Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-07-26
Anii-SlaVery Christian Convention.


28th May, 1851. DR.. Paxton was elected Pres-
dent pro TEN, and Nathan Homas, Secretary.
Judge Stevens presented a series of resolutions,
which he accompanied with thrilling speech
The following are among the resolutions which
were adopted by the Convention
ResolUed, That American Slavery is the most
sinful, cruel, and mercess system that has pre-
vailed in any civilized country, inasmuch as, un-
der the light of the Gospel it deprives not only the
guitess, but unaccused, of crime, of every civil
and religious right denies them legal eompensa-
ton for any wrong, however grievous annihilates
in regard to them the conjugal and parental rela-
tions; consigns them at pleasure to hethanism !;
withholds from them the Bible; and reduces them
to the condition of brutes
Resolued, That it is our right to condemn and
by lawful means abolish sinful institutions wher-
ever existing; that is the peculiar right of A
merican citizens to express orally, through the
press their opinions of the conduct of their repre-
sentatives and of the laws passed by them, and
that every attempt to prevent or control the free
expression of opinion is outrage upon the con-
stitutional rights of the citizens, and dangerous
assault upon the liberties of the country.
ResoLUed, That we never proposed to abolish
slavery by any unconstitutional act, to infringe
upon the rights of the States our doctrine being
universal, absolute, unconditional emancipation,
without compensation; and our measures, under
God, moral suasion and the ballot-b box
ReSoloed, That we deem the Fugitive Slave Act
unconstitutional and inhuman disgrace to the
country, an outrage upon civil liberty, deserving
the reprobation of every friend of God and man ;
and that it should be disobeyed by every person
who is not willing and does not deserve, to wear
the chains and submit to the lash of Southern des
pots.
ReSolved, That every man who has taken an
oath to support the Constitution of the United
States, and who believes the Fugitive Slave Act
unconstitutional, is solemnly bound to oppose the
enactment and that in the language of Mr. JUS
tice Mclean, can unconstitutional act of Congress
imposes no obligation on State, or the people of
State, and may be resisted by an Individual or
community
Resozued, That we believe that the late act of
Congress for the recovery of fugitive slaves max
es demands upon individuals to which they cannot
Weld obedience without direct violation of the
principles of love, mercy, and justice, given by
the Saviour to his disciples and that those pro-
fessed ministers of the Redeemer who teach ODE
dience to this law false teachers, and unfaith
full to the the high and holy profession they have
assumed.
| ResoE0ed, That now, thereafter, is no time to
sleep it is no time to be dead ; it is the time to
wake, and work. and live anew in the cause /; it is
the time to do and suffer- until liberty shall be
| loved by all it is the time for every one who
claims to be friend of the slave to lay his all up
on the alter to harness himself anew for the con-
ict to throw himself into the thickest of the fight,
and instead of being discouraged and tempted to
lay down arms by the untoward events of these
times to lay himself out to do still more and more,
neither giving nor taking quarter.
Resolved, That in the growing aud increasing
influence of the Slave Power we see abundant
need and imperative demand of the renewed zeal
and energy of philanthropsts or the day will soon
when the North and the South the blacks and
whites, will be subjects of common and hopeless
lot,-yictms alike Of slavery which knows no par
allel.
ResoEved, That all religious. moral or God
fearing persons, should in all cases boldly obey
God rather than man, and suffer rather than sub
NIT to known sin.
/ Resolued, That the leading professional Chris
tian churches of America, by fellowshiping with
shareholders and their abetters, by refusing to
make shareholders dscplinable offence or tc
take any steps to relieve themselves from the sup
port of slavery, have and still are most efectually
sustaining that towering system OF inlqulty--A'
mercan Slavery
i The following resolutions, offered by E. B.
Croker, were considered separately, and, after
discussion, unanimously adopted.
| Resolued, That such churches, possessing az
they do an immense moral and religious power
in this country, could in a short period of time BY
properly directed system of action effect the en-
tire abolition of slavery and they therefore
sponsible for its continuance.
) Resolped, That the individual members of sucl
churches responsible each in proportion to tn
extent of his Christian influence, for such supper
f of slavery, and becomes thereby participator il
/ this great sin.
RcsotUed That we further recommend the with
drawal of all support of the benevolent institution