Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-30
Communicated foy thh Gazette.

in Philadelphia, in May 1918.
The committee to which was referred the
resolution on the subject Of selling slave,
a member of the church, and which was d.
rected to prepare a report to be adopted by
the Assembly, expressing their opinion IN
{ generation the subject of slavery, reported,
and theirrepoit being read, was unanimous
! " adopted, and referred to the same COM
miltee for publication.
II is as follows, viz
"The General Assembly Of the Presby.
terian Chu, ch, having taken into considera-
ton the subject of slavery, think proper to
make known their sentiments upon It to The
churches and reople under their care.
ave consider the voluntary enslaving ct
one part of the human race by another, as a
gross violation of the most preclGfs and sa-
cred rights of human nature{ as utterly III
consistent with the law OF God. which re-
ouires us TO love our neghbor as ourselves;
and as totally irreconcilabe with the spirit
and principles ofthe Gospel OF Christ. which
enion that, all things whatsoeSeryeWouid
that men should do TO you, do ye even so 10
them. Slavery creates paradox n The
moral system-it exhibits rational, accoun-
table, and immortal beings, in such cirum-
stances as scarcely to leave fhem the powt:-
of moral action. 1t EXHIBITS them IS Deepen
| dant on the will Cfofhrrs, whether they shall
| receive religious instruction; whether they
shall know and worship the true God whe
ther they shall enjoy the ordinances of the
Gospel whether the, shall perform Tire du-
ties and cherish the endcarlEcnts of lr,-
bands and wives, parents and children,
heighbors and friends; whether they lhaIl
. preserve their chastity anil purity, or regard
, the dictates ofjustice and humanity. Such
are some OF The consequences OF Slavery
! consequences not imaginary-but whrch
connect themselves with its very existence.
! The evils to which the slave is af1cays expo
sed, often take place in fact, and in their
very worst degree and form and " here all
of them do moi take place, as we rejoice to
say that in many instances, through The IN
huence of the principles of humanity and
religion on the minds of masters, they do
nol-siil the slave is deprived OF MS natu-
raj right, degraded as a human being, and
exposed to the danger of passing into the
hands Of a master who may inhct upon bin
all the hardships and injuries which inhu-
mainly and avarice may suggest.
From this view fthe consequences re-
sulting from the practice into which chris
tan people have most Inconsistency fallen, /
Of enslaving portion of their brethren OF
mank ind-for " God hath made of one blood
all nations of men to dwell on the face Of
the earth 1T is manifestly the duty of all
christians who enjoy the light of the present
day when The inconsistency ofslavery both
with the dictates of humanity and religion,
has been demonstrated, and is generally
seen and acknowledged, to use their bo-
nest, earnest, and unwearied endeavours. to
correct the errors of former times, and as
speedily as possible to efface this blot on
our holy religion, and to obtain the complete
abolition OF slavery throughout christendorn,
and il possible throughout the world
"We rejoice that the church to which we
belong commenced, as early as any other
in this country, the good work OF endeavor-
ing to put an end 10 slavery, and that in the
same work, many Of its members have ever
since been, and now are, among the most
active. vigorous and efficient lahorers We
do, indeed, tenderly sympathize with those
portions Of our church and our country,
where the evil of slavery has been entailed
upon them where great, and the most Dir
tuous part Of the community abhor slavery,
and wish its determination, as sincerely as
any others-but where the number of slaves,
their ignorance, and their vicious habits ge-
Morally, render an immediate and universal
emancipation inconsistent. alike, with the
happiness Of the master and the slave. With
these who are thus circumstanced, we re-
peat that we tenderly sympathize. AT the
same time we earnestly eyhort them 10 con-
time, and. it possible, to increase their ex-
ertions to effect total abolition Of slavery.
We exhort them to suffer no greater delay
TO take place in this most interesting con-
Germ, than regard to the public welfare
truly aud indispensably demands.
:" As our country has inflicted a most
grievous injury on the unhappy Africans, by
bringing them into slavery. we cannot, in
deed, urge that we should add a second in
jury 10 the first. by emancipating them IN
such manner as that they will be1ikelv to
destroy themselves or Others. But we do
think, that our country ought TO be governed
in this matter, hy no other consideration
than an honest and impartial regard 10 the
happiness Of the injured party; uninRuen-
ced by the expense or Inconvenience which
such regard NAV involve. We therefore
warn all who belong TO orr denomination
of christians, against unduly extending this
plea of necessity against making il cover
for The love and practice Of slavery, or
pretence for not using efforts that are lawful
and practicable to extinauish the evil.
And re, O.. The same time. erhort other,
10 forbear harsh rensures, and uncharitable
reflections on their brethren, who unhappily
live among slaves, whom they cannot inn
media,ely sci free; but who, at the same
time, are really using all their influence,
and all their endeavors, 10 bring them into
state of freedom, as soon as door for it
can be safely opened.