Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-07-03

this e resolution which you usc 80 much "a Designed
70 espaa,n and modify dsiingpishsd Southern man
the Gas%,.se 80 .ssea s .; STs''' 49, :,
va. rsss.sd ~ surjori,y Of shs COMMITTEES. bec.s,
sss .Ss a.S AZ position then -.
prc Nv a.. sa - done Hsre we rsf~.sd 70 = ser:
the xsas S SsS Va! ps %osss -. as :!
day. aler dinner that thls action and that OF is4s ana
not dns % rs"d previous action which adopted by
hssfy pres-ng ct the question In q thin house. and not
reconsered the ground that not to cuy and rc.cind
wAs no, to endorse In every respect the language Of
touner Assemblies Now, JON alter looking sA~ss
that they only agree sa6santiay xith former Asssu,
bies chsrge osvith holrg every scnrinfents ma a.
dorsng every sord Of the action Of 1872 cannot
not : : .
But this is not al. You tell US th.s we can show
oa anything IN the rscosds Of Jour Assembly oss aa2s
tnat exhibits such udesaby progressive ansavery
position - the action OF isis, will DO TO you and
to Others You also that endorsement tho acts
platform Of isss ans oss ,, % Ss,s s,o. .
your platform OF 1850 great deal worse and bring out
this novelty win be matter OF amazemeut 10 your
reaefs Mat snee all you have aid is true thu. ysar
ISIS, not by roundabout implication but boldly open.
y and distinctly in that Is really startling amer
your triumphant challenge to as.
In ls46 your Assembly did the same thing which you
think that ~e did, and great deal more BY vote Of
80 to 81 they adopted declaration OF which the follow.
"Tne system Of slavery ~ IL exists In these United
States viewed either in the laws Of the several States
which sanctioned s or In its actual operation aud rcsus
in society, Is automatically arshoss and oppressirs
sysin, ard j. opposed 70 tie prescriptions of s ias Of
God TO the prespts and pirii Of s Gospt 10 tks
st:iaferests Of k,nnanify. "a -"
1877 to 1918, inclusive has condemned It. and rsaiss
still tie recorded tesfsory Of tAs Pres6y,eran ChurrI
OF he'e United States againsf H. from which ,cs d1 mot
I'VE cannot therefore, withhold the expression of our
deep regret that slavery should be continued aud coun.
enaneed by any OF the members Of churches and we
do earnestly exhor both them and the churches among
whom exists 70 use all in their power to put
u away from them. Its perpetuson among them cannot
iA TO be regarded by malttudes influenced by their
ample, as sanconing the system Portrayed in and main
tanned BY the statutes OF the several ayehoug States
wherein they DWELL Nor any mere mitigation of n.
severity prompted by the humanity and Christian feelings
oil any individuals who continue TO hold their fellow men
in such bondage be regarded either as a testimony
against the system or as the least degree Changing it's
sential character - " NJ a' =.
This is hard enough one would think but 1t is not all
In lsis your Assembly adopted report affirming ex.
pressy the views Of 1918 and 1916 They also with al
most entire unsnimity adopted resolution summing up
the sentiments expressed in previous years follows
The following principles clearly stated in the doc
ment above referred to and quoted:
81. That civil liberty the right of man "a rational
and moral being.
SO That the institution OF slavery in the language Of
former Assembly, is ntrnscally unrighteos and op-
pressve system and injurious to the highest and IN
terests OF all concerned in it.
- That it is the duty of all Christians who enioy the
light OF the present day. their honest earnest and
nnweafied endeavos speedily possible to eace this
blot on our holy religion and obtain the complete abo
ton OF slavery throughout Christendom and.f possible
throughout the world. This General Assembly do most
soeRny eHhor all under our care to perform this duty
and be ready to all sacrifices in order
to effect contamination so much to be desired
~. When circumstances over which good men have
not the control unavoidab prevent the of this
ult.or and desirable purpose once are otherim
portsnt duties which be neglected without great
guilt sue ass watchfuc for the interests OF the soul
direct religious Instruction. and the communication of that
practical knowledge Of life and its objects which may pre-
pare this portion OF fellow men for the exercise and
enjoyment of liberty when God in his providence may open
a door Tor their emancipation. -.
"5 There ipcideutal evils whehA.ong to this sys-
tem which, when they occur in the church. should be cor
rected by discipline such buying and selling slaves by
way OF traffic To these may be added the breaking up OF
the family relationship and separating husbands and wives
parents aud children thus rendering it impossible for ra-
uonai moral aud immortal beings perform the duties
and cherish the -ndesrnients OF social life
Al these things fairly and fully presented in the de-
carauons OF preceding Assemblies and qnite explicitly
before the division OF the PTes6y church as since
The quotations made from the acts of 1915 and
$40.
have believe that you we're hot aware OF
this action OF your Assembly when you your letter.
or you would have written differently But you must see
now that the two Assemblies occupy totally different
PLATFORM Ours only refused 20 condemn and rescnd the
act OF 1878, because agreed with its testimony stan
tail a. conservative uterance the slavery question
az mat time Yours has only formally adopted H. bui
added 10 u and made much stronger than first
IN several respects feel that you will prefer
our platform, and agree that the old Is better y aud will
aso see that you were mistaken in suppong that had
the advantage OF US in the knowledge of documents"
81 The action of 1918 not anti-slnvery asst
would seem from your letter, antslavery acts
OF your own Assembly. The only of discipline
nected with slavery by that ACT selling slave who
was member, in good standing in church. against
his or her will and inclination unless there peculiar
crcums tanccs to justify il. Your Assembly in 1850
makes the mere "hoidng of slaves offence demanding
discipline, except the which YOU have specified
The difference you see thus is radical. Your AssembI
re-asserts the act Of 1918 in 1916 and IS4q when the
slavery question has entirely changed ground give
words much stronger meaning than they had I'm 1873
IL also goes further and calls IL "dH ihtrsieay upright
eoHs and opPresiUe sysfe and urges all Christians 10
labor for its abolition Nothing comparable TO the Ian
guage OF acts of 1916 and 549 found in the
memorable acts Of 1873 Hence YOU that even this
ground must be abandoned and if you could prove that
we endorsed in detail the of 1915 which YOU Cannot
your Assembly has gone much beyond that act 10
axe it incomParubly more anti slavery than
a. The act OF 1915 has no force Of law but is only
an expression of opinion and the opinion OF the
OF 1856, but Of the OF 1918. You know though
many Of you readers may not that the Assembly had no
power 70 enact binding law this matter it
legislative body IN the etrctness of that srm but Judi
cdl one Hence the of 1918, was only what il de-
cares t-ef TO be the opinion OF the 80 composing
that Assembly and nothing IL has force but
moral iOrre II expressed the opinions only the
Of tlr Assembly, but the men Of that time Such
men Jefferson Madison, &c. the general opinion Of
conservative men. But the whole subject OF slavery has
drifted different position that what conserva
tsm in 1918, is rndcalism in 1886 Hence whilst do
not Condemn this expression Of 1918. do adopt IT,
aud in this most vital point Of difference, occupy d
ferent ground from your Assembly.
now the direct issne which you present in
your letter and that Is comparing directly the action of the
two Assemblies since the disruption OF 1888 have given
above the intensely anti slavery action Of your Assembly
&C ard 40 passed Of the very time that narrow
ing position aud Strengthening it against the assaults
Of aboitousm You OF course end any thing IN
comparable with these. But I am wiling to take
your last aud best action the subject that Of 1880
affirmed in 1856 and lay il beside ours Of s45 that tbcy
may be compared This giTes yOur weakest anti slavery
utlerapce and strongest let them be compared
Neis School III 1861 Old School "a Is4a
"Resoteed, ]. That eI- The question which this
ceedngy deplore the work Assembly is called UPON TO
ings Of the whole system Of decide Is this Do the
slavery as il e1sts In Scriptures teach that the
country and l. interviewer holding OF slaves without
With the political institutions regard circumstance
Of the slave holding States Gin, the Remuneration ri
iraught with many and which should be made
great evils 10 the civil poit condition Of membership 10
ical aud moral interests of the church Of Christ
those regions where IL exists ut i impossible