Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 2.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[398] of the Government of the Confederate States of America, and disregarding our rights, privileges, and duties as citizens thereof, enjoined our allegiance to, and support of, a Government foreign and hostile to our own, and required us not only to yield obedience to a political power which we, in common with our fellow-citizens of all classes and all churches, have disowned and rejected, but also to act as traitors and rebels against the rightful and legal authorities of the land in which we live;

And whereas, These resolutions of the General Assembly require us to continue united to a people who have violated the Constitution under which we were originally confederated, and broken the covenant entered into by their fathers and ours;

And whereas, The said action of the General Assembly in the United States of America demands of us, and of all members of the Presbyterian Church in the Confederate States, the approval and support of the wicked and cruel war now waged by the other States of tile former United States of America against the States and people of the Confederate States, against our fellow-citizens, against our friends and neighbors, against our own households and ourselves;

And whereas, We do most heartily, with the full approval of our consciences before our Lord God, unanimously approve the action of the States and people of the Confederate States of America; therefore,

Be it resolved by the Charleston Presbytery, 1. That the ecclesiastical relations heretofore subsisting between this Presbytery and the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America are dissolved; that we do not recognize the right or authority of the General Assembly to adopt the resolutions above referred to ; and that we disown and repudiate those resolutions, both in their letter and their spirit, as having no authority over us, and as entitled to no respect or consideration from us.

2. That, in the judgment of this Presbytery, it is expedient and necessary that the Presbyterian churches in the Confederate States should formally separate themselves from the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and establish a separate and independent ecclesiastical organization.

3. That this Presbytery heartily approves of the proposition for holding a Convention of all the Presbyteries in the Confederate States, for the purpose of considering this whole matter, securing the united and harmonious action of the whole Church, and devising and recommending such measures as may be necessary fully to organize the Church in the Confederate States.

4. That this Presbytery will proceed to appoint two ministers and two ruling elders, with alternates, to attend such Convention, who shall be authorized to advise and act with similar delegates appointed by other Presbyteries in the Confederate States, as in their judgment may seem best; the action of said delegates and of the Convention to be submitted to this Presbytery for its action thereon.

5. That this Presbytery prefers Atlanta, Ga., as the place, and the 15th of August next as the time, for the meeting of the proposed Convention; but that our delegates be authorized and instructed to meet at any time or place that may be agreed on by the majority of the Presbyteries appointing similar delegates, previous to the next stated meeting of this Presbytery.

John Douglas, Stated Clerk of Charleston Presbytery.

--Charleston Mercury, July 29.