The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-04-18

OuT UeluEtu UTOlueT DTOWu lO Tue OeCle-
AIRY of the Provisional Committee, IN re-
ply to their circular to the missionaries
ast year. 1t breathes an excellent and
,conciliatory spirit, and we publish 1t hop.
ing it may throw some hit on the ques-
tons now before the denomination, touch
ing the connection Of missions with slave.
ry.
SibSagar, Oct. 5, l843.
My DEAR BRoTHER:-Your letter of
July 10, 1912, only reached me on tie Isl
instant, above IA months after it was
written. The pamphlets which you men,
ton as accompanying ii, | have not re-
celved.
My sentiments on the subject of slavery
are entirely III unison with those of my
brethren who are endeavoring 10 bear
testimony agains; this crying sin. La
regard 10 the question you have proposed,
| shall be happy TO receive my support
from the Antl-slavery Committee, in case
the Board with which | am connected
will give their assent, and provided such
an arrangement can be made as 10 allow
tiO Gull W loUOl III CUuHeAlOH WIFI my
brethren here. My engagements with
the Board are of such nature that they
could not properly be dissolved except by
mutual consent. Should this be granted
by the Board, have no hesitation in
preferring TO be supported by funds I'M
contaminated with Tie guilt Of slavery.
The situation in which the Board have
been placed in regard 10 this matter, is one
Of peculiar difficulty and trial; represent
ing, as they do, the whole denomination,
slaveholding as well as non-slaveholdino,
and being the organ Of the General Con-
vention-a body constituted on The impIi.
ed principle that 81 aveho!ding is nc bar 10
Christian fellowship, and that its gains
are fit offering for the treasury of the
Lord. The error, as | conceive, was In
the Original formation of the missionary
body-and now our inquiry ought TO be,
how can we most safely withdraw our.
selves from all participation in The wages
OF lniluiy. Had the savehoding church
IS themselves voluntarily Withdrawn, as
was anticipated, it would have happily
relieved the Board and its missionaries, as
well as the northern churches from all
embarrassment. The favorable moment
for this result has passed by but l hope
and pray that some meaus may yet be de-
vised, whereby Il separation from slave
holders may be effected, without produc.
ing division in The ranks Of our brelh.
rem at the North.
That the fruits Of robbery are unac.
ceptable as an offering TO the Lord, APP
pears clear; and that slavery is robbery,
of the most aggravated description, we
know; that lis gains are the reward OF
iniquly," and the "price of innocent
blood" And If II is wrong in others TO
make such an offering, it is wrong IN US,
knowingly 10 receive hem at their hands
By sharing the spo;s, we conntenance
their deeds aud participate in their guilt.
That is fearful charge which God briggs
against his processing people, PS. 50: Is;
"When thou sawest u thief, then thou
cou'entedst with him, aud has. been
partaker with adulerers."
10 missionary, the reflection that
considerable part Of his support is actual
Iy the produce of slave labor, is exceed.
ingIy painful. TO this fact he cannot
shut his eyes. He knows that he is liv.
ing upon the proceeds of an unhaIowed
traffic. He is morally certain that
large portion OF the money which he an
nuaIly expends for the maintenance of
himself, his wife, and his children, has
been wrung by the hard hand OF the task
master from the aching limbs of innocent
meo, women and children, who have been
robbed Of their birlhrjgh,s, and condemn
Ell to perpetual toll and sorrow, tina. he
aud his savehoIding brethrea may enjoy
the comforts and perhaps the luxuries Of
life. IL would be some relief could he
know that the procuring Of this had coca
stoned only the temporal suaerings of his
tellow'meu--could he be assured that the
provisions upon his table cost no more
than the sweat, and tears, and stripes, and
premature death of some unfortunate,
down-trodden African. But alas, he also
knows that the same means which furnish
him livelihood prove source of degra.
dalton and crime, aud final ruin TO thou