Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-04-19
From tho Free Presbyterian.
A RCprObatC Body,

tlle NtUiNtIlOllu llfsuN ANilhh CHNhN'f
on the 18Th of February, 1851, in Union
town, Pa, the following preamble and reso-
lutious were adopted:-
"Whereas, thas appeared in late NO. oI
the Baltimore Sun, and other pnpers, that at
a meeting of Cumberland Presbyterian cier-
rymen and members of that Church, held at
Bethel. Jan. 18th, 1851, series of resolu-
lions was adopted against slavery aud the
Fugitive Slave Law :-Therefore, that the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church may not be
misreuresented nor misunderstood on these
subjects,
Resolved. That this, the Union Presby-
tery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Churci,
la session in Uniontown, Fuyette county, fap
Feb. 18th 1851, view with deep regret the
imprudent attempt of few ministers Oh our
denomination, and few members OF some
connrepntions in Washington county to med
die with the subject of Negro Slavery, ana
the Fugitive Slave Law, recently passed, as
many believe, in accordance with the Constl-
tuiion of the United Stntes.
Resolved, further That, in the opinion oil
this Presbytcry, it is the duty of all Chrls,
tians to obey the laws of our Country and
that to obsiruct any such laws, SO us by
means of such obstruction citizen may SUI
fer the loss of what the law of the land re-
CARDS as his property, Is n contravenuon OF
the Christian maxim, Whatsoever go would
that men should do TO you, do ye even so to
them"
II is the general belief of the religious
world that the Devil is the great suggesler of
evil thoughts, but We are not sure but it
would he Il sandcr on that notable person.
age to nllrge that he suggested the above
resolutions. Certainly his perversions OF
Scripture were moi so monsirOus IN the re-
corded instances of his quoting from the
holy volume The idea OF lis being Vlo-
lation of the golden rule to assist the hunt
cd fugitive 10 gain his freedom, and escape
the fnngs of the bloodhound, is unique III
its nirOciiy. Ii shows that the march OF the
human mind, in the career of inpiety, has
quite kept pnce with its progress in other
things. II exhibits refinement of blusphe-
my which indicates the perfection of long
Practice II is an immense advance of ordl-
nary profanity. We would ian hope that
the gilt of pervcrIing holy things, which this
Cumberland Presbytery possesses Is one oil
rare occurrence.
"ro obstluct any laws of the country, so
MS 10y means of such obstruction, n citizen
Ii3ay ssilsEts.GIzi Asa .sS.as.-s-. slss'
land regards ms lis properly, is contmven-
ton ui the great Christian inaXim, what
s0rycr We would that men should do TO you,
do sc even ST. to tcuI.'" Now il is well
known that what these men call tie law OF
| The land, allows tIie spiritual members OF
| Chrisl's body to he held as property. In that
| condition they are bought and sold, worked
without wages, deprived of oil education, in
great measure destitute of religious i'll
strurlion, denied the rights of Christian mar
riage, and dnumcd to universal concuIlnngc.
| The virtue of the female Is the prey OF any
white scoundrel who may choose to violate
| it. The parental aud iilial relations are an
initiated. Human beings are reduced to
articles of merchundize, "not ranked among
scuiicnt beings but among brutes."
One of these imbruted human beings es-
capes-we will suppose Il Christian, aud Il
wOnan. She is running from what is in
finitcly worse than death. Eluding the vgl-
lance of blood-hounds, human and canine,
she reaches UniontOwn. Faint and weary
from long fasting aud Toll, her feet blistered,
and her garments tnttered, she presents her
self at the door of one of the preachers who
voted for the above resolutions, and beseecll-
es him by tie love of Jesus--by the mercy
of tic Saviour whom they both profess To
serve, TO do rs he would be done by, and give
her food and a pallet on which to rest, for II
little while, her exhausted frame. But the
| Dlbuo Sbui vi iuO IuNhNhNi 10 "i'N w hS
Constitutional duties" aud he at once slls-
poets the supplant of the guilt of running
away from forced prostitution. lie inquiries
who and whence she is and in answer learns
the story Of her wrongs and snilerlngs. -
With frown of pious wrath gathering on
his brow he addresses the trembling pleadcr,
ado you not know that the law of the land
regards you us your masters property? II
feed and shelter you it will give you strength
TO escape clear beyond the reach of your
owner. To do this would be contrnven'
ton of the great Christian maxim, 'Whatso-
ever We would TINT men should do to you, dc
ye even so TO them' therefore, begone iroul
my presence and so back to your master."-
AS the heart broken victim makes desparlng
effort TO staggcr away, a second thought
seizes the mind of the Cumberland preach
er. As it would be violation of the golden
rule TO do anything 10y which "the citizen
might suffer the loss of his property" il
would of course be an exact iulilment OF
that "great Christian maXim," to help him
regain possession of it. The happy thought
is just in time. lie commands the fugitive
TO stop, seizes her person. forces her into his
house, binds her limbs, and retains her there
his prisoner until her "lawiul owner pre-
sents himself TO whom "on claim being
made" he delivers her up.
This is no fancy sketch, but truthful ex-
hiblion of the true position of the authors
of the above resolutions. To render assist
ance to the poor victim of outrage, by
which she might escape life of pollution
and shame, would cause the "ctizen to
suffer the loss OF his property" This the
Union Presbytery declare would violate the
golden rule. Was ever hnsphenIy equal TO
| this? BIasphemy, according TO Webster, is
an indignity offered TO God by words or
wiring. That which derogates from the
prerogatives of God" Now God has sum
med up all human duty in the golden rule,
! and declared that TO be tho substance of his