The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-02-03
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
The Proceedings of the Committees Of Con-
ference.
REASON SUGGESTED FOR THE FAILURE TO EFFECT
ANY AGREEMENT.

The thanks of the Southern Church are due to
It's Committee. Its distinguished members have
certainly performed nobly and ably the work as
signed them. and fully justified the confidence of
the Church. 1t is hardly probable any other YER
dict will be awarded by impartial judges acquainted
with all the facts of the case, The readers OF the
Central will all doubtless feel especially grateful to
the Editor for his prompt publication of the pro-
ceedings of the Committees, and still more for
the able and conclusive criticism be has presented
on the positions and discussions of the Northern
Committee. 1t is hardly conceivable, that in view
of his exposure of the poor excuse given by that
body for their Assembly's position, there can
longer be pretext for asserting that the retrae
tons demanded by the Southern Church are even
virtually" covered by the famous concurrent
resolution" The question is not impertinent,
whether there does not lie bsck of all reasons for
refusing to make the disclaimer asked by our Com
mittee, expressed, as was their suggestion OF the
terms, in language far from huniliating or degrad.
ing, some obstacle nerer get touched on or animated
Nothing has been more obvious, during al the
years since the war, than the analogy in the pro-
ceedings of the Northern General Assembly touch
ing their Southern brethren" with that Of Con-
gress touching the political relations of the Union
to the South. In 1868 the Northern Assembly,
in Albany, passed the first resolutions of deci-
dedly pacific character. A leading member Of the
body, and indeed deservedly regarded as leading
minister of the Church, who had an influential
agency in securing the passage of those resolutions
is known to have expressed his conviction that q
paper even far more eonciliatory and satisfactory
to the South might have passed, but it would not
have received so large Uote, or one so nearly APP
proximatipg 4,naninuty. This was evidently due
to the presence of many in the body who were
still animated by some such hostile feelings as ex
listed more extensively Immediately after the war.
Year after year, in which these pacific demonstra-
tons have occurred, the public has vsinly waited
for that full retraction, which the Editor Of the
Central Presbyterian and our Committee so pro
perly land yet in such mild forms) have claimed.
" Privately it is believed, hundreds in the
Church, North, would readily stigmstizs the acts
complained of as outrages and utterly wanting in
justification. Why then do not such come out
openly and formally, and act and vote accordingly
Because as in our national councils are such men as
Philips, Butler. Morton, Logan, Sherman, and the
ike. who are filed with bitterness to the South,
so in the Northern Assemblies so many are found
of like irrecOncilsble spirit And as extreme
men, even when actually minority, may rule
others whose zeal for their more righteous princi-
ples is weaker, so these manage to prevent the de-
sired course of true justice and charity, and the
things which make for wise and permanent peace
In such Assemblies, too, may be found many who,
like some men in the Assembly at St. Louis, vote
for extreme measures of wrong against better
Judgment on the ground of being dependent on
the results of public opinion srrsyed against right
course 1t follows:
l. That the entire Northern Church is not to be
aludged as assentbg to the acts and deeds of its
Assemblies.
2. That the expo sure of our true position, and
our lust and rightful claims in the interest of
wis lom, first pure, then peacea6e, cannot fail to
nromote the growth of better public sentiment,
not only in the North, but 10 Great Britain and
Ireland.
8, That where those who are our Northern
brethren come to find themselves properly sus-
tanned BY such public sentiment, justice will be
formally rendered, and al the results sought and
desired and desirable, in such conference that
lust closed in failure, will be obtained and then.
in way to promote true peace, fraternity, and CO.
operation in every good work.
4. And so, the wisdom of the last Assembly in
appointing this Committee, aid the wisdom as