Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-05-20

Such facts as the following, attested by re-
sponsible name, are just the kind of information
we need to decide and act intelligenty on the
subject A residence of Hirty-si1 gears in the
South, must certainly give the writer good OPP
portunity to know whereof he aifirms
Washington County, Pa.
MEssRs. EDIroRs As there is being good
deal said at the present day, about Southern
Christians bringing the discipline of the Church
to bear on the crueties of Slavery and about
their moaning and lamentng over this great evil
also wish to state few facts on the subject, if
possible, to shed some light on this vercd ques-
ton,
And first, ! will remark that residence of
thlrty-slx years in the South in the very midst of
Slavery afforded me good opportunity of OBJ
servation on this subject. Again, will remark,
that my feelings were very early enlisted on the
subject of church government, and even before
became member of the church, was led to adj
mire the principles upon which the Presbyterian
church was governed and therefore anything in
practice which related to this department of the
church attracted my attention.
will now give you the result of some of my
observation. | am, and have been, personally
acquainted with great number administers eld-
ers, and church-members, who owned slaves and
who never made an effort either public or private,
to teach them to read the word of God. And
never knew an instance Of any attempt being
made to discipline members for this great sin of
omissions
1t is universal practice among slaveholding
church-members, to have family worship while
their slaves are at work. never knew but one
exception to tfls-and who ever heard ofthis be-
ing made dsciplinable offence ? | have known
elders and private members, tie up men, women,
children, some of them aged and infrm, and fog
them severely, and Inever knew it to nure their
standing in the church. | have known multi
tudes of church-members who bought and sold
slaves "for gain," who parted husbands and
wives, parents aud children, without any notice
whatever being taken of it by the church-ex-
cept in one instance, where man and his wife
was parted, an elder brought it before the ses-
sion, and the result of the whole matter was that
the elder was honored with call from Judge
Lynchs posse, compose Of churcE-members
And now as to the groaning and painting of
church-members in the South to get rid of this
great evil. 1t is generally known that the laws
of the slave states authorize buying and selling
slaves, and parting asunder all those natural ties
which are so dear to husbands and wives, parents
and children, brothers and sisters, and almost
every species of cruelty conceivable Who in
the South has not seen the slave-driver securing
the country, just as we see the hog and cattle
spectators do in this country, and driving their
herds of slaves through mud and water, and fire.
quenIy shutting them up in open pens at night,
without anything to shelter them from the wealth
er, be it ever so nclement Frequently these
gangs are chained together with heavy chains.
Who in the South has not seen the inhuman
slave-driver going about trying to give away the
infant from the mothers breast, amid her wall
mgs of anguish, (and frequently successful that
it might not nurc the sale of the mother =
Those in the slave states who have not seen such
scenes as these, must have lived in soma obscure
corner, or have shut their eyes. And yet during
my whole residence in the South, | never saw
or heard of a petition, remonstrance, or any such
thing to the lawmakers, to get an end put to
their wicked laws and practices. blush when
| think of this, for have to take guilt and shame
to myself
And now a few words on the sinfulness of
saveholding. | never have known a slayehold-
er Weakened to a sense of his sin and danger by
the influences of the Holy Spirit (for the Spirit
/ of God operates among Shareholders as well as
/ OInerS, anu lie is not ufFen rom his work by
armed mods or carnal weapons,) but slavery
was amongst the first things which troubled him;
and when brought to indulge a hope in Christ,
his conscience was always peculiarly tender on
that point, until his difficulties We're removed by
some spiritual leader.
Now Messrs Editors, others may believe whom
they may, but would not give the testimony of
the Holy Ghost on this or any other subject for
that of all the Doctors of Divinity in the land
If you should think proper to publish this,
may send you some facts corroborative of the
above. W. Nj, ALLISON.
January o. lS47.