True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-06-03
The General Assembly IN. S., and Sla.
very. isT


very
The General Assembly of the New
School body Of Presbyterians, now in
session at Cleveland, has been occupied !,
most Of the time this week by discus i.
sions on the slavery question, in its rela-
tons to the Church. On Monday the
Committee on, Bills and Overatures. !
reported that tweny.seven Memorials
on the subject of slavery had been placed
in their hands. Eleven Of these memo. ,
rials came from Ohio, four from Illinois,
three from Indiana, two from Michigan,
one from Iowa. one from Wisconsin, threeF
from New York, one from Pennsylvania
and one from Mississippi. They show
that SO strong feeling exists on this sub
ject as to make it proper that the Assem-
bly, should express its views in regard to
it. The Report says that
The opinions Of the Presbyterian
Church in respect To- Slavery are on re-
cord. Had there been no impression on
the minds Of our Churches that opinions
different from those formerly held are
now maintained and defended among our
people, there might have seened TO be
little occasion to do more tnan 10 refer
to The recorded views of the General As.
sembfy, and 10 lis uniform current of tes--
ltimony on this subject. But as 1t appears,
that such opinions exist, the Assembly
hereby reaHirm the views heretofore set
forth as to the character ofslavery.
i 1t appears from papers sent up 10
this assembly that an impression is wide
spread that i, is now held and taught
within the bounds Of the Presbyterian
4 Church that the system Of Slavery is
I right in this sense, that it stands in all
respects upon the same basis with the
natural relations which the Almighty has
established, such as those Of parent and
child, and husband and wife, that of CON-
sequence it is desirable system ofitself,
and ought to be perpetuated. 8 =
~ d. ..a Z q b 4 it..
The Committee distinctly condemn
these positions, while they warmly oom-
mend that class Of Southern members;
who hold that slavery is eminenlly
desirable and fraught with many evils;
! that the relation is 10 be continued no
longer than the best interests Of both
master and slave require it that slaves
} should be well treated, instructed, eleva-
ted, and their church and family relations
be held as sacred asthose among mas
ters. and that the great law Of Christian
. love should govern. That slavery ought
. to be perpetual, is declared to be contra
3 ry alike TO the Revelation Of God, and
the moral sense Of Cbristendom.
The Chairman Of the Committee sta-
: ted that after three days discussion as 70.
: the best mode Of disposing Of the subject.
y it had been resolved 10 submit the whole,
question to the Assembly, for free and
/. unresrainel debate. fspt
IS On Tuesday Rev Or. Ross Of Alabama
]. opened the discussion in an elaborate de-
;, fence Of slavery. He is the author Of a
!. series of letters addressed some months
I, ago ID Rev. Albert Barnes, and publish
h ed in one Of the church papers, Fl, oupo.
q siliOn 70 that gentleman's well.khown
|. |. anti-slayery views. In his, speech, Dr.
: Ross quoted from and defended these lsl.
u tsrs'ridicplodM Mr. Barnes mode cf apply.
y ING The Golden Rnle, demolished M.
\ I, JefieFson's theory Of human equally,
= and vindicated the relation Of master And
slave and lhe system cf serxile labor,
y from the Bible.
Z. AT last accounts no action had Been
taken on tho subject