Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-11-19
THE PAL Il A ID u VI.
SOCIETY OF FRIENDS-..SLA

Tbs following OF report made a
Of the Baltimore Yearly Meeting Friends
ect Of Slavery, and Abolition We offer It TO the rea ie
true exposition Of WIN. believe be the prin
cples Of the Society tho subject Of Slavery Ed Pal
This meeting being introduced into a consider
alton OF the many trials to which, as Relig Ous
Society, we are exposed, and particularly as re-
CARDS the various popular excitetlents now so pre-
valent IN our land; IN which il is feared some Of
members ia danger Of becoming nvoIv ed
earnest and fervent desire was folt, that we
mny, individually be preserved out of every thing
that will have a tendency to draw the mind away
from a dependence on the pure living ETERNAL
TRUTH. A deep solicitude was also fel, that
may ALL IN an especial manner, avoid involving
ourselves with the associations that have sprung
up around us. for tho avowed purpose Of promot-
ing tho Abolition Of Slavery IN our country by
p0lHcdk or other means of a coerciUe nature, de
vsed IN the wisdom and contrivance of man.
We FULLY believe that our safety individuals and
Society, depends upon the guidance of high.
or wisdDm which, At attended TO, would keep us
free from all such connexions, and preserve US
from tho entangfemen,s and responsibility arising
out OF them.
Ia extending this caution to our members this
meeting feels abatement of its concern for the
Advancement and prosperity of well known
testimony against slavery. Ga the contrary we
stfectIonately desire that this testimony may con
unue TO be supported with uprightness and integ-
rity; and that we may be faithful o every clear
manifestation OF DUTY, which, IN THE LIGHT OF
TRUTH, may be opened to in relation to IT.
When TINS concern first 10 the Society of
Friends, it was the offspring of love to God, and
love to our fellow men. 1t orig mated feeling
"t compassion tor the poor oppressed slaves.
well as OF benevolent regard to those who held
them IN bondage No hostility even unkind-
ness was entertained towards those who claimed
10 be their owners; very large proportion ef
whom, from long established habit and almost
universal example, had been very much blinded
To the nquitv of the system and its W ful conse-
qnenccs. With such our faithful predec essors 10
the Cause OF justice and humanity. were concern
cd personally, to labor and IN the spirit Of snei
ness, by aifsctionate remonstrance, endeavor to
convince them of the mpolicy, as we'll as 10 JUS
lice, OF the practice.
The committee refer to the scrp,ural declara>
ton hat as the sheep know the voice of the shep'
herd so the faithful followers Of the divine Mas
distinguish HIS voice from that of the
"s,rangcr," by which they enabled 10 avoid
the dangers which any hasty or inJudIcious steps
might involve them IN. and by which their pre-
decessors in the truth" signaIly preserved
from the aglatious and eXcitcintnts which distract
and nusettlo the II rck. aud tend 10 break and de-
s,roy the peace anl harmony Of society. By lis
tening this voice, ''thoy were enabled, IN great
unity, to maintain and advance the various testi-
monies given them to boar, and none more con.
spicuously than their righteous testimony against
enslav ing the African As their Lords king
pon,aton committed to few une,tered fish
ermen of Galilee," and advanced without
force violence, did 'plain uniearned men,
among them, under Divine Influence, devote them
selves in spirit, love, meekness and forbearance,
the work of bearing testimony against the IN
Justice of reducing men to unconditional bondage.
Love is defined and illustrated by several quota
tons from Scripture; VI Is represented as sue
ceeding in lis purpose by entreaty and not ,cth
contention. and retaining It's acquisitions by iOirh
ness of mind. and under its divine impulse the
doctrine Of the equal right Of the African race,
with ourselves, to the enj ment Of personal free
DOM has spread through all the civilized nations
of the earth.
The injustice Of slavery is next spoken OF, with
ats Ill effects the condition of The enslaved;
and the contideu, belief ated that SHE holy
and effcacious spirit Of christianity is silent but
effectively" removing the barriers in the way 0:
ats abolition; "fur He that is Omnpotent is rising
up 10 Judgment and He will plead the cause of
The distressed"
Under this conviction. tho fruit Of the Divine
operation the mind "he that beeve,h make,h
not haste" The concern is in the hands of Om-
Impotence, and his faithful coufiding Children have
no cause TO distrust, either his wisdom his pow.
er. They know that of themselves they can do
nothing; and having fulfilled the divine requiring
as he has given them strength, they commit the
cause to him tina, jndgeth righteously. Their
mission terminates when their message has been
Delivered according to the requiring Of their mas
ter II they TO whom il has been directed, will
OF hear, or hearing will not obey, the respon-
slbIlIty rests with them. The laborer HAVING
done his duty as far ability has been afforded
and TO the extent of the call to him, will stand
exonera,ed IN the Divine sight-hs will be clear
OF all responsibility for the consequences--the
guilt OF tho ransgressor will be upon his own
head
To the ardent laborer in the cause of the op-
pressed African the progress Of the concern may
appear slow and tedious, and there is danger
mat he may become impatient But il becomes
Us to consider that the unfoldngs of truth in the
deveiopement of religious duty, are generally
gradual; perhaps always so in relation TO com
munines Frs, the blade, then the ear. after
mat the full corn 10 The ear."-"So,' said our