Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-03-19

tnta III Nv
this land.
The end point is, that a church composed
wholly or in part, Of the supporters OF this
Government-although it may have no other
connection with slavery-is pro-slavery by
position. Take for instance the Quakers,
most of whom used their political power at
the last election to elevate Henry Clay TO the
presidency or the Free-Will Baptists, who
in one Of the New England Staies--and for
ought we know in all Of them trained under
the banner of James K. Polk; or the Wes-
leyans, who are generally Liberty party men.
None of these denominations have any eccle-
s~iastical connection with slavery, but sustain
a Government and parties which lend their
aid to its support. If slavery is wrong, it is
surely wrong to lega!ize it, and TO give poll
tical responsibility and honor 10 its avowed
advocates, or 10 sustain a document y hlch
fortihes the system with walls Of iron, as it
were. This we believe the members Of the
sects referred to, are guilty of 10 a greater or
lesser extent; ard all others rot named whose
members support the Constitution Of tie L.
States, or the political parties Of the land, are
in the same condemnation.
The first ,hing to be settled in relation 10
this matter, is, 10 determine whether it is an
immoral act for a voter to elevate 10 Office and
invest with political power a man who is a
robber of his race. This every one who has
within him the germ of anri-slavery, will
If he considers it purely as an abstract ques-
tion-at once decide in the affirmative, al
though when his theory comes TO be redaced
to practice, he may find exceptions to the rule
which may cover the case of James *. Polk,
Henry Clay, or any other STAKEHOLDER his par
ty may nominate. The members of Liberty
party regard such voting as so exceedingly
immoral, that while persisted in ~disquali.
fies-in their estimaiion-the parties so Of
Tending from receiving any political honor or
emolument; some even 90 so far as to declare
they will not recognize them as honest poll
ticians. Now il voters for shareholders have
not even honesty enough for a politician Of
the better kind, if they are so pro-slavery they
are unworthy to pick up the smallest crumb
which falls from the loaf Of office, what must
be the character of the church which receives
them as good christians, %confers upon them
the Office and honor Of deacon and elder, and
even ~elevates them to the pulpit! No organ
.ization claiming 10 be a christian church, has
any right 10 retain in good and regular stand
ing those who are guilty of an immoral act
and if voting for men-thieves and investing
them with political power, be an act Of This
description, the church which deals not with
such offenders forfeits its christian character,
we care not whether it be called Quaker,
Frec-Will Baptist, or by some other name.
In regard to anti-slavery churches recog-
mixing the supporters of Liberty party as good
christians, we remark briefly, that the pGopri-
ETY. Of this depends very much upon the fact
whether the Constitution under which they
vote, and which they promise to sustain, gives
either by original design, or construction
slavery solemn guarantees" and strength
ems and ~sustains it. If it does, they certalL-
ly occupy an exceedingly Pro-slavory posi-
ton, and the church which takes no notice of
it, becomes a participant in whatever guilt
attaches to them as the supporters of slavery.
If they areigHorant Of the character of the
government, should they not be labored with
as brethren who have erred through igno-
rance! and if they will not forsake their pro-
slavery position, should they not be dealt
with as other offenders who, having ignorant
ly lone wrong are determined to persist in
doing it!
In our notice Of the t,isd and last point W.
will simply say, LIST. That a church which
has slaveholding members naay be pat down
as a pro-slavery church-in which probably
all agree with us. end. That church which
fellowships the LIST church is pro-slavery-in
this probably fewer are Of our way Of think.
ing; and as for the responsibility Of those
which are a end, 3rd, 4th and 9th remove
from the LIST, we leave it for each TO settle
for himself, requiring, however, that the
same rule which governs in other matters
shall be applied in this. For instance,
a close communion Baptist church will
not ommun with one whose members
have not been immersed, or with one thai
does commune with such. Now if thai
church processes to be anti-sIavery, let it mo-
only refuse TO ommun with a slaveholdina
church, bu, with all that do compune will
it-let it, in short, be as careful not 10 iowet
the standard Of hum an rights, as it is to bea,
a faithful testimony in favor of Baptism b,
immersion.
A few words in regard to The Professor,
doetrine of Comeoutism, and we have done
He says;-
when doctrines essentially h%ereiica
are held, or image worship obtains, or any