Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-08-09
SALEM COLUMBIANA OHIO,

scriptural instruction orally or in other words to
furnish them scripture instruction according to
law; or yet, in more comprehensive term the on
ly object OF the convention, in passing this resUn
ton, was to secure to the coorod part OF Oui pop
1'atOn, throughout the State, the preached gospel
20 ye into all tue world and preach my gospel to
every creature tdchiRg them to observe all things
whatsoever have commanded you" The negro
population in this city is about sixteen thousand,
and there are four African churches, one OF which
is among the largest churches in the world, and
Lowell Mason says its choir is not CquallCd ly
any in America They sing by note the most diff
cult and scientific music, aud we have no doubt
that many Of them sing with the spirit and with
the understanding, making melody in their hearts.
AT the time this resolution was adopted, there was
an African sabbath school in St. james church OF
some two hundred or two hundred and fifty schol-
ars, and bible class of colored men, varying from
forty to sixty and very successful school in one
of the African Methodist churches, and another in
Waters tobacco factory. Eight days after the
resolution was ADOPTED two schools commenced
one of which had been suspended during the win
ter; the other entirely new. Others have since
commenced; and the churches OF the city general
y arc taking steps to establish similar schools. 1t
has heretofore been stated in different spapcrs
that there was paper before the convention, sign
ed by the governor and other distinguished gentle
men, which gave their servants permission to at
tend a Sunday school. This instrument rccogn
HeS tic negro rs property, ana SHOWS the master
willingness to do what the law of the land will al
low or his moral and intellectual improvement
The paper reads as lollows "Our negroes have
permission to attend n sabbath school at any suta-
bic place in Richmond, and to receive moral and
religious instruction orally. Signed hy Henry a..
Wise, Richard c. Morris, Robert c. Stanard," etc.
etc. The same paper was submitted and signed
in Lynchburgh by Chswcll Dabnoy, John G..
Mcem. John iIollins, Seth Woodruff, John II. Me
Daniel etc; ard wherever it has been submitted,
it has been signed by the leading men in both
Eastern and Western Virginia.
Governor Wise believes this effort will take from
northern fan0ticism its sharpest weapon. His OK
ccllency is not alone in this opinion. nor yet in
thinking there should be great care in the sclcc-
ton of teachers, for equity, justice, and the rights
of man have been, and are still, shamefully and
disgraccluly distorted under this cloak; yet there
is not the slightest danger from such schools es
tablishcd in churches, and taught by those who
have the confidence of the community. The har
vest truly is plcnteous; but this labor cannot he
performed by strangers. The first African sold in
America was sold ON James river, August GOTH
1920; and may not the Virginia master unite in
some organization to perfect the only object Of the
Virginia Sabbath School Convention, expressed in
the foregoing resolution. Shall Ethiopia stretch
forth her hands i'll vain
JAMES RIVER.