Year: 1865

have been handed down to her, sealed by
the blood of her holy martyrs Of blessed
memory. And, sir, when | am persuaded
TO give my sanction to such an act, or to
submit to its enforcement, may my right
hand forget its cunning, and my tongue
cleave to the roof of my mouth.


Mr.. Moderator, | said awhile ago that in
the absence Of any clear and well-defned
standard Of loyalty" and in the constant
shifting of the standard both among church
men and statesmen, there was solid and
insupcrable objection against the passage
Of this order. Now, sir, / add that the
same objection lies with equal force against
the order as it respects the subject of Gree
dom. 1t leaves it entirely to the Board"
to settle the standard by which the loyal
ty," and freedom" necessary to be ap-
proved shall be determined Then, sir, it
will be requisite that this Board should
prepare a catechisn on these subjects of
loyalty and freedom, that our ministers
may have some guide in their preparation
for examination. And what are to be the
poinsts of inquiry on this vexed and COM
plicated subject of freedom? Is it to de-
nounce slavery as the sum of all vilainies?''
Is it to say that to hold slave is in itself
sin and the STAKEHOLDER criminal? Is
it to believe and hold that slavery is the
root of all evil u and makes a man rebel,
murderer and an assassin! is it to ap-
emancipation in our midst, of the whole
slave population Of the country? Is it to
belive the Emancipation Proclamation
TO have been inspired of God, and to be re-
ceived by the church as an expression of
His holy will for her guidance, to be en-
forced with fire, and sword, and excommu-
nication, and Imprisonment, and death? Are
these, or such like these, to be made the
excruciatory points of inquisition now? If
SO, wish to know if the matter is to stand
at this, or to change with the advance of
the so-called spirit Of freedom?" Sir, we
are 'progressive?' have understood that
there is memorial in circulation here for
signatures asking this Assembly to give an
preston in favor Of negro suffrage. " Well,
sir, is this to be made a point in the new
catechisms Of loyalty and freedom?' Why
not, sir; and even more than this? In the
present stage of this movement surely no
questions could be more pertinent than such
as these:


Are you in favor of immediate and per-
feet civil and social equality between the
white and blacks.


Are you in favor of using the negroes to
keep down the Roman Catholics?


Are you in favor of negro suffrage?


Are you in favor Of matrimony between
whites and blacks?


Let US know at least something about this
catechism of freedom to be used by the
Board, before we give them both the au-
thority to make it and the power to enforce
it as test of the fitness Of Presbyterian
minister to preach the Gospel of Christ TO
the Presbyterians Of Georgia and Missis
sippi.


Mr.. Moderator, l must now leave this
subject to the decision Of this Assembly.


have endeavured TO set it bUfUre them i'll


something like its true nature and influence,


as it appears to me, in the light Of the best


rules Of Judging, am able to apply to it.


| feel indeed conscious Of how inadequatey


| have succeeded in expressing the views |
entertain upon the subject; and how far |


have, come short of reaching to its full mag.


nitude and importance. Yet have aimed
only at attaining the ends of truth and right
eousness. | am conscious to myself of be-
those of the deepest love and loyalty to my
good of the Church of my fathers and the
glory Of our Lord Jesus Christ, the sole
lawgiver and king. My brother DIR. Lord
has said that we from Kentucky are not
capable of judging in such a question a.
this, because Of oursympathies? And if our
sympathies, who come from State where
brothers and sons and fathers have fallen
upon the same bloody field in tratricidal
strife incapacitate us from judging in
this matter, how, sir, are brethren who come
from other scenes of horror and sadness
with Their sympathies, any more capable OF
Judging? The sentiment Of the brother Is
founded in an utter fallacy, which would
dehumanize a man as condition of his be-
ing able to judge respecting the principles
of justice and the claims of humanity
For my own part, as much as in me lies, |
have from the beginning of this sad con-
flict aimed to rise above the fierce passions
raging around me, and to avoid, as a min
lister the Gospel of Peace, being so indenti-
fed with either of the contcnding parties
as would preclude my ministering to the
souls of each in the consultations of that
Gospel. And it has been my mournful
privilege to sit by the side of mothers whose
sons had fallen upon the same battlefield
as foemen, and to speak words of comfort
to them both from the same blessed Bible.
| am loyal to my country, and am loyal to
Christ. And it is because am so that l
am standing up here to speak thus in the
presence of this venerable Assembly. 1t Is
because am thus loyal that | now entreat
them to pause to consider well what they
are about to do, to stop before they take
step full of consequences, so far-reaching
and so full of peril. Brethren, take not
this fatal plunge.


l thank the Assembly for its patient at
tention.