The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-20
PLAINFIELD, ILLINOIS.

Resolutions on NE sMj.c Of SLAVERY adopied uaani.
alOuSiy by The For RiUsr CONGREGATIONAL Union,
PiamfeH, Illinois, January 10, 1851.
In view of the fact that American slavery while
it is producing evils of peculiar enormity in the
legislation Of our country, does still find refuge
and sanctuary in the churches where il exists, it
is therefore
]. ResOlued, That it is the duty of churches
and ecclesiastical bodies after labor and ex postu-
lation with those involved in this guilt, to with
draw from their fellowship, if it is still cherished
or suffered among them
Resolved, That it behooves the managers of
our various benevolent societies, though they may
not abandon the South as a field of their labors,
yet to make themselves there known as uncompro-
missing in their hostility to slavery and 10 beware
lest by their conniyance at its usages they soothe
the disturbed conscience of the Shareholder
3. Resoiued, That we regard the late passage
of the Fugitive Slave Law as bringing deserved
TeprOach upon the American People We deem
it peculiarly unjust, oppressive, and odiOus, for
the following reasons:
1t is virtually an er post tactO law, Furnishing as
criminals those who may have escaped from bond
age months and years before its passage.
1t denies to PERSONS, subjects of American law,
the benefits Of trial by jury and of the writ of
habeas corpus thus by violent construction of
one clause Of our Constitution repeating its most
Valuable pTONlblOnS, anu ulVlulng tnat Chhfter OF
our liberties against itself
10 is a CORRUPT law offering bride to the u-
dicial authority which administers ia bride
which mocks that Constitution expressly framed
TO promote liberty and insults the integrity
Of American Justice.
Ii makes the exercise of compassion for and
hospitality to one painting for freedom statute
and punishable crime. thus numbering the plain
est Christian duty with the transgressions Of
law
1t conflicts directly with the law of God of
which we have the letter in Deut xiii, 3, 10
Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the SER
want which is escaped from his master unto thee :;
he shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that
place which he shall choose in one of thy gates,
where it liketh him best thou shalt not Cypress
him" and whose spirit pervades the entire word
Of God, and makes the Bible the manual of the
philanthropist whereby
IL otfends the conscience of many who willing
10 be subject to every ordinance Of man for the
Lords sake" fail to discern between two widely
different sorts of unjust laws, viz: such az on the
one hand are simply injurious and brde1sonis,
Whereunto expedency may choose between ODE
dience and the penalty of disobedience and on
the other hand such as are immoral which no
man can, with conscience void of offence obey
In fine contravening, as it does the law of Ma
ture and the law of God, it is at once VOID, and
unworthy the sacred name Of Law. Void because
no human laws are OF any validity il contrary
thereto, and such of them as are valid derive all
their force and all their authority from this origi
nal-Biaekaone, IairOi, Sec. 2; and unworthy Of
the name, because Of law there can be no less ac-
knowledged than that her sent is in the bosom of
God her voice the harmony of the world all
things in heaven and earth do her homage, the
very least as feeling her care and the greatest AS
not exempt from her power both angels and men,
and creatures of what condition soever, though
each in different sort and manner, yet all with uni
form consent ndmiring her ms the mother Of their
peace and joy"-Hooker, Feel. Pol, l. xvi, S.