Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-11-26
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PRESBYTERIAN NATIONAL
UNION CONVENTION.
Rr- n. BreckInrfdGe Grows Persona
ne Hints mt the Code.

He Hints Ht the NOue.
The convention of delegates from the
different branches ~ Presbyterians in this
country, called for the purpose of adopting
some plan for a permanent union OF all,
met In Philadelphia, Pa on the 9th inst,
and organized by electing George ii.
Stuart, Of Philadelphia, Chairman. Mr..
gtuarf was lately President Of the United
States Christian Commission, and is now OF
the Philadelphia Young Mems Christian
Association.
On the 9TH the following spicy scene oc-
CURED, the report of which We take from
the special correspondence of the Cincin-
natl Commercial. 1t will be seen that our
venerable and learned Kentucky divine,
Rev. DIR. Robert j. Breckenridge, allowed
his temper TO get slightly the advantage Of
his Judgment, and INDUCED in some severe
personal remarks-even going 30 far as to
saw that "those who did not like what he
said LneD aOheTe 10 find himP We can
hardly believe that the reverend gentle.
man meant 10 initiate that he was ready to
receive message" pro tOrma from any
one who felt himself aggrieved, but he GER
tainly used the very expression employed
on such occasions by those who recognize
the obligations of the code duello. The
Commercial reporter says:
The Rev. DR.. Eagleson (Old SCHOOL,, of
Western Pennsylvania, moved that COM
mittee be appointed to report basis OF
union bet 1een all the branches of the Pres
bvterian family for consideration and
adoption by them. The motion was sec
onded, and, being announced, was lengthi-
Iy discussed DR.. Breclinridge took the
floor very promptly, and proceeded to say.
Il am decidedly opposed, sir, TO this
motion, or any effort of the kind-that If,
proposing any basis for organic union be-
tween these bodies. | suppose the Old
School PRESBYTERIAN Church is the largest
BODY of Presbyterians in the world, and
there are sitting down here two or three
ofshoots from ms, the New School and the
Cumberland people but / would be will
ing. and / suppose all Of our churches and
our people would be willing, TO let the
United. Reformed (or whatever you call
it,, Church prepare and give rs basis for
union, provided only they will do 1t better
than we could ourselves. Now i shall ask
hat brother there referring 10 DIR. Eagle
son 10 withdraw his motion, though 4
know he won't do It, for he is a Presby-
terian, [laughterl, or / shall feel obliged
10 20 on and make some further remarks.
Win the brother withdraw his motion p
Dr. Eagleson replied, through the chair,
that the motion was already the property
Of the house, and he could not, therefore,
take it again.
DR.. Breckenridge then proceeded. The
chairman asked him to come to the plat
form (he had been speaking from the mid
die aisle, at the side Of which he had been
sitting), aud he did so, climbing up with
some difficulty, and talking the while. He
began anew when he reached the platform,
stating his opposition TO the proposal of any
plan for union. "The most likely union
that can be looked for, sir" he continued,
d" is between our church and the other
branch, as they have got now to calling it;
but, sir, that union will never be consumma-
ted sensation for all they have appointed
a committee, and so on. No, sir, you will
not see that union if YOU live Here Mr..
Stewart, whom he was addressing, said
/ hope shall, sirnl Well, sir" replied
the Doctor, 81 hope You'll live thousand
years but, take my word for 1t, you'll
never see that reunion. Not but that /
respect and love my brethren that are on
that committee-those of the Old School,
| mean don't know anything about the
others llaughterl but they won't accom-
plish this. Why, sir, there isn't appointed
on all that committee of our assembly 4
single man who has any reputation what
ever for theological learning"
Several members rose to call the speaker
to order, and the chairman, rapping the
desk with his gavel, reminded Or. Brock
inridge that personalities could not be al
lowed. The Doctor went on, however, in
the same strain for a moment, when the
chair again called him to order. The Doc
tor turned somewhat wrathfnlly TO the
chairman, and continued speaking, while
Mr.. Stewart said 81 have as much re
spect for Robert 81 Breckenridge as any
man has, but / cannot permit these re-
marks on brethren known and respected.
DR.. Breckenridge demanded to know
what was the name of the brother who had
called him 10 order. He did not mean to
offend the feelings Of any one; / am re-
sponsihle, said he, TO God Almighty and
10 man for what say, and / know what l
am saying, and if any one does not like
what l say, he knows where live. Great
laughter and sensation.l
Further objection being made to the
spirit of the Doctors remarks, the chair
man again called him 10 order, whereupon
DIR. Breckenridge began to descend from
the platform, saying something about not
being allowed to speak. Many members
cried out 70 him 10 " Go on" and the chair
man most courteously begged him to re-
main, and finish his remarks, hut the Doc.
tor, stepping back again, said: No, sir,
l will not 60 on-and if you proceed to
force this matter through, the curse of God
will rest on you T.
The remark was received with cries o.
Shame T. and not few Kisses from al
parts Of the house, quickly rebuked BY the
chair, who reminded the Doctor that ht
should remember that he was not in his
own church courts only, but in general
convention. well, sir said Breckin,
ridge, a know where l am-and this i
the first time ever saw a layman consti.
tuted the presiding officer Of such body
1t is contrary to all law and precedent"
With that, the Doctor LEFT the stand und
returned 20 his seat.
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KTr aorff wish "a ft~rowd the TqOuruprs