Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-08-13

her cavalier servente, Mr.. Foster, contrast
their viuporous defamation against all who
chance 10 differ with them in opinion, with
the kind and gentlemanly language Of the
good old Doctor. and in the language Of
Alexander Campbell searn a parable fromthe
kind courtesy and Christian manner in which
these Baptist brethren treat one another as
we'll when they differ as when they agree"
"And now to sum up the whole, let US
briefly enumerate the points OF agrees
ment between us. In the first place, we
both affirm that to hold slaves is not of
necessity guilt. and under peculiar cir
cumstances it may not be a wrong; it is,
therefore, in ITSELF, no scripture ground
for ecclesiastical accommodation. In
the second place, you affirm that a slave
is entitled to the same privileges, lnsel-
lectual, moral and domestic; as any oth-
Ter man; and of course, all that part Of
the system which interferes with those
privileges. is wrong. and ought to be
abolished. In the effort to effect this
abolition, we can both cooperate. In the
third place, you give US, in your own
case, an example Of what you believe TO
be the duty Of masters. You teach your
servants to read, you instruct them in
this gospel OF Christ, and by every means
ii your power are laboring to improve
their Intellectual, moral, social, and do
nestle condition. I do not here allude
to YOUR care of their physical comforts,
for ycu could never be selfish. or un-
kind man. We can both unite in the
effort to render all Shareholders in this
country just such masters as you. Third
". YOU believe it nelthcd possible nor
proper to perpetuate this institution. 1t
must, then, in your view, cease. In my
iude ment, it would be great calamity
were it to terminate by violence, or with
out previous moral and social prepara>
ton. la the efforts to prepare both the
masters and slaves for this event, we
can cordially cooperate. | neither ask
you, nor any other man to do any more.
In the effort to accomplish these results,
I pledge you my services to any extent
that you are willing to accept Of them.
In the doing Of all this, | am well a.
ware that great difficulties are to be en-
countered. believe that the first labor
must be the labor of preparation; but l
think.t must be a labor specifically d.
rected to this end. 1 fear, with you, that
the emancipation of the slaves in the
West Indies is not accomplishing what
was expected. l say, 1 fear; for the re-
ports are SO absolutely contradictory,
that am unable to come to decided
opinion. But, aside from this case. all
history informs US that absolute liberty
is too violent stimulent to be safely
administered to a race who have long
been bred in slavery They must be
taught and become accustomed TO the re.
sponsibilties which it involves, before
they can use it Alright. All this requires
caution, boldness, philanthropy, and
humble but earnest trust in God.
"Prayers and palms." said Elliott,
'swith the blessing Of God. can do any
thing" do not pretend to dictate as to
the manner in which this is to be done.
This leave to you, who are SO much
better able to Judge. All | ask is, that
the views which you entertain, so far as
l understand them, be carried out into
practice; and in doing this, here prom
ise to give you my poor aid to any ex-
tent that I am able to render it. W s
Here I close this long, and fear,
wearisome letter. This is the first time
in my life-I hope it may be the last
in which it has fallen to my lot to en-,
gage in controversy. Be assured. my
dear brother. that it has given me pain
whenever have been obliged to differ
from one for whom cherish so affection
ate regard. For the christian urbani-
ty with which you have treated whatev
er have written, from my heart thank
you. If | have in any mannner beer
able to avoid the errors into which ma
ny have fallen who have treated on thi!
subject, Il ascribe mainly to the infiuenc'
of your example, and to the unfeignet
esteem which / entertain for your char
acter as gentleman and scholar, |
clergyman and a Christian; or rather, i
we have been enabled without bitter
ness to express our views to each other
on a subject which is so subject to a
rouse the worst passions of our fallen ma
turs. let us ascribe it all to that love 0
God shed abroad in our hearts, whicl
teaches US to treat as brother ever,
disciple of our common Lord, though h
may embrace opinions in many respect
differing from our own. God grant tha
wo may both meet in that world wher
neither ofus shall any more see throug
a glass darkly but where we shall SCI
asf we are seen, and know as we or
known" 2sfagTA ae9i a9gs aa! t'2Fa~-
i No DiSuniOn with the .CleVelanderS.
sfThe following preamble and resolution
were adopted by the citizens Of Clevelant
convened at the Wesleyan Chapel in III;