The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-05-30


human history. He could point TO one O
Tins floor, who had impoverished himse
to benefit his slaves. He hoped the Gen
efal Assembly will never commit Itself /
ne false principle that slavery is sinfu
per te. What has been done heretoror
has only done injury. If the South ha.
oeen let alone, not few of the States nov
oppressed with slavery would have beer
Tree States. Many tegin TO think that tn,
Assembly itself is nothing but an evil
The influence which flows down from lhes,
repeated discussions upon our churches, K
Inexpressibly unhappy dividing and Grip.
/ ping them IN every way.
Rev. Mr.. SsEED. of Iowa, replied that
he Lad himself been a slave holder, an d
! had emanci pated slaves which IL sold. III >
avalls properly invested, would have made
him one oil the magnaies Of the land as 10
wealth. He was not, therefore, entirely
ignorant Of the South. He knew, also.
The difficulties under which slave holders
labor. He knew the evils of agitation. and
was Tar from averring that no one holding
slaves can be Christian. Yet, he v as
none the less sensible Of the sinfulness of
slavery, Without discussing The whole
SUI ject, he planted himself on the ground
niiormiy assumed by the Presbyterian
Church-viz; the sinfulness of slavery
Whose rights will be violated by re affirm
ing this action? " hat new encroachment
does the report under consideration pro.
pose? II takes no ground that has not
already been taken and acted on. To
denounce slavery is nothing new. He had
always denouced it, even when a slave.
holder himself. He never approved it and
never saw man until late wears, who
would own that he did AZ prove Of it.
Now Tor the General Assembly to refuse
TO take ground that Shareholders them
selves are willing to take, would evince a
degree Of cowardce which would mis-
represent the Assembly. To strike out the
amendment worli do great injury I, the
Churches at the North. There was feel
ing Of dissatisfaction prevalent at the
North, which will be famed 10 flame if
under the menace OF the South, we elect
to take proper ground. The North, while
desiring nothing unreasonable, will never
be satisfied Till the truth proclaimed BY
the Assembly in l.lo, that slavery is a
great moral wrong" is practically reco
gnized, and acted ON BY the Church at
the South He beseeched the Assembly
not TO set he North in blaze by It's ac-
ton, or It's want Of action
Rev. Mr.. Nell. desired to call attention
TO that clause of tie report which disap-
proves OF the intemperateness Of those who
oppose slavery. Hitherto the action Of
the Assembly has been in Remuneration of
slavery; il would now seem from this that
a new course IS to be inaugurated, tina. we
are TO utter rebuke to the nlemperateness
Of word and action Of these who oppose
slavery /, is not only to declare the hos
tility Of the Assembly to the system Of sla-
very, but It's hostility TO the unwise ano
unchrls'i methods by which this system
Is sought to be subyerted. This was hope
ful. tie believed that there was chris
tan method OF promoting reform, Which is
as distinct from merely human methods, as
the Gospel is distinct from the wisdom aud
devices OF the human heart. He seemed
to see now before him the august form of
One STOPPING down to write upon the sand
and again upon the heights weeping over
Jerus allen. He asked himself il that was
the method uniformly pursued by this
Great Teacher in his rebuke of sin; and
with solitary exception it was--and that
exception WAS when he rehuked the Phari
sees. We have got much TO learn on this
point; and il is hopeful indication that we
are about TO direct our attention to the
methods Of reform as well as TO the objects
OF reform. 1t was for the purpose of OBJ
tanning pastoral letter that should regard
both North and South, that he was willing
to forego his objections to some other fe :,
tnrps nj tho report