence 1t adduces inregard
to the Baptist Church is the ignorance of q
single Baptist minister, and his ignorance only
covers the State of Virginia. Such testimony
as this will not settle any question of ecclesias
ticalimportance. Its own correspondent, Rev
DR.. Atkinson, also of the Memphis Assembly
has shown, by extended citations from ecclesi
astical history, that not an instance is on re
cord in which a race has been excluded from
the offices of the Church, as race, on account
of any of Its peeuliarities. We are quite will
ing to stand by DR.. Atkinson in this matter
and by what we have written.
The columns and pages on this subject, which
the Southern Presbyterian press has poured
out upon our heads, for the part that we have
taken in this discussion, we have read with SO
much patience and complaeency, knowing
that our statements and position were impreg-
nable,) that we feel entitled to give a word Of
advice to our Southern brethren of the press,
which is, that they should desist from their
vain attempt to wash Black-a-Moor white.
It cannot be done. The Memphis Assembly
committed great mistake and a great wrong
in taking the attitude and action which they
did toward the eolored people of the South
The less its immediate friends say in defence
Of this action, the less they will have to regret
at some future time. 1t would be far better
TO call it an error, as many doubtless now re-
gard it, than to attempt to sustain what the
whole Christian world must regard as a great
wrong.
ANSWER.
And so the Ne1o York. Observer folds it:
wings to die as poor innocent hunted dove
that never cooed Southwark, except in notes o.
the most plaintive and tender affection True
it did sag that the action of our General As
sembly was, ga blot upon the record of tht
Presbyterian Church IN the South" "a ster
back to,cards he dark ages" having nothing
like it "is. all ecclesiastical history Fol
these misdeeds it threatened to bring dowr
"the rerdict of ChristeadOns upon such proceed
iagS, aoeg and IN all future time. But this wa:
only the way in which this bird of the olive
branch intended to make love towards us; and
now to be struck, in return for it, with an ar
row from culver furnished close by; and,
worst of all, with one so completely feathered
from its own nest in New York-no wonder il
should experience some of the pangs felt by
"the struck eagle stretched along the plain. ;"
To drop the figure, it cannot fail to amuse
the reader upon finding the Editor almost be-
speaking sympathy for himself as very much
prosecuted, good man, who has been made by
Southern Presbyterian newspaper" the
main point of attack" I" for weeks, and even
months, and which keep pouring out con-
tinually columns and pages" and great
amount of detraction," upon his unoffending
head. All of which complaint is, of course,
expected to say to his readers" Behold what
martyr for the truth or which is all the
same-for the poor negrol
The tone Of all this considerably disarms us.
An adversarymay sometimes persist in making
fight after a fashion, yet so feebly that it
should be construed as equivalent to cry for
quarter. No magnanimous foe would continue
after that to wage battle upon him with the
greater munitions of war. Should he find his
captive, however, in the unreasonable, insub-
ordinate mood sometimes besetting disappoint-
cd children, it may still be necessary to cor
rect him with the lighter instruments Of
discipline. Such is the case before u.s. And,
now, to drop this figure also, but proceed with
the administration, we shall notice some
things for which the Observer needs correc-
ton
l. The Observer speaks Of the Central Pres
byie,j,s, trying to prove THAT the action Of
the Assembly aoaS just lohat Il ought to Be. -
This is disprOyed by the fact that in the Cen
trail Presbyterian of February goth, we ex-
pressly declare the contrary in these words;
viz: We thought at the time, and are more
persuaded by reflection since, that their action
was in some respects mistaken as to the wisdom
of its scheme, and defective as to the measures