Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-11-10
They Feel The Pressure.

Not by the force of genuine piety within the
Church, but by the pressure OF opinion from
without, ccclesiastical bodies arc compelled 10
take some notice of the nations pet sin, and to
act in such a manner as to seem, to the eye of
the careless observer, to be opposed to it. The
Presbyterian Synod New School) of the West
efn Reserve adopted at its late meeting the fol-
lowing Memorial to the General Assembly:
We distinguish between voluntary and inpoi-
tntary slavery. We believe there are cases in
which the legal relation between master and
slave may exist, without guilt on the part OF
the master. If a person be compelled by the
force of law and circumstances to sustain that
relation, while at the same time he regards it as
wrong, and he docs what he can to rid himself
of it, we have no disposition to deny him Chris
tan or Ministerial fellowship. But very differ
cnt is it with the voluntary STAKEHOLDER, who
claims the right to hold property in man, and
who endcavors to vindicate that right on the
ground of law, expediency, and religion, and
who is opposed to measures to ~emancipatc
slaves. We do not say that the latter class of
Shareholders may not be Christians. We judge
no man. What degree of prejudice, ignorance
and wrong-doing-long cherished and confirm
ed by education and habit, may exist with Di-
vine grace, we pretend not to determine. 1t is
difficult, however, even for the charity that 'ho-
peth for all things to believe that Christians,
and especially Christian ministers, in this en-
ightcned age, can cling to and attempt to justi-
fy a system OF oppression and wickedness so APP
palling as American slavery. But admitting
such to be Christians, is it not our duty to bear
witness against their sin, and to have no fellow
ship with it We feel that the time has come,
when, as a Synod, we must express our utter
aohorrcnce OF Slavery and practically look
to an actual, entire, and early separation from
it. We are sincerely attached to the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. We
wish and hope to continue our connection with
it and with it to employ whatever influence
we have, to remove all scandals and offences,
and to perfect the beauty and the strength of
our beloved Zion. We cannot think, however,
OF such a protracted continuance of our connec-
ion with slaveholding ministers or churches
and individuals as must imply a connivance at
the sin Of voluntary slaveholding; and we,
therefore, feel constrained to urge on the Cen
eral Assembly the adoption of such measures as
will amount to a full disayowal Of all fellowship
with the voluntary holding of men as property.
This nonsense about the legal relation is
put forth as gravely as if it had never been pro-
we'd to be nothing but cant and twaddle. Mark
also how coolly these reverend divines can talk
about their undisguised relations to a Church
which sets the seal of sanctity upon tho sum
of all villanies'! Poor innocent souls they
can't think of a protraetca approval of an insti-
tuition which makes merchandise of human be-
ings but they mean to stick to it for the pres
ent, and to cheat their followers as long as pos
sible with unmeaning professions. The same
influence which EFFORTS from them this reluctant
and inadequate testimony will soon compel
them, from very shame, to do something for HUI
manity and Freedom.