Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-01-19

NORTH CAROLINA YEARLY MEETING.

Meeting Of Friends of North Carolina, held
in 1913, respecting the harboring Of runarcay
slapes, nth some notice Of the remarks of the
editor of the {" Free Labor Advocate" on the
same.
MINUTE.
Whereas, II is q we'll known testimony Of the
Society OF Friends, that they do not allow their
members 10 hold slaves, or 10 any way 10 inter.
feSe with the system Of slavery further than by
petition, reason, and rcmonslrance in a peaceable
manner ; and 1t having, through report, come to
tho knowledge of tho body of society, that some
one more Of the members thereof have suf-
fered themselves, 10 DO so far overcome through
sympathy, as to ALLOW, or give shelter improper-
ly, 10 one or moro slaves, and thus occasioned
several OF their fellow members TO be accused
Of the like improper conduct. We have there.
fore thought il due 10 ourselves and the people
al large OF tho country IN which we live, thus 10
make known our long established practice, and
utter dIsapprovai Of such interference in any
way whatever, while at the same time, we do not
in tho least degree, reIinquish testimony TO
the in Justice Of slavery.
Extracted from the minutes OF North Carolina
Yearly Meeting, held at New Garden, in Gull
ford county, from The 9th 10 The 10Th Of the
18th month. 1913, and signed on behalf and by
direction Of The same, by
AARON STALKER.
Clerk to tho Meeting.
minute.
!. That il is a well known testimony of The
Society OF Friends, tina, they do not allow their
members to bold slaves.
Z. That they do not permit them to interfere
with the system Of slavery, further than by peti
ton, reason, and remonstrance, in peacoable
manner.
3. Tina, repor, had reached the meeting, tina,
ono member, at least, had erred by improperly
giving shelter TO n slave
4. That this act had caused other members
10 be accused OF like improper conduct.
>. That it is, therefore, due 10 themselves
and the country in which they live, to revive
the knowledge of fact Of long standing, that
the society disapprove of such interference
And,
e. Tha, in making this renewed declaration,
they wish it, nevertheless. well understood, that
they do not. in the lea. degree, relinguish their
testimony against the justice of slavery.
The sentiments expressed by the foregoing
propositions, emphaticaIly denounced by the
editor Of the " Free Labor Advocate" and he
considers j, ridiculous" that Friends of North
Carolina should pretend to have a testimony a.
gainst slavery while they hold such views. |
will consider the propositions separately, in or
der the better to judge Of their merits.
FIrst. Z" 1t is we'll known testimony Of the
society, that they do not allow their mem
be1s 10 hold slaves" Do Friends in North Car
DINA hold slaves' Do they SO much as hire
them, when their masters receive their wages 7
So far from II, that for fifty years past they have
been 10 the midst Of slav eholding community
with all the facilities Of wealth for such traffic.
living monuments of fixed opposition TO the in
,qui'ous system Of slavery in every shape i, has
presented itself dissatisfied with having clear.
ed their own hands of this sin, they have re-
monstrated with their neighbors, perioned, on
various and frequent occasions Public Authority,
10 lot the oppressed 60 free, and have by printed
documents, exhibited. 10 the whole community
the religious grounds, On which their opposition
rests.
With this accumulated evidence of sincerity,
and with so frequent appeals to the public the
subject, they no doubt considered il useless
peat what every one knew. Their noble and
firm opposition TO the system and practice Of sla
very under circumstances Of trying and con
epicuous nature, when public sentiment, with all
its force, was against them, had too well attested
the honesty of their motives, 100 well established
their faithfulness, for puerile attacks from insig
ndcant men, who know bu, little about the true
situation OF things TO weaken the cow iction up
on our minds. tina, they DO bear their testimony
against slavery, and can no. justly conclude
that such testimony. is FAR re efiicacious, in ter
mins:ing this iniquity Of our nation than the
combined Efforts Of many times their number in
the free States?
Second. "rhat they do not allow their mem.
bers, TO interfere with the system Of slavery. fur
Their than by petition, reason and remoustrance,
in peaceable manner" How else ought
Friends to interfere with it, and particularly in
North Caroliaas Shall they decoy and advise
The slaves TO run away, and to disobedience and
in6deIity in their servitude. Such was not the