Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-10-17
MR.. GIDDINGS' STATEMENT.
To the Editor Of The Republican and Whig.

To the Editor Of The Republican and Whig.
MR. BRUcE:-In replying to the note Of
MI. Brown contained in the 'Whig' Of the
10Th inst. | will avail myself of your indul-
renee to state my views somewhat at length
in REGARD to the doctrines of the American
Anti-Siayery Society as expressed by its
agents, Miss Kelley, Messrs. Jones, Steb-
bins, and Foster, who have lately addressed
the people in this region upon the subject Of
Slavery. am led TO do this from the fact
shat some ~partizan papers in this part of the
State appear to regard the coincidence of
views between myself and the American
Ahti-Slavery Society as a matter OF some
importance. That Society embraces some
of the ablest j~urists, the most devoted patri-
ots. and purest philanthropists of our nation,
and ! see no reason to depart from any doc
tr,nr which | have long entertained and Ia
bored for wears to establish merely for the
reason that such men hold the same princi-
pies. ut.
,lace ayowed the object and Interior design
Of that Association to be ''the total separation
of the people Of the free States from the gull
and disgrace of sustaining and unfolding
.SIaperp.b 1t is surely unnecessary for me
10 inform your readers that TO attain that
same obiectI have written and spoken and
Iabored for wears. And | doubt whether a
man of intelligence, belonging to any party
can be found in this portion OF Ohio who
will so far disregard his own character as
nub,icly to declare himself DESTROYS ct re-
naming contaminated with the guilt; and OF
sharing in the disgrace Of supporting that
institution
In order 70 effect our separation from the
guilt OF sustaining slavery, the American
inti-Siavery Society propose an immediate
seyerance of all Church connection with
a,lo,e who freed mankind for nAr ,et, or hold
their fell " mrn in degrading servitude.
II is most unquestionably true, tn 1t the
Churches of nearly all denominations OF
Christians within the free Suites lenl a most
powerfui aad efficient support TO the instltu-
zion of slavery by admitting shareholders
and sometimes slavedealers to preach in our
phlpits; and by receiving to our communion
and Christian fellowship ly members OF
Southern Churches, who actually breed
mankind for market, and those who are
stained with the guilt Of holding and oI
buying and selling slaves. know OF nc
obligation resting upon churches to continue
such connection.
think the guilt of our church members
in not having acted on this subject, is ia
less than was imputed to them by thos
agents Of the Society to whom refer. Ih'
ov;It of our church members must be pro
nortioned to their intelligence on the SUB
iect. For if a member be not conscious
that slavery is wrong, or not sensible una
he is aiding in its support, his guilt must b.
far less than it would be were he to bestoV
his influence in favor of it while fully I'm
pressed with the extent of its enormity.
The institution Of Slavery Is productive q
more RIGHTEOUSNESS and crime an the CH'fe
States than all other causes combined. IL GcfL
f. dHy sacrifices nearly thirty thousand huh"a
lines ,piihin this nation annually. il an
minister Of the gospel who either apologize
for slavery, or attempts to justify 1t irol
scripture or advocates our continuance !
church fellowship with those whose hand
are thus stained with human gore, denies
" doubts these facts | will endeavor to CIV
him satisfactory evidence of their reality
Now. sir, il orr church members were full
conscious, that by admitting shareholders
our communion we encourage and sustaI
these crimes; that we Justify these murde
and actually say to the world that those vi
p commit them are good and worthy brethrt
in our churches; | do not think they won
lone remain in church fellowc .p with tler
therefore imputs the apathy OF our churc
az IN ,re to a want Of information In rega
10 facts, than ! do to the want OF moral tee
inc. or of christian principle. ! believe t
prsp,t remedy to consist principally in t
proinulgarion Of facts among the members
our cb"-chos. rHhrr than bv immediate
go arating from them. But If the major
n any or all Of the churches persist IN CO
Anning their fellowship with those who