The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-15

votes.
The political parties having thus concated
the shareholders, entered upon new race be-
tween themselves for power and office, and mu-
tuallY agreed to prevent as far as possible, all
interference in the race by the ayowed friends
of human rights The anti.slayery agitation
was to be suppressed at all hazasDs and every
man who expressed sympathy for the oppressed,
or Indignation against slaYe-hunts, was to be
driven from either party. BY virtue OF this
compact, similar in it's spirit to that which in
Europe is smothorlng every aspiration for free,
dom, all who protest against the oppression oil
millions of uative-b born Americans are to be
deemed disturbers of tho public peace, while
the powers of shareholders, like those of kings,
are TO be regarded as held by the grace of God
and too sacred 70 DO discussed or questioned.
.'.
g.. GOVERNMENT IMPLICATED WITH SLAVERY
We are continually told that the federal gov
eminent has nothing to do with slavery, and yet
from very early period its powers have been
exerted to protect, to extend, and to perpetuate
the institution. 1t is the object of the A. and
l.. A. S. society to effect "a far as possible, an
entire divorce of the federal government from
the subject of slavery. 10 relation to the con.
stitutional powers Of the federal government
we indulge in no opinions more ultra than such
as have been avowed by Daniel Webster him
self With him we hold that Congress is fully
authorized to abo-h and to forbid slavery in it's
own territories, TO suppress the commerce in
slaves between the States, and TO refuse admis-
sion into the Union Of new slave States. We
also cordially concur in his Judgment" express
ed in his speech 10 the Senate, on the 7th March,
1850, that the Constitution does not confer on
Congress the right to legislate respecting fugitive
slaves. In accordance with these views, the A.
and f. A. s. society aims at delivering the gen.
eral government from all entangng alliance
with slavery, and they desire to effect this much
desired deliverance by inducing The people TO Sc
lect for their representatives in Congress such
men only as will resolutely refuse to legisate
in behalf Of slavery.
THE CHURCH IMPLICATED WITH THE SIN OF
SLAVERY. ... ....'
But as anti.slavery Christians, our duties in
regard to this horrible and sinful system, extend
beyond the jurisdiction of the federal govern
ment, and reach even to the Shareholders them
selves True Christianity is an aggressive rei-
gion Go We into all the world" was the com.
mand of Us divine founder. Can it be our duty
to send missionaries into China and Hindostan,
to rebuke the sins of their Inhabitants, and to
PROSTATE in the dust their affairs and their gods,
and vet 10 observe the silence Of the grave in
regard TO sin which, in our own country, re-.
duces millions to ignorance, degradation and
wretchedness, and, by denying them the lamp of
life keeps them in virtual heaJhenism! Con.
WINGED that slavery is SIM we not only have
the right but are bound by the obligations of
Christianity to oppose it, and to use all lawful
means for is abolition, whether in our own or
other countries. II slavery be not sinful, then
We know not what degree of cruelty and inius-
tee amounts 10 u violation of the law of God
A combination of circumstances has led many
Of our clergymen at the North, and nearly all at
the South, to,regard slavery with all its nscpa.
rable determinations, as an exception from the
Christian code. We must love all men as our.
selves, with the exception of such as are black
" it'll the same exception, we must do good unto
all men, and exercise justice and mercy TO ALL
We must give Bibles TO men of all lands and
all races, except to about three millions Of our
Countrymcn. The laws must protect The mar.
riore tie, except in the case of these same
millions SuppIicatiOns must be made for all
men, except those among us who are Of all men
the most miserable In short as Christians, we
must rebuke every sin except that giant sin of
our nation which involves the preparation Of
almost every other. But il is affirmed, by way
of apology, that we at the North are free from
this sin, aud have therefore no concern with il.
Were the assertion true, the apology would be
equally valid for not attempting 10 overthrow
the idolstry Of the iIindoOs, or the delusions Of
The false prophet, and for recaling all our mis-
sionaries TO the heather But unfortunately
the assertion is utterly destitute of truth.
Probably not a sermon is preached in our large
city churches which Is not listened 10 by slave
holders; probably not congregation is assem-
oiled in the free. States which does not include
persons directly or indirectly interested in
slavery. How many Of our sons are constantly
removing to the South, and becoming slave
holders What numbers Of orr GsGohters are
mattresses on slave Plantations How many
Northern clergymen now descant from Southern
pulpits on the divise rights of Shareholders
And shall we be told that Northern Christians
have no cause to raise their voices against sin
which is daily couupting their sons. their daugh
tiers, their politicians, and their clergy ! Alas
there Is a mighty conspiracy, prompted by sell.
fish considerations, 10 suppress all discussion Of
this sin, all exhibition Of its whitening Influence
on human virtue ard happiness. We have
great national societies for dis. eminatng Chris
tian truth: but no reader Of their tracts and
Sunday School books learns from their pr yes
llal " Is SINFUL W ItD DlHNh men OF Nll .lnfW
rights 10 compel them 20 labor without wages
to deny them the Holy Scriptures; and 10 send
fathers, and mothers, and children 10 market,
like cattle and bales Of cotton. All other sins
are in these publications faithfully and freely
rebuked; but every alIusion 10 this great and
all.pervadng Elm Of our nation Is carefully *.
cluded. Occasionally, a tract Of religious bio.
graphy from the other side Of the water Is Deem
ed worthy Of republication but il is first submit
ted to a process significantly termed cottoriz.
ing and which consists in carefully expunging
every expression condemnatory Of human bon.
dage. The A. and L. A. S. Society, utterly re-.
pudating such a time-serving view Of Christian
duty, aims at convincing the hearts al under.
standings Of all, both at the North and Of the
South, Of tho sinfuhess Of American slavery.
- =
ATRccfTY OF THE FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT.
IN our opposition 10 slavery and caste, we de-
sire 10 use no instruments Of unsanctfed tenn
per, nor have We any wish TO conceal those we
do nse. Believing il sinful to compel an limo.
cent man to serve az slave, VIC must refuse TO
4 Al. 4