Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-09-18

oil the "LibeTty AdUOcdte," containing ON editO-
rial article in which my name is brought before
the public. The article is as follows:
"CARROLL COUNTY.
"The meeting in this county last Saturday was
not largely attended, in consequence of a change
in the day, from Saturday to Monday; but still
there were a number from the country pre-
sent; among them, three young ladies', who came
twelve miles to attend the meeting, and who had
the moral courage to brave q corrupt public sen.
tmeut and take their seats in the court house,
unaccompanied by any other females, and re-
mained until the close Of two eloquent and able
lectures from Messrs. Hudson and Hull. Such
an example is worthy ofall praise. We did not
learn their names, but will say that the blessings
of thousands of their sex who are held in slave
ry by professors OF Christianity, will rest upon
them.
"We did not sec our old friend the Revd VIM.
L. Adams, at the meeting, il has not been many
years since he was one of the most ardent Abo-
litionists in all this country, but since he has
been contaminated with the proslavery influence
of Old School Presbyterianism, he has lost his
zeal, and the last time we saw him, he thought
slavery was right under certain circumstances.
So much for holding fellowship with a church
which allows the traffic in slaves and souls of
men, and whose members hold near 80 thousand
human beings as dumb brutes."
The reader will see that my conduct, in not
attending this meeting, is contrastcd with the
three ladies who had the moral courage to brave
corrupt public sentiment, in attending and hear
ing the eloquent and able addresses of Messrs.
Hudson and Hull. Why such an attack upon
me for not attending this meeting, and especially,
why such an attack upon the church of which
am a member! This article must have been
written by the pusisher and not the editor of the
Advocate, for | am not aware that | have ever
seen Mr.. Hudson, and as the writer calls me an
old friend and refers to conversations with me on
slavery, conclude the publisher is the author.
Should not my old friend have ascertained whe-
ther 1t was in my power to attend the meeting
before he made the publications. | preached on
that day 12 miles from Carrollton. Besides, the
meeting was published in the Free Press to be on
Monday the 9TH and not on Saturday the 5th.
But must the Minister of the Gospel be present
at every political meeting in his county, and hear
every officc-seeker's eloquent address, or other
wise subject himself to abuse in the newSpapersl
Must disappont congregation who are expect
ing me to preach TO them preparatory to a COM
munion and go to hear Hudson and Hull abuse
the Ministers the Gospel and the Presbyterian
Church? Some good Abolitonsts who were at
the meeting gave it as their opinion that such
declaraipns as..this "There are congregations of
protesting Christians in Ohio, who would kick a
coored man out of their church," and others
used by the eloquent orators, did not do much for
the cause in this county. Must Ministers and
Elders of the Presbyterian church encourage
cIIrb oh nd Gle Of tho L,
Surely it does not require a man, in order to be
an anti-slavery man, TO wage warfare with the
church of Christ and her ministers.
But, to the statements in the Advocate. Why
does my "old friend" charge me with changing
my position in reference to slavery since my
connection with the Old School Presbyterian
church! Are his statements true, and what is
his object in their publication! Ifthey are not
false in fact they are to say the least, calculat-
ed to give a false impression and do injury, so
far as have influence, ifthcy are believed. He
intimates that 81 was one of the most ardent Abo-
litonists in all the country before | became
Presbyterian" Now the facts are, | united
with the same church, ofwhich | am still q men,
Der, more than Is years since; and before had
formed any definite views in reference to slavery
as was then in retired life, where the subject
was not discussed.
How then could the change be attributed to my
connection with Presbyteriansm! But has there
been change, and what is the evidence?
deny the charge-and now for the evidence. The
Advocate says was a few years ago one of the
most ardent Aboltionsts in all the country, but
adthought lately thatslavery was not sinful under
certain circumstances. Now will the Advocate
hot
differently from whatithas been latterly? Was in
the habit ofdeliverng addresses on the subject or
agitating the question in any other way! Did |,
before | was "contaminated" with Old School
Prcsbytcrianism, ever say that the legal relation
Of master and slave necessarily embodied sin in
the master? am not conscious of my minds
having undergone any change only that, as
have become better acquainted with the subject,
| am more convinced of the evils of slavery as a
legalized system, and that the legal relation of
master does not in all cases involve the master in
sin. For the last 10 or 12 years have looked
upon the system of American slavery, in the Ian
guage of the Presbyterian church, "as a gross
violation of the most precious and sacred rights
of fhuman nature, as utterly inconsistent with the
law of God, which requires us to love our neigh
Dor as ourselves, and as totally irreconcilabIe
with the spirit and principles of the Gospel Of
Christ, which enjoins that 'all things whatsoever
ye would that men should do to you do ye ever
so to them.'" Ofthe wickedness of the princi.
pies on which the whole system of American
slavery is based, | think there should be nc
doubt. have none, and yet think the legal
relation may exist where it is really for the gooC
of the slave that it should exist, without involving
the master in sin. American slavery is an organ
c sin differing from individual or personal sins
such as lying or murder, which are not legalized
| do not say to legalize sin makes it virtue. Blu
there may be a legalized SYSTEM a creature o
the law, which, while it involves sin in the com
munity that makes the law, it dees not necessar
y Involve sin in every individual connected with
the thing legalzed. American slavery is sir