New-York daily tribune., 1849-06-08
The Pre.byterian Church on slavery.


On the eighth day Of the recent Session # the
Oid school General Assembly Of the Presbyterian
Church al Pittsburgh the following seres Of Resolu
tons in regard 70 Slavery was offered BY Rev. Dr.
McGiLL. and rioP,ed with bat one dissenting vote:
Re.olrsd lat. That the principles of ihe Presbyterian
Church the subject oi slavery already set orh
repeated declarations So full . need no farther
exposition
a. That in view Of the civil and domestic nature Of
fh- institution, and the competency % secular insutu
tons alone % IL and in Of the earnest IL
curry and deep agitation this subject which We nov
01serve IN one Or more COmmonweslths % our coun
Try where slavery exists 10 j. considered pecllary
improper and mex pedienf for the Assembly - attempt
or propose any measures IN the work o patton
Thsi al neces-ary and proper provision has been
already made for the Just exercise Of dlsclplne upon
those b. uegect violate the mutual dues OF mas
ter and SER ant and the General Assembly j. always
ready enforce those provisisons wnen the uniata
fllles OF any Inferior COURTS made manifest ~ record
appeal lupiaint
4b We re9ice 70 believe that the sction Of former
Assenbly 80 far from aiding allowing the iniquitou'
oppression Of man by his fellow man. has been
steadily promoting On amcl0racOn in the condition Oi
the slaves By the winning the confidence OF masters
In freedom from fanarclsm. and By stimulating the
.lavehOder and his pastor alike, 20 labor N the re-
h1ous education Of the blacks
9TH That 10 u enjOned on Presbytcrans situated IN
slavehodng states 10 continue % increase their eNer-
tons for the religious education Of the slaves and 70
report distinctly in the usual narratives Of The General
Assembly the stat. oi re-sloh among the co''it"
population.
Protest was subsequently offered by Rev Mr
NEyIN aud ordered the record without answer. II
is as follows:
The undersigned claiming the right guaranteed 70
him by the form Of government Of the Presbyterian
Church feels himself impers-ively called upon from
sense Of duty 20 God 20 the Church and the slave, %
protest against the judgment Of this Assembly,
pressed in the report adopted by IT, on the subject Of
slavery.
The reasons for this Protest are as follows
J. The true position Of our Church in regard 70 this
subject, which j. Of overwhelming importance. j.
known with certainty, either by al - ministers or
members, the world ~ large. Some Affirming that
the Church sanctions Slavery institution having
the moral appreciation Oi God and others that 70 con
demns IT,
? The fact that there is spirit Of earnest inquiry
and deep agitation this subject instead oi render
ing IL improper and expedient for this General As
.emtly 10 express ifs sentiments definitely upon IT, j.,
in The opinion Of the undersigned the very Why
= sentiments should boz expressed. by this means
the members OF the Church would be able % know
their duty moral subjects. IN connection with The
resi question IL is the light of the divine truth alone
shining through the living organization Of the Church,
that h competent 70 instruct aud stimulate the masses
regard 10 the scrptura duty Of " bres1in. every
yoke and letting the oppressed 90 Tree
3 The provision that is referred 70 as being made
for the Just exercise of discipline upon those who neg
Get 0r violate the mutual duties of master and servant
-cens recognize the righteousness OF the relation
ship Of Slavery. Besides the slave long he b.
slave from the nature of the tenure by which De- is
nold and because OF the lsh in which h.s condition is
regarded by al masters cannot possibly convict b.
lore our ecclcsastcal courts the master or other
Church member. How extraordinary % would appear,
should slave present himself in the General Assembly
~ an expeant or complainant against some wrong In
iicted upon him. by one assuming 70 himself the dig
uihed tte Of master.
T. The action Of some OF the former Assemblies in
stead Of benehtDg the slave 10 J. feared, has given
relief 20 the cOnsceuces OF shareholders, which had
already began cry in thundertones against their
wrong 10 holding IN bondage beings whom God created
biz Likeness. and whom Jesus embraced IN biz
warmcst sympatlles and love. While the action j.
giung relief 10 minds, II IS driving many others
separate themselves from the Church that was once
dear 10 their hearts
3 Preshyterics cannot give or adopt means for i'm
parting religious instruction % the slave. since under
the dispcusaon VI grace, We taught by the eN
ample of the Son OF God. there must be expression
II kindness that Will make every sacrifice, before the
ruth be received IN love and become the power of
God unto salvation. There l. no kindness IN the acts
uf man 10 his fellow man unless the rights OF owner
ship il nrt recognized This being the nrst AMI great
demand of the law OF love and common sense justice
g. There does not appear 10 be in the General Assem-
bly, expressed by the report that sense Of the mag
niiude OF the evil of Slavery which the nature OF the
case would seem to warrant Ii IL thought To be
privilege granted with reluctance 20 some few 10 look
10 the subject ALL and speak their sentiments upon
IT, and not TO be the duty J all take up the subject
and give 10 IL that degree OF earnest and prayeriu at
tcnion which It is receiving al the hands OF every
other ecclesiastical organization and every form OF
civil policy where Christianity has qulckencd their
scnsibtos and affected their Legislation.
The next day. several members of the Assembly re-
quesed and obtained permission attach their
10 Mr.. Nevins Protest-viz Messrs Jas :. Fullerton
Joseph Porter and William Bonar.