The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-06-20
Position Of Southern New School
Presbyterians on the Subject
of Slavery.

VI SAdVS4Js
The following paper signed by the princi
pal Delegates of the Southern Presbyterian
Churches to the General Assembly, recently
in session at Cleveland. will doubtless inter
est some of our readers. 1t was designed to
be precise representation of the views Of
Southern Churches Presbyteries and Synods
upon the subject of slaycholding, and is as
| follows -
We do not believe that the system of
American Slavery, as an appointment Of God
stands precisely. in all respects, upon the
same footing with the family relalion-with
that of husband and wift-parcnt and child.
But upon the contrary. this system differs
from the family relation both with respect to
the date Of its origin, the nearnesS and sacred
ness Of It's relations. the nature of its peculiar
obligations, the design and length OF its con-
tinuation.
The relation of master and slave did not
exist from the beginning. as did that of the
family relation. Tor do we believe that it will
continue to the end.
But slavery does exist hy Divine Or
dinaton and recognition for wise purposes.
to be ovcrrulci for His glory. in the clcva-
ton. civilization. and final redemption of the
African race. Sin cannot be predicatcd OF
the relation itself. but Of the abuse Of that
relation. 1t stands in the same category with
the family relation in the fat that it is
ordained Of God in the sense above explained
and in the fact that like the family relation it
is subject of divine legislation. When We
say the >laveholling relation is right" We do
not mean to say that every system of slavery
is right. as it may have existed i'll cthcr ages
amt IN other co""frics, INT only as II nou' tr-
isis wiM rs. and under all the circumstances
in which We are now placed. When we say
ut is right for our churches to hold slaves
under the present circumstances. we mean to
say that they are acting consistently with the
spirit and letter of the Gospel in so doing.
But were We to assert the contrary, as the
resolutions under consideration would have
Us assert. to wit that we hold >laycholding
to be wrong. it would place us before the
world as destitute not only of the spirit Of
Christianity, but as being b,rcft of every prin-
cirle of moral honesty.
We believe that the slave is not prepared
fer freedom; that 10 give it to him now
under all the circumstances would not be
best. either for master or slave.
We believe that freedom is better than
slavery where men are prepared to appreciate
it-that slavery is better than freedom under
certain circumstances = Lst as it is with
respect to human governments. Our .\mcri-
CAM r"Y"hIieanS,n may be the hest form "f
government for us. but under present circum-
stances it NIL ht be- great cause to Russia
or Mexico.
Notwithstanding the precision intended Lv
the trainers o; this document. we apprchcnd
it covers vide diversity of views among
Shareholders, and that it will convey very diff
icrent ideas to different readers. While We
read the f, flowing paragraph" H1cu wc
sag EitH Ike Sl4wehoh'iag re'ntion is r;qW. n,
do MI mean ere'y system Of slarcry as It mag
hnre cri*|,d in oi|te, ages oad IN ohcr ro.s,i-
tries, TIT emily rs 1t mar eyi,ts mih ur. and
un']'r cH thc circumstances IN miich re arr
nor p|"r''f. are rcrpcxed with the in
definite phraSeology, and wish to know what
limitation was meant to be given to that
comprehensive and roundabout word. rir-uY-
sfmccs, in this particular connection. The
Home Missionary Society has very recently
adopted the following rule in the distribution
of its rcSorrceS:-
Resolrcd. That IN the di*1ursemenl OF
.t"mdS committed t" its cu,e. Mr Hpmc Ms
siono'y S"rie|V wW MT yront ait to Churrh-
es c"ni"niny sinrfhol!ing mcmb,r., uMcss ~
'dc"ce is furnished. hat Tie reloiiou is sucA.
rs in The jn'qmcm of the CoaamiH,e is usiif-
oh'S far he tine bcing. IN the pcculiur cir
r"mSt0HctS IN wh,ch Il crisis
Did the authors of the above representa-
ton of Southern views intend by their cir
c"msi"nres nothing more than they under
stand to be included in the "pecmliar circum-
S''inces of this Resolution? 1t is perhaps
not improbable. that some Of them did so.
and yet we learn that most, if not all of them
are aggrieved by this action of the Home
Missionary Society.
We regret that they did not specify dis
tinctly, the circumstances which, in their iudc
mcnt. entitle American Slavery to be consid-
ere i q Divine institution" and we regret
it the more since they are careful to say that
they do net regard every system of slavery as
it may have c.~istcd in other countries and in
other ages as sane toned by the same author
ity or sustaining similar relations. We are
therefore, concerned to know, by what criteri-
an we shall distinguish the merely human and
unauthorized forms of slavery from the Di-
vinely constituted institution by what Let;
tiers patent Or authenticated pa,riarcbal sue
cession American any more than Roman or
Grecian slavery exists by Divine ordination
Unless We have more light on the subjec.
we do not see bow we can adopt these South,
cEn views without making ourselves liable to
be hereafter plagued with great variety of
differences and incidental questions As, for
example: Whether since in their circ,,mstan-
ces slavery is better for them than freedom.
the free Colored population of the Southern
States may not, by Legislation claiming Di-
vine sanction be elevated. by and by, to
this better condition. 1t may seem prema-
ture perhaps to agitate this question, and
yet. in the growing light of these South
ern Ethics, We apprehend it will not long be
overlooked or fail to receive its due consider
alton.
C,r.D.<.r,r