Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-08-02
MONDAY, JULY 90, 1856.
"MoSEY GErrrxc--wIrH AN ILLusrRArroN,' &

man, and the impression was conveyed that b
connived with the other parties TO wrong the oil
gentleman in question. We are assured that ou
correspondent did him injustice, and that al
though he made out the Deeds for the land j
dispute, yet in no other respect was he party t
the transaction. We most cheerfully vindicat
the gentleman, as it is not our purpose to mis-
represent or allow our correspondents to misrep
resent any one, no matter to what party they be
long or what creed they profess.
We differ, however, with one of our corrcspon
dents, who says that because " Minister of tn
Gospel and members Of the Church have don
worse things" therefore, the matter should no
be brought to light. If it were wrong, whicl
is generally admitted, then it should be exposed
and whenever and wherever we find such villainy
we shall give it publicity, looking to the peop
for our reward, and to our conscience to justif..
the act. We ask no sympathy and fear M
threats. a9-
Action of the Reformed Presbyt synod.-wha
they Think Of slavery.
We copy, per request, the following preamb'e
and resolutions passed at meeting of the Re-
formed Presbyterian Church, of Philadelphia, OF
the 9th of May, 1856. We call the attention Of
Ministers and others to these rcsolutions-rea6
them:
Port accepted and adopted, and is as follows:
Whereas, 1t is the Office and the imperative
duty of the Church and witnesses Of Christ t.
present an open and faithful testimony against
all sin-especially against public and fragrant
violations of the law of God, and heterogeneous
on the rights of man; and this the more, when
these sins are cherished or countenanced by the
professed followers of Christ, and by the cOnsti-
tutiOns, laws and governments of the nations
and elti
Wheraas, The system of American slavery is
and has been, largely so cherished and counte-
nancej, and has, In consequence, acquired new
vigor, manifeets unparalleled audacty, sets up
pretensons and claims large portions OF national
territory heretofore declared free SOIL and assert
ing those cl.ims with the most reckless disrrg rd
of the common principles of liberty, even as
those have been, until of late recognized and
avowei in the public policy OF the country
tn erefore
Resolved, l. That this Synod reiterates it's
testimony against American slavery a. system
winch had it's origin in violence, robbery, and
biood-in se6shness and cupiditv, and which
has been perpetuated in the same unhOly spirit,
anu Dy Ino same uHHOlv lnedrS.
iicsolved, 2. That saveholdiLg is sin against
God, for which there is no apoosy-a violation
of his law written in the heart of man, and re-
veaieJ with noon day cleirness In his word--in-
consistent with the plailIest Injunctions of the
Scriptures, which lmperativey require every man
to ''dO to others us he would that others should
do him." VIII ch pronounce OPP ession AMI wrong
to be sins of the most heinous character; and
denounce against the oppressOr, and such as abet
him in his inlquity, the certain and fearful judg
IN nts of the Almighty, (Jer % l5)-destruc-
tive Of all the most precious rights oil our com
mon humanity; asserting as it does the right to
mold men us property, to be bought and sold as
men buy and sell cattle; forbiddins legal mar
riage--giving to the stakeholder the right to
separate husband and wife, parent and child
authorizing him to take the products OF the labor
of the slave, and, in fact, shutting out from the
vast ma jorty of its immortal but wretched VIC.
TINS, the light of knowledge and religion thu,
not only consigning them to "a life here debaseo
and cheerless, but covering with thick darkness
their prospects of life eternal hereafter.
Resolved, 3. That American slavery is moi
merely an evil, but an enormous evil not mercl,
a sin. but sin of the bIackest and most abom.
Unable character; not merely infringing upor
human rights, but annihilating them not only
moral evil, dark and dreadful, but a crime de-
serving to be classed with robbery and piracy
and ike them, to be hell in the utmost abhOr
renee and detestation by the philanthropst ant
the Christian.
Resolved. 4. That upon shareholders and theil
abbettors in the commonwealth and in thu
church, this evil, and sin, and crime, are justly
chargeable, for they make The laws which CAV,
it being and life, administer these laws. refuse t.
hear rcbuke. and amid the blaze of light which
has been poured in on its abOminatiOns, will moi
see, repent or reform.
Resolved, 5. That nothing but an absolute
mpossbility to emancipate, if such there be
can avail to rid the legal holder of slaves of hi,
guilt in this thing. If the laws forbid emarci
patton, they do not fobd emigration, and better
utter poverty than to live by such a system OF
theft slavery involves. .a,.- ..... .
Resolved, 8. That the recent scenes of vio
lence which have occurred IN the Capitol of tli
nation, in the halls of legislation, and in tn,
Territory of Kansas, are but the native fruits q
this niquitous system, the natural sequel VI it,
original and nsrsdicable wrong in stealing met
from their own country, and the perpctuating o
the theft BY epslaving their posterity; and while
in one view, these deeds of blood and rufian act
are deeply to be depl pred, as involving much sill
and much suffering, in another they are to be re
garded az, in Providence, designed to let the nj
ton see, if it will see, the true character o
saveholding and shareholders; and if they will
not see, to Justify the coming judgments of God
Resolved, I. That this sin lies at the door o
the churches--of all churches which admit slave
holders to occupy their pulpits, to sit at thei
communion tables, and enjoy the privileges o
members, moreover, that no church can CLAIM
to be entirely free from this sin, which does no
forbid Its members to give an active support, b.
voting, holding Office, &C., to the slsveholdin
Constitution. .
Resolved, 8. That the ministry are bound q
ambassadors of Him who came to preach slibert
to the captives," to exhibit the siA of slavehold
| ing, to warn the STAKEHOLDER, to admonish hir
to repentance and reformation, and to testif
against all constitutions, Jaws, and enactment
which favor the detestable system. Again.
| such as refuse to do this we testify, as recroai
| to their trust-as deeply criminal, and rs tn
enemies of human rights and OF religious libert,
| Resolved, 9. That would not exalt undul
even personal. civil, and political liberty-w
would remember that there is another liberty
| freedom in Christ from guilt and wrath, from III
| dominion of sin. alone to be secured bv the 90,
pei Of Christ, and Indispensable to the establish
ment and permanent enjoyment of common
civil and political freedom.
Resolved, 10. That encouraged by the grow
! ing movement in behalf Of freedom, and by th
/ fact that not IA few able, eminent men, occup,
ing important positions in the nation, are actveI
engaged in conflict against this evil, we will labt
| to bring this nation to acknowledge the who
/ truth of Christie subject itself to his sccptr
aud to yield obedience to his law, in the assure
hope of the speedy coming Of that day when n
nations shall serve him, and when man that
sprung of earth shall no more oppress his fellow
| man.
! Respectfully, in truth,
| JAMES NJ. WILSON, Chairman.
EJ Millard Fillmore has sold the coat
that was presented to him while President
/ The man xuhn rnada him the nrasc,,a II M,