New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-06-06
BOSTON ANNIVERSARIES.
slavery Discussion In the Unitarian Minist,.
rial Conference.

anniversary week was that Of the above society :.
Thursday morning. a the BcttordS,. chapel. Wien
several topics having been submitted for discussion
by general consent that referring TO slavery. as en-
braced by the resolutions offered The previous aavs,
the session Of the American Unitarian Association
lsce Commonwealth Of Thursday BY Rev. Mr. May
of Syracuse. New-YOrk. Was taken up Rev ~
Farley of Brooklyn, Y, presided.
Rev M Judd. of Augusta, Me- thought he
duty Of the clergy 20 speak freely upon the question
OF slavery but With perfect plalnneSS TO all parties
He approved of the sentiment ~ the resolve, be
dsliked the preamble TOO personal IN It's anylase
Rev Mr.. MAY. Of Syracuse, y Y, SAID reierenoe
was made in the resolve to those only ~hom he
Conference had night 10 mention, w, promnea
UnitarianS who had sustained The Fugitive S.ave
Law.
Rev DR.. Hall OF Providence, X. l., thought that.
as citizens, lnltarianS and as Christians lhey
were called upon 10 speak IN opposition 10 The AS
but the rleht place should be selected IN og!cr Ag
no false impression should be given Ia ease me topc
should not be acted upon lie deprcca'c nil false
statements, whether from the press. the Qu 1 the
bench. regard 10 the diSoyal,y OF The loc, and
believed that the cause of truth and luSnce ami
sound law derived no benefit from such u'icTances
For himself he should not obey the laH though the
country went 10 pieces.
Rev Mr. Parker Of Boston read extrac ron an
English PAPER, showing the action OF an c',lcSias-
ucal body abroad that had resolved no, 90 counie.
nance or admit Ia l,s PdigitS any OF the American
clergy who upheld the Fugitive slave Law or
Slavery.
Rev. Mr Holland. @: Portland. \. Y. deemed
oboyancc 10 the law violation of conscience AMI
duty. His voice and prayer was for progress and
liberty.
Rev Mr. Frost. OF Concord Mass. had hal a con-
mltoe OF his society ask him 10 abstain from preach
ing on Slavery thenceforh He replied TINT when
the slave power had taken possession of the depart
mentS OF Government, controlled the decisions OF
our Courts and Influenced the moral position Of the
Church itself CLOSING over all the lnQulcs Of the
system, he should no, keep silence. Obedience 10
the fugitive law was treason to God he preferred TO
be disloyal Ia man.
Rev Mr. Claiming of New-Nork City thought
the Church should take common ground against this
national sin But to the slave holder he would be fair
and candid He would meet him IN conclaye show
HIM the evils OF slavery, the worth OF freedom and
ION with him IN removing the willing c0ogcd popu-
lation TO the lands of the West and as remunera-
tion give him the blessings of free labor and social
prosperity
Rev Mr. Osgood. OF New-York City, admitted the
niQuity Of the Fugitive Slave Law, and The SIN Of
slavery and thought them proper subjects for pulpit
discussion: but he wanted moral influence 70 be
cxertcd without n violation OF Christian geneneS.
lie said Rev Mr. FumeSS, of Phlla., and Rev. DR..
Dewey, of Newly ork, had had a correspondence IN
reference TO the lacrs position on political cues
tons. and he MrO honestly believed from the re-
suits OF that correSpOndcnce and from conversations
he himself had held with the DR., that, IN his support
of the Slave Law, he was making scltsacnhce TO
what he conceived his duty. lie (Mr. o. was au-
thorZed by Dr. Dewey To say that the ottquoted ex-
preston that he Or u would sell his 0trG mother
into slavery rather than have the law violated" was
an eXaggeratlon that the only expression he used
~, &C
REV. Mr.. shackford, Of Lynn. was willing to ,es
tfy in a court Of law that in lecture he attended,
DR. Dewey had said he would sell his otcn notA1
INTO slavery rather than the contingencies he men
toned should happen.
Rev. Mr. Waterston, OF Boston, said he heard d.
Dewey make the remark before the Mercantile u
brary Association of this CITY that he would sell his
OUR son, rather, &c. The sentiment was rcceiTed
with applause by the audience, but 1t touched bis
heart with sadness seeming To him one of the most
ntrp do tfON In ~
and he went home with his regard for the Dr. very
much modified.
Rev Mr. Perpont, Of Medfori, proclaimed the
superiority OF Gods law to mans law. Tie would
not obey the latter when II nerfered with the for
mer. The Government might 6ne and mprison, but
It could do no more he mindful Of the penalty,
but ne would not obey. II all would act with hin.
the law would fail OF being executed.
Rev. DR.. Ganneit. Of Boston, was impressed with
the immensely of tins question: the terrible awful
that lay behind II, and he would discuss Il VITA
all solemnty and seriousness IN view OF the mpend
ing evil. lie believed IN his heart the maintenance
of government, the comfort Of the people, and the
perpetuIy OF Union, depended on the support OF
the Fugitive Law. lie would not have the suDlect
treated lightly, but prayerfuly fearfully IN view Of
the great responsibilities resting upon Il. We should
respect private convictions and allow the integrity Of
motives of those who differed with us.
Rev Mr. Ellis, of ChaTlestown, hailed that day A.
the first when these differences had been rightly dis
cuSsed. But If the Conference comprising members
of different though honest views, should take ground
body we have nothing 10 do with II. No acton could
be binding, and he was unwilling 10 have the Con
ference interfere with the question. lie had nm,
self ever entertained ultra abolition views and dh
now but he had no such fear, for the Union as Bro
Gannett. II the Union was held together oy 20
feeble tenure as he had represented he though
was not worth saving and, further, II our Northern
land rs 10 be the securing ground OF sayehunlefs e
sooner the Union sundcred the better. But our
sphere OF action did not allow interference Win INC
question.
d. 6.a ,hauk fha
two brothers for Their counSelS, but he could remem
Ter occasions when only mere speculative and lneO-
logical, not practical, differences extSed, and when
non-interference and relief integrity were ncede1,
and It was not to be had lie begged 10 remind them
Of these occasions. He himself was no nonTeslstam
he believed not in such nOEscnse-and when, there
FORE his pensioners were sought after 10 be sent
back TO the he'll Of slavery BY parishloner OF BIO
Gannett Geo +. CuTils) he took them home Ia ms
house from IT'S place on the wall IN his study was
taken the weilSed musket with which his grand
father did service at Lexington beneath his table
Law the sword that IN ancestral hands won hOnors m
the perlod OF the revolution beside his desk, al
ready for use, pistols, trophies OF the Apn CON
test at Concord and with these about him, and the
word OF God open before him, and his flying parish
toner's sheltered by hin, he had prayed his Coo 70
give HIM strength 10 resist the operation OF that ia"i
At Whatever sacrifice and Whatever cost. lie wished
he could believe with his brother from New York
who had apooglzed for DIR. Dewey, but he could mol
Rev Mr. May. Of Syracuse, n. Y had known NY
VIM. L. Garrison long and well. He was CONVEX
SAINT with his early EFFORTS in behalf OF eInaclpduVn'
and knew Of ms addressing letters 10 prominent u
vines lurists and statesmen on the evils Of slavery
more religious or conscientious man than M u.
there never lived. The Indifference Of the indyldnas
whom he sought to enlist IN the antslayery cause
so that he himself might return 70 his profession OF
pnnieT-while 1t was a. noxplicable as II was pam
lul 10 ms soul also fired within HIM the deefnlne-
ton to make himself heard for the slave. lie cstao
lished the LJerdtor he proclaimed that he would DC
a. severe truth and from that moment was tuin
ed against him all the walls Of wrath II hr. earn
son was denunclatory, he had proyocation II DC
altered man, II was owing to BIS treatment.
Mossrs. JGdd, Piorponi and Gannett seyeI4sts
explained. The former thought the Enghsn othDs
did wrong in excluding American ministers noI
their pupI,s he would allow anybody 70 Res
from his who would 90 IL the name OF the RAM.
and the Son. Mr. PepOnt defined little more l lsni
his position IN regard 10 the Fugitive Law. Nr.Hs
MN snoko OF TIC characier OF that pAIshlOneI O ~.