The Washington union., 1857-09-18
rHE lMERlcAN rRacr socnrrY.


uittse 70 issue such reatisss the duties and obea
tons growing out of the relations between masters and
servants should be adapted fcr circulation n the slave
holding States Of the Union. The resolution adopted
under this head guarded however, by the retention
Of principle which, during the entire period OF the
soetys activity, tnow extending through thirtstwo
years. has been recognised in ali its publications and
that is that these latter should he calculated 60 receive
the appreciation Of all evangelical chstians without
gard 10 sectional on deno1ninAtional distinctions
The adoption Of the resolution, with this prov
60 having been found work injuously on the inter-
eats the society, by exciting against it in the South
suspicion which, whether nnfoundod not tend
cripple ts influence for good by wholly paralyzng of
il sds the publishing committee win be by the
sloined address, with the concurrence OF the other
members OF the executive committee have determined
10 take steps under the authority conferred upon
them By th resolution passed the last annual meet
nI The grounds which this determination is based
and which It's wisdom is vindicated are clearly
stated BY the committee that but hope their
exposition wl prove satisfactory TO all the friends Of the
society and thus preserve its integrity and its usefulness
alike unimpaired- - bsdlgenr.
Raoea iaioa Of hs Csmnans Of as ApAylcaa Trad So
eap
The publishing committee with the concurrence of
the other members Of the executive committee deem
il dac 10 the friends 81 the society to state their
cent action.
At the last anniversary Il was regarded by many as
beth feasible and desirable that without ali trenchng
the political relations Of slavery certain moral duties
growing out OF its existence moral evils and practical
mmorslties deplored by all evangelical Christians and
found occasionally frequently accompanying IT, should
be discussed in publications and this without losing
sight of original and governing principle in the So
Getty first organzation that its publications shall be
calculated 10 receive the appreciation OF all evangelical
Christians And the confidence expressed that the
executive committee would in their action respecting this
matter exercise such wisdom would promote ths
fnlne~ OF the society 4'drougAoa gJsoxs country
For the successful maintenance OF the past and the
happy expansion OF the future, influence Of the society,
we have relied ON the ympathies prayers gifts and
cooperation OF brethren in the South in the North
the evangelical Christians resident in any portion of
wide country give their confidence aid and per-
sana influence, or agents and tracts collectors
and our volumes, are alike denied We have
ceived from chuTches and fIoa individuals from in
all the strength and iervof OF their best years. and from
Christians arranging their worldly affairs in prospect of
death, anaeng southern brethren generous aud
hearty support in the former years Of history With
equal fidelity to donors and testors Mt the North at
the SOUTH the conductors OF the society have aimed to
dispense far and their respective contributions for
the best interests alike OF country and
common Christianity.
The publishing committee had at the time Of the last
anniversary, treatise the Duties of Masters''
under THEN consideration 1t composed of articles
before issued by brethren OF various evangelical de-
nominations at the South and supposed to meet
the views that presented in the resolutions Of that
anniversary.
The publishing committee were not altogether una
OF the inherent embarrassnents Looked upon with
dstrus et the South the treatise might be be-
cause bringing northern imprint il vet on the
other hand equally evident that many northern friends
OF the society might object to it recognising 1des
nherng Ia the relation of masters that relation in
their view, being forbidden
Since the preparation of this treatise of the
thors from whose addresses tracts it compiled has
been removed by death Two others Of these brethren
honored and innentl, known trie friends Of the
ciety have Judged it nexpedient in the enkinded and
excited state OF feeling awakened both North and South
upon the various relations OF this topic that those writings
OF their which TO form prominent portion Of
the treatise should be issued with northern imprint
They have accordingly intedced further of the
matter thus supplied
But in addition, from all quarters Of southern
hed and from the tried and fast friends Of the society
have received expressions the most unanimous and de
cded that any publication by press bearing upon the
topic Of slavery, though OF southern authorship and
carefully kept within the terms of the resolutions of the
anniversary could have other result than precipating
the entire withdrawal of the South from cooperation
with the society. The works would find gate Of
access and the separation would hencerth exclude
our older issues, by iingng them the suspicion of
their origin from quarter presumed to have become hos
tile to the interests OF the South OF those accredited
issues, the sftngs of rich evangelical literature in
and in European lands books which Gods spirit
has put his evident and gracious approval it seemed
sad necessity to be compelled to clog IN any way the cir
Culation.
From Maryland yirginia, North Carolina South Car
oina, and Georgia from Alabama, Louisiana, and Ten
nessec, hear but testimony, borne by State
branches and auxaries by the socetys officers general
agents. supcrncndnts and coporteurs, by ecclesiastical
bodies and by the religious press Over the South
have virtual suspension Of collections and If the
present dstrust and ALIENATION but remain, there must
speedily withdrawal OF colporteus and distbu-
ton throughout our southern field We must surrender
all the southern and southwestern States To proceed
thus to palsy one whole side Of our institution
The committee have believed that the action and in
suctions OF the last anniversary explicitly cherishng
they do the society usefulness throughout ok
tg could not contemplate, ON the part Of those
northern friends earnestly advocating them, any
cetys policy. cutting off from the society portion of
'ov irhoe oounry large, and in past labors SO
largely blessed the entire South.
The publishing committee, therefore, voted with en-
tire unanity to arrest the issue of the work that had
been before them confidently believing that their action
in the premises would commend itself TO the society
under the phases which the subject had assumed and
the executive committee united in sustaining this the
only present action conservative of all the interests and
inst TO all the parties involved.
II were waste Of the socictys funds 10 issue trca
tse on southern duties for which could find south
en readers and for the sake Of securing such issue 10
forego deliberately and without explicit warrant from
the society all further opportunity Of sending thither
ward the large body o publications we have hitherto,
under Gods manifest blessing, scattered there.
To the further Developments of God good providence,
aud the guidance Of his Spirit promised where rerer
emily and humby implored the committee now refer
this question meanwhile seeking the things that make
fer peace. and aiming 70 secure the fruit Of righteous