Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-09-23
TIE AMERICAN BOARD OF COMMISSION
Frs FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS.

One Of the most persistent and inScternte pro-
slavery organizations of the country is the Amcri
can Board Of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
1t has preached a gospel Of slavery, and welcomed
shareholders as members anu officers of its mission
churches, as we'll as contributors and conductors of
its operations ut home. 1t has studiously suppress
scd discussion Of tho question Of slavery; pro-
Tossing to occupy tic highest point Of Christian
bencyolence and action, IL has largely contributed
to suppress anti-slaycry feeling and effort.
But under the influence Of the present general
agitation Of the question, even this Gibraltcr Of
slavery, is not unmovcd, The annual meeting Of
the Board has been in session for a week past, at
Hartford, Connecticut. All went on smoothly for
several days, until a report on the relation of the
Board relative to the Choctaw schools brought up
the unwclcomc question. 1t seems that the Choc-
taws, %profting by the instructions of the Board,
md the example of its eminent and reverend
supporter aud directors, are Shareholders, and
more, have some how become possessed of a Nor
folk adherence Of instructing slave children in the
mysteries of the spelling book. Hence their
National Council has prohibited the instruction
Of slaves in the Choctaw public schools.
The following partial report Of the discussion on
tho subject before the Board is from the New York
Tribune:
The Rev. DR.. DwIcnr presented the report of the
Committee ON Missions to North American Indians
No. |.
The report reviewed the recent laws enacted Is
the Council of the ChoctIw Nation, iorbidding the
instruction Of slaves III the schools, and banishlug
all Abolitionists from the nation. The report CON
dcmnel this action, AMI approved Of that Of the
Pfulsntial Committee Of the Board refusing to
c1nluet the B )arling S;aool5 un Ter these new reg
ulations.
D.. DHtGur followed this re0)r. with some re-
marks condcmnatory of this Choctnw legislation,
rs unjust and anticlristian, ana compared it to the
prohibition of the Apostles preaching 10y the Jew
ish Sanhedrim, and imputed it to the influence OF
white men.
DR.. PARKER Of the same Committed followed,
saving that he was not justified. he thought, in
presenting a minority report; but after the remarks
Of the Chairman he would say that while fnvoring
the free action Of the Prudential Committee he was
opposed to indDrsing their action at present.
There was an animus in DR.. Treats letter which
had provoked the action complained Of. At least,
he suspected this. This board would not be wise
in a~rraying itself against the action OF any leg's-
lttiye body. Slavery WAS wrong the world over.
But though prohibited from teaching slaves, tIe
great business Of preaching the gospel TO them
and promoting the civilization of the Choctaw Ma
ton was still open-and this Board should take NJ
action which should shut up the field against
them.
The Rev. Mr.. REED of Richmond, Va, thought
the Choctlws had simply exercised the right which
all New-EnglanI contendcd for, that Of saying
who should teach their children. The Board
should be careful not to assume to dictate to the
p pno"oh ,Io "" rnsnoi omJ o % tho s.hoois If Won can.
The Rev. DR.. Bacon rose and was received with
demonstrations of applause which were checked by
the Chair: lie was sltd his Virginia brother h"d
been privileged to speak and yindicate his ortho-
doxy to the section where he resided. lheSc
schools were Established ny a compact between lne
Board ana the ,hoctaWS' ana now slavery
thrusts itselt IN the way ana iorpi'S tne MISSION
ares to te%ch inc slaves TO read y law PIoh'n'-
ing tbs had existed Tor years rs a dead letter, bu'
Is now rc,cnactcd by the highest authority OF me
nation. Inc Cnoctaws nave me rlSht TO choose
their own schoolnnsters. But carry out inc prlh-
clYle and allow the slaves to choose theirs, ana
doubtless our southern friends VIII reject the pr,n-
rIple. As TO- the exclusion Oh AholiuohlstS- Who
are they Inc tnoctnW law uehhcS them as thut'
who teach slaves to read or sing: 1t is highly
probable that they nave 6eeh Helped 10 enaS' ms
law: The power which declares that Slavery
shall not DO aboliSlcl IN CHoa VIII never allow II
10 be repudlated ON tue poruerS Oh -AItpa'na' me
Choctaws must chccK movements III 'na' u!re'uoh'
or they VIII be destroyed from beng a hntl"h'
Chancellor NALWoRTH regretted inns discussion
A sim'l.r one came near rGhalhS INC BOARD IN
twain a rev years SINCE ana IL IS eNGrllhS II hoS'
unhappy influence now Inc boaru was Pr"ceCu-
good. If his discussion be continued, the work
of this meeting at least is done.
inc fTuuGntIal COMMITTEE upon 'he same GROUNDS
WIFI IT. D"con'
sistopco waro odo,,tod NV tho BOARD Lv n LARGE ma.