Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-04-22

" L he SON Elm L ION VI IIC D1O-
CESE.
BY A PROTESTANT EPIsCOPALIAN.
(COntinucd)
In the Southern church, moreover, the desire
for the salvation of the negroes is in entire sub
serviency to the supposed interests of the mas
ters The New Orleans Picayune of 10Th Au-
gust, l84l, has the following " Chauncey B.
Black was brought before Recorder Baldwin,
charged with tampering with slaves, 1t was
proved that he was seen conyersing with a num-
Der of them in the street that he asked them if
they could read and write, and if they would like
Bible. This was the amount of the testimony
against him. In palHatioa of has conduct, it
was shown that he was regularly appointed agent
of the Bible Society in New Orleans, to distrib-
ute the Bible to such as would accept of it. The
society, however, discamed haUing the most dis
tant intention Of giving the Scriptures to SlaUeS;
and it was said Black had exceeded his commits
sion in offering it. But as it appeared to be a
misunderstanding on his part, and not intention
al interference with the peculiar institution, he
was discharged, with a caution not to repeat his
offence" Now, hear the New Orleans Presby-
terry, in their report Of 1916 " There are with
in the bounds of the presbytery at least 100, 600
colored persons, most of whom are slaves. 1t is
a lamentable fact, that by far the greater part
are furnishing and perishing for the bread Of
Hfe.'
With what ineAable scorn must the slaves re-
gard such lamentations over their famine for the
bread of life, from the lips of men who have not
the most distant intention of giving the Scrip
lures to slaves
The Southern Religious Telegraph had OPEN
ed It's columns to a series of papers in behalf of
outstanding the slaves. Some of the Vrgin-
ans became alarmed, and forthwith the obsequ-
Gus editor announces " At the suggestion Of
some of our fellow citizens, who regard the dis
cusslon ofthc religious instruction of slaves in
pedicnt at this time, we cheerfuHy comply with
their wishes, and will discontinue, for the pres
ent, publication of articles on the subject"
Says the Georgia Conference Missionary So
ciety, in its report for 1885, 8" Our missions a.
mng the whitcs have shared in this season of
refreshing from the presence of the Lord. The
missions to the slaves have not been distinguish
ed by SO great multiplication of church mem
bers, chiefly because the mode of operation is cs-
sentialy different 1t is deemed imprudent to
foster among the colored people those great ex-
elements which minister so powerfully to the
building up our societies among the whites"
Here we have an avowal, that, from pruden-
tial reasons-that is, from regard to the security
of slave property-the slaves have been deprived
by these Methodist missionaries of certain auxil-
aries, supposed to be highly conducive to saliva
ton.
In 1885, the shareholders of Charleston, hav-
ing sacked the post office, and riotousy, destroy
| or anti - IcJ
public meeting for the avowed purpose of con-
trolling the freedom of the mail The Charles
ton Courier giving the particulars of emeetng,
announced that The CLERGY of all denomina-
tons attended in body, lending their sanction
to the proceedings, and adding by their presence
to the impressive character of the scene" The
sacrifice of decency in attending in this lawless
meeting, was not the only one which the Char
lesion clergy offered on the altar of slavery
The shareholders resolved, That the thanks OF
this meeting are due to the reverend gentlemen
ofthe clergy in this city who have so promptly
and so e6ectually responded to the public senti-
ment, by suspending their schools, in which the
free coIored population were taught and that this
meeting deem it patriotic action, worthy of all
praise, and proper to be initiated by the teachers
Of similar schools throughout the State
1t is quite in character, that the Charleston
Shareholders should deem it patriotic act in the
ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ to drive bIacI
: children from their Sunday schools but wha
judgment will be formed of these pusanimou.
| clergymen by HIM who has commanded his ser
wants not to fear what man can do unto them q
Most truly, says the Bishop of Oxford, it is
= time for martyrdom, and the American church
hoe
There is still another to be added to the form
y liable obstacles, already enumerated, to the con
version Of the slaves. Their very position com
pels them to live in constant violation of man,
+ of the imperative obligations of Christianity.
The slave is participator of that humanit
n with which the Saviour clothed himself at hi
If incarnation. As aMAN, therefore, he is place,
by God in various relations imposing cores
pondng duties ; as a son, he is bound to homo
his parents as brother, to love his kindred
and relieve their distresses as Il husband, t
cleave to his wife till parted by death as faith
er, to provide for the sustenance and education
of his offspring. But the law of the land ha
$ nullied that of God, and insuaes the slave fror
- all the relations of humanity, and abrogatcs tn
1t obligations resulting from them Yet the South
n ern priesthood, in the name Of the Lord Jesu
is Christ, give their sanction to this law, reducn
m to cHATrELs the very beings for whom He dice
4. Well, indeed has foreign author remarked :
Il " Whatever may have been the unutterabl
" wickedness of slavery in the West India islands
= there it never was baptized in the Redeemer'
= hallowed name, and its corruptions were not cor
lie cealed in the garb of religion, That acme {
or praical turpitude was reserved for the prolessc
disciples Of Jesus in America"
a You hatter yourself, sir, that could the Bisho
ut Of Oxford have witnessed the services at ScuI
,e pernong which you have described, his views {
n American slavery would have undergone such
hi total change, that he would have asked instar
, pardon of the American church, for rebukin
:" her subservency to this terrific institution. Hav
=, ing said nothing of the church that was not lite
D. ally true, and substantiated by most abundar
~ proof, the Bishop could have had no motive c
n, excuse for asking pardon. So far from havin
of his adherence of slavery dimished by the scene
c. on which you dwell with so much complacenc,
r. he would have found in them new proofs of tn