The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1844-07-25
For The Voice Of Freedom.
Report on Slavery,

4 We Weaey6n Methodist ChurcB h0tde
at Keescltle, N, Y, June 20 to July l
1914.
Your Committee on slavery have at
tended 10 the duty assigned them, and asl
leave to report that:
AS Wesleyan Melhodists, it is unnoces
sary 10 utter formal declarations of opin
ion against this evil our position being
such as to make our name, thus far q
standing reproot There will be little dan
ger Of our supporting slavery or being
found on the side OF the oppressor, so long
as we keep in remembrance the circum.
stances of our organization. We have
left our former relations and united togelh-
er, that we might, under God, be freed
from the responsibility of lellowshipping
the sum of all vIIanies.
But here our duty does not end. In
the final judgement the impatient are TO
be damned, not merely for positive, but
negative sins mot for overt violations
of prohibitory laws, but for neglects and
omissions OF duty, They are not charged
with plunderng the RedecmeS, in the
persons Of his poor as does the Southern
sIaveholder Dot with neglectng to..relieve
him, as did the priest and Levite. TO
avoid this doom we must "remember them
that are in bonds as bound With them."-
We are not merely to refuse in all ways
to opress them, but joyfulIy TO put forth
every possible jusifiable effort to Sc! them
free. Putting our souls in their souls
stead" we should make their tonditioh
and sufferings our own make ourselves
acquainted with every degree of privaion
and degradation TO which these victims O!
sorrow are doomed, and seek its removal
as we seek our own salvation.
Millions OF orr countrym en- to-day are
under the horrors of slavery, cruelty
doomed TO all the evils which ingenuity
can invent and malice inflct. The 90.
ny lash Kisses over their quivering flesh.
Doomed 10 labor unrequiled from the era
die 10 the grave, their groans and signs,
aud tears, and sweat and blood, extored
by implements of merciIess torture, come
up before God for vengence on our gull.
ty land. The dearest of all earthly Ties
are rulhlessIy. sundered at the demand OF
lust or avarlce, and parents and child,
rem, brothers and sisters are sold 10 return
less distance, to meet no more ill the day
OF Judgement Struck from the human
platform and plundered of human rights,
every slave is sunk TO personal chatteI -
ranked and bought and sold with brutes !;
and that he and his rosterity may be held
forever in this condition. The eyes OF the
soul are plncked out by penal laws, pro-
hbiting menla instruction and the flo
ly Bible, events kept from them by whips
fines, prisons and gibbets. Thus are
they not only compelled 10 suffer tempo
raj injury, and wretc hedness, but pursued
into eternity, and as far as it can possibly
be done, untitled for heaven, by being
robbed Of the means of salvation.
This system of crime and abomination
is supported by ecclesiastical and moral
influence and political power. The last
finally rivets the chain and guards the
Bas.ile ofoppression by the bayonet and
cannon after the former has tempered
and mot3lded public opinion to run lie tn e
grooves of slaveholding Legislation. In a
nation like ours, whose every legislative
act is ony the embodiment of public opn-
ion, it is evidence of fearful depravity in
morals and relig ion, to have the laws cru
ell and unjust. Every voter helps to make
them; aud no act therefore, can remain
on the Statute Book, after it has come 10
shock The moral feeling and religious scru.
piles ofthe people.
Now, history will be found to record
as truth Just what philosophy would thus
anticipate, with regard to the support Of
this system. The four large denomina-
tons in the United States-Protestant E.
piscopaI, Methodist Episcopal, Presbyte-
rlan and Baptist churches, besides most
Of the smaller sects, together with all the
benevolent Institutions belonging to the
whole, are composed in part OF savehoId-
ers, active y partici paling in the whole
sale robbery of our own countrymen =
Astounding at the same time in the free
States, with the apologies for the heath,
enish and bloody system and practice.
1t is in vain for northern members to
plead that they DO not hold slaves. But
for the aid of northern moral and polti-
cal power, the CALLING yoke could not be
kept on the necks OF our fellowmen. It's
most efficient support is derived from
northern religious connexion and fellow
ship, endorsing The character of sIavehold- |
ers as Christians, and keeping the man.
stealers ia countenance. The receivers
are as bad as the thieves. II is consent
ing with thieves and partakers with adult
erers. 1t is so understood by the south |
and the nation. This conneXion and fel- |
owship acknowledge slavehoIding to be
consistent with christian character; they
Supply the conscience Of the nation on the
sinful character of the system, and render
it almost impossible to rouse the general
L - Fnsrl