tuncised" and commanded "to keep the law of j
.Moses and alter grave discussion and inves
tigation, "the apostles and eiders, and the whole
church" came to their decision, and wrote as
found Acts 15, chapter 22—*9 verses, the last i
two of which we will quote: *For it seemed
good to the Holy Ghost, ami to us. to lay upon
you no greater burden than these necessary
things: Tlnit ye abstain from meats offered to
idols, and front blood, and from tilings strangled,
anu fro in fornication : from which if ve keep
yourselves, ye shall do well, rare ve well."
Some fine writer expresses the true opinion sub- ,
stantiaily thus : "Christianity in its mission
.seeking access to all countries, did not interfere j
with the civil institutions of any : hut left to its 1
influence the counteraction and destruction ol
all evil and wrong."
3d. In the absence of direct authority on the
subject, it is ple.nl, that the spirit and genius of
Christianity—its teachings—the law of love it
inculcates—the golden ruie embodied in it, "as
ye would that others should do unto you do ye
even so to them," is against slavery ;. and, by
consequence, sluveholdi ng should not be allow
ed to exist in (he church—hence the propriety
of the test.
We admit that Christianity is the great re
storer and elevator of our race, and must ulti
mately accomplish its object in the destruction j
of all error and evil, and become tfie universal ;
regenerator of mankind. Had its influence j
and power been permitted to operate unobstruc
ted upon the vexed question of slavery, there is
no telling what the result would have been at
this time. As it is. with all the embarrassments
thrown in its way, it has done much to benefit
the African rate in this country. They, or
their ancestors, were brought here heathens,
and, through the preaching of the Gospel, the
minds of man v of them have been enlightened,
their son Is have been converted, and, after liv
ing piauslv, tlrev have died triumphantly and
gone to Heaven. It would he the greatest
blessing tfiat could fall upon slaves—a perfect
jubilee to all their friends—il the law o! love
untrammelled were allowed to operate in their
behalf. Their interests are not promoted by
such measures as the chapter in discussion.
The golden rule referred to must not be constru
ed as an abstraction. It isto operate upon society
as it is organized, in its civil and social condi
tion, and is, therefore, relative in its bearing.—
It is a very easy tlung to declaim against slave- ,
rv as against the law of nature, the law ol God,
and the inalienable rights of man ; but that is i
not tlie question. It is not slavery in the ab- j
stiact, or slavery it) the Roman Empire, or sia- j
very in the Apostolic Church, or even slavery
m it exists in the I . S., placed as it is under the ;
sanctions of municipal law, in several ol tile
States, but slavery as connected with the Meth
odist Episcopal Church—that is the real ques
tion, Many of our members hold slaves, and
hold them under the protection of the Consti
tution of the Church. What shall be done
with them ? Shall we Tt Christianity do its i
own work for master and slave, or shall we 1
step in and pass a !"st that will exclude the for
tnei from our communion, for which there is
no w arrant. There is a vast difference between
slavery as u system and slave-holders in the cir
cumstances in which tltn/ are placed in slave- ■
holding States. The latter may be defended
if the former may not. As members of our;
church thevnmav a rid ought to be defended in
the enjoyment of ail the rights and privileges ;
guaranteed to them by our Discipline.
4th. Misguided zeai and philanthropy, how
ever well meant, however honest and upright
those are who act under their influence, often
do serious and irreparable harm, even to a good
cause. Of this chaiacter is the measure under
consideration. We readily grant what we hon
estly believe is the fact, that the projectors of'
this movement and its supporters are actuated
by conscientious motives, that they really think
the adoption of the unknown and novel term
of membership they propose vviil he promotive
o; th • interests of lite Church. We know iti
would be most disastrous. Let us be admonish
ed, sir, bv tlie teaching of Christ as given in
the parable of the tares and good seed : who in
response to the Disciples who asked if they
should "go and gather up the tares," said "nav.
lest while ve gather up the tares, ye root up
also the wheat with them." God has sown
good seed into the vineyard of this world : by
some means, evils have been scattered broad- •
cast also : and, if you choose, slavery may b
numbered among them. Great indignation is i
felt at it in many quarters: great efjotls are
used to root it out : and to do so, or help to do
so, a new regulation must be made, in the opin
ion of some, by this general Conference, to turn
converted slave-holders out of the Church.—
Anil what favorable influence could that exert
towards removing slavery from the country ?
That would be rooting up the wheal with the
tares. There is good seed fn slave Territory.—
They are found anions converted slave-holders,
very many of whom I know, and of whom it is
hut justice to say that in all that makes up
Christian character, of doctrine, experience,
and practice —in all the exhibitions ot the
ti nits of righteousness and true pietv tliev are in
no sense of degree behind the chiefest of their
brethren in any part of the Church, or country,
or world.
I do rrot agree with brother Hosmer, who, if
he has been rejioited correctly, affirms that
neither slaves nor slave-holders can be Chris
tians. 1 know better in both cases. I have]
been with the slave when converted to God,
and when dying, I have heard the ringing
shout, and helped in it, when he was passing!
trom earth to Heaven. I have seen masters and 1
slaves in the same meeting rejoicing together in
the love of God. I have seen and heard the
slave on the stand at camp-meeting exhorting j
with great power and effect, while the master, j
standing by my side, in high and delighted ex- i
citement, exclaimed go ahead Tom, I know
you, I have confidence in you, you are right.")
I shall never forget thai scene. Don't Ml me j
that slaves can't he Christians—that slave-hol- j
tiers can't be Christians. Thank God. 1 know
better.
I understand the teaching of Christ, in tlie
parable o! the tares, to mean that there are
some evils in society ol such character and in
such relations, that to use violence or harshness
in their eradication, will do more harm than
good. They must beef-alt with prudently and
cautiously, and with th- use of the proper
means. Such T regard slavery. If is not to be
reached by violent efforts—they stir up opposi
tion—much less can it be effected by ecclesias
tical rules and regulations, excluding members
from church fellowship: these won!:! onlv
make tlie case worse.
Perhaps I may be called a pro-slavery man
a defender ol it as a divine institution, lam
not. I treat it as a practical, u>t a theoretical
ouestion, and I am utterly opposed to measures
founded upon it. as concurred in the abstract
merely. Mv reliance is upon God and the Gos
pel.
sth. The divine administration, as seen in the
workings of Providence in human affairs, fur
nishes abundant instruction for our guidance
in dealing with this great question. Evils are
permitted by Providence in church and State,
wholly inscrutible to its. Took at the pomp
and pride, costly vestures, costly ceremonies,
atul the extravagance of so called prelates and
ministers, who profess to be representatives of
the meek and lowlv Jesus, and successors of
the Apostles! I/xik at the horrid rarricatures ;
the miserable mockery of religion t>y vast num
bers who profess it, who crowd vout cathedrals
and costly churches, nod prate their church
manship merely to carry out the behests of
fashion, and give them, as thev call it, position
in society. When I contemplate these things,
sir, and the huge corruptions of Christianity,
and worse than sham representations of the re
ligion of the cross, I am amazed that God lias
not long since, bv some signal stroke ol Provi
dence, upturned the whole, and dashed it into
a thousand fragments ! But he has not done so.
He tolerates these evils in the church, and
seems to leave to the operation of causes other
than special interference by himself, the cure
and remedy of them.
Providence seems in the government of the
world to overrule if not employ one evil to
correct another. How else can we account for
the exterminating wars waged by the Jews
against the Cananites by the express command
of God, in which women and children were
doomed to death as well as those who fought in
battle, all old arid vouug, mafo and female that
foil into the hands of the Jewish conquerors
were slain. Taking an abstract view of these
transactions they are abhorrent ; as connected,
however, with Hie design and purpose of God
to destroy idolatry, to eradicate it completely
from among men, they wear a totally different
character, and Mr. Gibbon's slur in commenting
upon them that "Moses" God appears to have
been a God of cruelty" is a slander. These
wars were on evil unquestionably but idolatry
was a much greater evil in everv respect, and it
was right to correct the tatter by the former. —
The principle here stated is a leading one in
the administration of Providence, conspicuous
in the general affairs of the world, and is seen
in the overruling the ambition and action of
wicked agents, to accomplish his own purposes
as in the case of Gyrus, Alexander and others.
Thesame law holds good in physics. Do not
physicians to cure disease give one poison to
expel another ? And how do I know, sir,—
how do you know, how does any body know
hut that Providence will overrule the enslaving
of the African race in this country, to the e
vangelization of the vast continent of Afi ica ?
and connected with this grand result who
knows hot what he uses the instrumentality of
converting stave holders to get the gospel among
the slaves, that they mav be prepared atul qual
ified to lake part in this glorious enterprise.—
Certain it is that this religious element in the
slave holding States has operated the bettering
the condition of the slaves. This gives them
the Gospel—the Word ot God ; blesses them
with many advantages of civilization, and this
it is that prepares them to found on the shores
of their ancestors republican governments; to
plant there Ihp banner of the Gross which is
destined lo wave in triumph over regenerated,
redeemed Africa. With all this looming up in
bright prospective shall the General Confer
ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church come
forward and impose an impediment by cutting
olTall slaveholders from her communion? Who
have been the principal instruments of benefit
ting the condition of t fie colored people ? Meth
odist preachers and Methodist members. This
is eminently true in that portion of slave territo
ry retained under the jurisdiction of the Balti
more Conference, and I doubt not it is equally
true of other portions. 1 mean, sir, no dispar
agement to other branches of the Christian
Church, when f say that Methodism has heen
the main instrumentality in carrying the light
oftrulh to the descendants ol Afiica in these
Grilled States. Shall it be put out ? Pass the
measure before you,sir, and you do ail in your
power to accomplish this undesirable end.
Why, sir, there is one single feature in tlie
administration of the Baltimore Conference that
has exerted incalculable influence upon the in
terests of colored people, and the provisions in
the discipline upon which it is founded is left
out of the report of the committee altogether, I
allude to tlie course to be pursued when a trav
elling preacher becomes the owner of a slave by
any means. By the faithful enforcement of that
regulation no preacher of the Baltimore Con
ference is a slaveholder. We have kept it out
of the annual Conference.
6th. This whole matter, sir, is to be met and
controlled bv moral power solely, none other
is competent to it. I take the position though
it may appear a hold one, that moral principle
is neither created nor evolved from either civil
or ecclesiastical legislation. ft comes from a
higher source, and is rarely if ever aided in its
purpose by measures of human invention. The
strength is in the principle itself, which will
work its way and elfecf its results as "leaven in
the meal." It reaches the conscience of man,
an empire beyond the sphere and inaccessible to
physical force and stringent enactments in
Church or State. It is the moral power of the
Gospel which achieved such triumphs in the
days "t the Apostles, which revolutionised pa
gan Rome, and planted the banner of the cross
on the throne of the Caesars. The same poten
tial influence gave us the reformation. Never
since the Apostolic times was it so conspicuous.
In thp age of darkness, and the universal dom
ination of the Papacy, Martin Luther, an hum
hie monk, brought to the knowledge of the
truth—dared to proclaim it—to post his theses
on the Church edifice at Witternburg, which
put the ball of the Reformation in motion that
subsequently rolled over Europe, crushing Ro
manism, and diffused its light to this new hem
isphere. The career of Luther furnishes a brill
iant illustration of the point we make. With
the ecclesiastical and civil [lowers against bim
tbe Pope fulminating his Hulls of excommunica
tion, and the swordsof great potentates pointed
at him, lie maintained his position, armed with
the simple weapons of truth. Summoned to
appear before the Diet at Worms, his friends
remonstrated against his going there, which
drew fiuin him the brave declaration, indicative
of genuine moral courage, "I'll go to Worms,
if there be as* many Devils there as lilrsupon
tu- 5 roofs of the houses." The journey of tlus
immortal man from VV ittemburg to Worms was
the grandest moral spectacle Europe ever wit
nessed. His route lav through countries under
th- dominion of the Pope, and yet it was a tri
umphal march! Arrived at Worms, we find
hini before the Diet, in the presence of Charles
■he V., the greatest monarch of his time, the
Pope's '' gate anJ other potentates and high
dignitaries. Standing alone in that august as
sembly w hen interrogated as to his doctrines he
liofdlv declared them and adhered to them. —
His position in that hour was not surpassed in
moral grandeur by that of Paul before the
Areopogites on Mar's Hill, nor in peril by that
of Daniel in the lions' den ? What sustained
him—what clenched the jaws of these lions'?
The cause he advocated—the moral power ol
his theme that shielded him like an impene
trable F.gis ! Had Luther depended upon | hy
sical force, of which he had none, comparison
with his enemies, or upon human appliances,
himself and his cause had perished at once !
It was the moral power of the reformation that
gave it success. Shall we, sir, shut otir eyes
to these lessons of experience and try an expe
dient w hose only effect w ill he to dohnim and
to destroy an instrumentality which has done
great good, and that, too, hy enacting a term of
■membership for the Church, not only uncalled
fir, but heretolbre unknown in the body of
Christ, save the exception ashore referred to.
7th. In this discussion, Mr. President, repea
ted allusions have heen made to the fathers, and
their strong anti-slavery views and measures.
Well, sir, I veneialethe fathers, they were un
questionably honest in their convictions. I hey
pressed their opinions to the utmost. But
what did they accomplish ? They admitted
slavery into the church, and they lelt it there
after all their efforts in regard to it. Why did
they not remove it—why did they entail it up
on us ? They accomplished everything else
they attempted. They spread scriptural holi
ness over these lands. They were tlie means
not only of gathering together and building up
the Methodist church, but ol reviving other
churches. Nothing seemed to stand before
them. Why is it, we ask again, that these em
inently holy men, with all their opposition to
it, and all their zeal to get rid of it, did not de
stroy slavery or get it out ol the Church? It
was not because they hod backslidden. Fran
cis Asburv was not a backslider, nor was Wil
liam McKendree, nor were their associates
backsliders. Whv, we repeat once more, did not
the fathers with their strong arm and powerful
voice, sweep this great evil, as it is designated,
from the Methodist church? Simply beaivse
ihty could not do if unless they gave up the
South altogether. They could not uproot civil
authority and civil law. They were met bv a
barrier they could not overleap or remove.
Ami they knew also that if they removed it
from the church, it would not lessen slavery
nor the number of slaves—they could not get
it out of the country. So it will be now, it
you were to adopt a regulation excluding every
slave holder from the Methodist Episcopal
Church the only point that would be reached is
this; it would exclude the church from every
inch of slave territory without liberating one
slave or diminishing slavery in the least.
Our fathers with all their zeal against sla
very, when they found they could not control
it, did not leave us in the discipline non-slnve
fiolding 3s a term of church membership. I
hope, sir, we shall profit by their example in
this respect.
Slavery is not weakened l>v such means. The
division of the Church, grow In? out of the ac
tion of the General Conference ol 18+4, thu'
I approve that action, and the organization of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, conse
quent thereon, lias certainly not lessened sla
very in the least degree in that section of the
South embraced in its boundary. I helieve it
will he admitted by the b"st friends of that
Cnurch that its organization, under the circum
stances, has greatly strengthened that institu
tion ; and to what extent a similar result will
be produced by an action of this body that will
sever the Church again. T will not venture to
predict. I throw out the suggestion for the
calm and deliberate consideration of the friends
of the new chapter on slavery reported bv the
majority of the committee.
1 liave stiiriiousiy avoided brinoinjr the Hihle
into this discussion. The time was, sir, when
it was not referred to in this connection, and f
will express my profound regret that that bless
ed Hook has been drawn into the argument. I
look upon it as a revelation of facts as well as
of doctrines; and that its references to shtverv,
particularly in the New Testament, come under
the former class: and finding it in existence it
prescribes the duties to he observed hy master
and slave in their respective relations, without
intending to sanction the institution itself.
i . The measure reported by the majority of
the committee on slavery is schismatic in char-
acter and tendency. I mean by srhism, the in
| terpretation of the word given bv Dr. Campbell,
quoted by Watson, as follows: "Dr. Campbell
shows that the word schism does not usually
signify an open separation, but that men may be
guilty of schism by such an alienation of af
fection from their brethren as violates the inter
; rial union in the hearts of christians though
j there be no error in doctrine nor separation from
communion," which Paul condemns, Ist Corinthians,
i 1 chapter JO verse, and 1 tith chapter 25th verse. J
am not insensible, sir, to the value of ecclesiastical
ties; but what are they in comparison to the bonds
: which unite the heart- of believers by faith and love
in the body of Christ ? Of what avail will the for
mer be it the latter be destroyed ! Nothing short of
dire necessity will justify such a result. What have
; we done, sir, in the Baltimore Conference to provoke
I the application of oppressive measures ? We are not
agitators. We stand precisely where we did when
we became an integral part of the Methodist Epi-co
pal Church. What have our peop!e ilonp I In ISI4
jwe stood by the usages ot the Church. The innova
j tion then came from the South in an attempt to force
I slavery into a relation in the church it had never
previously occupied. We resisted it. There sits Ihe
man, (Uev. Alfred Griffith) a delegate of the Balti
more Conference, who, in conjunction with the la
mented Davis, took the first step to prevent slaverv
from going into the Episcopacy. Subsequently to
1841 we passed through a severe struggle to main
tain oi;r position. Had we bepn timid or unfaithful
to our tru-t, our path had been an easy one. We
passed through the strife, 10-ing some of our mem
bers and a fraction ot our territory. In that contest
we said to our people, as we supposed we were auth
orized to say, the book will remain as it is. Our en
emies published it everywhere iri public and private
the next step will be to make mi-'WoUmo
a term of membership, and exclude all slave holders
from the Church. We resisted this as an unjust and
unmerited aspersion of our brethren. The disci
pline, unchanged on the subject of slavery, is the
doctrine we held up; pn which the battle was fought
and the victory won. Will you disappoint our hopes
and contradict our declarations ? Will you send us
back to enter upon n new conflict? tSir, our people
will not bear it—nor ought they.
There, sir, stands the Baltimore Conference, vene- '
rable for age ; strong in the confidence of the com- j
inanity ; warm in the affections of her people; distin
giiished for her usefulness; there she stands, true to j
her principle-, preserving the type of ancient Meth- I
odiam ; calmly pointing to the many, redeemed thro' ;
the instrumentality of persons in the gospel; there i
she stand-, having done a- much, if not more, than
any other body, in planting the" tree of Methodism,
in the virgin -oil of this country—cultivating it un
til it has attained its majestic proportions— -preadiii"
abroad its branches, east, west, north and sooth,
covering the laud. Her son- in the go-pel, wpre on :
the pioneer wave of emigration that rolled over the
Alleghenjes, and broke upon the Mississippi valley;
they followed it still as it gatheied afresh anil cross
ed ihe Uorky Mountains, and reached the shores of)
the Pacific, in the great valley ami in California,
they met the first settlers, in their new homes, and
preached to them the "Gospel of the stare of God."
1 might appeal to the mighty West, whom we
have aided somewhat in their march c>f improvement
tor this world and the next; to New England, in
v\ hose mil the seeds of Methodi-m were tirsf sown
by preachers from Maryland and Virginia; to the
middle conferences, who stand with ns in sentiment
and sympathy ; to the north, north-west, and all to
come to the rescue, and save the church from the
calamity that threatens her from the pending meas
ure. I would that I had the power to wake up the
old Methodist feeling—the work wonld be done. By
the evangelical doctrines of Methodism; by the com
mon labot for it common good ; by the precious rec
ollections and memories of the past; by our present
favorable condition; by the cheering hopes and pros
peels of the future; by love of Union in the body of
Christ; by a sacred regard for his glory; by a prop
er dread tor schi-in; by the untold hurtful conse
quences that will inevitably ensue, venture not upon
so dangerous an expedient. Ido not speak thus in
the spirit of rotcard/y truckling I'car or beggiug/y.
Not at all. But us a minister of the gospel of the
Son of God. as one who is anxious to preserve the
peace and maintain the union of the Church.
Mr. 1' resident, 1 have always been the friend of
the colored man. I have tailored with them and tor
tliein, as a minister, and at home and abroad defend
ed them in their rights and privileges in The church,
to the utmost extent they can with propriety and
safety be granted them. 1 believe I have their con
fidence and respect. I hail a touching instance of
this, among many others, that 1 will state. More
than a year since I had occasion to visit a sick son,
sojourning, tor the time, in Fauquier county, Virgin
ia. My time was limited. I could stay with him
only a night, and passed the second night at a near
connexions in Loudoun county, ft was necessary for
me to reach Harper's Ferry by a certain hour to take
the cars to get to my work in time; and as I had to
pass through a section of country w here I was well
known, and especially Hill-boro', to prevent deten
tion on the way, 1 started very early in the morning;
passed on very well and uninterruptedly until I got
through Ilillsboro', when a colored woman stopped
me with the interrogatory—isn't that .loin/ A. Col
lins? Yes, saiil I. Well, said she. yon must .-top
and see my mamma ? And who is she,said 1 / Why,
she replied, don't you remember old Alo/ly, that
once lived with Mrs. Parker? Oh, yes. said I. very
well; and the nine days' meeting we held at Arnold
Grove, years past, at which scores were converted,
came fresh to memory, and old Molly, too. Where
is she, I asked ? Up there, she responded, pointing
to several smatl hoo-es. and ran to them and gave
the information, and Molly, and all the household
turned out and gave us a cordial greeting; the old
lady, indeed, warming up to a regular shout. We
spent a moment or so and passed on. Presently we
camp to the residence of a friend, and a- we were
passing the barn a colored man stepped out, looked
surprised,and finally said, '-is that John A. Collins I"
Yes, I replied. Well, said lie, I mu-t shake your
hand. Oitainly, I replied, and we tooka good hear
ty shake hands.
Thinking on the-e scenes as J rode along. I thought
to myself—l would not exchange th /t nam*, humble
and untitled as it i-—embalmed in the recollections
and memories of these poor colored people, because 1
had been instrumental in doing them good, for the
brightest gem "that created fortune wears," or the
proudest title worn hy any favored son of earth. It
is a monument of laith and love, never to be thrown
down, but will stand in eternity.
Now, sir, for the reasons above given, and others
might have been added to them, 1 am opposed to the
measure before lis. 1| passed by this body, i f will
carry ruin and destruction into the church. To a
dopt the sentiment of a great man, uttered in an
other capitol, and in reference to another object, I
will say in conclusion, 1 wish, ardc ot ly iri * It . never
to see the Methodist Church divided violently rent
asunder—cut np into fragments, its identity destioy
ed ; but that tier union may be indissoluble in doc
trine, sentiment, love and practice; and on the dis
cipline a> it i< on the vexed question ol slavery,—
now and forever, one and inseparable.
THE BEDFORD GAZETTE.
Urdford, .Duly 4, 1856.
G. W. Bowman, Editor and Proprietor
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE!!!
FOR PRESIDENT,
llo\. JIIIES BKTIIMN,
OF PENXSVLV A XIA.
FOR VICE PRESIDENT,
HON. JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE,
OF KF.N'ITCKY.
DEMOCRATIC STATE TICKET.
('ana/ Commissioner,
GEORGE SCOTT.
. lath tor Hen era/,
JACOS FRY, JR.
Surve.yor General,
COL. JOHN ROWE, (of Franklin county,)
(Subject to the decision of the State Convention.)
The 4j>iif*teafii ol" Slavery.
Speech of* Rev. Joins A. Collins.
!I7*We make no apology lor occupying upwards of
nine columns of the Gazette of to-day, with the
speech of Rev. l)r. COLI.INS before the Conference of
the M. F.. Church at Indianapolis, on the proposed
change of Ihe discipline of the Church in relation to
slave-holding by ils members—for we look upon it
as one of the ablest speeches ever delivered in the
United States on this subject. Everybody should
read it, and especially those church members who
consider it the first duty of their religion to join the
ABOLITIONISTS in their incendiary attempts to
dissolve this glorious Union. As long as this speech
is, i o Trading man will commence it without reading
it through, neither will he fail to hand it to his
neighbor to read. The Baltimore American publish-
es this great paper at length, and speaks of it in the
following terms:
The speech will command the attention of all who
have watched the introduction of the slavery ques
tion as a discordant element into our religious asso
ciations, and is not without interest to the general
reader. The slavery agitation has become tbe all
pervading topic of national consideration. It occu
pies Congress to the exclusion ot more legitimate
subjects of legi-lation, is the shibboleth of contending
parties, has alienated the social sympathies of the
people of the two sections of the country, and even
seeks to enter the hou-e of God, and forbid those
holding different sentiments in relation to it ftom
worshipping together in union and accord. It is a
matter toy grateful recognition that its last efforts in
this way have been defeated. In tbe two assemblies
of the Presbyterian Church, and in the Central Con
lerence of the Methodist Church, all recently held,
the question of union with slave-holders was debated
earnestly and with the apparent deleiruination, at
least upon tbe part of some, of making it tbe cause
of separation. These efforts, however, were defeat
ed not less by the moderation and jo-tice of those
holding opposite views than by the ability with
which their views w ere presented, and, in the case
of the Methodist Episcopal Conference, ;he address
of Dr. Collins was generally recognized as among
the mo-t powerful of the means there used to avert
the catastrophe. Its moderate and conciliatory tone,
and strongly developed argument, challenged the re
spect anil consideration of the Conference.
DISSOLUTION OF THE UNION !
Philadelphia Noca, heretofore recognized
as one of the leading organs of the Whig party, in its
isue of last Monday morning, boldly and unqualified
ly asserts that the "objects and purposes of Black
Republicanism are oi a sectional character, and that
all its tendencies are, sooner or later, to DISSOLVE
THE UNION'!" In a speech recently made by
MILUSBD FrLt.MORt:, he makes the same startling
charge. The people have no secuiily but in the
election of the Democratic nominees, and to this
point all lovers of our glorious institutions should
exert their noblest energies.
Presidential.
C~7" ihe following* exhibits the stock off candi
dates on band lor the Presidency, and their political
affinities : „ _ j
DEMOCRATIC.
President. Vice Pre,ident.
James Cuehanan, Pa. J. C. Ky. I
RF.PUBLICAN (Abolition No. J.)
John C.Fremont, S. C. W. L.Dayton, N. J.
KNOW NOTHING.
Millard Fillmore, N. V. A. J. Donnelson, Term.
KNOW NOTHING BOLTERS.
J. C. Fremont, S. C. Win. F. Johnston, Pa. i
KNOW NOTHING SUB-BOLTE.RS.
It. F. Stockton, N. J. K. Raynor, N. C.
ABOLITION No. 2.
Gerrit Smith. N. Y. S. McFarlaml, Pa.
YOLrNTEF.It K. NOTHING.
Sum lion-ten.
The above is no visionary picture, no mere phati- ;
torn ol' irnmagination, but a tine clarification of
the several Presidential candidates as they are now
before thp country. In a lew days a convention of
Old Lint- Whigs is to assemble in Louisville, when, j
perhaps, another nomination will be made! What i
once was known as the Whig Party, is now out up j
into seven distinct factions, each entertaining a bit- !
ter hatred toward the other. You have the Republi- j
can, Know Nothing, Know Nothing P.rdters, Know ;
Nothing Sub-Boltei s, Abolition, and volunteer Know '
Nothing organizations, and honest men are asked to
support thern, not from any principle involved in the j
case, but simply to give office hunters an oppoitunity
to plunder the Government. On the other hand, the
Democrats from Ea-t to West, from the centre to the
circumferenee of the United States, have united to a
man upon JAMES BUCHANAN and J. U. BRECK
INRIDGE, two of the most eminent Slate-men now
living.
Freemen, choo-e ye between them. All who
want Peace. Prosperity, and a Sound currency, will
vote for BUCHANAN and BRECKINRIDGE. Those
who want tnhite men turned into SLAVES because
they were born on another -oil—arid rotund slaves
turned loose to swarm the land, will vote for one
brunch or the other of the opposing candidates rep
resenting the above factions.
The resolutions of the Democratic Comity Con
vention give a cord.al invitation to all those Demo
crats who left us under a false impre-sion, to return
to their first love—and they al-o extend the hand of
sincere friendship to those old line whig- who have
kept themselves unspotted fioui tbe taint of Know
Nothiugisin. Decide, theiefore, and ACT.
THr DEMOCRATIC COUNTY CONVENTION.
! proceeding- of llic Democratic Convention
! ot' Bedford County, which met in tin-place on la.-t
Tuesday, week, will be found in the Gazette o! to-day.
! 'l'he resolutions are written with force and ability;
! and, emanating from a body composed of the very
; be-r men in Bedford County, thev are entitled to the
! full consideration of the people. I.et the Demorra
! cy act with the determination which our cause de
! mands, and success is certain. The County Corn
; mittee will soon announce the times and places f.ir
holding Town-hip meetings, and it is hoped tl.ev
will he largely attended. Messrs. JOHN CESSNA,
| WM. I'.SClir.LL,J+>B MANN, S. H. TATE, WIL
SON KKILV, O. E. SHANNON, WM. M. HALL,
G. H. SPANG, JOHN P. REED, JOSEPH W.
TATE, and GEO. W. BOWMAN, (or some ot them,)
| w ill certainly be present at all the meetings. Other
■ sneaker- will be announced hereafter.
1
BH7 J "MR. 111.NSHAW.— Betore our paper went to
! press last week, (but too late for collection,) Mr.
| RKI.II, a member of our Bar, informed us that he
thought we were mistaken in denominating Mr.
| REVSHAW , about whom we were speaking, a Lawyer.
He was of opinion that he is not a member oi the
i profession. VVe make the correction, because we
i de.-igri t<> say nothing in our paper, during the cam
; paign. that wo do not conscientiously believe to be
| strictly true. The tact oi his being a lawyer, how
: ever, was no point in our remarks- That Mr. R. is
: qualified to adorn any jna/rssion, both by nature and
i education, is not the subject of doubt by any who
know him. A gentleman of large fortune, and hand
some accomplishments, he has heretofore been one
of the leading and active Win is ol the country but
i so disgusted ha- be become With the operations ol
i Know Nothiilgism and h ad- Republicanism, that he,
' like thousands of other influential Whigs, has taken
adecided stand in favor of BUCHANAN and DE
MOCK AC V.
SIKVEVUU GENERAL.
; E7"Hon. TIMOTHY IVES having tendered his decli
j nation to the State Central Committee, at their last
i meeting, as the nominee of the Democratic party for
| Surveyor Geueial, the Committee have called upon
I the late Ith of March Convention, to re-us-eitible in
| Chanibersburg on the Olh day cl August,to nominate
i a candidate to till the vacancy thus created—arid
; many indications seem to point unerringly to Col.
i JOHN ROM E, of Franklin, as the man. lie combines
all the qualities of a sterling democrat and an honest
• man, and possesses every qualification lor a faithful
i discharge ol the duties ot the oliice. No better or
I more popular man can be found in the Common
wealth,and we most sincerely hope and trust that he
; will be nominated by acclamation. We place ins
] name at the bead of our paper, subject, of cour?o. to
the decision of the Convention.
DC7"It will be seen by reference to ottr advertising
columns, that Capt. JACOB REKI> ba> removed his
store to the room he has so elegantly fitted up inline
diately opposite the Bedford Hotel, and formerly oc
cupied by I'eter Radebatigh, w here he is ready to
wait upon all who favor him with a call. The Cup
tain is a clever man and good citizen, and deserves to
be encouraged.
CJ- MANNY'S COM BIN KD REAPER AND
MOWER —We invito the especial attention oi' the
Fanners ol' Bedford County to the advertisement of
A. DKABMITT, Esq. and Col. JACKSON, of Blair Coun
ty, in reference to the above Patent, which will be
found in the Gazette of to-day. From what is said
of it, we presume it is one of the greatest agricultu
ral inventions of the age. The Hollulay>burg pa
pers all speak of it in exalted terms, after having
witnessed its practical operations. Mr. DeArmitt
will, we learn, b in Bedford to-day (Thursday) with
the view of exhibiting it to those who feel interest
ed on the subject. All who are in favor of saving
labor in taking ott their harvest will give the matter
their attention.
"LOOK OUT FOB THE LOCOMOTIVE. — Mong our
principal Railways, at the crossings of turnpikes and
common roads, huge signboards nre erected, bearing
in large letters the caution "Look out for the Loco
motive." Taking a hint from the railway signboards,
and having a care for the safety of our political op
ponents, we I-Piterate the caution, "Look out for the
Locomotive." The Buchanan train is in motion,
and our Know Nothing friends had better keep off
the track if they don't want to be crushed. They
need not try to get on board. It's a "through train"
and won't stop to take up passengers.
COMPLIMENT TO HON. J. C. BKECKINUIDGE. —The
Old Line Whigs of the Ashland District, of Ken
tucky. have presented the lion. J. C. Breckinridge
with a hand-ome pair of hor-es "as an evidence of
their pride in their fellow-citizen, though of opposite
politics, and as a pledge of their confidence in the
coming administration ot which he w ill he a promi
nent member."
KSSOV .NOTHING WITHDRAW U N:
iTT-Tbe Georgia Time, an ,l Sentinel 0 f j un *
ISTS6, contain, the name* of SJXTY-TURj f■"
b<-r- of a Know Nothing Lodge, app , r „], d , ,
J able address, m which they lorever
j midnight order. J bey close with the f0110w,,,-
agrsiph : " e par
"VVe, there;..re, recommend to our fellow
| the election of J.v*s BR. HANAN and Jon- (• 7 ' ns
j EN RIDGE a- P.eafde.H and Vice Pi. „de„i 01
• feil Stales, *' ' I
__
<•> l. lirniuu.
| 07- The following extract from a sp , Peh 0I „
; J HOS. 11. BUXTON, made at a meeting in St I , "
few days since, to ratify the nominations of Euria,,"
an and Breckinridge, will be read with great \
I by everybody; especially as bis son-in-law'
| posing eand:<late: ' •
"He said that he had been asked what fe . .
. to do, iuw that bi> &>oiwu-livv, 31 r. Fieoioi t '*
candidate for the Presidency t || e remaifced ts,V
had never asked loi a eovemrnent place lor h '
his family, and w hen i.e said a thing he v.,.;!,/?'
and when his countiy called loi bi- aid, I
]uo family tics—he nun hi rate and uui/ /" ti M, "/>'
j chut:,in in opposition to nil poetics, and li, e , r ,", ""
I 'iy "bre t^r^-'rraUuuJ, X
, union ava the C on*titt/fton tea* pt xtale. Up •
j vote for Mr. Buchanan, and called upon' eyV,/!',''
: present to put a -boulder to the wheel,not on! v .
! Inr the veteran statesman, but to give him their s°'"
j port in cariying out the great principles of til, i "'
| ocratio party. Mr. Buchanan, he said, w , s c „ t , ' "
j being elected, and the duties devolving upon . '
! the Chief Magistrate ot t his gloiinuv Kopot.i ;c v '
be far greater than that resting upon any i oltll '
ministration.*'
CE7" A correspondent of the Blair County tt'l
writing from Bedford, charges that the Be.dj a „(
zctte ha- been entirely silent on the subiect ot ti
"■Sumner Outrage," and th# "mar ia Kuusus." .
both the writer and the Editor knew better. •,,,'
gave currency to the paragraph with the evident
view of de.reiviiig their readers. The Bedford (;>
zette denounced the attack of BROOKS as stron]v -
any other paper in Pennsylvania or elsewhere—,
so denominated the speech of Mr. Sumner as a '
sue of blackguardism and scurrility inviting the bru
tal scene which followed. Both Brooks and Sua,,
tier have disgraced the trusts committed to tie r
bands.
On the "Kansas War" we repeat what we have
frequently said before, that the Abolition leader
(alias hhtrL Republicans,) are responsible for all the
outrages Ihat have been perpetrated in that territo
ry. Abolitionists were sent there, armed t 0 the
teeth with Sharp's Rifles, which certain Preacher
pronounced better than Bibles, to get up an ai.t,-
Slavery excitement by shooting down the actual se ._
tier- in attempting to form State Law- in accordance
with the Constitution ; and all for the expre- pur
pose of making capital against theDemorrarv it. p.e
approaching Presidential campaign. When th-
Know Nothings at St. Louis and Cincinnati shut
down men and women l.k'' mad dogs, becau-e they
had the rui-forrune to be bom in the old con.trv,
these mqrul negro worshippers had not a vwrJ c
condemnation to offer ! After the Presidential elec
tion is over the Kansas humbug "ill pa-s away like
the humbugs about the 17. States Bank, the Tariff,
the acquisition of California, and all the o! her hum
bugs that have characteriz-d the actions of our op
ponents during the last few y<-ai>. Freeimti vei
have been badly gulled heretofore. Don't -tiifi-r your
selves to be gulled into vorsln/ipeis of the black
race to the di-giace of your own color. Don't.
K7"The New York Herald, a warm advocate o
Col. Fiemoiit's nomination, says, after a lull -urw
of the political field, that it thinks --.Mr. Buck*!..
will he elected without much difficulty."
THE OLD-LINE VYUIGS.— Hon. IV. C. Preston, m
| Kentucky, forrnetly an old-line whig.stated at Cm-
J cinnati that Ihere were still tico hundred thonsai..!
old-line vvhigs, most oi w iion: would vote lor .Mi.
Buchanan.
Colonel Sim-, of Kentucky, another old-line whig,
stated that he and hundreds of otner old-line wu
would vote the democratic ticket this year.
FREMONT IN PENNSYLVANIA. — In the recent Hark
republican convention at Philadelphia. Mr. T. s i--
ven-, of Pennsy li an a, sa d that it any other mai
i than Judge McLean were nominated f r iV-i 1 - .
"Pennsvlvania would be lost by fifty thousand.''—
Judge McLean was not nominated. Pei.n-yliai ...
Ihereiure—according to black-iepnblican authority—
will give fifty thousand majority for Buchai an.
Hon. T'hacldeus St.-vens, the well-known ami
gacious politician of Pennsylvania, pionounced the
| fate of the republican cause upon the nomination M
Fremont. He declared that it would insuiethr si. -
cess of Buchanan in Pennsylvania bv a majority <>•
fifty thousand. Mr. Stevens was '.or Justice Mf-
Lean.
THE OI.D-LINE WHK.S OK CONNECTICI R. — TheA
nialgamat ion of the know-nothiiigs with the r-p' 1 -
bean- in Connecticut has lett the old line whigsru
alternative (su\ s the Journal of Conimetce) bat eith
er to abstain tioui takn.g any part in Hie pusid-i
--tial election, or uniting with the democrats ;u ttm
choice of Buchanan and Bieckinrii'ge. A largei.tim
ber oi them will adopt the latter course. An-or.g
those who have publicly taken this po-irion am t (l ■
Hazard, late chairman of the central whig roii.mil-
Tee ; Him. Charles Chapman, late u h.g nicinbcr •
Congress from the llurtfoid district; N. Morgan.
e-ij.; Hon. Philip S. Galpm, recently elect'd n-ay i
of New Haven by the democrats, and many other*-
C7*The following is an extract from ah tter re
cently received by a gentleman in Bedford lioui ' r -
Geo. 11. KEYSER, of Pitt-bnrg. ilis many liter -
here and elsewhere will read it with pleasure.
"1 rejoice To see the unanimity of which yot> sp"
in relation to Mr. Buchanan. He i- without
the very man indicated tor the present excited st.
of affairs. The confused and chaotic element*"PP°*
sed to t tie Democracy, now striving under diffeie ■
names for the rnasteiv, will find in iotri an imhiiii'
ing opponent, backed bv the people, who will can?
him triumphantly to the chief utitce in out glori""-
Republic. The (Constitution, as undeistood ly
who founded it. and ol^'course who understood t I < s'>
will find in hiro~*o ardent protector who will
it with jealous rare, and iepe| with patriotic in
ness, for which he has ever been ciist, .
attempts to weaken its tone, or niocei >ti; e
pages. He will bring with him into the cihrt
life-time of experience acquired in companion - - "ff
with the brightest intellects, ripened into "-**_' '
constant and active exercise in devotion to the
ests ol his country at home and ahtnad. He ]'
ntan for the times, and will fill the place exai- y
which the people moved by aw ise impul-e. are L
ing to elect him. Seveial "old line wiiig s
are out in his support, whilst the Democrats 1
are sanguine of a majority of fifty thousand i"'' 1
State, and calculate, with some reason, thai
gheny county will give him a majority.
OP-The address of the State Central C.unnnitee,
No. I, will appear next week.
Cy'l'he Fulton Democrat, Philadelphia New-,
Huntingdon Globe, all appear in new type, lovx-'o
as clean and neat as a dollar ju-t from the mint-
Wonrti KEMEXIBKRING. —Satsaparilla, or "' e
tract thereof, is a favorite prescription wtm 'j ,
our bpst physicians, und at this sea-ott largt }
to purify the blood, arid strengthen the '' pl ' ! 11 , j, .
The preparation manufactured by Mr. Ilurle)
city is universally admitted superior to an> 1 ia , alrfe
faryeais been offered to the public, and the 1 •
and increasing demand lully justifies the a--''
It is used with decided advantage in Sji-roln *• .
pepsia, Liver Complaint, Bronchitis, ( '■"
ease, and all affections arising lrom an '"'P .
weakened condition of the blood. Let no one
ceived into using any other. Lou- Times.
MARRIED:
On the 22d inst. near the Blue Knob, by '
N. E. Gilds, Mr. Daniel L. Bow-cr, to Mis' - '
ua Feathers, both of Blair Uo. Pa.