Year: 1865

satisfactory solution of the difficulties
with which that question is surrounded.


1t is not my intention to expose the mis-


representations in which these gentle


men have INDUCED; nor to correct their
inaccurate statement of facts; nor to un-
vail the feeble sophistries by which they
have endeavored to persuadethis Assem-


bly, to the adoption of measure so dan
gerous as that now before them. To at
tempt this would lead me far away from
the point 1 wish to press upon the con-
sideration of this body and compel me
to pursue a course of debate so little in
harmony with what I regard as beeom-
ing in such place as this. And yet,
sir, I am compelled to take notice of one
or two things, that have been said here,
not strictly bearing upon the matter
under discussion; and yet, which have
been urged with manifest effect, upon
this Assembly and the large audience,
who seem to take so deep an interest in
its proceedings. 1 shall' touch upon
these matters as briefly as possible, and
then pass to the main topic.


After vindicating the memory of de-
ceased clergyman from charges which
had been brought before the Assembly
based as he showed on garbled evidence
and exhibiting one DR.. Lord-one OF
the great light of blatant "loyalty" and
not very enviable aspect. He goes on.
But I pass from this matter, which un-
willingly have been forced to notice,
and come to the resolution before US
And first, Mr.. Moderator, ask your at
tention to the point of objection raised
by the member (Mr. Morrison) who
opened this discussion. l refer to the
objection that there is no certain standard
of loyalty. It is as variant as the sea-
sons and as uncertain as the winds. It
is as underlined as the horizon and those
metes and boundaries which sometimes
seem to mark out its extent and limita-
tions, like lines drawn upon the sandy
beach are obliterated by the next wave
of popular caprice or rage that rolls in
upon them. The loyalty of yesterday
has become the disloyaity of to-day and
the loyalty of to-day will be branded as
base treason tomorrow. Those opinions
and sentiments and acts which we're pro-
nounced sound and patriotica little while
ago by political leaders both in the
Church and the State, are now denounced
by the same leaders as proof positive
that one who holds by them is a rank
traitor. Let me illustrate this point by
two or three noted examples. And, first.
| will cite from the Synod Of Kentucky,
Sir, some of us from that Synod have
been represented in this Assembly as
worthy of all condemnation because we
have refused our assent to those act of
this body for several years past touching
matters of State policy. This we have
done sincerely, candidly, butrespGctfully,
and for reasons various, and, to US, con-
elusive. For this we have been stricken
in no very gentle again and again
by members on this floor, and our con-
duct set in anything but a pleasant or
hattering contrast with the loyal and pa
triotic members Of the Synod who are in
full accord with the Assembly. In par
ticular, one speaker CDR. LOrd) has felt
4 special call once and again to commend
glowing terms the heroic, self-denying,"
God Like zeal and devotion OF the Rev.
DR.. Robert J. Breckenridge, whose un-
selfish sacrifices and sufferings for church
and country We have been told rebuke
the " lukewarmness" and L" treason" of
his brethren. \ giant among pigmies
hero amongst towards ; in cordial
sympathy with the deliverances of the
Assembly on loyalty and freedom an
Abdiel, faithful among the faithless,
clarun1 etvenera5jle nomen" Such is the
strain of eulogy which has twice called
forth from the Assembly and this audience
unusual demonstrations of applause. 1t
is but moment since we heard again re-
peated this eloquent eulogy, and the echo
of applause called forth at the utterance
of the name of the loyal" DR.. Robert J.
Breckenridge, has but just died upon our
ears. Sir, it is this very name Of such
popularity and potency here, 1 adduce ;
it is to the utterance Of this L0yaP ora
Gle l appeal foremost of all in proof that
this Assembly itself has no standard of
loyalty; that there is no such standard;
and that which is seemingly set up here
to day if applied to the cldruo ct


would consign the Uenera5jle nOnaen to the
shades of darkness under the anathemas
of those whose feet have danced applause
| Just now at its bare mention. 1t
was this DR.. R. J. Breckinridgewho first
in the Synod of Kentucky condemned
the action of the General Assembly on
the duty of allegiance to the Govern
ment of the United States.


A MEMBER-Does the speaker refer
to action of the Synod of Kentucky as
condemnatory of the Assembly, and does
he mean to say that DR.. Breckenridge
concurred in that action


DR.. WILsoN-That is precisely what l
mean. In the meeting of the Synod IN
the fall of 1861, a committee was ap-
pointed on the Minutes Of the Assembly,
of that year, of which committee DR..
Breckinridge was the chairman. He
brought in a report on the action taken
bv the Assembly on the state Of the
country and their declaration respecting
Loyalty and the duty of uphOlding the
Federal Government on the part Of the
ministers and members Of the Church
This report was adopted by the Synod
In it the Synod say that the declaration
of the Assembly is contraryto the Word
of God, as that Word is Interpreted in the
Confession of Faith Of the Presbyterian
Church" And they further declare the
action of the Assembly to have been
purely political, and incompetent to a
spiritual court, and injurious and divisive
in its tendency. This, sir, was the man