The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-10-29


land soil )" and the Virginian, We arc told, was
"received with loud applause"
That the full significance of the "gracious
invitation" the complimentary introduction,
and the applause of the crowd, may be under
stood, it must be recollected that all this in
cense was offered to the author of the FugitiDe
Act, that accused outrage on the rules of evil
dence and the precep,s of justice and humani-
ty; of that act which was most Justly stigma
tized by an eminent English jarist (Dr. Lush
ington) a. "a measure as cruel and unchris-
tan as ever disgraced any country" This vile
statute Boston gentlemen of property and
standing" had enforced by municipal and mil
itary power; they had permitted the very door
Of their courthouse, in which was detained
fugitive slave, to be fenced with chains, so thai
their judges, on entering the temple of justice,
were required to do obeisance to that power
which tramples on all justice, by STOPPING be-
meath the emblems of its tyranny.
But James NJ. Mason had higher claims to
the sympathies If a certain class than his au-
thorship ct the Fugitive Act. The Legislature
OF Massachusetts, had resolved that a" We have
received with deep concern information of the
recent violent assault, committed in the Senate
Chamber at Washington, upon the person of
the Hon. Charles Sumner, one of our represent
stives in Congress, by Preston S. Brooks, a
member of the House of Representatives, in
Congress, from South Carolina--an assault
which no provocation could justify gross
breach of parliamentary privilege Ruthless
attack upon the liberty of speech--an outrage
on the decsncies of civilized life-and an in
dignity to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,.
ReSotced, That we approve of Mr.. Sum
ner's earnest and fearless declaration of free
principles, and his manly defence of human
rights and free territory"
This language of the Legislature respecting
the Southern ruffisn was, of course, distss,efni
to the shareholders, while the cc;nmendstion be-
slowed on Sumner was necessarily felt BY many
IN Boston as rebuke OF their own conduct. Il
might be Tor the commercial advantage of Bos-
ton to conciliate the South, and not a few
would be glad to insult Sumner and the friends
OF human freedom. Brooks had been removed
beyond gracious invitation" but his eulo-
gist still lived. True, that eulogist was a dis.
unionist in profession, but then desire to dis
solve the Union involves no moral treason and
incurs no reproach in Shareholder. In let
ter to Brooks's constituents, Mason declared, al
know OF none whose public career l hold more
worthy of the frse and cordial appreciation of
bis constituents than his. He has shown him
self alike able and prompt to sustain the rights
and sentiments of his constituents in debate
and under circumstances of painful DUTY, the
honor of bis friend" In reference to the then
pending election, he intimsted that in case
Fremont should be chosen President, {" bat one
course remained for the South-MNEDIATE,
ABSOLUTE, ETERNAL SEPARATION"
Such was the man whom Boston gentlemen
deemed proper to honor; such was thu man
who on BUNKER HILL was received with ap-
pause applause which glcriied the Fugitive
Act, justified the outrage On Sumner, rebuke6
the Legislature of Massachusetts for its regard
for human rights, and bresthed the aspiration,
Z Union and Slavery, now and forever" Bos-
ton has indeed 70 monopoly of FLUSKEYIsM,
but she has contrived to give it depth and az.
intensity rarely surpassed by the most ingeni-
GUS serviliiy. And think You, gentlemen, that
men who thus PROSTATE themselves before the
Slave Power will, from the love of Liberty, aid
you in rescuirg the North from its degrading
domination?
Ii we turn to the American church, NOUN
ful ecene meets our view. The foe gold has
become dim-the salt has lost its SAVIOR. The
Church, whose office it is to distribute the bread
Of life, is scattering among the people the ap-
pies of Sodom. T2 great struggle Of the
Southern portion of the Church is a. present to
array the sum of all villainies" in the COR
unents of Christianity, and to teach for doc.
trlnes the denominations Of the slave code.
Thank God, some OF these o-Savery Church
es have severed their connection with their
Northern sisters. The absence of Reverend
and Right Reverend slave breeders and traders
from our Church councils will tend to save
those councils in future from much temptation
and from much guilt
The Northern Church is, with rare excep-
hons, pursuing, i'll regard to Slavery, a tirae-
serving, man pleasing policy, probably still
more offensive to God than that Of gnr Pro
Slavery politicians. The larger portion Of our
clergy, like the Priest and Levi,e rebuked by
our Lord, pass by on the other side, evincing
neither sympathy for their wounded brother,
nor Indignation against his assailants; while
others pass over to the thieves, bless them in
the sane of the Lord, and aid in robbing their
helpless victim. Of all cur Northern Churches,
the Methodist has afforded the most striking
and painful illustration of the cnrrupting iufiu-
erco OF political and ecclesastieal union with
Shareholders. The hypocrisy OF this Church is
melancholy aud astounding. Founded as an
Anti-Slavery Church, and recording IN its stand.
ards the most ex press condemnation of Slavery
IS sinful, it became the INSCRIPTIONS tool Of
the Shareholders. In 1886, the General Con-
ference, alarmed by the awakening conscience
OF the North, and anxious to screen the Church
from the odium which Was then attached TO the
uttersnce Of Ant:,Severy sentiments, voted
that it was decidedly opposed to modern ab-
clifton" How far the modern abolition which
they opposed differed from the ancient aboli.
ton of the fathers and standards of the Church.
It did not suit their purposes to explain. Said
John Wesley" strike at the root Of this com
ploated vilsny. absolutely doay all slave
holding to be consistent With any degree of
natural justice. Men. hayers are exactly on q
level with en-atealers." Said Dr. Coke
The buying of men is complicated crime"
Said Bishop Asbury-"O Lord, Danish the in
fernal spirit of slavery from thy dear Zion ~
Said DIR. Adam Clarke" In heather countries.
Slavery was in some sort excusable, brt among
Christians it is an enormity and a crime. for
which perdition has scarcely a.. adequate state
Of punishment"
la 1880, the church voted that it acknowledg-
ed that i" Slavery Is contrary to the laws of God,
man, and nature, contrary to the dictates of
conaSie.ee and true religion"
In 1876, the Conference declared, ave do
hold in the deepest adherence the practice OF
Slavery" and in 1886, when this condemnation
OF modern Abolitionism was Illuminated, their
book OF discipline most uutruly affirmed, ave
declare that we are es much as euer convinced
OF the great evil of Slavery
Tho word modern" was a fraudulent but
transparent veil, intended to hide, if possible.
the hypocrisy of those who used it. The reso-
lution was demanded to satisfy the vast number
of Methodist shareholders and traders, and
avowed Pro-S!avery Methodist ministers.
The Georgia Conference boldly threw aside
the mask, end, with unblushing front, voted
that Slavery, as il exists in the United States,
is not moral evil"
The New York Conference Of 1886 virtually
degraded from the ministry the fathers of the
Methodist Church, by resolving, None ought