New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-10-07
Protest against American slavery by One
Hundred and Seventy Unitarian Ministers.


mony against the system Of American Slavery,
deem il proper ia the first place To declare the
grounds Of our action
We owe II to Three Millions Of Slaves, our fellow
men and brethren, to do what we rightiully can to
undo their burdens. The wrongs OF the slave
however distant he may be, are our wrongs Tor
Jesus has taught US that every sufferer whom w
can relieve is our neighbor though stranger OF
another race and in distant land.
We owe il TO the Shareholders. our fellow men
and brethren. whom we believe TO be ia a posiiisn
hostile To The influences Of Christianity, TO speak
word Of warning concerning the moral evil and In
humanity of the system with which they are con
nectcd.
Consequently Southern men of better character.
who would not, perhaps, themselves sanction such
constraint are nevertheless left without instruction
as to their duty in relation to slavery. And II mel
Their religion nor the instincts OF humanity, nor the
frs, principles of American liberty have taught them
that the system is wrong, their ignorance may not
be wholly their fault but II would be ours II we
were TO suffer il to remain. That they have been
educated to believe that Slaveholding is night may
be reason why we should not severely blame
them but il is also the reason why we should snow
them the truth since the truth on this subject must
come to them If all from the free States, through
books, writing and public opinion
These reasons would induce rs to speak even
if the North were doing nothing 10 uphold slavery.
But by our political commercial and social relations
with the South by the long silence OF Northern
Christians and Churches by the fact that Northern
men, going to the South often become Shareholders
and apoogists tor Slavery, we have given the Slave
holders reason 10 believe that i i only the accident
of our position which prevents Us from engaging IN
this system As fully themselves. Our silence
therefore is unfolding Slavery and we must speak
against it in order not to speak in its support.
Especallv do we feel that the denomination
which takes for its motto Liberty, Holiness and
Love should be foremost in opposing this system.
More than others have contended for three great
princpes-indvidual liberty perfect righteous
ness, and human brotherhood. All OF these are
grossly violated by the system OF Slavery. we
contend for mental freedom; shall we not denounce
the system which letters both mind and body We
have declared righteousness TO be the essence OF
Christianity; shall we not oppose that system which
is the sum OF all wrong We claim for all men
the rieh, of brotherhood before universal Father
ought we not TO testify against that which ,rampes
so many of our brethren under foot
These reasons would lead us TO speak indivlda-
ally and separately. But our combined voices may
be heard more widely and be more regarded and
We therefore speak in company. As we do not as
a denomination combine in subscribing creeds and
fixing systems Of theology the more should we be
ready to unite IN practical endeavors 10 remove
moral evils As our principles of religious liberty
do not permit us TO exclude our brethren who are
Shareholders from our Christian fellowship, the
more should we testify against the Slave system
itself Some individuals may think they hold slaves
for the good of their bOndmen in order 10 give them
their liberty under more favorable circumstances.
We cannot regard such Shareholders as we do those
who hold their fellow beings as property for the
sake of gain or personal convenience. Leaving TO
God to decide the comparative guilt or innocence
Of individual Shareholders, we pronounce the sys-
tenn unchristian and inhuman.
And more especially do we feel bound TO lift up
af fhp me. when south
succeeded in compromising the nation to the support
of Slavery when il has been made great national
interest, defended by our national diplomacy, and to
be upheld by our national arms; when the nation
has. By a new measure. solemnly assumed the suilt
and responsibility of lis continuance when Tree
Northern citizens. without any alleged crime, are
thrown into Southern prisons and sold to perpetual
bondage: when our attempts TO appeal respectfully
TO the Federal Courts are treated with cODtumely so
that the question is longer whether Slavery shall
continue in the Southern States but whether Free
dom shall continue in dHyoi The States. Now, there
fore when our reliance on political measures has
failed, il is the time TO trust more fully IN the power
Of Truth To the schemes of party leaders 10 polit-
ical maortes TO the united treasures arms, domains
and interests of the nation. pledged to the extension
aud perpetuation of the system, let US now oppose
the simple majesty and omnipotence OF Truth For
who knows not that Truth is strong-ncxt the Al
mighty Z
-
and Love in the name of God the universal Father,
in the name of Christ the Redeemer IN the name oil
Humanity and Human Brotherhood, do solemnly
protest against the system OF Slavery as unchrisan
and inhuman-
Because it is violation of the law of Right being
the sum of all righteousness which man can do to
man. dcprving him not only Of his possessions but
Of himself And as in the possession OF one sell are
included all other possessions and IN the right OF
ones self are included all other rights he who makes
man a slave commits the greatest possible robbery
and the greatest possible wrong
Because it violates the law of Love. which says
Whatsoever we would that men should do unto
you, do We even SO unto them.
Because IL degrades man. the image OF God, into
into a thing; changes persons into property; ana
by violating the dignity OF the human soul Is con
slant sacrilege against that soul which the SCRIP
lures declare to be the Temple OF the Holy Ghost
Because il necessarily tends to polluie the soul OF
| the Slave-producing all vices and fostering habit,
| of incidence sensuaty falsehood treachery, theft
moral stupor and perpetual childhood-by taking
! away Hope. which God has appointed as the light
ener OF toll, the spur 10 exerton. and the seed o.
| progress and by destroying the sense OF responsl
by which is the bond that connects the soul viii
| God
Because il tends to defle the soul of the master
as unlimited power must generally produce sell
indulgence licentiou cruelty, arrogance and
domineerng spirit-qualities utterly opposed 10 the
| humility. meekuess and self denial of Christ We
nheerally admit that some, both of the Shareholder
and Slaves have nobly resisted these influences and
shown us virtues which should be proud to iml
tate. But we know that the prevailing tendency
the system is nevertheless evil. and that II must al
ways offer manifold temptations and inevitable oc
| casions 10 sin .
Because this system, as the Indispensable condi
ton of its continuance restrict education. keeE
the Bible from the Slave, make life insecure IN the
hands OF irresponsible power, deprive female limo
cence of protection sanction adultery, tear children
from parents and husbands from wives violate III,
divine institution OF families and by hard and hope
less toll make existence a burden.
Because Slavery. as all history tcsthes eats on
the heart of nations and tends every year more an'
more TO the popular conscience and impair TIM
| virtue OF the people. Ii neutralizes the nfuenc'
which we ought to exert on the world as natoi
whose mission il is 10 extend the principles OF poiit
zeal freedom. 1, degrades our national character
making as appear before mankind as solemn hypo
critics who declare that all men are equal, and ye
persist in holding portion Of them as >laves-wh'
declare that oil are endowed with certain inaliena
bic rights, among which are life, liberty, and IN
pursuit OF happiness and yet take these rights iron
| a sixth part OF their own community. Constantly u
profess thing and constantly TO practice anothc