The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-06-24
NO. 286.

der return to the inspired question, He that
loveth not his brother. whom he hath SEEN how
can he love God whom he hath not seen ."
Surely it is worthy of remembrance, that at
the day Of final account the Judge will consld-
er as done to himself both the kindness and the
cruelty shown to the least of his brethren.
We are constantly reminded that the Church
ia the great instrument of moral reform. Most
gratefully do we allow that the preoepts Of the
gospel are sufficient for all the moral necessities
Of man. Do to others as YOU would they
should do unto you, is Il law which, if obeyed,
would of itself Danish slavery and oppression
from the face of the earth But unhappily the
Church. or at least portion of her minister's
have not always applied the precepts OF the
gospel to existing and popular sins 1t IS GER
tainly no exaggerated statement, that not one
sermon in a thousand delivered at the North
contains the slightest allusion to the duties OF
Christians towards the colored population;
while mt the South. multtudes of the clergy are
as deeply involved in the iniqulties of slavery
as their hearers Ii is no libel on the great
body of our Northern clergy to say that, IN re
gard to the wrongs of the coorcd people, IN
stead of performing the part Of the Good IA
marian, their highest merit consists IN following
the example of the Priest and Levite, and pass
ing by ON the other side. without infticting
we rejoice to know that there are ministers OF
Christ among us and not a few, to whom these
remarks are wholly inapplicable-men who
pray and preach and labor against slavery
and caste and thus adorn the doctrine of God
their Saviour. We rejoice also to know that
such ministers are appreciated and honored
by Christians abroad OF every name. The
clergy of England. Scotland, and Ireland, de-
cline admitting into their pulp clergymen
from this country holding what they deem
heretical doctrine but can they exclude any
for a fouer hercsy than that which abrogates
all the Christian precepts OF Justice and mercy
in their application to colored men! We trust
our friends in Great Britain will not weaken our
hands, and strengthen the pro-slavery influence
OF our churches, by overlooking in their recep-
ton OF American clergymen, the course they
have pursued ut home on the subject of slavery
| They may be perfectly assured that the Amer
lean clergyman who, abroud is too digniiied to be
questioned as to his opinions on human bond
age, is at home too patriotic to offer any vigor
ous opposition to the peculiar institution of
| hls country
OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY.
We have thus frankly stated the objects of
the Amercan and Foreign Ant-Slavery Soce-
ty, and confidently ask If they are not objects
worthy to be pursued by rational, accountable,
Christian men : Nay We 60 farther, and ask,
has not a Society pursuing such objects valid
claims on the countenance and generous aid
of every philanthropst and every Christian in
| our country
Hostility to slavery has frequently been
associated with various objects of political and
moral reform 1t is natural it should be So
since the same love for our ncighbor which
revolts ut his oppression, seeks to advance his
general welfare. But experience has fully
proved that associated action cannot be efficient
| ly maintained in behalf of various plans re-
speeding which the individuals associated enter
tain diverse opinions. Hence the A. and F.
| A. s Society, without passing any Judgment
on other proposed reforms, conhne their efforts
in their associated capacity to the abolition of
caste and slavery, leaving to their members
individually the full and entirelIberty of advo-
eating and promoting in such way as they
may think proper, any other reforms moral
| or political We believe every man is bound
to exercise the elective franchise in the fear of
God but while we shall ever rejoice in the
election Of vrtuous rulers who will do ustice
and love mercy, it is not the province of the
Society TO recommend particular individuals
for the sufragGs of their iellow-citizens.
1t is consollng to us 10 know that in the
sentiments we have expressed we enjoy the
sympathy Of almost oil without the limits of
our own country who bear the Christian name
vast multitude on our own soil hold the
same sentiments, and, did they act with one
heart and one voice, would soon triumph over
the prejudice which supports caste, would
array the Church on the side of mercy and
rescue the Federal Government from ts unholy
and unconstitutional alliance with slavery.
But unfortunately the sympathes of this multi
tude, not being concentrated in action and
counsel are in no small degree powerless for
good. The Ant-Slavery host has been divided,
and of course eniceblcd, by conflicting opinions
on topics not Immediately affecting the colored
man For the sake of the slave for the pros
perity of the country, for the good Of the
Church herself we earnestly desire the union
of all aboitionsts and their harmonious ac-
ton in behalf of their cOlorcd brethren. We
ask all who approve the opinions We have ex-
pressed to give vitality and energy to those
opinions, by aiding the a. and + A. S. Society
in disseminating and enforcing them
IT AIMS TO RECTIFy PUBLIC OPINION
Public opinion is in this country the control
Ter of legislation. Hence Mt one period, II
traffic in African savages was encouraged by
| law, as an enlightened and legitimate com
merce. At later period, all but two States
were DESTROYS to abandon it, and, as com
promise, Congress was restricted from abolish
| ing il until after twenty years. At a still
| later period, commerce which had been
guaranteed by the Federal Constitution was,
| by an act OF Congress, denounced rs PIRACY.
| Public opinion now, acting through the Legis-
| lature, holds him felon who brings to our
shores for sale n native African. while We have
just seen n citizen tried for his life because he
declined To assist a slavc-catcher in reducing
~ slavery n native American. To buy and.sel
! Africans is wicked base and detestablc: to
buy and sell colored Americans is in perfect
accordance with the most exalted position in
both State and Church. In the city of New
York, we have seen "mcn of great stakes
merchant princes and others lavshing cour-
tesies on the most reckless and violent cham
| pions of slavery, when they h0nored them with
thor presence; and we have seen these same
| gentlemen giving aid and comfort to the slave
catcher, without losing their place in polite
society
Most certainly, public opinion on these sub
jects il unsound and ought to be reformed
Very many of our clergy and their hearers
need to be reminded that the commands of God
| have no reference to the color OF a mans skin,
but that all are equally entitled to receive, and
are equally bound t0 render the justice and be-
nevolence cnjoincd by HIM who is the common
Father of US all. Christians generally are to
be warned not to be partakcrs Of other mems
sins towards the colored race. The cruelty Of
State and Federal legislation is to be exposed
the influence Of the Colonization scheme i'm
exasperating the prejudice against our colored
brethren is to be demonstrated and the public
is to he fully instructed in the moral social,
and political evils resulting from slavery and
caste
WANTS oF THE SOCIETY.