The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-02-14


an addition of three slave States since the
division, Helstates, slsos that ut the last
meeting Of the general conference more
slave territory was added TO their bounds. ai
sihow by this process Of adding on new
slave territory every four years, the slave
holding power is increasing in this body and
lift 10 making progress, it Is a progress to-
wards the south, and hence there is less and
less prospect that the rule for excluding
shareholders from this northern branch Of
the church, will ever be adopted. There lie
no such rule now, in any Of their churches
either north or south. And | must confess,
that lsee no prospect that any Of the yearly
conferences, will get such a rule passed
while they remain instheir present cornec.
ton. '''' pi4' ia '~''
Now the above facts 90 to solve the prob
lem why the gospel has not abolished slave.
ry in this land. The gospel and its instrU-
mentalitiss haze not been applied 10 IL. So far
from this, they have been withheld, or per-
Verted into instruments for lis protection and
growth. And here you see why the (" Free
Church and, Free Missionary movement
has been started. 1t was not to make war
upon the churches, but it was to open q
channel through which the power Of the gos-
pei, and all its ,instrumentalities might be
turned against this growing oppressive sys.
TEN. r.a''s ..'" "5f.1s ..' l'- t7.j Sd.
Tho old channels were all shut up. You
could not get this power through them to
make it bear on this system. The channels
themselves were clogged with slaveholding
corruption. Hence the necessity Of opening
a new communication. whereby an anti
slavery gospel could be preached and carri-
ed out. And it can be seen also, what is the
definite issue between the friends of Free
Missions and those who take the opposite
ground. The issue relates not SO much to
the matter Of anti-slavery doctrine, but to
the practice. A large portion Of the oppo-
site side, hold to the same doctrinal basis
that we do on this subject. They agree
with us, that slavery is sin--that christian
ity is utterly at war with it, and that the Bible
condemns it. In the matter of theory, ther
we are united. Where then is the differ
ence!l Simply this: They support ongani
cations that refuse to carry out this theory
in practice. We, on the contrary, confne
our support to those that do. ..,-.,.as
In other words we think, in view of tn,
Slave holding domination in this land
that it is high time 10 practice just as W,
preach. They are not ready for this yet
Here then is the difference. But there i
no doubt, that the conflict that is now goin,
on In this country betwsen Slavery and free
4 dom, will yet bring many more on the sid
of those who believe in good practice a
; well as good preaching. asi. 4 aapf
This conflict is thickening, and ell i
Church and State, will soon be driven I
take their stand wholly on one side or tn
other. The Anti-slavery--feeling in boti
as we'll as the opposite feeling is increasing
But when the pro.slavery forces lay dow
their doctrinal basis, they live up to it,
And it is in this way they are able always
carry their point. Insother words they prat
lice as they preach. And in this way the
come off victorious in every occurring col
test. Let us initiate their example. l.
us march against them with q bold iror
Of righteous practice, as well ns a demof
D stration of righteous words, and victory wi
turn at once on the side Of Freedom. .. "a
To considerable extent the. Churehe
here at the north in fellowship with Slave
ry hold, to right theory. All that is wan
: ed, is a corresponding practice. ., ,s,sso
But what kind Of a political basis hay
!. we in the State. Alas; the old liberty pla
: form found in the declaration of our Anne
lean Independence is forsaken, and the Al
i ti-sIavery feeling, is left without any trl
i Standard, around which to unite its forces
. A portion Of this feeling is running off in
: the underlined channel of Know Notl
n ingism. An order, which if it has any opp
!. sition to Slavery, proposes to fight it in Il
= dark. And we are told that we must n
!. pronounce our judgement upon it until "
r see the .'resuit," or until we see whit
= comes off victorious. For my part, If I am
d meet an enemy, prefer to have daylig
e for it. And prefer also, to know befor
: hand upon what principles am to enter i
e to the struggle, for had rather suffer tho
d sand defeats upon right principles, than
3 gain one victory upon wrong ones. 7..''
e But another portion Of the Anti.slave
y feeling is trying to make Roadway again
Is Slavery on the pulley ofy"non-extensioi
= or preserved State rights. .szir,.l zaF
p ai5This policy admits the constitution
= right of Slavery id the States where it d
'e ready exists, but then it has no constitutic
D. al right to 60 any further, and it must thel
Ut fore according to this policy be. restrict
/, within certain bounds Now how has. u
4. policy of attempting to- restr'ctA SlaEe
Of worked. Why just---us atsimiIar policy
Of in reference to mans incorporate spI
& tite, The case was that if Mr., Hawki
or one Of the original founders Of the Wa
,e gtonian movement. In one Of his tte
be perance lectures, 70 which listened,
7, said that before he signed the Washing