Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-05-29

England can afford to cry out Free trade
particularly if she exhausts herselfin the
country without changing her policy,-Re-
public.
Presbyterian General Assembly,
NEW School. )-Slarry.-ln this body,
in session at Utica, n. Y, last week, only
four memorials on slavery were presented
viz: one from the Chicago Presbytery
asking such further action on the part Of
the General Assembly as will promote the
speedy abolition of this great moral and
political evil" and proposing pastoral
letter to the churches; one from the Grand
River Presbytery, stating that common
fame" represents that number of the Pres
byterian Church at the South, who hold
slaves, entirely neglect many ofthe dr..es
of that relation, and requesting the Gener-
al Assembly e enquire into the matter,
and T rncy find the report well founded,
then to enforce proper disciplin. The
third was memorial from the Presbytery
of Belviderer, asking the Assembly to ex-
press their Judgment on the following qucs-
tions
81. Docs the late law of Congress res
pecting the delivery Of fugitive slaves to
their masters require individuals to violate
the law ofGodl
"2 WHAT'S the duty of Christians in re-
ference to obcying said lawl'
The fourth was memorial from the
Presbyterian Church in Trumansburgh,
New York, representing that the enter
prise Of the American Colonization Socie-
ty is the most efectual made of christian
izing Africa; the only effectual means OF
suppressing the slave trade; the most ,prac-
ticable mode ofemancipating the slaves in
our country, and that it presents no antag.
onism to any other mode of outstanding
Africa, or emancipating slaves at home
These memorials were referred to the
committee on bills and overturcs. This
committee reported that
The memorials are few in number, flour
in ALL kindin spirit, and decorous in mat
ter, and no doubt conscientious in origin.
The committee have carefully read and
considered these documents and unani-
mously and cordially agree to the follow
ing result That the Assembly have
reason to be thankful to Divine Provi-
dcnce for the wisdom and prudence vouch-
satcd to the last Assembly, in coming to
conclusions on this vexed question, which
have sogenerally met with acquicscence Of
the church at this crisis; and that it seems
obviously our privilege and duty at the
present session to leave the whole subject
as it was placed by that action, withou,
further agitation, and to unite in devout
thanksgiving, for such an adjustment Of
this subject as leaves us undoubtedly and
Enthusiastically to give our energies to the
great work of our Master"
DIR. Riddle remarked that there was &C.
casion for peculiar feelings of gratitude to
God for the unanimity with which the
committee had come TO the above result,
and in general terms, expressed the hope
that the whole Assembly would concur
without any lengthy discussion OF the re-
port.
Rev. Mr.. Dickinson, of Grand River
Presbytery, (the associate of the Hon.
Joshua Giddings, who was providentially
prevented by bodily injury from being
presently said, if this action of the Assem-
bly, shall go forth, l fear flame will be
kindled in the region which represent
Unanimity in this action is greatly to be
deplored. The memorials are peculiar
and expressive ofopposition to the fugitive
slave law. Nearly 10000 slaves have
been aided and fed by our citizens in their
fight to the dominions of the Queen
They come to us as children Of God, some
of them belonging to ministers in connec-
ton with this Assembly. They come scar
red and furrowed with the lash. They
have long been slaves, yet they are the
ransomed Of God. Our Presbyterry and
churches feel for these fugitivcs from bon
dage. We feel that a wrong is inflicted
upon those who bare Christ's image. We
wish only mild action now. l desire a
committee to be appointed to report the
number Of slaves, whether they can read
the Bible or go to school, or have the elc-
ments of education. We do not ask the
number of stripes on them. We regard
the neglect of education more than stripes.
We wish some effective means to bring the
facts to light. move a substitute for that
part of the report, which relates to the
Grand River Presbytery, referring it to a
committee of three. to report next year the
number of slaves, &c.
A desultory discussion followed. With
out disposing off the committees report,the
Assembly adjourned till Monday-N Y.
Express.