Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-07-19
WHOLE NO. 563.


ers of Christ, and by the constitutions, laws, and
government OF the nation and, ~
Whereas, The system of American slavery Il
md has been largely cherished and counte-
lanced and has, in consequence acquired new
igor rmanifests unparalleled andacity, sets up pre-
: ensions and claims hitherto unheard of, even in
his land-among these the possession Of large
portions of national territory heretofore declared
free SOIL and asserting those claims with the most
reckless disregard of the common principles OF
liberty, those have been, until Of late recog
nized and avowed in the public policy of the
country: therefore,
Resolved l. That this Synod reiierates its tes-,
timony against American slavery as q system
which had its origin in violence, robbery aud blood
in selfshness and cupidity, and which has been
perpetuated in the same unholy spirit, and by the
same unholy means.
Resolved 2. That slaveholGing is sin against
God, for which there is no apology-a violation Of
his law written in the heart Of man, and revealed.
with monday cearness in his word-incons
with the plainest iniunctoDs Of the scriptures,
which imperatively require every to "do to
others as he would have others do to him." which
pronounce oppression and wrong to be sins of tho
most henOus character; and denOunce against the
oppressor, and such abet him in his iniquity the
certain and fearful judgments Of the Almighty,
(Jer. xxi. 3)-destructive of all the most precious
rights Of our common humanity; asserting it
does the right 20 hold men as property to be bought
and sold as men buy and sell cattle; forbidding
legal marringe--givng to the STAKEHOLDER the
right to separate husband aud wife, parent and
child authorizing him to take the products of the
labors Of the slave, and appropriate them to him
self as he docs those of his horse his OK; per-
mitting him TO control with arbitrary and irrespon-
sbe authority and power all that relates to the
intellectual and religious culture of the slave and
in fact shutting out from the vast majority Ut its
immortal but wretched victims the light Of knowl:
edge and religion thus not only consigning them
to life here deLased and cheerless, but cover
ing with thick darkness their prospect Of life
eternal hereafter.
Resolved 3. That American slavery is not only
as evil but an enormous evil not merely a sin, but
sin of the blackest and most apominable char,
aoter; not merely infringing on human rights, but
anhilating them; not only a moral evil, dark and
dreadful, but crime deserving to be classed with
robbery and piracy, and, like them, to be held
in the utmost adherence and detestation by the
philanthropist and the Christian
Resolved, 4. That upon Shareholders and their
abettors in the commonwealth and the church.
this evil, and sin, and crime, Justly charget-
BILE, for they make the laws which give it being
and life, administer these laws refuse to hear
rebuke, and amid the blaze Of light which has
been poured in on its denominations, will not sec
repent or reform.
Resolved 5. That nothing but al absolute it'll
possibility to emancipate, if such there be, eau
"
in this thing. If the laws forbid emancipation;
better utter poverty than to live by such a sys.
tenn of theft as slavery involves.
Resolved 6. That the recent scenes of violence
which have occurred in the Capital of the nation,
in the halls of legislation, and in the Territory OF
Kansas, are but the native fruits of this iniqui-
tous system, tho natural sequel of its original and
ineradicable wrong in stealing men from their own
country, and the perpetuatiLg of the theft by en-
shaving their .posterity; and while, in ope view:
i. l. II 4 1anv, L. 10
be deplored, as involving much sin and much suit
ering, in another they are to be regarded az, IN
Providence, designed to let the nation see; II IL
will see, the true character of slayeholdihg and
Shareholders; and if they will not see; to Justify
the coming judgments of God.
Resolved, I. That the Constitution of the Uni
ted States is one of the strongholds of slavery
Slavery gained footbold in the compromises of
that instrumental the three ffths principle OF
representation-in the importation clause--in tbs
provision for the return of fugitive slaves, and ID
the engagement among the contracting parties to
use the power of government to repress any at
tempt on the part of the slaves to :heir own
liberty. Having gained foohold, it has laborcd
with signal sagacity, determination, and success;
to elevate itself to the place in which We now see
it, as the paramount. object of governmental pro-
tection and regard.
Resolved, s. That so long as the citizens of the
United States adhere to this constitution Christdis
to be feared will the slave power continue to en-
croach upon the interests of liberty and hence
the only mode of keeping our skirts clear OF this
inqu;ty, and the only way to secure real, ind uni
versa and and scriptural liberty, is to Withhold, as
we have ever done, all active support from this
Constitution, and to seek by all scriptural means
the formation of fundamental civil arrangements,
in accordance with Gods word and the rights OF
man.
Resolved 0. That this sin lies at the door of tho
churches-of churches which admit Shareholders
to occupy their pu pits, to sit at their communion
tables, and enjoy the privileges. of members
that no church can claim to be entirely free from
this SIM which does not forbid its members to give
an active support by voting, holding Office, &C., to
the slaveholding Constitution.
Resolved, TO- That the ministry are bound as
ambassadors Of Him who who came to preach l.b-
erty to the capiiyes," to exhibit the sin OF slave
holding, to warn the stakeholder, to admOnish him
to repentance and reformation, ard to admonish
and to testify against all constitutions, laws, aud
enactments which favor the detestable system
Against such as refuse to do this testify, as re-
creant to their trust--as deeply criminal, and 4s
the enemies of human rights and of religious libs
liberty.
Resolved, IL. That we would not not exalt un-
duly even personal, civil and political liberty-wo
would remember that there is another liberty
freedom in Christ from guilt and wrath, from the
dominion of sin, alone to be secured by the gospel
of Christ, and Indispensable to the establishment
and permanent enjoyment of common civil and
political freedom.
Resolved, y, That encouraged BY the growing
movement in behalf of freedom. and By the fact
that not a few able, eminent men, occupying i'm.
portant positions in the nation, and actively en-
gagged in conflict against this evil, will labor to
bring this nation to acknowledge the whole truth
of Christie subject itself to His sceptre, and
to yield obedience to His law in the assured hope
Of the speedy coming of that day when all nations
shall serve him, and when man that is sprung Of
earth shall 20 longer oprress his fellow.man.
Respectfully in truth.
JAS NJ. WILSON, Chairman.