The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-12-23
For the Examiner


MEssRs EDIroRs:-A writer under the sigma
ture Of "a Presbyterian" in your paper Of Dec.
ID, has given what he terms "simple statement
of facts" in relation to the address to the Pres
byterians Of Kentucky. by a committee Of the
Synod. The statement contains a variety Of
mistakes, and conveys an implication that the
committee acted without proper authority when
they published the address. The mistakes Of
the writer (unintentional doubt not,) do injus-
tice to the committee, and weaken the authority
Of the document and OF course they deserve
correction.
The Synod, in 1894, mot sin 1890 or 1881,
as your correspondent states,l passed a series of
resolutions fsvoring Instruction and Gradual
Emancipation, mot "Gradual Emancipation
and Colonisation,'' and appointing committee
to draft a plan Of instruction and emancipation
on the basis Of these resolutions, accompanying
il with an address to tho members Of our
churches urging its adoption: aud TO lay this
plan and address before each Of the Presbyte-
rians, that they might take sction upon the sub
ject. The Committee met, appointed 5ecre-
tsry. agreed upon the details of the plan, and
directed the Secretary mot "the Chairman to
draft the address and re-assemble the committee
as soon il was prepared. A u,sjority Of the
committee assembled sgreeably 10 notice, and
after hearing it read unanimously approved of
the whole document The Secretary was d.
reeted, in conformity with rhe Instruction. Of
the Synod, TO publish the address, in pamphlet
form, mot 'ln the papers of the day,") and to
send copy TO each church session, and to the
Moderator of each Presbytery. The committee
In all their proceedings acted according to the
directions Of the Synod. RI one or two MEM
bers of the committee did not ace the address
until It was published, It was because they did
not attend the meeting Of the committee-of
which meeting due notice was given to all the
members. II the address "was not submitted TO
the Synod" for its adoption, il was because the
Synod had directed that another disposition of
it should be made.
The resolutions of the Synod were drawn ND
by the hate Judge Green and the writer of the
address, and were fully as strong as the address
and the plan which were based upon them
These resolutions were passed in a full SYNOD
and by large majority Of votes. Colonization
was not mentioned in the Tesolutons-not be-
cause the Synod was not favorable to the colo
nisation cause, which il has always been, but
because Il was deemed best to present simply a
plan Of instruction and emancipation, leaving
it to masters to provide for their emancIpated
bondmen in whatever way might seem to each
one the most advisable.
The abolition riots in the East, which occur
red during the summer of 1895, subsequent to
the adoption of the resolutions and lust previous
to the presentation of the plan to the Presbyte-
rians, produced, for a season, a sensitiyeness in
the public mind and a jealousy Of all move
ments in favor Of freedom, which prevented
most of the Presbyteries from taking any fur
thsr action on the subject. The time waa re-
gar,ed by many Of the warmest advocates of
emancipation, as unfavorable for pressing anv
plan, in consequence of the distempered state Of
popular feeling, produced by the violent move.
merits OF the abolitionists and their opponents.
Oniy one Of the Presbyteries took any action
either approbatory or condemnatory of the
plan and address. The Presbytery of Transvl.
vsnia directed the address TO be read to each of
its churches, and recommended the plan for
a""P''on Do osssi. of its chnrcl, members.
MEMuER OF THE COMMITTEES OF SYNOD. |