State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-09-06
WHOLE NO. 9J4.

same universal Ruler in the precious bless
ing of common freedom, and a common
Christianity; holding in admiration the
amount of Christian libcrality and Christian
effort evlnced by them, in the dissemination
of the Word of God and of The education
requisite for the use of it through every
part Of their own territory, MS well as for
the complete evangelzation of the world
but that in proportion to the delight we have
experienced in hearing of such trinmphs
of Christian principle amongst them, haze
been our astonishment and concern, that
both their freedom and their religion should
be so sadly furnished by the incongruous
association with them of slavery, to so vast
an extent, IN all its hideous forms of traffic
aud oppression, and in regard to millions of
immortal fellow creatures, dependent upon
them me systematic prescription by Sc
we're penal laws of all that instruction which
might ilnrart, TO the victims of corporal
thraldom, the knowledge which enhehtens
and saves the soul, and the liberty where
with Christ makes sinners free and our
wonder and sorrow are rendered the more
intense by the information, that so many
Christian men and Christian ministers
stand chargeable with what we are con-
strained 10 denominate the sin of slave
dealing, IN direct cOntraventlon, as we hold
it to be, of those principles and precepts,
which it is the very object of the Chris
tian ministry TO eXpound and inculcate,
and of the Christian character to exein-
plify.
.. That God having made of one blood
all natious of men to dwell on the face of
the whole earth, "--and all. sprung from
common origin, having become partakers
in common guilt, the objects OF a common
redemption, we sincerely lament the extern
sive and deeply-rooted prevalence of
prejudice so unworthy the generously Of
ireemen, and of the humility and dignity
of Christians, as that against coIor---a pre-
JUDGE by which so many millions of fellow
men are placed under an unmerited and
diseraceiul approbrium, are excluded from
Intercourse, are prevented from awaiting
themselves Of such advantages us might
enable them to evince their fair average of
intellectual endowment and moral capabili-
ties, and so to assume the position in socle-
ty to which they might thus establish their
claim and even In many instances doomed
to retain the stigma of marked separation
in those ordinances of Christian commu-
Mon, where all distinctions ought to Re
merged in the common characters of fel-
low sinners and fellow saints.
d. That we cannot adopt, as the principle
OF our conduct, the spirit of the first niilr-
derer, Gam my broiher's keeper ?"-hut
in the better spirit of that religion which
associates in one holy and blessed fraterni-
ty, sail that in every place call upon the
name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs
and ours" and which imperatively prohib.
its our suffering sin upon our brethren,"
we feel it our incumbent duty to expostulate
most affectionately, most respectfully but
most earnestly, with our Transatlantic fel-
low Christians, imploring them TO lay to
heart, IN this matter, their duty TO God The
common Father, to Christ the common
; Saviour, TO their kindred of The human
falnliy, and especially to those members of
the Redeemed Family of God, who, with
themselves, shall form part of the "muiti-
tude which no man can number, out of all
peoples, and kindreds, and nations, and
tongues, that shall stand at last before the
throne and before the Lamb; J" to raise
themselves ite:::; ;iic;- io;horgy, and in the
power OF the principles Of our common
iaitl with the largoness Of heart which
Christianity inspires, the regard to human
ity and justice which the Royal Law de-
inands, and that practical consideration of
the true interests of their country, which a
sound policy dictates, to unite their efforts
and their prayers in breaking assunder the
yoke both of cruel bondage and of degra-
ding prejudice, in rolling away the reproach
that lies at once on their national and their
Christian reputation, and SO bringing down
upon themselves, their churches, and upon
their country, the blessing of Him who, in
immediate connection with such deeds of
justice, and such 'works of charity and
labors of love-" and in token OF his gracious
approval of them when done for his name,
hath sad -"Then shall thy light break
forth as the morning. and thine health shall
spring forth speedily, and thy righteousness
shall 90 before thee; the glory of the Lord
shall be thy rere ward"
z. That in such way as may be deemed
most eXpedient aud efficient by the COM
nlitee of the Congregational Union, these
resolutions I've transmitted 10 our brethren
of the Congregational churches in the
United States of America, with assurances
Of our most cordial affection, End with
earnest prayers that they may be received
on their part in the same fraternal spirit in
which. we are deeply conscious, they have
been dictated on ours, aud that, by the di
vine blessing, they may, in some small
measure ut least, contribute TO the realiza-
ton of tho nexpressihly interesting and
momcntous objects 10 which they relate.
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