Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-09-04

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unauthorized interference Of citx other States on
The subject of Slavery. has produced great cxccnrn, in
Tins community thereby seriously affecting the useful
ness OF our abors ia behalf numerous class of The
| Pnpulaton OF our State the resident Ministers
:" itichmond and its vicinity, consider it duty to OK
press our opinions ON this deeply interesting subject
meeting FOR this purpose Contemplated by s,c of
our number several weeks since II was however de-.
.r,d On account OF the absence from town of several
Minister'S whose aye. wisd and piciy. nigh, have
given document Of this kind additional wc,,t iu the
estimation OF the puplic.
AS Ministers OF the Gosprl AZ well as ci,;ycp. ,
deeply regret the unfortunate ton of ir of the
Northern Clergy with The Aboiionsts this circum.
stance has been the occasion of groundlcss runors that
Christians and Ministers in our State have been aiding
or coun,enancing their efforts Instead of
suIn Efforts zoe have sympahsed most deeply with
e'ow-citzens aud have shared with them in the ndig
nation aud solictudc awakened by the unhallowed
sche'nes ot misguided and designing mcu who are in
~reiiny with the delicate relations of this difficult and
pcrpexng subject We feel that in our families and
our interest, Identified with this community: and
If we have RETAINED from the public cxpression of orr
views IN relation To the reckless oabotionss
was rather from the fear of Increasing the excitement
which has SO much agiiaed friends than because we
uid not share with them in their anxiety
On the abstract question of slavery we do not con
c'seves caned upon, on tins occasion, express any
opinion But we think, and have always acted upon the
PRINCIPLE That humanity and justice require the pre-
sent condition OF country the cxstnp reations
OF master ana slave should be maintained and that the
latter should be kept under sauary restraint we
iee called upon by every religious obligation TO oppose
TO tue utmost the Measures of abolitionsts which inter
rupt the peace and harmony between different States of
our favored country and tend restrict the PRIVILEGES
and greatly to aggravate the evils those who are The
OBJECTS OF their blind and misguided philanthropy.
We have duly consdec ed the resolution adoned nv
the comint &c OF vigiance the 18th instant to which
our attention called IN your Circular Letter The sub
lect Is one ogeat interest, which have been cxamn
my in all its relations for years. and we b,
regret that the Committee of Vigilance should have fell
themselves called upon to act on this subject without
consultation with the pastors of congregations We
regret tins the this resolution has produced the
injurious Impression extensively abroad that the Com
hi'tee OF vigilance suspected the Ministers of Rich
nond as the abettors of the unhaowed schemes of Abo
onss In respect to the subject presented by the reso
luton in question, to say that we re
gard the ora religious instruction of slaves under such
regulations TO guard aguinst its perverson are found
in the laws of Common wealth both as ,oI;,;ci I
! felgous duty-ior we know that arguments like
those OF religion, have power render content
ca IN The conditions in which they placed and no
thority like that OF God, persuade them to be faithful
and obedent TO their masters according to the precen
oil the Gospel nor can remember that they
are immortal beings like ourselves accountable TO God
anu; unGeI him dependent on for that instruction
winch is able to make them wise unto salvation.
Cur views on the subjects under consideration, are
distinctly embraced in the following resolutions:
ISL SeSoioed, urdntmoaLsiy That earnestly depre.
cate the unwarrantabe and highly improper interference
o e people oil any other State with the domestic
I'd Resoced, That the example of our Lord Jesus
1hrs ana s Apostles, in not interfering with qucs.
uon oil slavery, but uniformly recognizing relations of
master and servant and giving full and affectonate in
srnction to both, is worthy OF The imitation of all Min
3rd ReSotred, That whilst deem il ncxpedient for
strangers from abroad to preach to coloured popula
r,cil
uent MINISTER'S to preach the Gospel servants and TO
give them oral instruction concerning the dulles which
'heY owe TO God, their masters and another.
1tn ReS0fred, That will patronse nor receive
"y pamphlets or newspapers of the Anti Slavery Soci.
cites, and that viii discountenance the circulation of
all such papers in the community.
9th heS0red That the suspicious which have
10 considerable extent against Ministers of the Gospel
ana professors OF religion in the State of Virginia as
ihoehted win Abotionists, IcbOii n,nerited be-
lIeying do from extensive acquaintance with our
churches and brethren, that they unanimous in op.
posing the pernicious schemes of Abolitionists
Adjourned sine die.
=, JOHN KERR, Chairman.
r., e RcHMosD, September /, 1885.
10 heSSTS RoJt. g. Scott John Dops RoA (Iie0fLm,,
/ reSpondeace &c. ~
GIsTEnMES Your polite circular ofthe 2st u
respectfully asking of the Clergy the city and county
prompt consideration of the resolution addrcssed ~
them IN The wing ofhe 18TH doubling that tho sau
tary advice and example of the Ministers of every re-
igous denomination will crafty assist To allav the ex
isung excitement in our country and arrest the mis-
chevous of Misguided or dcsonino aboit;onis.
would nave received from early reply but for The
nope OF acting Immediately and satisfactorily in conneY
ION WIN me other Ministers of the city. Their report to
which agreed the best possible among ciasbipg
opinions, Il mean clashing as to the most advisable
course LOT securing an object equally dear s adopted
on Saturday last, you will morrow but as per
ceiye IRON an editorial notice in to-days Wing that it
VIII be misunderstood of its bearings beg leave
10 say Few iags on my own personal responsibility
Every Minister OF the Baptist connection in Virginia
nay, every Church member of my acquaintance views
win adherence and alarm the conduct of those Nor
theIh Fanatics With other denominations am less ac-
quained but as far acquainted the assertion is
tue OF them also In this subcc feel oyerwhem.
ing interest Many u.s. native sons of this mOId H.
mnon and all OF us, trust, strongly attached 10 the
institutions OF the Commonwealth, to the yerv soil
To defend which, fathers bled we feel that our nor
sons property characterthat the safety of our wives
and children, and of all hold dear is at stake we
deePy synpathiZe with the whole community in an aoi
tauon winch threatens not only individual domestic
sccia ana religious welfare but which threatens to rend
asunder every thing worth living for in this great and
therto prosperous republic When we do not seem full
W TO have met the resolutions Of the 'Commiltee of vi
gance, IL rs not because will not concur with YOU |
~ efforts TO avert porcntous evil but for reasons which
will now explain
The resolution TO which you referred u.s. requested M
10 ADOPT all proper measures for the
conduct OF the AbolItionsts What measures can ,ye
uuoP| onall we eAcommunicate and mathematics |
those men? They have anticipated us by dcnouncing
US, as man steaers and inurdcrers of souls Shall we
tell them that their violent and unlawful measures nrc
"ol only scattering hrebrands among tue whites but d
nnish'ng the privileges Of the blacks? Their conduct
SHOWS them to be equally The enemy of the black man
as OF The white in the South. We might say we an.
proved ana we do heartily approve of the resolutions of
t E committee OF twenty-one, prepared by r. g. Scott
Esq, aud adopted by the general meeting of our citi
zcns-we approve Of the resolutions offered by WIN |
axwcl Esq. in the Borough of Norfolk and odnotcd
oy the cizens OF that place But really we did not
Know how to adopt alt proper (or discounte
ndne'ng tho conduit OF those deludt men the Northern
AbolItionists.
The resolution also requested "to discontinue the
assembling and preaching to the bl1ck population in
separate bodies from the white" This mart Of the rcsc
ing, The blacks, have not, in the Baptist Churches been
addressed Sepafdfciy Sermons have bscn sd,,iod o