Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-08-15
Vermont Methodist Confer.
enCe.
Report ofthe Committee on !Slapern

Report ofthe Committee on Slavery.
The Committee on Slavery present
the following report slavery re-
reduces a moral and responsible being
TO the condition Of property; thereby
sordldly encouraging traffic in human
beings for merccnary purposes i'm
docently aud inhumanly violating the
sanctiiy Of the coniugal and parental
relations: practically robbing men Of
the priceless boon Of liberty; and mi
serly appropriatlng the hard earned
wages of such as will be free. 1t has
become a system furnishing no shield
to innocence, yet fully protective OF
guilt a system violating in every re-
spect the Divine love, and hence de-
serving the curse OF all holy intelll-
gences. No christian, and certainly
no Methodist, should rest in lndifIcr-
ence and inactlon, while 3 600 900 in
our Country and 10000 in our own
dcnominatlonal territory are groaning
beneath the weight of a cruel oppres-
sion.
But additional con deralions Of an
aggrayalng and alarming character
now address US. The refusal of our
American Republic to recognize n
state minister from her Liberan sister;
the recent aggressions of the Slave
Power in Kansas upon the rights of
peace-loving lreemen, thus furnishing
the blacklist page in our Couniry's
history; the late outrage upon one Of
our Senators in the very Senate
Chamber; all conspire to fll the
breast of every true patriot with grief.
The recent arrest, detention, and
abuse Of one of our own body-Rev.
Alonzo Websler-who was visiting
Kansas for laudable and Christian
purpose, has served TO deepen the
interest and Indignation we have al
ready felt.
Your Committee recommend the
following resolutions -
ReSoiped, That we cordially APP
prove of the course Of our delegates at
the Last General Conference in their
opposition TO Slavery.
ReSoived, That it is with shame
and sincere sorrow of heart that we
admit the fact that our General Rule
on Slavery does permit the hold
ing of human beings as property, and
we will earnestly and hopefully labor
to secure such change as shall not
hereafter allow Of such a condition.
RcSoiDcd, That notwithstanding
the charges Of our numerous ill-wish-
ers, we believe the NJ. E. Church. and
her English Wesleyan Mother, have
been surpassed by none in their eff
forts TO dtfusc anti-slavery sen;i-
ments, and to mitigate the evils Of
slavery.
ReSOLUed, That we regard the ag-
gressIon upon the rights, homes, and
persons of freemen, now transpiring
ia our nation, as greater than those
lnirlngements Of our rights which oc-
casioned the American Revolution !;
and more cruel than all the depreda-
,ions of the wild sayages Of the forest,
from the landing of the Pilgrims to
the present time.
Resolped, That in view oC pro-sla-
very aggresslons, il is the duty of the
entire christian church and especially
christian ministers, on every proper
occasion, and in every suitable place,
TO denounco the system of slavery.
Resotved, That upon reviewing
cur decided aud consistent anli-sIa-
very position as Conference, we are
more than ever convinced of the pro-
priety Of our course, and are fully
determined to do our part in efecline
the determination Of slavery--tho sum
ofall villanies.
A. Il. BULLARD, }
p. p. RAY, : Com.
w. d. MALCOM,
The abnve rPDort and resolutions