The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-11-03
NJ. Il. Conference on slavery


Cincinnati NJ. Il. Conference on Slavery.
CINCINNATI, Oct. 5, 1854.
The following report upon the subject of
slavery was presented to the Conference this
afternoon, by tie committee which was ap-
pointed last week. This COMMITTEES consist
ed of ]. G. Bontecou, David Reed, Wesley
! Rowe, E. G. West, c. II. Lawton, Il. d.
Grow, NJ. Dustin, A. Lowrey and Cyrus
! Brooks.
REPORT
In regard to slavery, as practiscd in the
! U. s. we cannot better express our views
than in the language of the fathers at the
Conference of 1885. That language is: awe
do hold in the deepest adherence the practice
Of slavery, and shall not cease to seek its de-
struction by all the wise and prudent means"
I And your committee cannot but re-ard it as
an enormous wrong, which Of course Christi
unity is designed to destroy The church of
Christ, we have no doubt, should luke and
maintain toward this practice position Of
open nd avowed hostility, and should boldly
proclaim her determination to labor with
untir,ng perseverance for its utter extinction.
And this position has been taken by oar
church. The end at which she aims is
clearly stated; and now the inquiry is, "what
shall be done'' for the attainment of this
end! 1t may just as well be understood by
all whom it may concern, whether North or
South, whether friend or foe, that whatever
measures may be taken, or however these
measures may be varied, this one object shall
be kept ste ediy in view, ard that the Metho-
dist Episcopal church will never cease to
seek the extirpation of this evil, until the last
manacle is broken off and the last slave is
free.
Up to this point there seems no room for
difference among US. But when we proceed
step further, and inquire hou the object
man be most certainly and speedily accom-
plished, there is ground for diversity of senti-
ment. And when we recollect that the wsest
heads and the purest hearts have been sorely
puzzled by this inquiry, we feel that we
should approach it with becoming modesty,
AT the Christmas Conference held in 1884, it
seemed quite clear to our fathers sof that
period that all slave holders should be exclu-
ded from the Church, and a rule to tha: effect
was accordingly enacted. Six months obser-
vation, and reflection, however, awakened
doubts in their minds, and the rule was at first
> suspended tol a time, and finally abandoned.
Whether they acted wisely or unwiscly in
this re,rog-ade movement, let the past and
future history of the Church determine
For so years, the standing inquiry of the
Church has been, What shalt be done! A nd
practically the answer has been, Nohing;
for it cannot be denied that instead Of any
thing toward the eXtirpation of this evil be-
ing effected by the Church, slavery has made
large encroachments upon tho Church and
> upon the country. At first it humbly asked
for liberation, and this was granted. 1t then
demanded the sanction of the Church, ant
has obtained it. Finally, it coveted more
territory, and took possession of it. Last
year we complained Of most ni9uious law
enacted Tor the purpose of compelling US to
catch our brother as he fed from the oppres-
sor, and send him back to his unrequited toll
to his worse Than Egyptian bandage. This
year another and bolder step is taken, and
vast regions ofterritory hereto fore considered
""e"aa IN Liberty have been thrown open to
slavery.
And now the question again comes up
"What shall be done for The ertirpatiOn Of The
= euH Of Slavery?"
!, Your committee would respectfully recon-
d mend the adoption of the following reSolu-
: tions:
a Resolved, That we earnestly recommend
|, our people to memorable Congress, asking
c the repeal Of the Fugitive Slave Law, and the
re-enactment OF SO much of the late law
!, known as the Missouri Compromise as ex-
n cules slavery from Kansas and Nebraska and
Z other territory Of the United States.
If Resolved, That persons holding slaves for
gain, or for their own convenience in any
S way, or with the intention os perpctuating
C the bondage Of the slave, should not be re-
S ceived into the Methodist Episcopal Church
, nor suffered to continue therein.
= There was much unanimity in regard to
the subject. DIR, Elliott, however, obi ected to
J the assertion in the report that the church
= had done nothing. lie thought she had done
|, much in endeavoring to rid the country of
f Slavery. He was opposed, to-, to the ques-
S tion coming up year after year, for it only
r resulted in agitation. Severa' preachers
f took very strong grounds against the Fugitive
r Slave Law and the Douglas Nebraska Bill,
, and their views seemed to meet with general
favor
One old gentleman, Rev. Mr.. Finley,
= said that he formerly held conservative ideas
, in regard to Slavery, but, since its late en-
Q croachments upon Freedom, he had changed
his mind, and now would do all in his power
, to throttle the monster. He said, II all the
5 bishops were to tell him to obey the Fugitive
Slave Law, he would not do it. He hoped
, Conference would take high ground. His
. father was swounded at Brandywine, and all
!, his mothers brothers were! killed ia the Revo-
r luton which gave us the glorious liberty we
enjoy; and he had written to Mr.. Stephen
: Douglas, the demagogue, that some Of that
Z same blood coursed in his veins, which he was
; willing to spill, if need in the preservation
, of this great boon.
The resolutions passed almost unanimors-
ly.