Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-02-19
For the Green Mountain Freeman.
The American Board and Slavery.

relation to slavery that implies appreciation of the sys-
tenn or having any connection sympathy with it.
But it is believed that the reverse of this can be made
to appear.
Mr.. Frelinghuysen one of the corporate members
and President of the Board has declared that he is not
an aboltionist, and never has BEEN He has wholly
discarded sympathy with the movement that has in
view the abolition of slavery.
Dr. Armstrong, one of the Secretaries, has, at the
north and south, decried the abolition movement He
has represented the measures spirit and principles of
the abohonists as being rash, wicked, and contrary
to the clearest principles of the Word of God.
Que of the Secretaries has written tract ustifyng
the reception of slaveholding funds. This tract was
published under the direction of the Prudential Com
mttee expressive of the views of the Board on the
subject. In view of the principle embodied in that
tract receiving agents have been appointed at the
SOUTH and returned missionaries have gone there to-
solicit contributions.
There were at the last meeting of the Board those
who maintained that slavery justified by the Bible,
and that the sin of slavery being an organic SIM it
not so condemned and treated as were other sins.
Now, how can it be SAID that persons holding these
views, and going hand in hand cooperating together
do not sympahize with each other and that they do
not approve of the system Of slavery Suppose the sin
on which we now animadverting, was thef-that
this crime prevailing to an alarming extent and
that there were individuals who were endeavorng to
rid the country of this evil Should an individual de-
clare that he was opposed and always had been to its
abolition; another should decry the motives and ten
denotes Of doing it away; another should write tract
calling thieves to contribute to the Board another
should organize theft in a way to do away with ind
vdual responsibility; Others should try to prove theft
from the Bible and these should sympathze together
together could it be said that there was no
approval of the system? And is not the holding of
human beings theft Of the worst kind-worse than
highway robbery? If a man stole hat, the Board
would excommunicate him. But if he stole hat with
in it. or kept him, knowing him to be stolen, and
robbed him of HIMSELF his wages, his wife, his chill
dren, this sin, in the view of the Board should not
lead to withdrawal of fellowship.
Viewing the position of the Board in this light, it
would not certainly be astonishing if certain other
things should follow which some would consider mar
velous.
Certainly it would not be strange if shareholders at
the mission churchs should continue to be received to
the communion ofthe church 1t would not be strange
famong them there should arise many like Dr. Fuller
who should dofend tho potriorchio eysteuI, ana say
that it was based on the scriptures. These might in
due time be elected corporate members of the Board
They might be elevated to Offices trust as those are
now who have ridculed the abolition system. So will
those who maintained CASTE who tread under foot those
of the lower orders, and lot only anathamatise them
for this world but also for the next these could be
corresponding members.
So with the oppressive chiefs, who now grind the
face of the poor. These could give some of their ILL.,
: gotten gain to the treasury of the Board, and BIZ
entitled to marked respect All could plead organic
SINS and of course there would be no individual re
} sponsibility.
And it would not be strange that though the Boart
should court investigation, and invite all to examine
its mode of procedure it should after all, refuse to
swer the most simple question on points that ought II
, be thoroughly investigated. Men sometimes low
darkness rather than light and will not to tn
ight, lest their deeds be reproved Those that d,
right come to the light and willing that their
duct should be investigated especially when they ar
the representatives of others. And men who manag
religious society," protesting themselves to be rel
gious, should be willing to answer all reasonable ques
tons in regard to their conduct But all connecte
i with slavery or that which builds up the SYSTEM avoi
+ the light of investigation.
1t would not be strange, neither if funds COMMITTEES
to the charge of such should be hazarded Thousand
of dollars have been paid INTO the treasury no doub
that the donors never thought would go to build
e pro slavery churches. When collections have bee
J. taken up in New England, has it been known to tn
people that Shareholders, and CASTE and oppressv
d rulers were to be received as Christians? Did tn
r, churches generally know that men were received VIII
s gave up sins and retained others, from the
d sderation that they were organized? Would it b
strange if there should be betrayal of confidence
e this respect? There, slavery has undue nfuenc
over the mind and are disposed to justify it; VIII
it can say that they are not liable to be deceived
And it would not be strange that some ofthe Officer
r. of the Board should want and obtain large salaries
n three times much as much as ministers general
d obtain. Wherever there is the spirit of slavery, me
= are eXhorbtant in thei demands. They certainl
10 must want money to maintain caste IN their fan
N lilies. they have hired help they must not sit wit
re them at the same table-must not sit with them in tn
If same pew at the church. Agents must have the
,e eight ten and twelve hundred dollars and then rave
lie ing expenses paid. All which may appear to som
to like living for the conversion of the world. Was tn
ID the pursued by Christ and his apostles Di
not he who became poor that we through his poyert
" might be rich, leave example that we should TO
o. low his steps
We And it is not strange taking all things into accouI
Is, that the Board made out just such report as the
did Public opinion was so strong that they certan
IS, would condemn slavery in the abstract. But the
must have loop hole, just big enough for every pre-
at slavery and saveholderto get out his head The
justify themselves in that they say or consider then
i'll selves tho effects that DrOdl