The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-07-13
THE VOICE OF FREEDOM.
MONTPELIER, SATURDAY, JULY 10, 1882
Washington County Conference.

Washington County conference
1t is cheering, amidst the too general supneness
of northern ministers and churches, to meet with
such clear and plan-spoken resolutions as the fol-
lowing, unanimously adopted by the Conference
of Congregational Churches in this County at
their last monthly meeting. With the exception
of the noble testimony of the Black River Confer
ence, published last winter, we do not recollect
that any conference or association amongst the
congregational churches of Vermont, has spoken
out the plain language of immediate elnancipa-
ton, until now. True, the General Convention
has several times taken up the slavery question,
with manifest reluctance resolved slavery into an
evil and then dismissed the subject with all
possible despatch. If we mistake not the signs
of the times, the feeling is becoming general that
it is time to abandon the policy of quiet reserve,
and meet the question as one of grave and practi-
cal interest, vitality affecting the character of the
church and the interests of religion. The Con-
gregationalists of Vermont are, to some extent,
beginning to see that, as denomination, they are,
in this respect, far behind their Baptist and Meth
odist brethren. They are looking forward, with
more or less socitude, to the meeting of the Cen
eral Convention to be holden at Montpelier in Au-
gust, as fitting occasion to give utterance to
their convictions through their representative bo-
dy. 1t is most earnestly to be hoped that when
the Convention meets, there will be no attempt to
introduce the Philadelphia fashion oflynching dis
cussion, or any evasion of just responsibility.
We subjoin the Washington County resolutions,
only adding our hope that not only the ministers
and churches who adopted them, but all others,
may henceforth be found faithful in the open ad-
vocacy of the doctrines they set forth, until the
church and country shall be purged of the COM
plicated villany."
At Conference of the Congregational Church
es in Washington county, holden at Middlesex
on the Goth and 9th of June, 1889, the following
resolutions on the subject of slavery were unani-
mously adopted -
l. Resolved, that the buying, selling, and hold
ing men as property, is great sin against God,
moral evil, fraught with incalculable mischief to
society, and destructive, in its tendency, of our
republican institutions, and opposed to the spirit
of our Constitution, and to the letter and spirit of
our Declaration of Independence.
2. Resolved, that slavery, or thus holding hu-
man beings as mere chattels or property ought,
Immediately and everywhere, especially in gov
eminent like ours, to be abolished.
3. Resolved, that Immediately ceasing to claim
and hold the slave as slave, or property, is not
inconsistent with such legal and temporary regu-
lations and restraints demanded by public good,
as may be necessary 10 prepare him for the full en-
joyment of all the rights of citizen.
A. Resolved, that it is the duty of the Legisla-
ture of every slave-holding State to adopt such
measures Immediately as will renounce the prin-
cple of slavery as right, and as will qualify the
population of our country properly to ap
preciate, enjoy and exercise the full privileges off
freemen: that whena state Legislature do adopt such
measures, they do virtually abolish slavsry and
cease to commit the sin involved in it.
S, Resolved, that it is the privilege and duty
Of all the friends of human rights and the Consti
tuition, in every part of the Union, to defend and
advocate the principles here advanced, to plead
the cause of the oppressed in our land, and en-
leavor by every lawful MEANS to convince our
fellow citizens at the South, who are guilty of this
sin, that it is sin and a great political evil.
That in doing this, no carnal weapons should
be used "Speahing the truth IN lore" is the only
these principles of universal liberty are advocated
with Gospel spirit, with gentleness, meekness
and love, our brethren at the South ought to lis
ten to us, and hear and consider our petitions with
;andor.
6. Resolved that in the present highly excited
and feversh state of the public mind on both sides
Of the question: it is peculiarly the duty of profess
sing christians, and especially of the ministers of
our holy religion, while they are decided, and firm,
md bold in defence of correct principles and prac
ice on this subject not to forget their peculiar OBJ
igations to act as pe0ce-mahers, That obfoquy
language that casts ridicule and contempt on men,
severe, harsh and disgraceful epithets towards
hose who differ from US on this subject, is not
calculated to convince and persuade men-but
~ an invariable law of our fallen natures, tends
ather to increase the evil we would correct in
'thers, and renders us, perhaps equally guilty in
he sight of God.
Voted, that the Publishers of the Voice of Free
lom, Waterman, and Patriot, be respectfully re-
Iuested to give the foregoing an insertion in their
espectve papers.
Attest, B. w. SMITH, Moderator
]. STONE, Scribe.