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THE 
 
 AMERICAN CHURCHES, 
 
 THE BULWARKS 
 
 OF 
 
 AMERICAN SLAVERY. 
 
 BY AN AMERICAN. 
 
 J c\ * A c ^ '<*^ » i 1 e s p I e 
 
 I 
 
 SECOND AMERICAN EDITION, 
 
 . REVISED BY THE AUTHOR. 
 
 NEWBURYPORT : 
 
 PUBLISHED BY CHARLES WHIPPLE, 
 
 1842. 
 
. 3 
 
AMERICAN SLAVERY. 
 
 The extent to which most of the Churches in America 
 are involved in the guilt of supporting the slave system is 
 known to but few in this country.* So far from being even 
 suspected by the great mass of the religious community 
 here, it would not be believed but on the most indisputable 
 evidence. Evidence of this character it is proposed now 
 to present — applying to the Methodist Episcopal, the 
 Baptist, the Presbyterian, and the Protestant Episcopal 
 Churches. It is done with a single view to make the 
 British Christian public acquainted with the real state of 
 the case — in order that it may in the most intelligent and 
 effective manner exert the influence it possesses with the 
 American churches to persuade them to purify themselves 
 from a sin that has greatly debased them, and that threat- 
 ens in the end wholly to destroy them. 
 
 The following memoranda will assist English readers in 
 more readily apprehending the force and scope of the 
 evidence. 
 
 I. Of the twenty-six American States, thirteen are 
 slave States. Of the latter, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, 
 Missouri, and Tennessee (in part), are s\a.\e' selling States; 
 the States south of them are shv e-biiying and slave- 
 consuming States. 
 
 II. Between the slave-selling and slave-buying States, 
 the slave-trade is carried on extensively and systematically. 
 The slave-trader, on completing his purchases for a single 
 adventure, brings the gang together at a convenient point; 
 confines the men in double rows to a large chain running 
 between the rows, by means of smaller lateral chains 
 tightly riveted around the wrists of the slaves, and con- 
 
 * England— where this pamphlet was first published. 
 
noctcd with ilin principal chain. They are in this way 
 driven aloii^^ the lii<rli\vays, (the small boys, the women, 
 and *,Mrls foHowing,) without any release from their chains 
 till they arrive at the ultimate place of sale. Here they 
 occupy barracoons, till they are disposed of, one by one, or 
 in lots, lu lliose wiio will give most for them. 
 
 III. Ministers and office-bearers, and members of 
 churches are slave-holders — buying and selling slaves, 
 (not as the regular slave-trader,) but as their convenience 
 or interest may from time to time require. As a general 
 rule, the itinerant preachers in the Methodist church are 
 not permitted to hold slaves — but there are frequent ex- 
 ceptions to the rule, especially of late. 
 
 IV. There are, in the United States, about 2,487,113 
 slaves, and 380,001) free people of color. Of the slaves, 
 80,000 are members of the Methodist church; 80,000 of 
 the Baptist ; and about 40,000 of the other churches. 
 These church members have no exemption from being 
 sold by their owners as other slaves are. Instances are not 
 rare of slave-holdinji members of churches sellinor slaves 
 who arc members of the same church with themselves. 
 And members of churches have followed the business of 
 slave-auctioneers. 
 
 V. In most of the slave States the master is not per- 
 mitted fl)rmally to emancipate, unless the emancipated 
 person be removed from the State, (which makes the 
 formal act unnecessary,) or, unless by a special act of the 
 Icgishiturc. If, however, he disregard the law and permit 
 the slave to go at liberty and " do" for himself, the law—; 
 on the theory, that every slave ought to have a master to 
 see to him — directs him to be sold for the benefit of the 
 State. Instances of this, however, must be very rare. 
 The people are better than their laws — for the writer, 
 during a residence of more than thirty years in the slave 
 Slates, never knew an instance of such a sale, nor has he 
 ever heard of one that was fully proved to have taken 
 place. 
 
 VI. There is no law in any of the slave States for- 
 bidding the slave-holder to remove his slaves to a free 
 Slate; nor against his giving the slaves themselves a 
 '>ass" for that purpose. The laws of some of the free 
 Slates present obstructions to the settlement of colored 
 
persons within their limits — but these obstructions are not 
 insurmountable, and if the validity of the laws should be 
 tried in the tribunals, it would be found they are un- 
 constitutional. 
 
 VII. In the slave States a slave cannot be a witness 
 in any case, civil or criminal, in which a white is a party. 
 Neither can a free colored person, except in Louisiana. — 
 Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, (free States,) make colored 
 persons incompetent as witnesses in any case in which a 
 white is a party. In Ohio, a white person can prove his 
 own (" book") account, not exceeding a certain sum, by 
 his own oath or affirmation, A colored person cannot, as 
 against a white. In Ohio the laws regard all who are 
 mulattoes, or above the grade of mulattoes, as white. 
 
 VIII. There is no law in the slave States, forbiddinsT 
 the several church authorities making slave-holding an 
 offence, for which those guilty of it might be excluded 
 from membership. 
 
 The Society of Friends exists in the slave States — it 
 excludes slave-holders. 
 
 The United Brethren exist as a church in Maryland 
 and Virginia, slave States. Their Annual Conference for 
 these two States, (in which are thirty preachers,) met in 
 February, [1840.] 
 
 The following is an extract from its minutes : — 
 
 "No charge is preferred against any (preachers,) except Franklin 
 Echard and Moses Michael. 
 
 " It appeared in evidence that Moses IMichael was the owner of a 
 female slave, which is contrary to the discipline of our church. Con- 
 ference therefore resolved, that unless brother Michael manumit or 
 set free such slave in six months, he no longer be considered a 
 member of our church." 
 
 IX. When ecclesiastical councils excuse themselves 
 from acting for the removal of slavery from their respective 
 communions by saying, they cannot legislate for the 
 abolition of slavery ; that slavery is a civil or political 
 institution — that it " belongs to Caesar," and not to the 
 church to put an end to it, they shun the point at issue. 
 To the church member who is a debauchee, a drunkard, 
 a seducer, a murderer, they find no difficulty in saying, 
 ** we cannot indeed proceed against your person, or your 
 property — this belongs to Caesar — to the tribunals of the 
 country — to the legislature; — but we can suspend or 
 
 1* 
 
wholly cut you o(T from the communion of the church, 
 \vith a view to your repentance and its purification." If 
 a while inenibcr should by force or intimidation, day after 
 day, deprive another white member of his property, the 
 authorities of the churches would expel him from their 
 body, bliould he refuse to make restitution or reparation, 
 alth'ou^h it could not be enforced except through the 
 tribunals over which they have no control. There is then, 
 nothintr to prevent these authorities from saying to the 
 slave-holder — " cease being a slave-holder and remain in 
 tlie church, or continue a slave-holder and go out of it : 
 You have your choice." 
 
 X. The slave States make it penal, to teach the slaves 
 to read. So also some of them to teach the free colored 
 people to read. Tlius a free colored parent may suffer the 
 penalty fjr teaching his own children to read even the 
 Scriptures. None of the slave-holding churches, or -re- 
 ligious bodies, so far as is known, have, at any time, 
 remonstrated with the legislatures against this iniquitous 
 legisiaiiou, or petitioned for its repeal or modification. 
 Nor have they reproved or questioned such of their mem- 
 bers, as, being also members of the legislatures, sanctioned 
 such legislation by their votes. 
 
 XI. There is no systematic instruction of the slave- 
 members of churches, either orally or in any other way. 
 
 XII. Uniting with a church makes no change in the 
 condition of slaves at home. They are thrown back just 
 as before, amoncr their old associates, and subjected to 
 their corrupting influences. 
 
 XIII. I5ut little pains are taken to secure their attend- 
 ance at public wor.-hip, on Sundays. 
 
 XIV. The "house-servants" are rarely present at 
 familv-worship ; the " field-hands," never. 
 
 XV. It is only one here and there who seems to have 
 any intelligent views of the nature of Christianity, or of a 
 futur(> life. 
 
 XVI. In the Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian and 
 Episcopal churches, the colored people, during service, 
 sit in a particular part of the house, now generally known 
 as the negro prw. They are not permitted to sit in any 
 other, nor to hire or purchase pews as other people, nor 
 would they be permitted to sit, even if invited, in the pews 
 of wliiie persons. This applies to all colored persons, 
 
whether members or not, and even to licensed ministers of 
 their respective connections. The *' negro pew" is almost 
 as ricrjdly kept up in the free States as in the slave. 
 
 XVII. In some of the older slave States, as Virginia, 
 and South Carolina, churches, in their corporate character, 
 hold slaves, who are generally hired out for the support of 
 the minister. The followincr is taken from the Charleston 
 Courier, of February 12th, 1835. 
 
 FIELD NEGROES, by ThoTTias Gadsdcn. 
 
 On Tuesday, the 17th Instant, will be sold, at the nortli of the 
 Exchange, at ten o'clock, a prime ^an^ of ten negroes, accustomed 
 to the culture of cotton and provisions, belonging to the Indepen- 
 dent Church, in Christ's Church Parish. * * * jPtJ. 6. 
 
 XVIII. Nor are instances wanting, in which Negroes 
 are hcqiicathecl for the benefit of the Indians, as the fol- 
 lowing Chancery notice, taken from a Savannah (Geo.) 
 paper will show. 
 
 •' Bryan Superior Court. 
 
 Between John J. Maxwell and others. Executors of Ann \ 
 
 Pray, complainants, and \ in 
 
 Mary Sleigh and other>!. Devisees and Legatees, under C equity. 
 the will of Ann Pray, defendants. / 
 
 "A Bill luiving been filed for the distribution of the estate of the 
 Testatrix, Ann Pray, and it appearing that among other legacies in 
 her will, is the following, viz. a legacy of one-fourth of certain negro 
 slaves to the American Board of Commissioners for Domestic 
 [Foreign it probably should have been] Missions for the purpose of 
 sending the gospel to the heathen, and particularly to the Indians of 
 this continent. It is on motion of the solicitors of the complainants 
 ordered, that all persons claiming tlie said legacy, do appear and 
 answer the bill of the complainants, within four n)onths from this day. 
 And it is ordered, that this order be published in a public Gazette of 
 the city of Savannah, and in one of the Gazettes of Pliiladelphia, once 
 a month, for four months. 
 
 " Extract from the minutes, Dec. 2nd, 1S32. 
 John Smith, c. s. c. b. c." — (The bequest was not accepted.) 
 
 INFLUENCES UNDER WHICH THE AMERICAN 
 CHURCHES HAVE BEEN BROUGHT. 
 
 Charleston {City) Gazette. — " We protest against the assumption 
 — the unwarrantable assumption — that slavery is ultimately to be 
 extirpated from the Southern States. Ultimate abolitionists are 
 enemies of the South, the same in kind, and only less in degree, than 
 immediate abolitionists." 
 
 TVashington (City) Telegraph. — "As a man, a Christian, and a 
 citizen, we believe that slavery is right; that the condition of the 
 slave-holding States, is the best existing organization of civil society." 
 
Chancellor Harper, of South Carolina—'' It is the order of nature 
 fcnil ot tiOU, that the being of superior faculties and knowledge, and 
 thcrffore of superior power, should control and dispose of those who 
 are inferior. It i'^ as much in the order of nature, that men should 
 enslave each other, as that other animals should prey upon each 
 
 otlior." , , , 
 
 Columbia ( S. C.) Telescope.— '' Let us declare, through the 
 public journals of our country, that the question of slavery is not, and 
 shall not be open to discussion— that the system is deep-rooted 
 among us, and tnu^t remain for ever; that the very moment any 
 privau.' indivitlnal attempts (o lecture upon its evils and imniorality, 
 und the iu>ces~ily of putting means in operation to secure us trom 
 thi-iii, m the same moment his tongue shall be cut out and cast upon 
 a duni^liiil." 
 
 jluiiusta(Geo) Chronicle.— '' He [Amos Dresser] should have 
 been hung up as high a^ Haman, to rot upon the gibbet, until the 
 wind wbi.xtk'd through his bones. Tlie cry of the whole South 
 should be death, iastant death, to the abolitionist, wherever he 
 is caught." 
 
 [.Vinos Dresser, now a missionary in Jamaica, was a 
 theological student at Lane Seminary, near Cincinnati. 
 In llie vacation (August 1835) he undertook to sell Bibles 
 in tlic State of Tennessee, with a view to raise means 
 further to continue his studies.. Whilst there, he fell 
 under suspicion of being an abolitionist, was arrested by 
 the Vigilance Coininittee, whilst attending a religious 
 meeting in the neighborhood of Nashville, the Capital of 
 the State, and after an afternoon and evening's inquisition 
 condetnncd to receive twenty lashes on his naked body. 
 The sentence was executed on hitn, between eleven and 
 twelve o'clock on Saturday night, in the presence of most 
 of the committee, and of an infuriated and blaspheming 
 mob. The Vigilance Committee (an unlawful association) 
 consisted of si.Kty persons. Of these, twenty-seven were 
 members of churches; one, a religious teacher ; another, 
 the Elder who but a few days before, in the Presbyterian 
 church, handed Mr. Dresser the bread and wine at the 
 communiun of the Lord's Supper.] 
 
 In the latter part of the summer of 1835, the slave- 
 holders generally became alarmed at the progress of the 
 abolitionists. Meetings were held throughout the South, 
 to excite all classes of people to the requisite degree of 
 exasperation against them. At one of these meetings, 
 held at Clinton, Mississippi, it was 
 
Resolved,— 
 
 "That slavery through the South and West is not felt as an evil, 
 moral or political, but it is recognised in reference to the actual, and 
 not to any Utopian condition of our slaves, as a blessing both to 
 master and slave." 
 
 Resolved, — 
 
 •' That it is our decided opinion, that any individual who dares to 
 circulate, with a view to eflectuate the designs of the abolitionists, 
 any of the incendiary tracts or newspapers now in a course of trans- 
 mission to this country, is justly worthy in the sight of God and man 
 of immediate death ; and we doubt not that such would be the pun- 
 ishment of any such offender in any part of the State of Mississippi 
 where he may be found." 
 
 Resolved, — 
 
 *' That we recommend to the citizens of Mississippi, to encourage 
 the cause of the American Colonization Society, so long as in good 
 faith it concentrates its energies alone on the removal of the free 
 people of color out of the United States." 
 
 Resolved, — 
 
 *' That the Clergy of the State of Mississippi, be hereby recom- 
 mended at once to take a stand upon this t^ubject, and tljat their 
 further silence in relation thereto, at this crisis, will in our opinion, 
 be subject to serious censure." 
 
 At Charleston, South Carolina, the Post Office was 
 forced, the Anti-Slavery publications, which were there 
 for distribution or further transmission to masters, taken 
 out and made a bon-fire of in the street, by a mob of 
 several thousand people. 
 
 A public meeting was appointed to be held a few days 
 afterward, to complete, in the same spirit in which they 
 were commenced, preparations for excluding Anti-Slavery 
 publications from circulation, and for ferreting out persons 
 suspected of favoring the doctrines of the abolitionists, that 
 they might be subjected to Lynch law. At this assembly 
 the Charleston Courier informs us; 
 
 " The Clergy of all denominations attended in a body, lending their 
 sanction to the proceedings, and adding by their presence to the 
 impressive character of the scene." 
 
 It was there Resolved, — 
 
 *' That the thanks of this meeting are due to the Reverend gentle- 
 men of the clergy in this city, who have so promptly and so effectu- 
 ally responded to public sentiment, by suspending their schools in 
 which ihQ free colored population were taught; and that this meeting 
 
10 
 
 deem it a patriotic action, worthy of all praise, and proper to he 
 imitated by other teachers of similar schools throughout the Stale. 
 
 The alarm of the Virginia slave-holders was not less— 
 nor were the clergy in the city of Richmond, the capital, 
 less prompt than the clergy in Charle.tun, to respond to 
 "public sentiment" Accordingly, on the 2yth July, 
 they assembled together, and 
 
 Resolved, unanimously, — 
 
 «« That we earnestly deprecate the unwarrantable and hishly Im- 
 proper interference of the people of any other State with the domestic 
 relations of master and slave. . 
 
 " That the exam|)le of our Lord Jesus Christ and his apostles, in 
 rotinterfcrin<r with the question of slavcM-y, hut uniformly recopnising 
 the relations of master ami servant, and .jivim: full and :.nectionate 
 instruction to both, is worthy of the imit.ition ot all mmistcrs of. the 
 
 gospel. ... 
 
 ♦'That we will not patronize nor receive any pamphlet or news- 
 paper of the Anti-Sl.ivery Societies, :uid that we will discountenance 
 the circulation of all such papers in the community. 
 
 "That the fusjiicions which have prevailed to a considerable 
 extent afjainst ministers of the po'^pel and profes-ors of relieion in 
 the State of Virginia, as identified with abolitionists are trholh/ iin- 
 
 merited believinc; as we ilo, from extensive accpiaintance with our 
 
 churches and brethren, that tliey are unanimous in opposing the 
 pernicious schemes of abolitionists." 
 
 THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
 
 700,000 Mtmhers. 
 
 In 1780, four years before the Episcopal Methodist 
 
 Church was regularly organized in the United States, the 
 
 conference bore the following testimony against slavery : — 
 
 *' The conference acknowledges that slavery is contrary to the 
 laws of God, man, and nature, and hurtful to society; contrary to the 
 dictates of conscience and true relij^ion ; and doing wiiat we would 
 not others should do unto us." 
 
 In 17*^4, when the church was fully organized, rules 
 were adopted, prescribing the times at which members 
 who were already slave-holders, should emancipate their 
 slaves. These rules were succeeded by the following : — 
 
 ** Every person concerned, who will not comjily with these rules, 
 shall have liberty quietly to withdraw fiom our society within the 
 twelve months following the notice being given liim as aforesaid ; 
 otherwise the assistants shall exclude him the society. 
 
 •' No person holding slaves shall in future be admitted into society, 
 or to the Lord's Supper, till he previously comply with these rules 
 concerning slavery. 
 
11 
 
 " Tho«e who buy, sell, or give [«lave*] away, unless on purpose to 
 tee them, sball be expelled immeJiately." 
 
 In 17S5, the followinor lan^uacje was held : — 
 
 " We do hold in the deepest abhorrence the practice of slavery, 
 and ithdil not cease to seek iia destruction by all wise and prudent 
 Dieans.' 
 
 In 1801 :— 
 
 *' We declare that we nre more thnn ever convinced of the orreat 
 evil of African sljvery, which still e\i>t> in these United States." 
 
 " Kvciy meniberof the society who sells a slave shall, immediately 
 after lull proof, be exclude*! froin the society, &c." 
 
 •• The Anriual Conferences are directed to draw up addresses for 
 ihc (;r.«(lu4l emancipation of the slaves to the lesi.xlature." — "Proper 
 cotiiinittee* "h.!!! be appointed by the Annual Conferences, out of the 
 mo»t rc»»pecJable of our friend*, for the conducting of the business; 
 and the pruHiduiij elders, deacon", and travelling; preachers, shall pro- 
 cure »"« many proper signature** as po-*sible to the addresses ; ami ^ive 
 all the aHHi?»tanco in their power, in every respect to aid the com- 
 mittee"* and to further the ble«<sed undertaking;. Let this be continued 
 from year to year till the desired end be accomplished." 
 
 Ill I'^nO, the Cicnoral Coiiforonce met in May, in Cin- 
 ciiiunti, a town of 1<>.(MM) iiilinbitaiits, and tin; niclropolis 
 of the free State of Ohio. An Anti-Slavory Society had 
 been l<>rmed there a year or two before, A ineelinir of 
 llio s<*ri«>iv was ap|>oiiitfd for ihe eNenini; of the lOth of 
 INIay, to which lh«' uhuhlioiiiJ'ts nllendiii^ the conference 
 as delcijates were invited.* Of those who attended, two 
 o\' ilii'in tn i»h^ remarks sniial)le to the occasion. On the 
 r^lli of .M.iv, \i(v. S. (i. Ros/(dl presented in tlie coii- 
 Cerence the following preamble and resolutions : — 
 
 •• Whrrea", Rreat excitement has pervaded thi>< coimtry on the 
 •tihjtcl of modern abolitionism, \*hii-h is reported lo li.ive been in- 
 crej^ed in thi* city recently, by the unjiistifiable conduct of two 
 members uf the General Conference in lecluiinj; upon, and in lavor 
 ol that aKitalini; topic; — and wtiereas, sucli a course on the part of 
 any of ili members i» calculated lo brinp upon ihiit l)ody the suspicion 
 tnd di-irtHt of (he community, and misrepresent its sentiments in 
 rrndul lo the point at issue ; — and whereas, in this asjiect ol the case, 
 a dui- renard lor Its own charicter, a< well as a ju-l concern for the 
 hitrrrsis of the church conlide«J tu its care, »leiiiand a lull, decided, 
 and un«(|uivocal expression of the views of the Ueneral Conlerence 
 in the prciiiis««." Therefore, 
 
 • The R«'v. .Mr. Ixjvrjoy, who wa» aftcrwanti tlom by thn mob in dofcndina hia 
 pma, at Alton, Mlinoiv, wai (>ri»«cnl iil tb« niwtmj. Mo was on his wny from 
 St I.oiii*. Mlirro \\n (hrn rotidctl, lu i'utsbur^, lo iitiuiid tlio Uciicrttl Auoiubly of 
 tbo i'leali/icrian Church. 
 
12 
 
 1, Resolved, — 
 
 •« By the clele<;ates of the Annual Conference in General Confe- 
 rence assernhled, that they disapprove in the most unqualified sense, 
 the conduct of the two menibers of the General Conference, who are 
 reported to have lectured in this city recently, upon, and in favor of, 
 modern abolitionism." 
 
 2. Resolved, — 
 
 "By the delegates of the Annual Conferences in General Confe- 
 rence assembled, — that they are decidedly opposed to modern aboli- 
 tionJMn, and wholly disclaim any right, wish, or intention, to interfere 
 in the civil and political relation between master and slave, as it 
 exists in the slave- liolding States of this Union." 
 
 The preamble and resolutions were adopted — the first 
 resolution by 122 to 11— the last by 120 to 14. 
 
 An address was received from the Methodist Wesleyan 
 Conference in England, in which the Anti-Christian 
 character of slavery, and the duty of the Methodist church 
 was plainly, yet tenderly and affectionately presented for 
 its consideration. The Conference refused to publish it. 
 
 In the Pastoral Address to the churches, are these 
 passages : — 
 
 ** It cannot be unknown to you, that the question of slavery in the 
 United States, by the constitutional compact which binds us together 
 as a nation, is left to be regulated by the several State Legislatures 
 themselves; and thereby is put beyond the control of the general 
 government, as well as that of all ecclesiastical bodies; it being mani- 
 fest, that in the slave-holding States theniselves, the entire responsi- 
 bility of its existence, or non-existence, rests with those State 
 legislatures." * * * " These facts which are only mentioned 
 here as a reason for the friendly admonition which we wish to give 
 you, constrain us as your pastors, who are called to watch over your 
 souls, as they must give account, to exhort you to abstain from all 
 abolition movements and associations, and to relrain from patronizing 
 any of their publications," &c. * ^ 
 
 " From every view of the subject which we have been able to 
 take, and from the most calm and dispassionate survey of the whole 
 ground, we have come to the conchision, that the only safe, scriptural, 
 and prudent way for us, both as ministers and people, to take, is, 
 wholly to refrain from this agitating subject," &c. 
 
 The temper exhibited by the General Conference, was 
 warmly sympathized in by many of the Local Conferences, 
 not only in the slave States, but in the free. 
 
 The Ohio Annual Conference had a short time before, 
 
 Resolved, — 
 
 " 1. That we deeply regret the proceedings of the abolitionists, and 
 
13 
 
 \nti- Slavery Societies in the free States, and the consequent excite* 
 nent produced thereby in the slave States; that we, as a Conference, 
 hsclaim all connection and co-operation with, or belief in the same; 
 md that we hereby recommend to our jut)ior preachers, local breth« 
 •en, and private members within our bound:^, to abstairj from any 
 connection with them, or pariicipaliou of their acts in the premises 
 whatever." 
 
 Resolved, — 
 
 " 2. That those brethren and citizens of the North, who resist the 
 ibolition movements with firmness and moderation, are the true 
 riends to the church, to the slaves of the South, and to the constitu- 
 ion of our common country," &c. 
 
 The New York Annual Conference met in June, 1836, 
 md 
 
 Resolved, — 
 
 " 1. That this conference fully concur in the advice of the late 
 jleneral Conference, as expressed in their Pastoral Address." 
 
 Resolved, — 
 
 «• 2. That we disapprove of the members of this conference pat- 
 'onising, or in any way giving countenance to a paper called ' Zion's 
 iVatchman,'" because in our opinion, it tends to disturb the peace 
 md harmony of the body, by sowing dissensions in the church.'* 
 
 Resolved, — 
 
 *'3. That although we could not condemn any man, or withhold 
 )ur suffrages from him on account of his opinions merely, in refe- 
 •ence to the subject of abolitionism, yet we are decidedly of the 
 )pinion that none ought to be elected to the office of a deacon, or 
 jider, in our church, unless he give a pledge to the conference, that 
 le will refrain from agitating the church with discussions on this 
 ;ubject, and the more especially as the one promises, ' reverently to 
 )bey them to whom the charge and government over him is com- 
 nitted, following with a glad mind and will, their godly admonitions: ' 
 md the other with equal solemnity, promises to ' maintain and set 
 brward, as much as lieth in him, quietness, peace, and love among 
 ill Christian people, and especially among them that are, or shall be 
 iommitted to his charge.' " 
 
 In 1838, the same Conference, Resolved : — 
 
 *• As the sense of this conference, that any of its members, or pro- 
 lationers, who shall patronize Zion's Watchman, either by writing 
 n commendation of its character, by circulating it, recommending it 
 our people, or procuring subscribers, or by collecting or remitting 
 nonies, shall be deemed guilty of indiscretion, and dealt with 
 iccordingly." 
 
 * Zion's Watchman is a newspaper devoted to the Anti-Slavery cause and the 
 •eligious interests of the Methodist Episcopal church. It is edited by the Rev. 
 La Roy Sunderland. 
 
 2 
 
14 
 
 The Preachers— judging by the vote on the anti-aboli- 
 lion resolutions— wore expected of course to conform to 
 the advice in tlie Pastoral Address. The New York 
 Conference, the most influential, set the example of 
 exacting a pledge from the candidates for orders, that 
 they wo'uld not agitate the subject of slavery in their con- 
 gregations. Tiie official newspapers of the connection, 
 ^vould, of course, be silent. Tiierefore, as a measure for 
 \vholly excluding the slavery question from the church, it 
 >vas of the last importance that Zion's' Watchman, an 
 w;?oflicial paper, and earnest in the Anti-Slavery cause, 
 should be prevented from circulating among the members. 
 
 Having seen in what spirit the conferences of the free 
 States were willing to act, we will now see what was the 
 temper of the conferences in the slave States. Thei/ were 
 not under the same necessity as the free State conferences, 
 of fTLiarding against agitation, by candidates for orders — for 
 in the slave States, they are comparatively few, and being 
 brought up under the influences of slavery, are considered 
 sound on that subject. The point of most interest to the 
 slave-holding professors of religion was, to steel their own 
 consciences. 
 
 The Baltimore Conference resolved : — 
 
 *' That in all cases of administration under the general rule in 
 reference to buying and [or] sellinij men, women, and children, &c, 
 it be, and hereby is recommended to all committees, as the sense and 
 opinion of lliis conference, that the said rule be taken, construed and 
 vndtrslood, so as not to make the guilt or innocence of the accused 
 to depend upon the simple fact of purchase" or sale of any such slave 
 or slaves, but upon the attendant circumstances of cruelty, injustice 
 or inhumanity, on the one hand, or those of kind purposes, or good 
 intentions on the other, under which, (he transactions shall have 
 been (perpetrated ; and farther, it is recommended that in all such 
 cases, the charge be brought for immorality, and the circumstances 
 adduced as specifications under that charge." 
 
 TIIE GEORGIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE, 
 
 Resolved unanimously that: — 
 
 «« Whereas, there is a clause in the discipline of our church, which 
 ptales that we are as much as ever convinced of the great evil of 
 slavery ; and whereas the said clause has been perverted by some, 
 and used in such a manner as to produce the impression that the 
 Methodist Episcopal church believed slavery to be a moral evilf* 
 
15 
 
 Therefore Resolved,— 
 
 "That it is the sense of th& Georgia Annual Conference, that 
 slavery, as it exists in the United States, is nut a moral evil." 
 
 Resolved, — 
 
 *' That we view slavery as a civil and domestic institution, and 
 one with which, as ministers of Christ, we have notiiing to do, 
 further than to ameliorate the condition of the shive, by endeavoring 
 to impart to him and his master the benign influences of the religioQ 
 of Ciuist, and aiding both on their way to heaven." 
 
 On the motion, it was Resolved unanimously, — 
 
 " That the Georgia Annual Conference regard with feelings of 
 profound respect and approbation, the dijinified course pursued by 
 our several superintendents or bishops »2 suppressing tlie attempts 
 that have been made by various individuals to get up and protract an. 
 excitement in the churches and country on the subject of aboli' 
 iionism." 
 
 Resolved, further, — 
 
 *' That they shall have our cordial and zealous support in sustaining 
 them in the ground they have taken." 
 
 SOUTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE. 
 
 The Rev. W. Martin, introduced resolutions, similar to 
 those of the Georgia conference. 
 
 The Rev. W. Capers, D. D., after expressing his con- 
 viction that "the sentiment of the resolutions was univer- 
 sally held, not only by the ministers of that conference, 
 but of the whole South;" and after stating, that the 
 only true doctrine was, " it belongs to Caesar, and not to 
 the church," offered the following as a substitute : — 
 
 " Whereas, we hold that the subject of slavery in these United 
 States is not one proper for the action of the church, but is exclu- 
 sively appropriate to the civil authorities," 
 
 Therefore, Resolved, — 
 
 " That this conference will not intermeddle with it, farther than to 
 express our regret that it has ever beeR introduced, in any form, into 
 any one of the judicatures of the church. 
 
 "Brother Martin accepted the substitute. 
 
 "Brother Betts asked, whether the substitute was intended as im- 
 plying that slavery, as it exists among us, uias not a moral evil? 
 He understood it as equivalent to such a declaration. 
 
 " Brother Capers explained, that his inteniion teas to convey that 
 sentiment fully and unequivocally ; and that he had chosen the form 
 of the substitute for the purpose, not only of reproving some wrong 
 doings at the JVorth^ but with relerence also to the General Cou- 
 
16 
 
 ference. If slavery were a moral evil (that is sinful,) the church 
 would be bound to take cognizance ofit; but our affirmation is, that 
 it is not a matter for her jurisdiction, but is exclusively appropriate 
 to the civil government, and of course not sinful. 
 " The substitute was then unaaiuiously adopted." 
 
 SENTIMENTS OF NON-SLAVE-IIOLDING 
 METHODIST MINISTERS. 
 
 Rev, N. Bangs, D. D., of New York : 
 
 " It appears evident, that however much tlie apostles might have 
 deprecated slavery as it then existed throuohout the Koman empire, 
 he did not feel it his duty, as an ambassador of Chi ist, to disturb those 
 relations which subsisted between master and servants, by denounc- 
 ing slavery as such a mortal sin, that they could not be servants of 
 Christ in such a relation." 
 
 Rev. E. D. Simms, Professor in Randolph Macon 
 College, a Methodist Institution : 
 
 "These extracts from holy writ unequivocally assert 
 THE RIGHT OF PROPERTY IN SLAVES, together wiili the usual 
 incidents of that right; such as the power of acquisition and disposi- 
 tion in various ways, according to municipal regulations. The right 
 to buy and sell, and to transmit to children by way of inheritance, is 
 clearly stated. The only restriction on the subject, is in refeicncc 
 to the market, in which slaves or bondsmen were to be purchised. 
 
 " Upon the whole, then, whether we consult the Jewish polity, 
 instituted by God himself; or the uniform opinion and piactict- of 
 mankind in all ages of the world ; or the injunctions of the New 
 Testament and the Moral Law; we are brought to the conclusion, 
 that slavery is not immoral. 
 
 " Having established the point, that the first African slaves were 
 legally brought into bondage, the right to detain their children in 
 bondage, follows as an indispensable consequence. 
 
 "Thus we see, that the slavery which exists in America, was 
 founded in right." 
 
 The Rev. Wilbur Fisk, D. D., late President of the 
 [Methodist] Wesleyan University in Connecticut : 
 
 "The relation of master and slave, may and does, in many cases, 
 exist under such circumstances, as free the master liom the just 
 charge and guilt of immorality. 
 
 " 1 Cor. vii. 20—23. 
 
 " This text seems mainly to enjoin and sanction the fitting con- 
 tinuance of their present social relations; the freeman was to remain 
 free, and the slave, unless emancipation should offer, u>as to remain 
 a slave. 
 
 " The general rule of Christianity not only permits, but in sup- 
 posable circumstances, enjoins a continuance of the masttr's au- 
 thority. 
 
 "The New Testament enjoins obedience upon the sUve as aa 
 obligation due to a present rightful authciity,'* 
 
17 
 
 Rev. Elijah Iledding, D. D., one of the six Methodist 
 Bishops : 
 
 •• The right to hold a slave is founded on tlii* rnle, ♦ Therefore, all 
 things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ve evea 
 *o to Ihem ; for this is the law and the prophets." — Ch, Ad. and 
 Journal, Oct. 20, 1807. 
 
 SENTIMENTS OF SLAVE-TIOLDIXG METHO- 
 DIST MINISTERS. 
 
 The Rev. William Winans, of Mississippi, in the Gen- 
 eral Conference, in iS3G: 
 
 "He was not born in a slave State— he was a Pennsylvanian by 
 birth. He had been brought up to believe a slave-holder, as creat a 
 villain %» a hortc-thief ; but he had gone to the South, and long resi- 
 dence th«Tc ha. I changed his view; he had become a slave-holder 
 on principle" • • • • ♦•Though a slave-holder himself, no aboli- 
 tionist felt more sympathy for the slave than he did— none had 
 rejoiced more in the hope of a coming period, when the print of a 
 slave's foot would not be seen on the soil." • ♦ • " Jt wa-i imjiort- 
 ant to the interests of slaves, and in view of the question of slavery, 
 that there be Christians who were slave-holders. Christian ministers 
 ■hould ho slnvp-ho!.lcn», and ililTti'!,-d throngbnut the South. Yes, 
 
 •ir, l're«<l>yt"-ri.uH, M.»pfMfs, .Meibodi^^ts, should be slave holders: 
 
 ye«, he rc-piMled it hoMly — there should be nuMubers, and deacons, 
 duA ELDKRs and HISMOPS, too, who were slave-holders." 
 
 The Rt'v. J. Early, of Virginia, on tlie same occasion : 
 
 " Sin,— We have no euer^y. Rut if a majority of this conference 
 have no energy— not enough of if, to protect their own honor from 
 iitMull arjd degradation — be ii known, that there are in the conference 
 tho«e who /i«icr— ANP who ought to bk hy thk.mselves. It is 
 full tinie for you, «ir, to ^peak ouf— to testify that you have some 
 regard for your-elves — to say that you have some regard for your 
 honor. Submit to this, sir i If we bubmit to this, we are prepared to 
 submit to anything.'* 
 
 The Kc'v. J. If. Thnrnweli, at a public meeting held in 
 South Carolina, supj)orlcd the following resolutions : — 
 
 •• That slavery is it exists in the South is no evil, and is consistent 
 with the principle^ of revealed religion ; and that all opposition to it 
 arlH«'s from a misguided and liendish fanaticism, which we are bound 
 to resist in the very threshold. 
 
 " That all interference with this subject by finalics is a violation 
 of our civil and social rights — is unchristian and iidiuman, leading 
 necessarily to anarchy aud bloodshed ; and that the instigators are 
 murderers and assassini. 
 
 " That any interference with this subject, on the part of Congrosa 
 must lead to a dissoluiiou of the Uuiou." 
 
 2* 
 
18 
 
 The Rev. George W. Langhorne, of North Carolina, 
 thus writes to the Editor of Zion's Watchman, under date, 
 June 25th, 1836. 
 
 «« I, sir, would as soon be found in (he ranks of a bandiiti, as nuir>- 
 bered with Arthur Tappan and his wanton co-adjutors. Nothing Is 
 more appalUng to my feehngs as a man, contrary to my principles as 
 a Christian, and repugnant to my soul as a tinnister, than the 
 insidious proceedings ot such men. 
 
 " If you have not resigned your credentials as a minister of the 
 Methodist Episcopal church, I really think that, as an honest man, 
 you should now do it. In your ordination vows you solemnly 
 promised to be obedient to those who have rule over you ; and since 
 they [the General Conference] have spoken, and that distinctly, too, 
 on this subject, and disapprobate your conduct, I conceive you are 
 bound to submit to their authority, or leave (he church." 
 
 The Rev. J. C. Postell, in July, 183G, delivered an 
 
 address at a public meeting at Orangeburgh Court-house, 
 
 S. C, in which he maintains; 1. That slaver)' is a judicial 
 
 visitation. 2. That it is not a moral evil. 3. That it is 
 
 supported by the Bible. lie thus argues his second 
 
 point : — 
 
 *' It is not a moral evil. The fact (hat slavery is of Divine appoint- 
 ment, would be proof enough with (he Christian, th.it it could n(>( be 
 a moral evil. But when we view the hordes of sava;ie miir.iudcrs 
 and human cannibals enslaved to lust and passion, and abaudoned to 
 idolatry and ignorance, (o revolutionise them from such a state, and 
 enslave them where they may have the gospel, and the piiuleges of 
 Christians; so far from being a moral evil, it is a merciful visitation. 
 If slavery was ei(her (he invention of man or a moral evil, it is logical 
 to conclude, (he power (o create has the power to destroy. Why 
 then has i( exis(ed .'' And why does i( now exist amidst all (he 
 power of legislation in slate and church, and the clamor of aboli- 
 tionists ? It is the Lord's doings and marvfllous in ol'r 
 EYES : and had it not been done for the best, God alone, who is able, 
 long since would have overruled it. It is by Divine appoint- 
 ment." 
 
 On that occasion the same Rev. gentleman read a letter 
 which he had addressed to the Editor of Zion's Watch- 
 man — of which the following are extracts : — 
 
 ♦« To La Roy Sunderland, &c. 
 
 «« Did you calculate to misrepresent the Methodist Discipline, and 
 say it supported abolitionism, when the General Conference, in their 
 late resolutions, denounced it as a libel on truth. • Oh full of all 
 subtlety, thou child of the devil I"" all liars, saiih the sacred volume, 
 shall have their part in (he lake of fire and brimstone. 
 
 " I can only give one reason why you have not been indicted for a 
 libel— The law says, ' The greater (he truth, the greater the libel;' 
 and as your paper has no such ingredient, it is construed but a small 
 
19 
 
 matter. But if you desire to educate the slaves, I will tell you how 
 lo rai<e the mooey without editing Zion's Watchman ; you and old 
 Arthur Tjppari come out to the South ihi? winter, and they will raise 
 one hundred thousand dollars lor you. New Orleans, itself', will be 
 pledi^eil for it. Desiring no further acquaintance with you, and never 
 expecting to see you but once in time or eternity, ihat is at judgment, 
 I subscribe myself, the friend of the Bible, and the opposer of 
 Aboliiiouijts. 
 
 '*J. C. PotTEI.L, 
 
 " Orangeburgh, July 21st, 1S36." 
 Tin: riENKRAT. CONFERENCE FOR 1S40, 
 
 HULL) ITS SESSION IN MAY, IN HALTIMOKE. 
 
 TIk; Rev. Silas Comn)rt apponlrd from a decision of tlie 
 Mis>/>uri conference, of uhicli he was a member. Tliat 
 conference had convicled him of '' m.il-adminislration," 
 in admiltinf]^ the testimony of a colored j>erson in the trial 
 of a white member of llie cliiirch. 'I'he General confe- 
 rence reversed the decision of the Missouri conference. 
 'Die Southern deleijatrs insisted on somethiii'T bein'^ done, 
 to counl«'racl the injurious iiitluencc which the reversal 
 would have on the Metliodist church in the slave Slates. 
 
 The Rev. I)r. A J I'cw, of Georgia, proposed the 
 followini; : — 
 
 Resolved, — 
 
 ** Th^t it i* inexpedient and unjintifuble for any preacher to per- 
 mit color* «I pL-r-toiis to give lC!»limony against while persons, in any 
 State where they arc denied that privilege by law." 
 
 This was carried ; but it was at variance with the 
 dcci.-^ion in Comfort's case. 'J'he conference saw the 
 absurdity of llwir j)osiiion, and that somethiiiir must be 
 done to >hifl it. To this en(], it was thought best to 
 attempt getting rid of the whole subject. A motion was 
 made to re-con?*ider the deci>i(jn in Comfort's case, with a 
 View, if it should l>c carri'-d, lo another, not to intcrtuin 
 his npjirdl. Shoidd this laltrr prevail, a motion was then 
 to f(j|low, to rf'Considrr Dr. J\ir's rtsolufinn. If this 
 should be carried, by another motion it could be lai(J on 
 tlie table, ami kept thr-re. In this way the whole matter 
 might be excluded. 
 
 The motion lo re-consider tlu' reversal in Coniforl'g 
 case was carried. So was the motion, riot to entertain hid 
 
20 
 
 appeal. But the motion to re-consider Dr. Fnr's rcsnlw 
 tinn failed. Pending the debate on it, one of the Southern 
 deieffates, . . 
 
 Rev. William A. Smith, of Virginia, [1 he same v.ho 
 in the General conference of 18:i(), publicly wished the 
 Rev. Orange Scott, a leading abolition ist— also of the 
 General conference— " in heaven;"] becoming alarmed 
 lest the resolution should be reconsidered and consigned 
 to the table, offered the following compromise as a sub- 
 stitute : 
 
 Resolved, — 
 
 "That the resoUition offered by A. J. Few, and adopted on Mon- 
 day the ISth instant, relatnisj to the testimony of pi'ismis of color, 
 be reconsidered and amended so as to read a-^ follows, viz —" 'I hat 
 it is inexvcdient and unjustifiable for anxj preachtr amon^ us to 
 admit of persons of color to give ttslinwni/ on the trial of white 
 persons in any slave-holding State where thn/ are denied th-it pri- 
 vilege in trials at law : Provided, that when an Annual conh-rencc 
 in any such State or territory shall jndije it expedient to admit of 
 the introduction of such testimony witliin its bounds, it shall be al- 
 lowed so to do." 
 
 However, the Southern delcrrates being nnnnimous, 
 (with the single exception of the Rev. mover,) and having 
 the aid of some of the most devoted of the pro-slavery 
 Northern delegates, the substitute was lost by nn even vote. 
 
 The eiTorts made to " harmonize" the slave-holding and 
 the non slave-holding delegates, had thus far failed. It was 
 not, however, abandoned. With that view. Bishop Soulo, 
 acting as the representative of the other Bishops, intro- 
 duced three resolutions. We have not been able to pro- 
 cure a copy of them. In Zion's Watchman, we find 
 them substantially stated thus : — 
 
 1. *' The action of the General conference in the Comfort case 
 was not intended to express or imply, that it wa«* either expedient 
 or justitiable to admit the testimony of colored persons in Stales 
 where such testimony is rejected by the civil authorities. 
 
 2. "It was not intended by the adoption of Dr. Few's resohilion, 
 to prohibit the admission of it, when the civil authorities or usage 
 authorizes its admission. 
 
 3. ^^ Expresses the undiminished regard of the General con- 
 ference for the colored pojmlation." 
 
 Immediately on the passage of Dr. Few's resolution, 
 the " ofRcial nxembers (forty-six in number) of tho Sharp 
 
21 
 
 Street and Asbury Colored Methodist Episcopal Chnrcb 
 in Baltimore," protested and petitioned against it. The 
 following passages are in their address : — 
 
 "The adoption of such a re-«oluiion, by our hiojhest ecclesiastical 
 judicatory, a judicatory composed of the niost experienced, and the 
 wisest brethren in the church, the choice selection of twenty-eight 
 Annual conferences, ha-* inflicted, we tear, an irreparable injury upon 
 eighty thousand sonU for whom Christ died — souls, who t>y this act 
 of your body, have been stript of the dignity of Christian*, degraded 
 in the Kcjle ol huinaniiy, and treated as criminals, for no other reason 
 than the color of thi-ir skin ! Vour resolution has, in our humble 
 opinion, vxrlually jjerlared, that a mere physical peculiarity, the 
 handy work of our all-wi«e and benevolenl Creator, is prima facie 
 evidence of incompetency to tell (he (ruth, or is an unerring indica- 
 tion of unworihine94 to bear testimony against a fellow-being, whose 
 •kin M dpnoniinatcd white. • • • 
 
 •* lirt'ihren, out of the abundance of the heart we have spoken. 
 Oiir unerancc is btj'oie you ! If you have any regard for the sal- 
 vation {>{ the eighty thou»and immortal souls committed to your 
 care ; \{ you wowM nut thrust beyond the pale of the cliurch, 
 twenty -five hundred $oul» in this city, who have felt dctiTinined 
 never to ii-ave the church that has nourished and brought them up ; 
 if \ou icgard UM a« rhildrrn of one common Falht>r, and can, upon 
 reflection, ^ympathi/r wiih us a« member'* of the body of Cbri'*t — if 
 you would not incur the li-arlul. iho tremendous respon««itiility of 
 ofTeiKliitg not only one, but iimny thou«and<« of his * little ones ;' we 
 conjure you to wipe from your journal, (hu odious resolution which 
 ia ruining our people." 
 
 ** A Colorrd Baltimorean," writin^j to the Editor of 
 Zion'j* Watchman, .-^ays : — 
 
 " The address wi* presented to one of the Spcrctjric«, a Dcle- 
 pate of the Uallimore conference, and subsequently given by him to 
 the Bi»hops. How many of the members of the conference saw it, 
 I know not. One (lung is certain, it teas not read to the confer- 
 ence " 
 
 SENTIMENTS EXTRKSSri) 1)1 KI.N(; THE DE- 
 
 r.Air.s. 
 
 K< V \V. Capers, I). I) , lA' Charleston, S. Carolina : — 
 
 " \'alued the ({uolaliona which had been made from the early dis- 
 ciplines and minutes ; there was nu kind of properly (hat he valued 
 ao high as the works Mhieh rontaincd them ; they were the monu- 
 menls of that primitive Mi-ifioilism which he love<l.* " He then 
 read from the minutes of 17^0. 'H4, and 'S5, anil attempted to show, 
 from the smallness of the church, and the little connexion that it had 
 with slavery in llf^O, that it udopled the language which was pre- 
 cisely cousislcut with its circumstances, and just such language as he 
 
22 
 
 would adopt under similar circumstances ; but in 17S4 and '85. when 
 the church had extended further and became mure ent.m>jleil with 
 slavery, there was a corresponding; Ijlterin^j; in the lani^uaj^e of the 
 church ao;ainst it. But in 1^^0(), the church fell into a j^reat error on 
 this subject— an error which he had no doubt those who were so nn- 
 lortunate as to fall into, very deeply deplored. The conlerence au- 
 thorised addresses to the leg^islattnes, and memorials to be circulated 
 by all our ndnisters, and instructed them to continue those inea-^ures 
 from year to year, till slavery was abolished. He had no doubt, 
 that the men enjiaged in this work were sincere and pious, but they 
 soon perceived that it was a great error, and abandoned it. * * Me 
 thanked the brother from Canada, (Rev. Egerton Kyerson,) for the 
 stront; sympathy he had expressed for southern in><titutions. ' * 
 Notwithstanding the representations, that a part of the discipline 
 was a dead letter, in the south, yet, he assured them, that ihey re- 
 ceived the whole of it — they were under the whole of it — acknow- 
 ledged it all, — but, said he, you nmst take heed what discipline you 
 make for us now ; if the chapter on slavery hati not long been in the 
 discipline, you could not put it there now. I repeal, therefore, you 
 must beware what laws you make for us ! Vou may easily adopt 
 such measures as will etrectually hedge up our way, and make iw 
 slaves. We cannot be made slaves; beware, therefore, I say. what 
 discipline you give us ! Be cautious what burthens you impose 
 upon us! We know what our work is, — it is to preach and pray for 
 the slaves." 
 
 Rev. Mr. Crowder of Virginia : — 
 
 "In its civil aspect, neither the general government, or any otlicr 
 government, ecclesiastical or civil, either directly or indirectly, has 
 a right to touch slavery." In its eccltsiastical aspect — " we are 
 bound by the twenty-third article of our religion, to submit to tlie 
 civil regulations of ihe State under which we live.*' In its moral 
 aspect — " Slavery was not only countenanced, perinilte<l, and regu- 
 lated by the Bible, but it was posiively inatituttd by God iiiMsicLr 
 -T-he had in so many words enjoined it." 
 
 The Rev. Joshua Soule, D. D., of Oliio, (one of the 
 Bishops,) in advocating the reconsideration of the de- 
 cision in Comfort's case, said : 
 
 '' It will be recollected by brethren, that tbe Missouri Conference 
 fixed no censure — not a particle of censure upon the character of 
 Silas Comfort; the law, therefore would not justify an appe.il to this 
 body. If that unfortunate word ' mid-administralion,^ had not been 
 used in cotmexion with the case, it would never have found its way 
 here." " I do not express merely my own opinion in this case; it 
 is ihe united opinion of your Superintendents, (liishops,) and it is by 
 their request that I address you on this occasion." 
 
 Rev. Mr. Peck, of New York, who moved tlie recon- 
 sideration of Dr. Few's resolution : — 
 
 f^ That resolution, sajd he, was introduced under peculiar circurr- 
 
23 
 
 stances, during considerable excitement, and he wpnt for it as a 
 peace-ofTcrii.K to the S(»uth, without suthciently reliectiii^ upon the 
 preci-»e iti.port of it;* phraseology ; but, alter a liiile deliberation, he 
 was »orry : and he had been sorry but once, and tb-U wa? all the time ; 
 he wa!j convificed that, if that resolution remain upon the journal, it 
 tcould be disastrous to the whole northern Church." 
 
 Rev. Dr. A. J. Few, of Georgia, the mover of the 
 original resolution : 
 
 " Look at it ! What do you declare to us in takinj^ this course ? 
 Why simply, as much as to say, • we cannot .«u«tain vou in the con- 
 dition which you cannot avoi.l ! ' We c«tinot sustain vou in the ne- 
 cessary conditions of slavt-hoMing ;— one of its necessary conditions 
 being iht.- r« j.Mtion of n*>ero testimony ! If it is not sinful to hold 
 slavcj, undir all cir .-s, it is not sintui to hold ilieni in llie 
 
 only coiuliiion, and i, only circumstances, which they can be 
 
 held. The ii'jcction ol lu-gio tt"*(imony is one of the necessary cir- 
 cumffanr.s, under winch slavc-huMinf; can exist; indeed, it is iitter- 
 'y •• for 't to e^ist without it; therefore it is not sinhil to 
 
 ho in the condition, and under the ciicumsiances which they 
 
 are held at the South, inasmuch as they can be held, under no other 
 circumstances.* " If >ou believe that slave-holding is necessarUy 
 sinful, come out with llie al>olitionists, and honestly say so. If you 
 believe that sUve-hohtinK is necessarily sinful, you believe we are 
 necessarily sinners: and, if »o, come out an<l honestly d«>clare if, 
 and let um I u • • Wc want to know di'linrlly, prrci-.ely, and* 
 
 honestly lb- which you take. We cannot b'l- lainpored with 
 
 by you an> We have had enough of it. We are tired of 
 
 )our sickly . *• • II you are not op|»o«cd to the principles 
 
 which it invoiv..-, unite with us, like hanfst men, and jjo home, and 
 l>oldly UH-et the con*e«juencrs. We say aij.iin, you are rroptwisilde 
 for this slate of ihints: lor it is ymt who have driven us to the alarm- 
 ing point, where wc find ourselves* * y,ju have made that reso- 
 lution ab-olutely necessary to the quiet of the South ! iJut you now 
 revoke thit resolution ! And, you pass the Rubicon! I.ei me not 
 be uiisundcrntood. I say, yuu pass the Rubicon I If you revoke, you 
 revoke the principle whuh tliat resolution involves, and you array 
 the whole Souih against you, an*/ tee must stpnrate ." * If you 
 accord to the principles which it involves, anting Irom the necessity 
 of the case, stick by it, ' though the heavens peri-h ! ' Ihit if you 
 persist on reronsiiU-ralion. I a<>k in what li^'ht will your course be 
 regarded in the South .' What will be the Ciiirliision, there, in refer- 
 ence to it ? Why. that you cannot sustain us as long as we hoM 
 slaves : It will declare in the face of the sun, • we cannot sustain 
 you, gentlemen, while you retain your slaves ! ' Your op|»osiiJon to 
 the resolution is based u|Mjn )our opposition to slavery; you cannot, 
 therefore, maintain your consi«teiiry. unless you come out with the 
 al»olitionist«, and condemn us at once and fur ever ; i.r .U.- r.-fuse 
 to reconsiiler." 
 
 The Urv. Wijjinm Winnns, of .Mixsissippj ; (tjic same 
 wlio was a delegate to the General conference in IH.'Jf).) 
 " lie was never more deeply impressed with the solemnity of his 
 
24 
 
 situation— the act of this afternoon will determine the fate of our 
 beloved Zion ! * * Will you meot us half-way ? Have you the mag- 
 nanimity to consent to a coiupiomise ? I pledge niy?5elf, in behalf of 
 every southern man, that if you will affirm the decision in the case 
 of Silas Comfort, we will give up the resolution ; hut if you refuse 
 to affirm, and wrest from us that resolution, you stab us to the vitals ! 
 * * Repeal that resolution, and you pa«s the Rubicon! Dear as 
 union is, sir, there are interests at stake in this question which are 
 dearer than union! Do not regard us as threatening! • • • But 
 what will become of our beloved Methodism ? The interests of 
 Methodism, throughout the whole South, are at stake ! We can, 
 however, endure to see the houses of God forsaken, and our wide ex- 
 tended and beautiful tields which we have long been cultivating, laid 
 waste and turned into a moral wilderness. But, what is to become 
 of the poor slave? I entreat of you to parise ! You etfectualiy 
 shut out the consolations and hopes of the gospel from hundreds and 
 thousands of poor slaves ? * * 1 call heaven to record against you 
 this day, that if you repeal that resolution, you seal the d.unnation of 
 thousands of souls! 1 beseech you as upon my knees not to do it." 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Collins, of 
 
 ** Admonished the conference, tliat the moment they rescinded that 
 resolution, they passed the Rubicon. The fate of the connexion was 
 sealed." 
 
 The Rev. William A. Smith, of Virginia, 
 
 •' Agreed with the brother from Mississippi, that tliere were in- 
 terests involved in this question </ea/er than union it>^tir, however 
 dear that might be. Southerners are not prepared to comuiit their 
 interests, much less their consciences, to the fioly keeping df northern 
 men. Conscience was involved in this matter, and ilu-y could not be 
 coerced." 
 
 Rev. Nathan Bangs, D. D., of New York : 
 
 " We were on a snag, and he believed he could help tis off He 
 perceived a way to get out of the difficulty, and proceeded to read 
 three resolutions, one of which went to nffirni the decision of the 
 Missouri conference in the Comlort case. He concluded with a 
 proposition to refer the ichole case to a committee, to see if some- 
 thing could not be done to harmonize the conference." 
 
 Rev. P. P. Sanford, of 
 
 " Brethren spoke as though there were no interests involved in 
 this question but southern and western, but he could assure brethrea 
 of their entire mistake. The north and east were as deeply con- 
 cerned in the issue of this question as the west and south. • • He 
 was surprised at the course of Dr. Bangs, who. when the Missouri 
 case was pending, retired without the bar, and thus dodged the 
 question; and when Dr. Few's resolution was passed, he «at"^still in 
 his chair, and refused to do his duty, but nuiv he comes forward with 
 a series of resolutions entirely inconsistent with all the facts in the 
 
ca«e. with the very benevolent intention to enli{;hten us on the sub- 
 ject ! ! But what does he say ? ^Vhy, he declares that he believes 
 that this cotifen-iice oiigiit to affirm the deci-iinn of the Mi^i^ouri con- 
 ference in the ca«e of J^:Ias Comfort I And what wis that decision ? 
 \\'iiy, that it U tnal-administration to admit the testimony of a colored 
 man in the trial of a white man I So th.at Comfort was condemned, 
 •« appears from the journals of that conference, solely (or admitting 
 the testimony of a enloreil man ! And I)r. Batiks is the man who 
 declare* upon this floor, that that decision ought to be affirmed by 
 this conference!! fie was perfectly <M/oun//ffi/ Brethren talk of 
 compromise! Is there any compromise in this?" 
 
 Bishop Soule Pi^ke in favor of tlie compromise resolu- 
 tions of the Rev. Mr. Smith . — 
 
 " It was in view nf the vast hut jeoparded interests of our beloved 
 Zioti ; with a virw to promote the union of our extended ecclesiasti- 
 cal confederation, that he ventured to speak on the present occasion. 
 Me would lay one hand upon the north and east, and the other upoa 
 the south, and con<«traui them to harmonize He had listened to the 
 ^peechrsof brethren, and he perceive*! that the water^i were troubled, 
 hut he tvas not alarmed ; our ship is not wrecked, and he had no 
 doubt hut that we ^ho^llcl hiinj; her safe through. " " • He had 
 lii(rn«'<l to iIm* iitrin) t(i<>it< df tin- luw^jhlt' necessity of adopting this 
 Pi' - I nt'jr toijt'thcr, that they 
 
 oi. . ' rrtri'li of doiri'^ the thing, 
 
 wlmli ill - !! lid not, ihrrrfore, 
 
 iM-liL"*!* lli.r '4 the probubilittf 
 
 of a dtriMun [«»( tlte churchj on ■*q tnjlms^ an occasion. lie had 
 heard the appeals from brethren uf the tuuth with unmin;;lcd sym- 
 pathy, t>ecau«e he wa« acquainted witti the mtulh ; he was familiar 
 with the dilftculiies which brethren from that region struggled with. 
 • • " We are in danncr of forgettinu. that n)en horn in the south 
 arc mucli better qualitied to judge of the hearing which particular 
 measures will haw npoit that region, than lho<e of the north can he. 
 lie thanked the brother from (jeorgia, (Dr. Few,) for his kind al- 
 lusion to him, and regretted that he was understood to take ground 
 agaiiixt the l)r , I with hun entirely. • • • The brethren 
 
 from the south . . Willi all that frankness whirh eharac- 
 
 ten/en -.oiiiherii iim n , 1 c*y, with all that Jrnnkners which charae- 
 tertzci trntlhrrn men. for tbi^* is .1 disiin^iii^hitig tr.iit in iluir char- 
 acter, and propose « coii ;>'j!i, wbich he thought could not 
 fail to hurntonize the gr. I'y ; I "ay the great mijority, for [ 
 despair of giving satisfaction lu all. ' * * He could not pos<iil)ly seo 
 an objectionable lealure in. or i«ny favorable etfert that would he 
 likely to result from adopting them, either in the north or south. 
 Does any one think that thry may Im? disastrously used in the north, 
 in (avor of ino<iern abolilioiiisiii ? I neither »ee it nor fear it. Per- 
 mit ine to cay to the members of (hi:» tieneral conference, who are 
 eonnecleil with the abolition movements, that the brethren at the 
 south are better jmlges, circumstanced as they are, than you can 
 pos«iblv be, in ree.ird to rrery thing connected with sbtvery. • • • 
 Surveying the whole ground of this unfortunate affair, and where Is 
 
26 
 
 the man v^l.o .Inre come (o the conclusion, that sufficient reasons l.aye 
 been developed in this controversy for dividing the body of Christ. 
 
 THE BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 (500,000 Blanhers.) 
 In 1835 The Charleston Baptist Association addressed 
 a memorial to the legislature of South Carolina, which 
 contains the following : — 
 
 «< The nndeisi-ned would further represent, that the said associa- 
 tion does not consider that the lu.ly scriptures have made the (act ot 
 Blaverv a question of morals at all. The Divine Author of our holy 
 relision, in particular, lour.d slavery a part of the existing insUtutions 
 of society ; with which, if not sintul, it was not his design ^ointer- 
 mtddle, but to leave them entirely to the control of men. Adopting 
 thi- therefore, as one of the allowed arrangements ot society, he 
 made it (he province of his religion only to prescribe the reciprocal 
 duties of the relation. The queslion. it is believed, is purely one ot 
 poliiical economy. It amo.ints, in effect, to ihxi—WJudher the op- 
 eratives of a country shall he bouirht and sold, and themselves be- 
 come property, as in this State; or whether they shall be hirelings, 
 and their labor only htcome property, as in some other States .; In 
 other words, whether an employer may buy the whole time ot la- 
 borers -at once, of those who have aright to dispose of it, with a 
 permanent relation of protection and care over them, or, whether he 
 shall be restricted to buy it in certain portions only, subject to their 
 control, and with no such permanent relation of care and protection. 
 The rifiht of masters to dispose of the time of their slaves has been 
 distinctly recognised by the Creator of all things, who is surely at 
 liberty to vest the right of property over any object in whomsoever 
 he pleases. That the lawful possessor should retain this right at 
 will, is no more against the laws of society and good morals, than 
 that he should retain the personal endowments with which his Cre- 
 ator has blessed him, or the money and lands inherited from his 
 ancestors, or acquired by his industry. And neither society, nor 
 individuals, have any more authority to demand a relinquishment, 
 without an equivalent, in the one case, than in the other. 
 
 ♦' As it is a (pieslion purely of political economy, and one which 
 in this country is reserved to the cojrnizance ot the State Govern- 
 ments severally, it is further believed', that the State of South Car- 
 olina alone has the right to regulate the existence and condition of 
 slavery within lier territorial limits; and we should resist to the 
 utmost every invasion of this right, come from what quarter and 
 under whatever pretence it may." 
 
 In 1835, the following query, referring to slaves, was 
 presented to the Savannah Rivet Baptist Association of 
 Ministers : — 
 
 " Whether, in case of involuntary separation of such a character 
 
27 
 
 as to preclude all prospect of future intercourse, the parties ought to 
 be allowed to luarry again ?" 
 
 Answe7\ — 
 
 *' That such separation among persons situated as our slaves are, 
 is civilly a separation by death, and they believe, that, in the sipht of 
 God, it would be so viewed. To loibid second marriages in such 
 cases, would be to expose the parties, tiot only to stronger hardships 
 and strong temptations, but to church censure, for actuig in obedience 
 to their masters, who cannot be expected to acquiesce in a regulation 
 at variance with justice to the shives, and to the spirit of that com- 
 mand which regulates mairiage among Christians. The slaves are 
 not free agents, and a dissolution by death is not more entirely 
 without their consent, and beyond their control, than by such sepa- 
 ration." 
 
 Sept. 1835. The ministers and messenorers of the 
 Goslien Association, assembled at Free Union, Virginia, 
 state, — 
 
 " The most of us have been born and brought up in the midst of 
 this population. Very many of us, loo, have been ushered into life 
 under inauspicious circumstances, having no patrimonies to boast, 
 and inheriting little else from our parents but an existence and a 
 name. We have, however, through the blessing of God, by a per- 
 severing course of industry and rigid economy acquired aPcompetent 
 support for ourselves and families; and as a reward tor our laborious 
 exertiofi we received such property [slaves] as was guaranteed to 
 us, not only by the laws of our individual States, but by those of the 
 United States. In consideration whereof we unanimously adopt the 
 following resolutions: — 
 
 1. Resolved, — 
 
 " That we consider our right and title to this property altogether 
 legal and bona fide, and that it is a breach of the (kith pledged in 
 the federal constitution, for our northern brethren to try, either di- 
 rectly or indirectly, to lessen the value of this property or impair our 
 title thereto." 
 
 2. Resolved, — 
 
 " That we view the torch of the incendiary, and the dagger of the 
 midnight assassin, loosely concealed under tlie specious garb of hu- 
 manity and religion falsely so called," 
 
 3. Resolved, — 
 
 "That we consider there is something radically wrong in the logic 
 of those would-be philanthropists at the noith, who lay it down as 
 one of their main propositions, that they must do what is right, re- 
 gardless of consequences, inasmuch as they will not venture to come 
 this side of the Potomac to teach and lecture publicly where (they 
 say) this crying evil exists," 
 
28 
 
 SENTIMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL BAPTISTS. 
 
 The late Rev. Lucius Bolles, D. D., of Massacliusetts, 
 Cor. Sec. Am. Bap. Board for Foreign Missions : — 
 
 (1834.) " There is a pleasing degree of union among the multi- 
 plying thousands of Baptists, throughout the land. • ♦ - Our 
 goulhern brethren are generally, both mini?teis ami peoide, slave- 
 holders." 
 
 Rev. R. Furman, D. D., of South Carolina. 
 
 «* The right of holding slaves is clearly established in the Hi)ly 
 Scriptures, both by precept and example." — Exposition of the views 
 of the Baptists, addressed to the Governor of S. Carolina, 1833. 
 
 Dr. Furman died not long afterward. His legal repre- 
 sentatives thus advertise his property for sale : — 
 
 " JVotice. 
 
 **0n the first Monday of February next, will be put up at public 
 auction, before the court house, the followins; property, belonging 
 to the estate of the late Rev. Ur. Fukman, viz : — 
 
 "A plantation or tract of land on and in the VVataree Swauip. A 
 tract of the first quality of fine land, on the waters of Jilack Iviver. 
 A lot of land in the town of Camden. A Library of a miscella- 
 neous character, chiefly Thkoi.ogical, 
 
 27 NEGROES, 
 
 Some of them very prime. Two mules, one horse and an oUl 
 wagon." 
 
 THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 (350,000 Members.) 
 
 In 1793, the General Assembly, not very Ioiijt alter it 
 was organised, adopted the "judgment''' of the New 
 York and Philadelphia Synods, in favor of " universal 
 liberty." In 17i)4, it adopted the following as a note to 
 the eighth commandment, as expressing the doctrine of 
 the church on slaveholdincj : — 
 
 " 1 Tim. i. 10. The law is made for man-stealf.rs. Thi-« crime 
 among the Jews exposed the perpetrators ol it lo capital puni-hment ; 
 Exodus xxi. 15; and the apostle here classes them wilh sinncis of 
 the first rank. The word he uses, in its orio;irinl import, compi i-IkmkIs 
 all who are concerned in bringing any of the human rare inio .nla- 
 \ery, or in retaining ihetn in it. Hovnnum fures, qui serros vel 
 liberos ahducunf, rttinent, vendunt, vel ennint. Stealers of men 
 are all those who bring oif slaves or freemen, and kekp, sell, or 
 BUY THEM. To steal a freeman, says Grotius, is the hijjhest kind 
 
29 
 
 of theft. In other instances, we only steal human property, but 
 when we *ledl, or letain men in slavery, we seize those who, in 
 coiniiion with ourselves, are constituted by the original grant lurdj 
 of the earth " 
 
 But the ciiurch coutcDted itself with recording its doc- 
 
 lrii)»-. No rules of discipluie were enforced. Tlie slave- 
 
 hol«]er.s remained in the church, adding slave to slave, 
 
 unmolested ; not only unmolested, but bearing the offices 
 
 of the church. In I '*!<». the General Assembly, while it 
 
 called slavery ' n mournful evil," directed the eraziri^ 
 
 of the note to liie eiijlith commandment. In I^lJ^, it 
 
 ad '^ird an '* kxfkks.himn of vikws" in which slavery is 
 
 I f^russ riolatinn of the most precious and sacred 
 
 ri^hr> of human nature," but instea<l of requirinu the 
 
 in>tant abaiulonment of litis ** violation t>f rii:/it>," the 
 
 Ass<,*nibly exliort^ the violators " to continue and increase 
 
 their r//r/i"/i.N- to elTecl a total abolition of slavery, with 
 
 no greater fltlai/ than a regard to the public welfare dr- 
 
 tnanf/s ;" and recotntnends that if a *' (Christian professor 
 
 iiali sell a slave who is alMi in communion with our 
 
 imrch," without the con-enl of the slave, the seller 
 
 'loiild Imj "suspended till he should repent and make 
 
 ri naration." 
 
 The rrw/zV// of slavery in the Presbyterian iliurch, since 
 ISIS, may l>e known from the following leslirnonies : — 
 
 The llev James Smvlio, A. M., of the Amite Presby- 
 tery, .Mississippi, III a pamphlet, publi>hed by him a >hort 
 time ago in favor of American slavery, says : — 
 
 " If alavrry t>e a »iri, an<l attvrrtiHJng and apprchendint: ^lavc*. 
 with a virwr to restore ihcni lo their iMa<tt<'M, h a dirt.-ct vioLiiiun of 
 the Uiviiic law, ami il the Lnying, stUm^, ur hildin-^ a stave »or 
 TMi: >AKK or UAIN, i* » lifiiiuiii Mn iMid M-.ui(lal, then, \eiily, 
 
 rHKLK ruURTim or all THK KpIsC'iFALIAN-*. MKTHODMrM, 
 ItAPriir*. ttui PHKsOVTtni AN», ill K».k.VK.N SlATKS (»r TMK 
 
 I .NioN, 41 e of the ilcvil 'I tii-y * hold.' it ihey i\o iio( hoy and sell 
 si.ivf t, ,«nd. trj^/l /i ir ' «. thry hftii.tie not to 'a|ipieln'nd 
 
 ami reitore ' niiiaway - ifii in iheir power." 
 
 Ill 1 ""o I. the Synod of Kentucky appointed a rommilteo 
 of twi-lve to report on the condition, \.c , of tin: slaves. 
 This passage occurs in the reptjrt : — 
 
 '- Mnil il Htri|ic4 nnd all the Viirioii4 kind-* of pofoniil indi((niric9, 
 • re not the oidy ^piTit-t ol rr<ielly which >lav.r\ licenses. I he \.iW 
 «lui'!4 not rrroiiiiiM? th»' lainilv rrlaUofH of the >l.ive ; and cxleiid-* to 
 hull no protection in the ciijoyinfnt of domestic endearinent^i. The 
 
30 
 
 members of a slave family may be forcibly separated, so (Iiat they 
 shall never more meet until the final judgment. And cupidity olten 
 induces the masters to praciise what the law allows, brothers and 
 sisters, parents and children, husbands and wives are torn assunder, 
 and permitted to see each other no more. These acts are daily 
 occurring in the midst of us. The shrieks and the agony, olten 
 witnessed on such occasions, proclaim with a irumpet-tont;ue, the 
 iniquity and cruelty of our system. The cries of these suffertrs go 
 up to the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. There is not a neighboi hoJd, 
 where these heart-rending scenes are not displayed. There is not a 
 village or road that does not behold the sad procession ol manacled 
 outcasts, whose chains and mournful counlen.inces tell that they are 
 exiled by force from all that their hearts hold dear. C)ur church, 
 years ago, raised its voice of solemn warning against this llngrant 
 violation of every principle of mercy, justice, and Immainty. Vet 
 we blush to announce to you and to the world, that this warning has 
 been often disregarded, even by those who huld to our commm.ion. 
 Cases have occurred in our own denomitialion, where pmftssors of 
 the religion of mercy, have torn the mother from her chdditn, and 
 sent her into a merciless and returnless exile. Yet acts of discipline 
 have rarely [never] followed such conduct." 
 
 In 1835, Mr. Stewart, of Illinois, a nilii)rr cidrr, in a 
 speech urging the General Assembly of which he wa.s a 
 member, to act on the subject of slavery, bears this tosli- 
 mony to the e.xisting state of things in the Prcsb\ icrian 
 church. 
 
 *' I hope this Assembly are prepared to come out fully and decl.trc 
 their sentiments, that slavebolding is a most llagr.int,' and heinous 
 SIN. Let us not pass it by in this indirect way, while so many 
 thousands and tens of thousands of our fellow-creatures arc; writhing 
 under the lash, often inflicted, too, by ministers and ciders of the 
 Presbyterian church. 
 
 " In this church, a man may take a free-born chihl, force it away 
 from its parents, to whom God gave it in charge, saying. • Bring it 
 up for me,' and sell it as a beast or hold it in per|)etual bondage, and 
 not only escape corporeal punishment, but really be esteemed an 
 excellent Christian. Nay, even ministers of the gospel, and Doctors 
 of Divinity, may engage in this unholy tralfic, and yet sustain their 
 high and holy calling. 
 
 " Elders, ministers, and Doctors of Divinity, are, with both hands, 
 engaged in the practice." 
 
 The speech from which the above is extracted, was 
 made in support of various memorials and petitions from 
 members of the Presbyterian church, asking that the 
 General Assembly might proceed to carry out'^its princi- 
 ples as they were avowed in 1794 and in 1818. Nothing 
 
31 
 
 was done this session, further tlian to refer all such me- 
 morials and petitions to a committee, (a majority of whom 
 were known to be opposed to the prayer of (he memo- 
 rialists,) to report at the next session in i^'Mj. 
 
 At the meeting of the Assembly in ISU6, the first thing 
 tliat was done, to conciliate the excited slaveholders, was 
 to elect one of them to be Modcralur. 
 
 The majority of the committee appointed in 1S35, of 
 which the Rev. Samuel Miller, D. D., and theolocrical 
 profp'^sor, was chairman, did accordingly report at^ the 
 session of I8:M5, as follows : — 
 
 "That after ihe mo-tt mature .' n. wliich they have been 
 
 able to be«tow on the iutere.ling ^ riant (j-io-»tion ri-lerrecJ to 
 
 them, they woultl mont re-pertiuily rerommend to the (>eneral 
 A»-rn.hly, the adoption of the lollowin(; preamhU', and resohjtion. 
 
 '• Wliprtas. the subject of slavery is in>»ep.ir.»hly connected with 
 the I nv« of many of the Slates in this Union, with which it is by no 
 irii-.ui-4 proper for an ecclesiastical judicature to interfere, and involves 
 many considerations in regard to which j;r«'al direr-iity of opinion 
 ■nd inlensily ol feelmjj. are known to exist in the churches repre- 
 Mrnfcd in thi< A«*rrnhly : And \vhereas, there is great reason to be- 
 lirve, that any aclion on the p.irt of this Assembly in reference to 
 this s.il.jprt. would tend to di»tract and divide our churcfit-s. and 
 W'Mill prut. ably, in n«»wiH«; proii.ulc the lHrn«|it of those whote vveU 
 fare IS imiiiedutely contemplated in the memorials in i|ueslion,'* 
 
 Therefore, Resolved, — 
 
 1. "That it is not expedient fur the A--ciii'.ly tu t l^.• juv Icrtlicr 
 order in relation to this subject. 
 
 2. "That as the nolra which have been expunged from our |)ublic 
 formularies, and which some of the memorials refeiretl to the com- 
 mittee request lo have resiored. were introduced irregularly — never 
 had the sjnriion of the church — an<l therclore, never po-isessed nny 
 • Ulhorily — the (ieneral Assembly has no power, nor Would lli.-y 
 think it eipediefit lo a-«M-n tlnin a place in the authorized .-.laiidards 
 of the churcti." 
 
 The minority ol tin- Comiiiittcc, ihr Rovrron.i Messrs. 
 l)ick«*y and Boman, r«p.,rt((l ihc iMJIuuing tesolutions : — 
 
 Resolved, — 
 
 1. •• That the buying, sellinp, or lioldinp « human being as pro- 
 peily. is in the sicht of (,o«l a heinous sin, and ou/ht to subject the 
 doer ol it to the censures of the church. 
 
 2. "Ibat It IS the duly of every one, and e«peci illy of every 
 Christian, who may be involved in this hiii, to free him.self from Ua 
 erifangleiiient without delay. 
 
 .T •* That It is the duly ol every one. especially of every Christian, 
 in the meekncsd and tJruine^M of the gospel, lo plead the cause of the 
 
32 
 
 poor an.l needy by testifying a-.in.t the principle and praclire of 
 slavehokllnfic ; and to lu^e his best endeavors to dehver the church ot 
 God from the evil ; and to biing about the enuMicipatiun ol Ihu slaves 
 in these United Slates, and throughout the world." 
 
 The slaveholding delegates to the number of forty- 
 eight, met apart, and Resolved,— 
 
 «' That if the General Assembly shall undertake to exercise au- 
 thority on the subject of slaveiy, ^o as to make it an immorality, or 
 shall in any wav dtclare that Chrisnans are crimuial in holding 
 slaves, that a declaration >hall be pre>enled by the southern dele^a- 
 lion, declininor their jurisdiction in the case, and our deU-rmmaiioa 
 not to submit to such deci->ion." 
 
 At an adjourned meeting they adopted the following 
 preamble and resolution, to be presented in the Assembly, 
 as a substitute for those of Dr. Miller : — 
 
 " Whereas, the subject of slavery is iiisepnr.d)Iy connected with 
 the laws of many ol the Slates of this Union, in which it exists 
 under the sanction of said laws, and of the Constitution of the United 
 Slates; and whereiH, slavery is recognized in both the Old and New 
 Testaments as an exir-tiuij relation, and is not condemned by the 
 authority of God ; thereloie, Resolved,— The General Asst-mbly 
 have no autlioiity to assume or exercise jurisdiction, in regard to the 
 existence of slavery." 
 
 The whole subject was finally disposed of by the adop- 
 tion of the 'following |)reainblc and resolution : — 
 
 *' Inasmuch as the Constitulion of the Prcsl>ylerian church, in its 
 preliiiiinaiy aiitl fuudiimenlal principles, declaies that no church 
 judicatories ought to |iieiend to make l.ivvs to biml the conscience i/i 
 virtue of their own nitthority ; and ;i* the urgency of the bu-iness 
 of the Assembly, and the shurtne'^s of the time <!iiiing which iht-y 
 can continue in sts>ion, render it ii^pos>d)le to dclibeiate and decide 
 judiciot)?ly on the subject of shivery in its relation to the chureh ; 
 therefore, Resolved, — That this whole subject be indefinitely post- 
 poned." 
 
 A large number of memorials and petitions went up to 
 the General Assembly of 1837. They were referred to a 
 committee of which the Rev. Dr. Wiihersjioon, a slave- 
 holder of South Carolina — the same who was moderator 
 the year before — was chairman. After (h^tainintr them 
 till nearly tlie usual time for the final adjourntnent of the 
 Assembly, he reported that " the committee had had a 
 number of papers submitted to them from various Synods, 
 churches, and individuals, men and women, on the subject 
 of slavery : and the committee had unanimously agreed, 
 (with the exception of a single member,) to direct that 
 
33 
 
 they be returned to the hous^ ; and that he should move 
 to lay the whole subject on the table;" wliicii was ac- 
 cordincjlv done bv a vote of D7 to '2S. 
 
 In l!?3-?, the Presbyterian church separated on doctrinal 
 differences. Instead of one General Assembly, there are 
 now two, known as the " Old School," and the '* Nt'w 
 School." In the Convention which was held by the Old 
 School preparatory to separation, it was llesolved : — 
 
 *• That in the judgment of thi-i Convention, it i< of the preatest 
 consequence lo the best interests ol our church, th;«t the «uhject of 
 el-ivery »hall not he agitated or discussed in the sessions of the en- 
 suing (iencral A»Heml>ly, and if any Htoiion .nhall be made, or re?^o- 
 lulion offered, touriiing the same, this Convention i^ of opinion that 
 the members of Convention in that body ounhl lo unite in dispoi^ing 
 ol It, tiH far as may be possible, without debate." 
 
 Since the separation, the course of the Old School has 
 l>cen regulated by the spirit of this resolution : II has 
 doup noihiti<T on the subject. 
 
 I'etJtions and tiH-monals against slavery wero j)rcsrnted, 
 if) the New School A.«»embly, at its first session in 1^^:18, 
 and rfferrcd to a committee, which r»portrd — *' that the 
 aj»plir.Tiit.s, for reasons satisfactory to tht'mselv«!s, liave 
 withdrawn iheir pn|)€r8." The committee was discharged. 
 
 In H:J9, it r»*frrred the whole siibjfrt to the I'resby- 
 Ic-nes to do what they might deem ad\isable. 
 
 In IfS4U, a large number of memorials and petitions 
 against slavery was sent in, and referred to the ustial 
 committee. The committee reporle«l a resolution — re- 
 ferring lo what had been done last year — declaritig it 
 tm rjiidit nt Jar the Asstmbli/ to do (tnt/ tliini^ Juitlnr on 
 thr :>uhjrrt. Several attempts were made by the abolition 
 ineiubers of the Assembly to obtain a decided expression 
 f its views, but they proved inelfecttial, and the whole 
 ibjecl was indtfinittlif pn^tpontd. Why, it may be 
 i->ked — es|)ccially by lho>e who, at the time the separation 
 took place, flattered themselves that the New ScIwxjI 
 wouhi show itself rrr///// (>p|K)>ed to slavery —Why, has 
 .-uch a result bee-n brought al>out ? The answer is j)lain : 
 tlif New School Assembly is more solicitous to have the 
 fivor of the few slaveholders wlio are members, than to 
 have the blessings of the p<K)r who are perishing in their 
 grasj) — more earnest to ecjual the Old School in numbers 
 than to otjtstrip it in righteousness. 
 
34 
 
 SENTIMENTS OF PRESBYTERIES AND 
 SYNODS. 
 
 Although many of the influential Presbyterian ministers 
 in the free States, especially in the cities and large towns, 
 have shown themselves ready to second the slaveholding 
 ministers and laymen in their opposition to abolitionism, 
 from some cause it has happened tliat tiie free State Pres- 
 byteries and Synods, have not committed themselves 
 directly on the question. They have attempted to stay 
 the progress of abolitionism by resolutions bearing on it 
 indirtctly ; but well understood by those who were to act 
 under them as intended to exclude as far as was safe, the 
 question of abolition from the churches. 
 
 The following resolutions were passed by Presbyteries 
 and Synods in slave States. 
 
 HOPEWELL PRESBYTERY, SOUTH CAROLINA. 
 
 1. •' Slavery has existed in the church of God from the time of 
 Abraham to ttiis diiy. Members of the church ol (iod have held 
 slaves boufiht with their money, and born in iheir houses ; and this 
 relation is not only recojinized, but its duties are defined clearly both 
 in the Old and 'New Testaments. 
 
 2 " Emancipation is not mentioticd among the duties of the master 
 to his slave, while obedience ' even to the Iroward ' n»aster is enjoin- 
 ed n|)on the slave. 
 
 3. " No instance can be produced of an otluirwise orderly Chri-tian 
 being; REPROVED, much less KxcoMMUN ICATED from the church, 
 for the sinple act ol boldins; domestic slaves, liom the days of .Abra- 
 ham down to the dale of the modern abolitionist." 
 
 HARMONY PRESHYTERY OF SOUTH CAROIJNA : 
 
 " Whereas, sundry persons in Scotland and Eniiland, and others Iq 
 the north, east, and west of our country, have denounced slavery as 
 obnoxious to the laws of God, some of whom have presented before 
 the g,eneral assend)ly of our church, and the Conojress of the nation, 
 memorials and petiiions, with the avowed object of brin<jin}j itito dis- 
 grace slave-holders, and abolishitti^ the relation of master and slave: 
 — And whereas, from the said proceedinjjs, and the slaiemenis, 
 reasonings, and circumstances connected (herewith, it is most mani- 
 fest that those persons ' know not what they say, nor whereof they 
 affirm ;' and with this iiinorance discover a spirit of self-righteousness 
 and exclusive sanctity," &c. 
 
 Therefore, 1. Resolved, — 
 
 "That as the kingdom of our Lord is not of this world, Flis church 
 as such has no right to abolish, alter, or effect any institution or 
 ordinance of men, political or civil, &,c." 
 
35 
 
 2 Resolved : — " That slavery has existed from the day:? of those 
 good old slave-holders and patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, 
 (who are now in the kinffdoiii of heaven,) to the time when the 
 apo«lle P.iul sent a run-away home to his master, Philemon, and 
 wrote a Chri*lian and fraternal letter to this slave-holder, which we 
 fin«l still stands in the canon of the Scriptures — and that «<lavery has 
 existed ever since the days of the Apostle, and does now exist." 
 
 3. Resolved : — " That as the relative dtilies of m.ister and slave 
 are taught in the Scripture*', in the same manner as those of parent 
 an<l child, and hushmd and wile, the existence of slavery itself is not 
 oppo-ed to the will of Go<l ; and whosoever ha-* it conscience too 
 lender to recognize this relati«»n as lawful, is 'righteous over much,' 
 is * w i«e above what is written,* and has submitted his neck to the 
 yoke of men, sacrificed hi< Clii«tian liberty of con-^cience, and leaves 
 the infallible word of Go«l for the fancies and doctrines of men." 
 
 CHARM'.STON UNION PRESBYTERY : 
 
 " It i-* a principle which meet« the view-* of thi* body, that slavery, 
 ai it eXHts among us, is a political inotitiition. with which ecclesias- 
 tical jutliratorii's have not tlie smallest right to interfere ; and in 
 relation to which, any such interference, especially at the present 
 momentous crisis, would be tnnraHy tcrotig, and fraught with the 
 ina*t dangerous and perniciou* con«equeiico<«. The sentiments which 
 tre mainlain, in common with Chrialiana at thr South of every Je- 
 nonnnatxon, nrc •rniimrni* which so fully approvo themselves to 
 our roil riiMicr*, are »o idenlirieij » ith our tnlemn convictions of duly, 
 that We -hould maintain them under any circuinHtances." 
 
 Res<)lvc«l, — 
 
 •* Thai in the opinion ol tliM I'robvtcry, the holding of slaves, «o 
 f.»r fiom bring a tUN in the »ight of (itMl, is no where cuiidemn«-d in 
 Ins holy word — that it ih in accoi dance with the example, or con- 
 •isteiit with the precepts of palriarrh«*, aposth-s, nnd prophets, and 
 that it Is compatible with the most fraternal regard to the be-l good 
 of th(»'«e »ervanis whom (fO<l may have committed to our charge ; 
 an<l that, therelore, they who assume the contrary position, and lay 
 it down as a fundamental principle in murals and rili'/inn, that all 
 slave-holdinf; is wrrun^, proceed upon false principle^." 
 
 SYN<>I> <)K sot III ('AR(»fJNA AM> GEORGIA : 
 
 Rrsolviul, unanimously, — [Dec, i^:^^] 
 
 '• That in the opinion of this nynixl. Abolition Societies, and the 
 principles on which they are (ounded. in the Uniled Stales, are 
 incoii'^isient with the interests of the slaves, the rights of the holders, 
 aud the great principles of our political institution/' 
 
 BYNdI) ok VIKi.lMA. 
 
 The committee to whom were referred the resolutions, &c., have 
 according to order, hatl the s^nie under con-^ideralion — and respect- 
 fully report that in llieir judgment, the lolliwing resolutions are 
 nece«sary and proper to be adopted by the Synod at the present 
 time : 
 
 *• Whereas, the publications and proceedings of certain organizc<l 
 
36 
 
 a«.^ociatlons, commonly called anti-slavery, or abolition societies, 
 which have arisen in some parts of our land, have greatly du^turbed 
 and are still greatly disturbing the peace of the church, and ol the 
 country; and the Synod of Virginia deem it a solemn duty which 
 they owe to themselves and to the community to declare their senti- 
 ments upon the subject ; therefore, 
 
 Resolved, unanimously, — 
 
 " That we consider the dogma fiercely promulgated by said a.-iso- 
 ciations— that slavery as it exi>ts in our slave-holding States is neces- 
 sarily sinful, and ought to be immediately abolished, and the con- 
 clusions which naturally follow from that dogma, as directly and 
 palpably contrary to the plainest principles of common sense and 
 common humanity, and to the clearest authority of the word of Uod." 
 
 The above are all of the Old School. The following is 
 from a slave-holding New School church, in Telcrbburg, 
 Virginia, (l()th Nov. 1838 :— ) 
 
 «« Whereas, the General Assembly did, in the year 1818, pass a 
 law which contains provisions for slaves, irreconcilable with our civil 
 institutions, and solemnly declaring slavery to be tJin again-t (Jorl — a 
 law at once offensive and insulting to the whole southern community," 
 
 1. Resolved, — 
 
 «' That, as slave-holders, we cannot consent longer to remain in 
 connection with any church where there exists a statute conftrring 
 the right upon slaves to arraign their masters before the judirati»ry 
 of the church — and that too for the act of selling them without 
 their consent first had and obtained." 
 
 2. Resolved, — 
 
 "That as the Great Head of the church has recognized the rela- 
 tion of master and slave, we conscientiously believe that slavery is 
 not a sin against God as declared by the General As><embly." 
 
 3. Resolved, — 
 
 " That there is no tyranny more oppressive than that which is 
 sometimes sanctioned by the operation of ecclesiastical law." 
 
 SENTIMENTS OF PRESBYTERIAN MINISTERS. 
 The Rev. Gardiner Spring, D. D., of New York: 
 
 At the anniversary of the American Colonization So- 
 ciety at the City of Washington, in 1839, this gentleman 
 appeared on the platform as one of the speakers, with Mr. 
 Henry D. Wise, (M. C.) of Virginia, a slave-holder and 
 professed duelist. The latter had said in his speech, the 
 best 7vay to meet the abolitionists was with " Dupnnt's 
 best'' [gunpowder] and cold steel. The Sun, one of the 
 New York city journals, tells us — the Rev. Doctor spuke 
 
37 
 
 trith syrnpatln/ nf the sentiments of the South os evinced in 
 the speech nf Mr. n7>>." 
 
 Since this, Dr. S. lias preached a series of sermons to 
 liis conLrren'ation. on slavery in its scriptural relations. 
 'I'hese sermnns have been printed, and are looked on by 
 the prf>slavcry party as highly serviceable to their cause. 
 
 The Rev. JotL P.arkrr, l3. D., President of the Pres- 
 byterian Theological Seminary, New York : — 
 
 " AboliiionHm n»ighl be pronounced a im as well a? slavery." 
 
 This was said, according to the American papers, at 
 the last session of the (N. S ) General Assembly, in sup- 
 porting the pro|>osiiion of a slave-hoMer, that " all action 
 on the subject of slavery, shouM Ik* declared by that body 
 beyond its relations and functions.'' 
 
 The Krv. Dr. P. at the beginning of tiie anti-slavery 
 movement in the United Stales was an abolitionist. He 
 was .sent to New Orleans, being thought eminently fitted 
 as a (.'hristim minister, to contend against the j)r« vailing 
 ini(|uitics of that slavchoiding city. He had not been 
 then* long, l>cforc he became a rolunizatioiti^f. He 
 happened to bo at Alton, (Illinois,) at the time the mob 
 ypirit was beginning to show its bloody intents toward the 
 Rev. .Mr. I»\ejoy. His injurious remarks in public 
 Rgain>t the abuliiionists were ihoiighl to have contributed 
 to excite the mob to the fatal issue which lf>ok place. He 
 afterwards r«-turned to New York ; was elected pastor of 
 tin.' 'I'aberii.icle church, of which Mr. L(!wis Tajipan was 
 a memIxT , resisted the formation by that gentleman of 
 an aiiti-slaverv society among the members of the church ; 
 pro-ecut«"d Mr. T. belore the church Mssion^ on various 
 charges, with the view of ejecting him Irom the church, 
 and ha-<, generally, since his return to New \ork, distin- 
 guish! d himself by bitterness of spirit and languago 
 again.>t the anti-slavery cau-^e. Sinrr all trhirh, he has 
 !>een mride a D. D. and Pre>id<'nt of the (.\. S.) Theo- 
 logicid Seminary in N< vv York. 
 
 The Rev. S\mi i i II ('<>\. D D of tiie city of Hrook- 
 Ivn, moved iIm' iiidet'iuite po-tpom iiieui of ihe sla\(ry 
 «|Me<'lion at llie last (N. S) (ieneral .Vssembly. On ihe 
 motion being carried, he exultmgly said, " Our Vesuvius 
 is safely capped for three years" — the Assembly not 
 1 
 
38 
 
 meeting again till 1843. Dr. Cox was at one time an 
 abolitionist. 
 
 The Rev. William S. Plummer. D. D. of Richmond : 
 [This gentleman is the leader of the Old School party. 
 He was absent from Richmond at the time the clergy in 
 that city purged themselves in a body, from the charge of 
 being favorably disposed to abolition. [See page 10.] On 
 his return, he lost no time in communicating to the 
 " Chairman of the Committee of Correspondence," his 
 agreement with his clerical brethren. The passages 
 quoted occur in his letter to the chairman.] 
 
 ♦' I have carefully watched this matter from its earliest existence, 
 and everything I have seen or heard of its character, both from its 
 patrons and its enemies, has confirmed me, beyond repentance, in the 
 belief, that, let the character of Abolitionists be what it may in the 
 sight of the Judge of all the earth, this is the most meddlesome, im- 
 pudent, reckless, fierce, and wicked excitement I ever saw. 
 
 " If Abolitionists will set the country in a blaze, it is but fair that 
 they should receive the first warming at the fire. 
 
 " Let it be proclaimed throughout the nation, thai every move- 
 ment made by the fanatics (so far as it has any effect in the South) 
 does but rivet every fetter of the bondsman — diminish the probability 
 of anything being successfully undertaken for making him either fit 
 for freedom, or likely to obtain it. We have the authority of Mon- 
 tesquieu, liuike, and Coleridge, three eminent masters of the science 
 of human nature, that of all men slave-holders are the most jealous 
 of their liberties. One of Pennsylvania's most gifted sons has lately 
 pronounced the South, the cradle of liberty. 
 
 " Lastly. — Abolitionists are like infidels, wholly unaddicted to 
 martyrdom for opinion's sake. Let them understand that they will 
 he caught [Lynched] if they come among Tis, and they will take 
 good heed to keep out of our way. There is not one man among 
 them who has any more idea of shedding his blood in this cause, thao 
 he has of making war on the Grand Turk." 
 
 Rev. Thomas S. Witherspoon, of Alabama, writing to 
 the Editor of the Emancipator : — 
 
 " I draw my warrant from 4iie Scriptures of the Old and New 
 Testament, to hold the slave in bondage. The principle of holding 
 the heallien in bondage is recognized by God. * * * When the 
 tardy process of the law is too long in redressing our grievances, we 
 of the Souih, h-ne adopted the summary remedy of Judge Lynch — 
 and really I think it one of the most wholesome and sal(]tary reme- 
 dies for the malady of Norlhern fanaticism that can be applied, and 
 no doubt my worthy friend, the Editor of the Emancipator and 
 Human Rights, would feel the better of its enforcement, provided he 
 had a Southern administrator. I go to the Bible for my warrant in 
 all moral matters. * * J^et your emissaries dare venture to cross 
 the Potomac, and I cannot promise you that their fate will be less 
 
than Haman's. Then beware how yon goad an insulted, but mag' 
 naniinous people to deeds ot desperation." 
 
 Rev. Robert N. Anderson, of Virginia: 
 
 *' To the Sessions of the Presbyterian Congregations 
 within the bounds of the West Hanover Presbytery : " — 
 
 '* At the approaching stated meeting of our Presbytery, I design to 
 offer a preamble and string of resolutions on the subject of the use of 
 wine in the Lord's Supper; and also a preamble and string of resolu- 
 tions on the subject of the treasonable and abominably wicked in- 
 terference of the Northern and Eastern fanatics, with our political 
 and civil rights, our property and our domestic concerns. You are 
 aware that our clergy, whether with or without reason, are more 
 suspected by the public than the clergy of other denominations. 
 Now, dear Christian brethren, 1 humbly express it as my earnest 
 wish, that you quit yourselves like men. If there be any stray goat 
 of a iTiinister among you, tainted with the blood-hound principles of 
 abolitionism, let him be ferreted out, silenced, excommunicated, and 
 left to {.he public to dispose of him in other respects. 
 
 " Your affectionate brother in the Lord, 
 
 " Robert N. Anderson." 
 
 THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
 
 The number of members in this church is not known. 
 It is, however, small when compared with the number in 
 any of the churches that have been mentioned. Its con- 
 gregations are mostly in the cities and towns, and they 
 generally consist of persons in the wealthier classes of 
 society. This, together with the smallness of its numbers 
 and the authority of the Bishops, has prevented it from 
 being much agitated with the anti-slavery question. Its 
 leading ministers, so far as they concern themselves at all 
 about the slavery question, are in favor of the American 
 Colonization Scheme. Their influence is, therefore, de- 
 cidedly adverse to emancipation. The prevailing temper 
 of the Protestant Episcopal church is thus testified of by 
 John Jay, Esq., of the city of New York, — himself an 
 Episcopalian — in a pamphlet, entitled " Thoughts on the 
 duty of the Episcopal church in relation to slavery :" — 
 
 " Alas ! for the expectation that she would conform to the spirit of 
 her ancient mother! She has not merely retnained a mute and 
 careless spectator of this great conflict of truth and justice with 
 hypocrisy and cruelty, but her very priests and deacons may be 
 seen ministering at the altar of slavery, offering their talents and 
 influence at its unholy shrine, and openly repeating the awful blas- 
 phemy, that the precepts of our Saviour sanction the system of 
 American slavery. Her Northern (free State) clergy, with rare 
 
40 
 
 exceptions, whatever they may feel upon this subject, rebuke it 
 neither in public nor in private ; and her peno(hcals, tar Irom ad- 
 vancing the progress of abolilion, at tiuies oppose our societies, 
 impliedly defending slavery, as not incompatii)le with Chrisii.uniy, 
 and occasionally withholding information useful to the c.«u?e of 
 freedom." 
 
 Although apparently desirous of kcei)iM5 clear ^of all 
 connection with the anti-slavcry niovoment, the Eju>co- 
 palians have not failed u hen a suitable opportunity pre- 
 sented itself, to throw their influence ngainst it. 
 
 The Rev, Peter Williams, rector of St. PluHii)'s church, 
 New York, a colored gentleman, was one of the Hxeculive 
 Committee of the American Anti-Slavery Society, in 
 1834, when the abolitionists were exposed in their persons 
 and property to the fiercest onsets of pro-slavery mobs. 
 The Bishop of the diocese [Rev. f3enjamin F. Onderdonk, 
 D. D.] required of Mr. Williams to reliii<iui>h his place in 
 the committee, to which requisition, Air. A\'. thought it 
 his duty to conform. 
 
 Bishop Bowen, of Charleston, South Carolina, not long 
 after the meeting in that city, in which the " reverend 
 gentlemen of the clergy," had so handsomely and uiinni- 
 mously " responded to public sentiment," volunteered in 
 an address to the Convention of his diocese, a denuncia- 
 tion of the " malignant philanthropy of abolition,'" and 
 contrasted "the savageism and outlawry con.-e<juoni on 
 abolition," with *' domestic servitude under the benign 
 influence of Christian principles and Chri'^tian iu>titu- 
 tions!" — principles and institutions which denied Sunday 
 School instruction to free-colored children, and which, at 
 the very time of the Address, tolerated the olfer in the 
 Charleston Courier of Jifti/ dollars for the hi:ai> of a 
 fugitive slave — principles and institutions which led Mr. 
 Preston to declare in Ids place as a Senator of the United 
 States, " Let an abolitionist come within the borders of 
 South Carolina — if we can catch him we will hang him." 
 In 183G, a clergyman in North Carolina, of the name 
 of Freeman, preached, in the presence of his bishop (Rev. 
 Levi S. Ives, D. D., a native of a free State), two sermons 
 on the rights and duties of slave-holders. In these he 
 essayed to justify from the Bible, the slavery both of white 
 men and negroes, and insisted that " without a new reve- 
 lation from heaven, no man was authorized to pronounce 
 slavery wrong." The sermons were printed in a pamphlet, 
 
41 
 
 prefaced with a lelter to -Mr. Freeman from the Bishop of 
 North Carolina, declaring that he had " listened with most 
 unfeigned pleasure" to his discourses, and advised their 
 publication as being " urgently called for at the present 
 time." 
 
 " The Protestant Episcopal Society for the advance- 
 ment of Christianity in South Carolina" thought it ex- 
 pedient, and in all likelihood with Bishop Bowen'3 
 approbation, to republish Mr. Freeman's pamphlet as a 
 rtltL'ions tract ! 
 
 The Churchman is edited by a Doctor of Divinity, late 
 an in-tructor in a theological seminnrv, and eiijovs the 
 especial patronage of the Bishop of New York, and was 
 recently otlicially recommended by hin) to the favor of the 
 Convontion. The editor ha.'* trr<|u«Mitlv as.^ailed the abo- 
 litiom.^t.s in his columns in bitter and contemptuous terms. 
 He has even volunteered to defend the mo.sl cruel and 
 iiiitpiitous enactment of the slave code. In rcUrtiice to 
 the U'ijal prr)hil)itu)n of leaching the colored population to 
 read, the editor says : — 
 
 •• .AM the knowlrtlgc which i* necessary to salvation, all the know- 
 ledge of our July lowanl (jcmI, and our duly louuiil our nt-iulil>or, 
 ii>ay Im? comniuiiiciiifd hy oral in«truriinn, and ituTefure a law ul (lio 
 bitd loUnlicliiig oltti'r iucao.4 uf in»truc(luu dues nut trt-nch u|)un the 
 law ol (.ckI," 
 
 A certain congregation in ihf diocese of Nrw York is 
 said lo hold its cemetery by a tenure which forbids the 
 interment of any colored person ; so that if an Kpiscopal 
 colored cU-rijyman ba|)pen to die in that parish, he would 
 be indebted to others than his Kpiscopal brethren \\)r a 
 grave ! 
 
 'I'hire are instances of regularly ordained ministers, 
 rectors of parishes, men having as valid a commission to 
 preach tin; gospel as any other presbyters in the Fpiscopal 
 rhurth, who are virtually denird a scat in her FccleMas- 
 tical councils, soit/i/ because tfin/ art mm of color The 
 rector of a colored church in I'hiladelphin, is excluded by 
 an oxpress cam^n of the Diocesan Coinfiition. 
 
 " TlIK (JF.NKKAI. TnKOl.OtiH Al, Si .MINWHY (»F TIIK 
 PH(»rJ:ST.ANT FlMS( <M' VI, ( III KCn I.\ TIIF. F N 11 F. O StATKS," 
 
 is in the city of New York. It is called the Uimral 
 Seminary, because it is under the superintendence of the 
 whole church ; the Board of trustees beinij composed of 
 
42 
 
 the Bishops, cx-officio, and upwards of one hundred clerical 
 and hiy crentlenien, representing the different States and 
 Territories of the Union. It was intended, of course, for 
 the theological education of the Protestant Episcopal 
 ministry. 
 
 Alexander Crummel, a colored young gentleman of 
 New York, made application to become a ** candidate for 
 holy orders " in the church, and was duly admitted as 
 such. In due time Mr. Crummel received from the 
 Bishop of the diocese, the usual circular in such cases, in 
 which he was told " unless you belong to the General 
 Theological Seminary, as it is my wish that all the candi- 
 dates of this diocese should, when not prevented by 
 unavoidable circumstances, you will be governed," &c. 
 
 The section in the statutes of the seminary regulating 
 admission is plain and imperative : — " Every person pro- 
 ducing to the faculty satisfactory evidence of his hamng 
 been admitted a candidate for holy orders," &-c., " shall 
 be received as a student of the seminary." 
 
 It does not appear from the only account we have at 
 hand, of this matter, that Mr. Crummel made application 
 to the faculty. It is however, to be presumed he did, and 
 that the faculty put him off by referring him to the Board 
 of trustees. To the Board then, he made his application, 
 of which an account is given in the followinor 
 
 EXTRACT FROM THE MINUTES I 
 
 Tuesday, June 25th, 1839. 
 " A communication from Mr. Crummel, askMno; admission to the 
 Seminary as a student, was read, and on motion referred to a Com- 
 mittee consistina, of the follovvinoj gentlemen, appointed by the chair : 
 — Right Rev. Bishop Doane, Rev. Drs. Milnor, Taylor and Smith, 
 Messrs. D. B. Ogden, Newton and Johnson." 
 
 June 26th, 1839. 
 
 "The Rioht Rev. Bishop Doane, chairman of the Committee on 
 the petition of Mr. Crummel, asked to be relieved from further ser- 
 vice on that Committee, wliich request was granted. 
 
 " The Rifjht Rev. Bi-^^hop Onderdonk, of Pennsylvania, was on 
 motion appointed chairman of the committee, to fill the vacancy thus 
 occasioned." 
 
 June 21th, 1839. 
 " The committee on the petition of Mr. Crummel, submitted the 
 following : — 
 
 " The committee to whom was referred the petition of Mr. Crum- 
 mel, re.-pectlully report, that having deliberately considered the said 
 petition, they are of opinion that it ought not to be granted, and they 
 
43 
 
 accordingly recommend to the Board of Trustees the following reso- 
 lution : — Resolved, — That the prayer of the petitioner be not granted. 
 
 " The Rev. Dr. Hawks,* moved that the resolution recommended 
 in the report be adopted." 
 
 Mr. Huntington moved, — 
 
 " That the whole subject be recommitted, with instructions to the 
 comniittee to report, that the matters embraced in the petition of 
 Mr. Crummel are, according to Section 1, of Chap. VII. of the 
 Statutes, referrable to the faculty rather than this board." 
 
 [This motion was lost, through fear, we are constrained 
 to believe, lest the faculty would not, if compelled to act, 
 refuse to Mr. Crummel a right that was so obviously his.] 
 
 " Whereupon the question upon accepting the report and adopting 
 the resolution recommended, was taken up and decided in the af- 
 firmative. 
 
 "The Right Rev. Bishop Doanegave notice, that he should, on the 
 morrow, ask leave to present to the board, and to enter upon the 
 minutes a protest against the decision, 
 
 Friday, June 2Sth. 
 " The Right Rev. Bishop Doane, who had yesterday given notice 
 of his intention to ask leave to enter a protest, &c. changed his in- 
 tention as to the manner of presenting the subject, and asked leave 
 to stale to the board his reasons, with a view to the entering of the 
 same on the minutes, for dissenting from the vote of the majority on 
 the report of the committee, to whom was referred the petition of 
 Mr. Crummel. Leave was not granted." 
 
 During these proceedings, attempts were made by the 
 Bishop of New York, to prevail on Mr. Crummel to with- 
 draw his application for admission, by assuring him "the 
 members of the faculty were willing to impart to him 
 [private] instruction in their respective departments; and 
 that more evil than benefit would result both to the church 
 and himself, by a formal application in his behalf for ad- 
 mission into the seminary." 
 
 The reader will not have failed to notice with what 
 care every allusion to the cause of refusing Mr. Crummel 
 admission is excluded from the minutes, and to feel that 
 the very fact that the cause does not appear in the minutes 
 — leaving it to be inferred, that it was for something too 
 
 * Dr. Hawks is the Historian of the Episcopal church in the United States. 
 If it he true, as we have seen stated in an American newspaper, that this gentle- 
 man is himself of mixed blood — and his complexion a little favors the statement 
 
 it proves that the admixtion does not deteriorate the intellectual powers ; for in 
 the oratory of the pulpit, and as a writer, Dr. H. stands, deservedly, among the 
 distinguished men of America. 
 
44 
 
 base to be recorded there— is an act of injustice to him 
 that admits of no excuse.* 
 
 ''An Episcopnlian" of New Yorl<, jealous for the 
 honor of his church, published in one of the journals of 
 that city, a full account of these proceedings. The 
 Bishop of New York made a short reply, to but one of 
 his statements, (an immaterial one,) and concluded by 
 saying, that in the discharge of his duties and responsi- 
 bilities, he should not certainhj he swayed by any appeal 
 that might be made to popular feeling. 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 We would have the reader bear in mind, that the fore- 
 going presents but one side of the anti-slavery cause in the 
 several churches whose proceedings have been considered ; 
 and that in them all, there are abolitionists earnestly labor- 
 ing to purify them from the defilements of slavery ; and 
 that they have strong encouragement to proceed, not only 
 in view of what they have already elfectcd toward that end, 
 but in the steady increase of their numbers, and in other 
 omens of sucess. 
 
 We wish him also to bear in mind, that the churches 
 which have been brought before him are not the only 
 American churches which are guilty in giving their coun- 
 tenance and support to slavery. Of others we have said 
 nothing, sitriply because, to examine their cases, would be 
 to make this work too long for the object we liavc in 
 view — and because enough has been said to show substan- 
 tially the state of the slavery-question in America, so far 
 as the CHURCH in that country is connected with it. 
 
 Lastly. — We take pleasure in assuring him, that there 
 are considerable portions of the Methodist — Baptist — and 
 Presbyterian churches, as well as the entire of some of the 
 smaller relio^ious bodies in America, that maintain a com- 
 mendable testimony against slavery and its abomina- 
 tions. 
 
 ♦ Mr. Crummel became a member of the Theological dcpnrtment of Vale Col- 
 lege, a Congregational institution, where we wish we roulil p;iy, he wa« there 
 treated in a manner that would have been the most agreeable to liim, as well oa 
 most honorable to the distinguished ^xoks%ox whose lectures he attended^ but 
 we cannot. ». 
 
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