Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1843-12-07
BY REQUEST.
FTUII lHe CIIICIIIIIdtI " tUAIy OIIIUIIICle'
Friends EpIssse OEl Slavery.

| Yearly Meeting ol Friends on Savery. We
lake this occasion 10 say. that this document,
more than any other we have seen, expresses
what, in our opinion, Is The correct course Of
| Christians, IN reference 10 The subject of sla-
very. 1t points oui the mild, and peaceful
manner. in which that body has borne lis tesli
nony agains, ihc evils Of slavery
A few months since, small body Of Friends
separated from the Society, that they might take
ether, and more jealous measures on that sub
jeci. They were, however. very few in num-
ber The great body of Friends remain united
in their old organization. This matter is al
luded TO in The address.
ADDRESS
| OfMe Society of Friends Of Indiana Yearly
! Meeting to the Christian Professors IN the
Unitcd States. and 10 the Citizens generally,
on lie subject Of Slavery.
! 1t is with feelings Of religious concern for
the advancement of the kingdom Of our Lord
| and Saviour Jesus Chrls,, and for the welfare
OF our beloved country, that we believe our
selves called upon 10 address you on The sub
jecl of slavery a subject which essentially IN
wolves the peace and happiness of the cl'lzens
of these United States. and which claims their
most serious consideration, and their prompt
and persevering exelIions for lis termination.
! We believe there are many ~ all the Chris
| tlan denominations, who, with ourselves, de-
! plore lhe existence Of this system of iniquity
and oppression, and who long for lis extinction.
For the encouragement and strength of suCh
we would stale, that about eighty years ago, a
weighly concern came upon The Society Of
! Friends respecting !he slase-,rade, and the par
| tIclpalion Of their members in the practice OF
holding in bondage their fellow-men of The AZ
rIcan race. Under The conviction that our Al
! mighty Creator made OF one blood, all the ma
lions OF men 10 dwell on all tho face of the
earth, and iha. the enjoyment Of life, liberty,
and happiness, is The natural inherit right Of all,
! they became convinced, through the Influence
Of the Holy Spirit on their hearts, that conss-
'en,y with the spirit and precepls Of our Holy
| Redeemer, which teach US 10 DO 10 Others all
| things whatsoever we would thew should do 10
us, no man possesses the right TO hold his fell
| low-man IN unconditional bondage.
| When this righteous concern 10 abolish
slave holding amongst themselves first arose,
many obstacles 10 lis prosecution presented,
and continued for severa! years 10 impede its
progress; but keeping 10 the ground Of religious
| duty. and submitting The cause 10 their Lord
and Master. TO whom they looked !or wisdom
and direction, and who alone could soften the
hearts OF those who persisted in asserting the
right to retain their slaves, number of enlighl
ened and devoted men laboured faithfully with
these, 10 convince Them Of the injustice Of the
practice. No,wlihs' 'andlng the various discour-
agemenis with which they had TO contend the
way finally opened through His blessing
who aId This duty upon them, for The entire ex-
tuction Of slavery within the limits of our reIi-
eious Socety, aud having cleared itself Of sla-
very, ii was prepared 10 raise an avalllng tes,i-
mony against slare-holding among others.
| After llberating their slaves, Friends pro-
ceeded TO remuneraie those who had served
their masters, al an aye emitting them 10 the
proceeds Of their services, making such com
pensaon in very many instances for their la
bour as justice dictated. They also extended
a parental care over them, providing schools
for their literary instruction. frequently holding
religious meetings with tham, and Hnnlsi erlng
TO the wants OF The aged and INDECENT. When
the work of emancipation thus generally
effected, ,hev adopted rules in their discipline
against buying. selling holding and hiring
| slaves and The few members who stood oul in
! opposition 10 ike decisions OF The body, were,
alter being laboured with 10 recover them from
their error, disowned, and he Society has ev-
er since continued TO deny church membership
10 hose who violate The discipline IN these re-
spec's.
| Having liberated iheir slaves. Friends then
;ell relIslousy engaged, from time 10 time, un-
der The oonsralnlng powers Of Divine love, 10
urge upon their fellow citizens, boh privately
and publicly, the obligation they were under TO
accord 10 ,he rnslaved African and his descen-
danls the lnallenabie night 10 freedom Me-
moiials, peIuon<, and addresses. were frequent
| ly presented 10 Congress, 10 various Leglsla-
tive bodies in the slave states, aud TO he public
generally. for the purpose OF promoting this de-
srable object While their language was plain
and unequIvocal, these documents were always
respectful and pacific in their character Ex-
pressions calculated TO exasperae the slave
holder, or to excite 10 violence and lnsurrectlon
! on the part of ,he slave--as they would be re-
pggnani Ia he benign spirlI Of the gospel, and
initiate against he "fjecl 10 view, were care