Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-03-29

African Baptist church at 81. Louis, gwen
in the Triennial Register, (See p. 28O,) it
Is stated that of about 220 members, about
200, (more than nine tenths, are slaves
Many other African churches are mention
ed, but this is the on y instance, think, in
which the proportion of slaves is noted.
Allowing this to be the usual pro PORTION,
which is not improbable,-and keeping in
mind what has been said above, of the COM
parative number Of colored members,-we
may reasonably conclude that our Southern
churches contain 100000 slaves. This cal
culation, as said before, may be, and hope
1t IS, too high. Your readers will see upon
what date the computation is based, and are
capable of judging for themselves of its
probability. Should they reduce the sup
posed number to SO, 0OO,-we should still be
under the melancholy necessity of regard
ing about one fifth part Of our Southern
brethren and sisters, as SIures. Here is
third fact, sir, which demands our attention.
And fourth fact, which ought not to be
forgotten, is this,-that where there are
sldreS, there must be shareholders. These
latter, in many instances. are found in the
same churches with those whom they claim
as their property, and over whom they exer-
else an absolute control. They may be kind
to their slaves, Sand doubtless many of
them are so:-but still, the slave has no
security for the continuance of that kindness
for single day. The death of the master,
or his caprice, or some unforeseen and un-
expected change in his circumstances. NAV
at any time transfer the slave to the DOS
session OF savage tyrant, break up forever
his domestic relations, and subject him to
the most intolerable oppression. Let North
ern Baptists look at this. A portion Of their
Southern brethren, are holding another por-
| ton in bondage, of the most terrific kind, -
in state, if not Of actual subjection al
least Of constant exposure 10 every evil
that can be experienced this side of the
grave. And have we nothing to do? As
christians, and as churches, are we not IN
der the most solemn obligations to svmpa
thlze with our oppressed and suffering breth
rem, and to labor and pray for :her deliver
ance? Can we be regarded as obeving the
apostolic admonition, Remember them tina
are in bonds, as bound with them,-whle
we refuse to plead the cause of the dumb
Can we suffer the sin of our slaveholdine
brethren TO pass unreproved, and not partakt
Of their guilt and their condemnation
Iwish not, sir, to stand in the attitude O
an dccuser. am willing to admit tina
Southern church members, who have beer
brought up under the influence of the horri
BILE system which they are assisting to per
: petuate, may be ignorant in great degree
Of its evils. am willing to believe tina
shareholders may be christians. Ten o
twelve years since, the sinfulness of rum
drinking was very impcrfcctly realized b,
christians; and there may now be goot
men at the South, who do not realize tn
sinfulness Of reducing their felIow-men to
state Of serritude, and of holding then
there. But sir, the fact that our brethren
may be unconscious Of the magnitude o
, the wrong they are committing, is no reason
, why we should silently cOnnire at thi
wrong. We hold the Southern Baptists i,
our fellowship, and the world knows it
: And now we are called upon to decid
= whether this slaveholding is innocent or sin
tM We must either approre or condemn
1t. We cannot maintain a neutral position
f in regard to this question. No, sir,-to b
a.: silent, is to take the side of the OppressO1
e Protested christians and churches who ar
, not found actively fdroring the cause {
a righteousness, must be regarded as oppesin
e it, and retarding its triumph.
What, then, is the duty of the Norther
e BaPtlsts in relation to this subject? Sha
d we suddenly and unceremoniously WITHDRAW
} fellowship from our Southern brethren =
U For one, sir, am not prepared for such
: measure. l lore my brethren of the SoutI
n The names of such men as Furmar
S Broaddus, Semple, aid Rice are associate
Il in my mind with pleasing confidence
II Southern plety, which should be sorry
e have obiiterated. I cannot believe that piet
d to be of such kind, that it will not bear
70 christian reproof, administered in the spir
,, of meekness. 1t is because lover nv SoutI
= ern brethren, that would have them Al
IS PrIsed OF their wrong, and their peril, in II
= matter of slaveholding land it is becau.
l. believe them to be actuated, to some e,
tent by christian spirit, that wish Co,
j yentions, Associations. and churches q. Il