The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-06-05
For the Caledonian.
VERMONT RELIGIOUS CONVENTION

peier, and Rev. Samuel Sparhawk, of West
Randolph; for Secretaries, Rev. L. j. Scott,
Of Montpelier, and Austin Adams of West
Randolph. For Committee of Overturcs,
Rev. Silas Mckeen, of Bradford, Rev. L. !
Hayden, of Rockingham, Rev. F. F. DAILY, OF !
Norwich, Hon. Lawrence Brainerd, Of St. /
Adams, and Rev. A. H. Martin of West Ran
dolph.
A discourse was preached from Mat I; - /
In applying the subject to the present orca-
sion, he proposed to treat it under three
heads: |. Definition of Slavery 2 Can the
system be made to harmonic with the in
junction of the text? What are our duties
who are not Shareholders
Under the last head he said
|. We should acquaint ourselves with the
condition of the slave.
,. We should sympathlsc with those in bon
dage, and sincerely desire to do them good
3. We should cndeavor by all practicable
and proper means to convince slave holders
Of their error.
4. In electing principal officers, we should
vote for those who are able and willing to act
for the slave.
.. All ecclesiastical bodies should keep
themselves free from the cvil-denounce it.
and maintain the supremacy of Gods law
over all enactments that are opposed to it,
c. We should pray for slaves and slave
holders
The Committee of Overturcs reported the
following resolutions. which were severallv
adopted.
l. HeSo',ed, That the subject of American
Slavery calls loudly for the vigilant attention
of Christian men, and for their increased en-
dcavor not only to resist the further progress
of the evil, but to deliver our country entirely
from it,
n 2. ReSoired, That we believe American
: Slavery to be opposed to the religion of Jcsu,
!. Christ, and every principle of moral rect
II tude, and utterly abominable before God.
II g. H"Solred, That we consider savehold
ins as much out Of its place in Church a
+ would be any other system of iniquitv; anC
e that it is the duty of all protested people OF
= God to deliver themselves from all participa
c ton in this enormous evil
Is i. Hfsoiced That those who persist in tn,
V practice of slayeholding, whether ChurcI
t. members or minister should not be treated i
members IN good standing: and there >houl'
:. be n" traternai correspondence with ccclc>i
o. astlcai BODIES who tolerate slavcholdinr il
III their Churches. and refuse to listen to tn
ID Voice OF rcmon>trancc.
s. ). EoSolrtd, That the revealed will of Go
lc Is the supreme and immutable rule of man
i'll duty: and that God has never given any au
to thorltv to man to annui or modify his law
C. and that any law of man which conflicts Wit
he the law of t'od, ought not to be obevcd.
IL g. ReSoIyed, That the late act of Congress
called the "Fugitirc Slave Law" is inconl
pe patiblc with the revealed will of God: con
trtry particularly to that fundamental princi
ID pie of the gospel, ''All things whatsoever v
III would that men should do unto YOU do We cv
10 en- 50 unto them; that strenuous cndeay or
II ought to he used to procure its repeal an
7, that in the mean time it is incomparablv be,
ID ter to endure peacefully its penalties. than t
n sin against humanity. conscience, and the AT
thority of God by yielding obedience to il
unjust acquisitions.
:. He<otred, That the act of the Le.isl;
IN ture of Vermont, Of 1850 relating to the wr
ri OF hdbe0S corpus to persons claimed as flu"
tive slaves, and the ri .ht of trial by Jury.
ir highly honorable to the legislature whic
passed it, aud one which ought not 10 be +,
e. pcaled; its princi pies being as firm as til
re foundations of our mountains
I'd y. He<oir,d, That no preaching of the 90
pei is likely ever to reclaim men from the 81
id Of slaveholding without direct and fathtl
he application to the evil itself as in other cas-,
ar of tran>grcSsion.
9. Re<oired, That our great reli sous soc
y-b, oh, al, a..
as pei in the waste places of our land and
re send it abroad among heather nations, oug
Nc to remember the millions in this country wi
cy are purpose V kept in ignorance and hcathc
ism: and 10y no means tolerate slavery in Il
~ churches gathered by their missionaries al
an more than caste, or polvgamv, or any 9TH
he GROSS iniJuity. and that missionaries who pc
Ia siSt in receiving Shareholders ought to be T.
Mr. .icctcd.
IN 10. R"soi,ed, That Rev S. Mexican, Re
d. f. J. Scott, Rev, Horace Fletcher, and Re
lat Moses kidder are hereby chosen a comm
he tee to offer for publication in the reigio
and other papers of this State and in the y
lc tonal Era the doings of this meeting to
lsc sue an address to the churches. and to c;
zen another Convention of like character ne
ass year, at such time and place as they sh
zen judge best
Rev. Mr. Ballou offered the following r,
to olution which was adopted:
Ter Eesolrcd, That We regard it the solcr
the duty of every citizen Of our country, in t
,ad exercise of the elective franchise, to act
: a entire consistency with his religious and m,
md al convictions of truth and right
the After PRAYER by Rev. Mr. Drake, the c.
vention adjourned sine die.
M RYLAND FLETCHER. President
Mt +. j. SCoTT.
,- Secretaries.
md AUSTIN ADAMS,