The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-08-29
Iron, the South Carolinian.
AN ABOLITION MISSIONARY.

every foreign movement among us, on
the subject Of Abolition, whether TO ex-
cite the objects Of its fanatical sympathy,
or to plant and foster amongst ourselves
fanatical views and unwholesome feelings
relative TO slavery. l cheerfully comply
with the request Of many of my neigh
bors, to communicate to you, for publica
lion, the following circumstances:
1t had been vaguely rumored about the
neighborhood, last week, that man
who professed to be religious Missiona-
ry, was travelling through the State,
preaching publicly, and enforcing private
lv, doctrines of an incendiary character;
that he had passed through York and
from residents Of those Districts, warning
US that he was making for Fairfield, re.
GREETING that he had not been arrested
there, and advising US to repair the error.
Accordingly, en- Saturday, few of the
neighbors were informed that he had ac-
tually arrived in the neighborhood,, and
was 10 preach at the Sterling Meeting
House on the following day. The next
morning concerted gathering took place
at said Meeting House, whenit was ascer-
tanned that the object of our search had
taken the alarm, departed from the Dis.
trict, and was to preach at Smurney's
Meeting House, Chester District, about
sixteen or twenty miles distant. A large
and respectable company was Immediately
formed to 60 in pursuit Of him, which ar
rived on the spot just before the conclusion
of the sermon, but too late to hear the
remarks upon slavery which, we were in
formed, had interlarded the whole SER
vice.
Previous to dismissing the congregation,
however, (Which was chiefly composed OF
Seceders, many of whom are disaffected
on the subject of slavery.) he invited them
to remain, while he read letter from the
Associated Synod of his Church, exPlana-
tory Of the object of his mission. This
The was speedily dissuaded from doing,
upon being informed that certain persons
had arrived on the ground, already hostile
to him, and that the reading of the letter
would but increase their excitement.
Upon the retiring of>thc assemblage
from the interior Of the Church, COM
mittec, appointed for the purpose, aP.
preached the Missionary and propounded
to him certain questions relative to his
present capacity before the people, his
doctrines, objects, residence. The sub
stance of his replies was, that he was from
Ohio, originally. but had resided FIVE years
in East Tennessee; that he was preach
or of the Gospel, after the Seceders' per-
suasion; that he had been specially sent
by the Associate Synod, which met in
Baltimore, to bring back under the au.
,hority of the Synod, all those who had
abiured it, on account of difference Of
opinion on the subject of slavery, by con-
vincing them of the sinfulness of that in
stitution.
Upon this authority, the man (whose
name is TuoMAs KENDALL) was arrested,
and carried back 10 the vicinity of Ster-
ling Meeting House. and the inhabitants
of an extensive neig ghborhood were sum-
moned to Investigate his case on the fol.
lowing day. Accordingly, the meeting
took place, and the culprit was examined
by several gentlemen, among whom was
an intelligent lawyer; and his letter of
authority and directions was read and dis
cussed.H
The determination Of the meeting was,
that Kendall is a thorough Abolitionist,
and that he has been sent among Us TO
operate upon the fanaticism of the whites,
for the promotion Of his doctrines, and
probably to tamper privately with their
slaves. His grounds are, that slavery is
sinful, and consequently incompatible with
religion, and membership in genuine
Christian Church; and, as necessary de-
duclion, that no one, chargeable with so
heinous crime, can attain happiness in
the life 10 come.
The conditions which he holds out, 10
those who would be received within the
pale of the Church. in this world and
hereafter into the joys of Heaven, are, 10
remove with their slaves to free State,
and there set them at liberty; it that is
to provide them with the
means of reaching free State, and insure,
them against interruption to their progress,
and if circumstances forbid that course,
to give them moral emancipation, by call
ing them up. declaring to them that it Is
sinful to hold fellow beings as slaves, and
that they are as free as air; but that, as
the laws of the State prohibit emanciPa-
ton they must remain ostensibly as slaves,
but really as equals, receiving fair hire
for their services, provided they choose