The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-07-24
J, F. MCCLELLAN, Printer.

from the performance Of no plain duty
They have not listened TO the plea OF ex-
pedlency in a compromise of evil but
have regarded the law of n1exibe Jus.
tice as the only rule of expediency.
But not SO with the odd School Pres.
/ byterians in their General Assembly a.
Cincinnati. The result OF their dclburu.
lions was not SO favorable 10 the cause Of
christianity as had been expected. Their
principal topics of discussion were, tho
Baptism, Marriage, and Slavery questions.
They spent two days in discussing wheth.
or person baptized by Catholic ought
to be re-baptzed and decided hey ought;
and after spending as much time ia dis.
cussing whether a man might marry bis
deceased wifc's sister, decided that he
might bat must mol : This thing is a
great, lncorrigi6le sln ~ But holding
slaves was not regarded as sufficient sin TO
call for any discussion This looks very
much like "slraining at gnals, and swal-
lowing camell' The whole question
did not occupy more than twenty minutes;
during which, two resolutions were pass
ed, on which there was debate. All, how
ever, that was said, went upon The as
sumption that slavery 10 this country is
much more mild than ancienlly in tbs
Roman Empire; and since slavery exists
ed in primitive days unrebuked BY Christ
and the Apostles; since, also, their opin.
ions and practices should be pleaded as
our precepls and preceden!s; therefore,
american servitude should 90 unrebuked
by christian ministers and churches, in
this day.
This kind Of argument is too irrele-.
Want, falIacious, and inhuman 10 require
rcfulation. Its great weapon ofinevilable
overthrow is !ha! OF lis supposed defence,
viz the doctrines and examples of the
Great Head Of the church, and his faith.
ful followers. Let individuals and cor.
muntleS revert 10 them and their precepts
as examples and precedenls, and we can
rejoice in the speedy approach of that day
when ransom shall be proclaimed to the
captive. An attempt 10 adduce the tcsli-
mony Of the Great Author and devou. sup.
oc ,ha Oh ~ e.;
the authority and sanclity OF Amcr.can
M@rcry is like an appeal TO Lycursus 10
ascertain which is the best form of gov.
eminent in 1916; or whispering inst!uc.
ton into the ears Of deaf man.
Doubtless much less anliSlayery feeling
and principle have been manifested by the
Presbyterian, than any other influential
denomination IN the country. Their late
conventions have been decidedly for slave
ny. They, not in the South alone, but in
the North havethrown projecting shield
around this "sys,em of fraud" The pro-
ceedings of their late Philadelphia conveu.
ton have casta greater reproach and foul
er stigma upon themselves, in this late day,
than did the burning oflhe Hall OF Free,
dom, upon that city, in former day.
But i. is to be hoped that this great de-
nomination which has within its reach so
much intelligence and science, and so
many adepts in ancient and modern lore,
will learn that maxims of human policy
aud sycophancy cannot, successfully, su>
percede the progressive principles Of
christian philanthropy, Would that they
could feel that their late "oficial" pro-
ceedngs at the Nonh, have served rs eff
iectual opiates to quiet the upbraidlng cons
sciences Of shareholders; and that their
excavations for the guilt of slave oppres-
sion are giving security and peTmanencY
10 an Constitution founded in blood" Let
hem come out and declare 10 the world
that they will "have no part CT lot in the
attainder of blood ;"let them like the BaL-.
lists, Methodsts and Unuarians, solemny
assert, in essential matters, nonfeIowship
with the South and another very impor-
tant measure will be secured 10 undermine
the lettering f'bric Of The "pecuIiar iusti-
tuition"
This great avulsion Of northern and
southern christian denominations, speaks
volumes in favor of the nature and adj
vancement of Liberty principles. 1t shows
that they are adapted, or give impulse, 10