New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-05
APOLOGIES OF THE AMERICAN IRA
SOCIETY.

Napoleon once remarked that IL was wiser Ia
government TO give bad reasons for an unpopular
measure than TO remain silent. Silence IN such
cases is supposed to arise, either from disregard
TO public opinion, or conscious inability 70 satisfy
H. on the other hand defense is asttering appeal
TO the Judgment Of the public. While many wild 30
uaabe to detect the false logic OF the defence the
parthans of the government will Insist that tho
arsnent 10 irresistible, and pour obloquy on all
who fail TO acknowledge its force. The Kew.
gentleman who at the last anniversary began his
speech with declaring that there was no occasion
- for apology for the Society" ana conciuded
with the e~hortation never, never apologize
evinced more ihpulsve zeal than sound judgment.
The Society had BEEN arraigned at tho bar OF tho
public for its avowed Neutrality on the Slavery
question and all the immorassa necessarily con-
nected with human bondage, and ike wise for its
careful expureation Of Anti-Slavery sentiments
from its reprints. Eminent Christians, both lay
and clerical secular aud religious newspapers, in
diydual churches and ecclesiastical bodies, had all
demonstrated against this course. But the advice
of the Rev. orator was followed and the managers
in their dignity gave no sign that murmur Of dis
satisfaction had reached their ears. At length
city church and one of undoubted evangelical SEN
tments voted to discontinue for the future It's usual
congregational collections for the Society. Matters
now began to look serious. Extra cxertions had
indeed thus far prevented diminuton OF funds,
but many of the contributors were dissatisfied, and
the example just set might be extensively followed.
Silence had not suppressed agitation, and it was
high time to adopt Napoeons policy, and to give
reasons, whether good or bad. But what reasons
could be giyen' 1t might indeed be said, and We
believe with great truth, that the Publishing
Committee being divided in opinion as TO tho
immortality of Slavery, and each having q
veto on every tract, il was not in the power
of the Committee to publish word against
Slavery. But such an avOwal would startle and
harass vast number Of the friends of the Society,
and lead to an effort at the next election 10 purge
the committee of its Pro Slavery members. Again,
il might be urged that the officers, indeed had no
sympathy with Slavery bat il was their duty to
avoid lcssening the funds of the Society, and there
by impairing its usefulness. Hence they deemed it
ineypedient to offend their slaveholding friends.
All this might be true, but it would be avowealy
doing evil, that good might come, acting on the
maxim that the end sanctiies the means. A sim
gular expedient was adopted. On the 9th Feb
ruary last, on address to the public was issued
under the title of Circular. 1t bore the signatures
of the President of the elk members Of the Publish
ing Committee the five Of the Distributing Com
mittee, the six of the Finance Committee, and Of
the four Secretaries. 1t was moreover accompa-
A.
of the Executive Committee Thus was the dOcu-
ment invested with oil the official authority that
could be given to it. Care was taken to save the
dignity of the Society, by avoiding in this elaborate
and official apology, the appearance of defense.
Not word acknowledges that complaint has been
uttered against the Society, not an intimation is
given that the sgners conscious Of the existence
Of q slave! The circular is not to vindicate tho
Society, but to inform the public. 1t is issued Ito
perhaps remove erroneous Impressions known to
" exist in the minds OF some.'
We are told that the fundamental principle Of
the society is found in the first article Of the Con-
stitutiOn, viz:
"Ths Society shall be denominated the American
Tract Society; the object of which shall be 10 duse
knowledge Of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Redeemer
of Sinners and to promote the interests of vital god
and sound morality by the circulation Of religious
tracts, calculated to receive the appreciation Of all
evangelical Chrstiansr
Everything proposed for publication is, by the Con-
sttution, to be submitted to the Committee of Pub
LEGATION, which shall contain two members of the
" same ecclesiastical connection and no tract shall be
published to which any member of that Committee
" shall objt Ct"
"Tracts on particular immoralities," are issued
which the Committee judge to be "Scnptural and
adapted to be useful and to be approved by oil evan
geca ChristiaDs.' " The Committee are especially
precluded from pretentng those aspects of any sub
teal sre.n This we suppose expressed as an opin.
ion founded on views of expedency, as no constitu-
tonal authority is quoted nor is any constitutional
provision with regard to sectional sins, az Mormonism
for instance, known to exist.
"All works of living authors are issued on their
own sanction. Authors in the mother country have,
in some instances as the Memoir of Mary LuHdie
Duncan, confdtd the abricgment Of work TO the dis
cretion of the Committee" Then comes argu-
ment the right and necessity Of occasionally abrdg
ing the works of deceased authors.
Such is fair, honest summary Of the arguments
of the circular, amounting virtually to this brief
apology: 1--WE cannot publish against Slavery,
"because no condemnation Of it would be calcula-
ted to receive the appreciation Of all evangelical
Christians, and for the same reason, in our re-
prints, we omit all reflections on Slavery; thus
abridgiDg the works of living authors with their
town consent and Of deceased authors in virtue
" of our right to abridge their books"
This very dgnifsd apology, in which all allusion
to the subject which called it forth was sdrOitly
avoided failed, it would SEEM to satisfy one of the