The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-10-05
WASHINGTON. ID. C..
THE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
FOB FOREIGN MISSIONS AND SLAVERY.

tau Nation and the Board, the missionaries
ASSUME tho management Of certain public
schools For long time, laws were in exist
ence prohibiting tho instruction Of slaves in
these schools, but they are dead letter. A
few years ago, new enactments revived them
and, moreover, provided for the expulsion of al
AbolitiOaists from the Nation-an Aboltionist
il legal sense, being one who would teach q
slsve to read, or sit with him at meals. Mr.
Treat in behalf of the Prudential Commit
tee, Instructed the missionaries to give theil
countenance to no schools in which these laws
were enforced. From time to time, since then
the subject has been before the Board, but q
fear Of excitement and agitation, which might
leopard the offi,iency of its operations, has re.
strained it from either sanctioning or condemn
lag the action of the Prudential Committee
AZ its late meeting in Hartford, the question
was again brought before it, and, after thor
oJgh discussion, in which Mr.. Reed of Rich.
mond protested, and some conservative mem
bers from the North hesitated and dsecnted
resolutions reported by d.. Dwight, from the
Committee on North American Indians, and
finally modified, as follows:
Resoircd, That the Board acknowledge,
with gratitude 70 Gcd, the wisdom and fidelity
with which, so far as appears from documents
which have been submitted to them, the PrC-
Dental Committee are advising and directing
the missionaries among the ChoctaTs IN con-
ioImity with the principles asserted by them
II their correspondence with the missionaries
reported 10 the Beard n 1913.
ReSolvcd, Thas the decision Of the Pruden-
tai Committee. with the concurrence of the
missionaries rot to conduct the boarding
schools n the Choctaw Nation in conformity
With the principles prescribed by tho recent
legislation Of the Cboctaw Council, meets the
cordial appreciation Of the Board.
ReSOtU-d That the commission given by
Clriat to his disciples, to 90 and teaca all ma
t cas' and 70 preach the GO'pel 10 every crcs-
r4re,' which IS the warrant of Christian mis-
mons, IL to be respected and obeyed in all the
operations and by ell the missionaries of this
3 jaId and that, while our missicnaries among
the CEOctaw5 arc allowed, in fact to preach
tae Gospel to all persons, OF whatever complex
ion OF condition, as they have opportunity, and
70 preach it in all It's applications TO human
character aud duty, they are to continue pa
tently IN their work.
We have no room for the many speeches de-
hyered On the occasion, but the remarks of DR..
Bacon will show the principles and spirit Of
these who aigocated The report
Bey. Dr. Bacon, on coming forward, was'rc-
c5iyod with demonstrations OF applause, which
were very promptly censuro1 by the President
Afer expressing his Roget that there should
haze seen c y occasion for .ho Presidents cen
sure, Dr. B. sToke as follows:
81 have felt, sir, q soTt Of qualification a So
nous gcatiG,Srion. as the remarks Of the brother
who has just spoken. ] am glad that he has
had an opportunity 20 say ttat which, when
reported and published, VIII be tie warrant OF
MS orthodoxy and soua3bcs5 on this subject
when he returns to Dis home and his field Of
ia55r. / am glad, alec, taat De has shown by
h.s remarks lox imVos bic Il Is for any inge
naisy " Any rhetoric - lind or make fl 1W III
the pr.cries and c.a5.Usi 5ns Of the reUort.
G1oon-5.oi. g, no doubt yes really End
grossly, the c-os"er has Inisre presented the
i-=ue vhich r:ar b,f re c,,e committee, and bas
heea reported 70 tDc B5a.d DR.. b. here mar
rated the facts concerning tie recent Choctaw
la1islason, END concerning the connection of
ths Board with tic Choctaw schools
Ia the progress Of cur missionary work
A1nDhS Lltot lnCllir, Atl8 Ar=tf'il MS az lAsE
come into collision with toe iasiiution of sla-
vsTy, CT, r5ghe-, slavery as political force has
thrown Itself into collision with the GOspeI
This Is no. because cus missionaries have med
died with politics; they have not done SO. They
have only preached the Gospel in the variety
Rnd breadth Of rs application TO their hearers.
There have been i1r years, unon the Chcctaw
ssatute-5oods, laws similar II tone end pUrrOrt
to the one recently euac-ei, and which we are
now considering. Taos- laws orr missionaries
have disregarded Like our Christian breth-
rem IN soIGe Of orr owu Siates, where similar
laws exist they have referred themselves to a
higher law-the law Of Chris. md freely and
without Ecruple they have taught slaves to read
the Word Of God. They have hitherto encoun-
tered TO serious opposition IN 50 doing There
has been no attempt to moiest them, or 70 PIT
tho law II force. / wiah could say rs much
concerning similar laws "A fome parts CT cur
own country.
But now there rae been another enact
ment. Tho CaOctaw Council have, in effect
Il fhrmed their cd laws By this act and
though the thing has Iean done in opposition
70 what We suppose 10 be the sentiment of the
majority OF the CbOctaw Nation il Is now their
IaT-just As az at Of our Congress, though it
may have been carried through the forms of
legislation IN flnco OF the known will of
vas, MAJ 1ri-y OF the people, is law, and stands
- thc Jaw Of The lGud until repealed. Tnis
Choc-aw la# comes 10 us from the legislative
authority CT th-5 nation, and Is TO be taken as
recent Gnd fresh exposition OF their will on a
oGpJect n regard to which their power Is SOW
oreign-the Ea-ica7l schools. They now say
ageia, and cissi8cty, that no slaves and no
children OF slaves shall be taught in or at
those school, ny any one connected wi h them
n Whatever cspacity or relation; and iF cur
missionaries DO nos conform TO this law, they
are % be expelled from the nation. Do we
asked the brother from Virginia, do we. then.
deny the right Of q people u employ their 0 En
schoOimastefs p By no means We do not
deay that right; but We do deoy the soundness
Of the inference which would make 1t the duty
Ct OU- missionaries to teach or superintend
those schools, under pledge or with an. i'm
pied understanding, that the7 will refrain
iron teaching slaves or the children Of slaves
{, read the B5le. The brother believes in the
right Of pee lie t. choose their own schoolmas-
tsrs-does he believe in the right Of slaves to
choose theirs
We, in this board, have nothing to do with
slavery, except as it is thrown in our way while
weare pursuing oar Legitimate work; but when
is is thrown IN our way, then / say we must
deal NTH 1T and we cannot svo.d it. The
question before US Is not theoretical but a
PRACTICAL question. Our missionaries report
tee facts to the Prudential Committee, and the
Committee to us. And what DO our missiona-
ries sag to us en- this subject--those very mis-
, siOneries who for so many years past have
been ssignatzsd in many quarters as pro sls-
very sninistersl They say, with one consent,
We cannot retain cur connection with these
schools on any such conditions as are now pre-
scribed' It remains for us TO ASSURE them tiAat
c4,.A - 49,,