The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-08-14

and the reprobation OF the civilized and Christian
world, the existence Of slavery in the Cherokee
and Choctaw nations, and among other tribes
where our missionaries labor, is deeply lamented
by this Convention.
Resoired, That we rejoice In the information
conveyed to us by published and oral communities
tions from official members Of the A. B. c. F. M
that they have made known to mi -sionaries under,
their care, that the sentiments Of the American
Board and Of the great body Of American Chris
tisns coincide in all material points with the SEN
timents expressed in the foregoing resolution
concerning slsveholding and that they have in
their communications with their missionaries ex-
pressed their conviction that II is the duty Of
missionary churches, where slavery in any form
exists, TO terminate NJ soon circumstances will
allow the existence Of slaveholding within such
churches, and SO to instruct their congregations,
that the people will understand that hereafter
those holding and treating men as property will
not be received into the mission churches
The proceedings Of this Convention we're re-
ported for some Of the Eastern papers. They
gave more general currency to the Anti-Slavery
sentiment which prevailed among contributors to
the Board than had been given before The pro-
slavery element was awakened to resistance, by
pro-siauery msan those rho are faUorabie 10 the
continuance Of slarery in Mission Chmch,S. The
New York Obserper, an old School Presbytrnn
paper, that has q large circulation in the Slave
States, quoted the proceedings from the New York
EUaagslist and doubted whether they were cor
rect, at the same time affirming that the Board
had given no such instructions in relation to the
separation Of slavery from the church. as was there
assumed. The Philadelphia Observer, IA New
School paper, whose editor had removed from a
Slave State and transferred the subscribers Of a
paper published in Kentucky, TO Philsdelphia)
likewise affirmed that no such instructions as
those referred to had ever been published by the
Board The true statement of the case upto that
time is, that counsel of this character had been
given by the Secretaries at a missionary meeting
in Hollton, Mass. DR.. Greene there read a let
ter to the missionaries the import Of which was
that slavery ought to be removed from the Mission
Churches as soon as wise measures could accom-
plish the end. This letter DR.. Greene there said
mould not be published, because II might rritate the
Indian Shareholders, and hinder the design they
aimed 70 accomplish. These things were done
by the Secretaries and the Executive Committee
The Corporation or Board, which has since shown
itself TO be hostile to the end sought had not acted
directly in the case.
The power of slavery in the State and in the
large Judicatories and Boards Of the churches was
known to be great but still it was deemed scarcely
possible, after what had been said that Board,
most Of its members being in the free States,
"outu OOhihoe w ProphRhte Tue HoSp"A IL WV,
corrupted and dishonored by slavery and to do
this ssFss bassf-, '-Tr''A-a ,yhnss STANDARD *
right wound be TAKEN from the NJ ission Churches.
At the next meeting Of the Board in Buffalo,
Pres. Blanchard, Of Knox College, was present.
lie went with the design If introducing resolu-
tons tending directly 10 settle the yexed question,
Will the Board or will 1t not, cease TO propagate
o slaveholding religion through the Mission
Churches Three resolutions were introduced,
two of which were as follows:
"Resolped, That it is the understanding and
judgment of the Board that Shareholders should
not henceforth be received into the Mission |
Churches, without cOnsenting to manumit their
slaves
"Resolred, That If any doubt whether the
property holding in human beings be in itself sim
ful, the practice should yet be abstaned from by |
members of our Mission Churches rs an obvious
cause Of offence to multitudes in the Christian
church,
These resolutions were referred to the Business
Committee. Members said in the meeting, and |
our of them, that they were not quite ready for
the final action. The Committee reported that
during the ensuing year the Indian Missions
should be visited by one of the Secretaries and
the Prudential Committee should report touching
the extent of the Boards control over their mis-
sonaries, and its responsibility for the character
of their teaching and practice
The question concerning the control of the
Board over it's missionaries bad been abused by
some who endeavored to shelter the Board from
the odium of sustaining slavehOlding missions.
The Board can withhold supplies, or they Can re-
quest missionaries to resign, or they can change
their location. These being true, an apology for
because the Board had no control,
seemed derogatory to that Christian truthfulness
which should be exhibited in such cases
Tho I'd in
The Missions had been visited. The Secretary,
MIR. Treat, reported. Many have thought the |
report would hear two constructions but we do |
not allege this. Some passages mt least are plain.
Among other things, Mr.. Treat reports more than
fifty Shareholders in the churches sustained by
the Board in the Cherokee and Choctaw nations.
He states that the missions are increasing in
civilization; but that with the civilization pro-
duced by the missionaries, slavery increases as a
legitimate consequence. The principal influence
in both nations has become to be 10 the hands Of
Shareholders The missionaries, he says, feel
themselves not little straitened whenever they
come in contact with the system; hence, he says,
The gospel IS not brought 10 bear 'puh ais FIJI porcer
upon all those epifs mich peculiar 10 Snch dis
Of Socnfyn The missionaries are in both nations
forbidden by law to teach either slaves or free
negroes to read or write. Two sections of the
Choctaw statute on this subject are as follows
"Be Il enacted That from and after the passage
Of this act, If any citizen of the United States
acting as a missionary or preacher, or whatever
his occupation may be, is found to take an active
part in favoring the principles and notions of the
most fatal and destructive doctrines of the alb
olitonists, he shall be compelled to leave the ma.
ton, and forever stay out of it.N
And be u further snaeted, That teaching slaves
how to read to write or to sing in meeting houses
or schools, or in any open place, without the con-
sent of the owner or allowing them to sit at table
with him, shall be sufficient ground to convict
persons OF favoring the principles and notions Of
sbolitionsmD
This law forbids the missionary to do the
work for which he was sent out. Ii not only for
bids his appropriate work for the coored man,
but it requires him to take an snti-christan posi-
ton. lie must make distinction Of persons.
He must favor the rich and neglect the poor.
lie must withhold the key Of knowledge from all
colored men, and must not even teach negro to
sing the praise of the Redeemer in q meeting
house, school house, or even in the open forest.
The missionaries in those nations do now act
under this law; and thus the gospel of Jesus
Christ is exhibited directly contrary to its essen
tial nature When the Indian gives evidence Of
submission to gospel requirements, as thus exhib-
tied he is an accepted member of the church,
while yet he knows nothing truly Of what the
true gospel demands, in its most essential appli-
cations, Such gospel the American Board
propagates among the Indians and submission to
the claims of this gospel is the evidence Of disci
pleship.
The Committee to which Mr. Treats report
was referred laid over the whole matter as I'M.
finished business. As no direct action could be
bad, an endeavor was made to bring the Board
up TO the point Of affirming the principle that
slavery should be discontinued in the Missions
But efforts to gain even the recognition Of the
principle failed Resolutions affirming that slave
holding should not be allowed in the Missions, but
that it should be considered prims fsoie evidence
against the piety of applicants for admission to
church privileges, were almost unanimouly resist
ed hy the Roar1 ard nuor the uoyal-