New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-09-17
RECENT ACTION OF TIE COMMITTEE
or THE AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY
ON SLAVERY.


The Publishing Committee, with the concurrence OF
the other members Of the Executive Committee, deem
il due 70 the friends OF the Society to state Their own
recent action.
A. the last anniversary it was regarded by many as
both feasible and desirable that, without at all trench
ing on the political relations of Slavery, certain moral
duties growing out Of its existence, moral evils aud
practical immoralities deplored by all evangelical
Christians and found occas onally or frequently ac-
company1g it, should be diseased in our publications.
ard this without losing sight of original and gov
ernng prip cipe in the Societys r organization, that
its publications shall be Calculated TO receive the
appreciation of all evangelical Christians" Aud the
confdeI &c was expressed that tho Executive Commit
tee would in their action respecting this mater, eIer
else such wisdom would promote the usefulness Of
the Sc ciety "hroRghout rhole country."
For the successful mainter of the past and the
happy expansion OF the future influence of the Society,"
we have relied on the sympathcs, prayers, gifts aud
c, operation of our brethren in the South in the
North II tie evangelical Christians resident in any
portion Of our wide country give not their confidence
aid al personal nuerce, agents and our tracts,
our collectors and our volumes alike denied access
We bave received from churches and from indvidu-
ais from men in all the strength and fervor of their
best years and from Christians arranging their worldly
affairs in prospect of DEATH among southern breth
ren generous and hearty support in the former years
of our history With equal fidelity TO donors and es-
tatcrs at the North the South the conductors Of
the Society have aimed to dispense far and neay their
respective contributions for the best interests alike of
our common country and our common Christianity.
The Publishing Committee had, at the time of the
last anniversary, treatise on the " Duties OF Mas
tiers" under their consideration. 1t composed Of
articles before issued by brethren OF various evange-
cal DE- denominations at the South, and was supposed to
meet the views that are presented in the resolutions of
that anniversary.
The Publishing Committee were not altogether I'M
aware of the inherent embGrrassments. Looked upon
with some distrus at the South the treatise might
be because bringing Northern imprint it was yet, on
the other hand, equally evident that many Northern
friends of the Society might object to recognizing
duties" inheriDg in the relation OF masters, that
relation, in their view, being forbidden.
Since the preparation oftsis treatise, one OF the
authors from whose addresses tracts it was com.
piled has been removed by death. Two others of
these brethren honored ana influential known as true
friends of the Society, have judged inexpedient IN
the eIkinded and excited state of feeling awakened
both North ard South upon the various relations OF
this topic that those writings of their own, which
were TO form prominent portion OF the treatise,
should be issued with Northern imprint. They have
accordingly nterdcted further use of the matter
But in addition from all quarters Of our Southern
field we have received, and from the tried and fast
friends of the Society, expressions the NEST unanimous
and decided that any publication by our press bearing
upon the topic of Slavery, even though OF Southern
Authorship and carefully Kept within the terms of the
resolutions Of the Anniversary, could have no other
result than precp itatng the entire withdrawal OF the
South from cooperation with the Society The new
works would fiLd gate of access; and the separa-
ton would her ceforth exclude even our older issues
by fpgirg over them the suspicion OF their origin
from quarter PREF umed to have become hostile 10 the
interests Of the South. Of .hose accredited issues,
tie siitirgs Of rich evangelical literature in our own
and in European lgDGs-boOks on which Gods Spirit
has put His evident and gracious approya-it seemed
SAD necessity to be compelled to clog in any way the
circulation.
From Maryland. Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina and Georgia, from Alabama, Louisiana and
1eIpessee, We hear but one testimony, as borne by
State brarches and auxil ares by the Societys ot-
GERS general agents, superutendents and colporeurs
by ecclesiastical bodies, and by the religious press
Over the South we lave a virtual suspension Of
collections and if the present distrust and alienation
but remain there must speedily withdrawal OF
colporteurs ard distribution throughout our southern
fed. We must surrender all the Southern and South
western States. 10 proceed Is thus 10 palsy one whole
eide of our institution.
The Committee have believed that the action and
,Iuctions of the last anniversary explicitly cherish
iIg az they do the Socictys usefulness throughout
oui whole country" could not contemplate, even on
the part of tLose Northern friends most earnestly ad
yocating them, any revolutionary and dsrup.ive
char &c in the line of the Socetys policy cutting on
from the Society portion OF our whole country 50
large and in past labors so largely blessed az the
eLtre South.
The Publishing Committee therefore voted with en-.
tire uIanmty to arrest the issue of the work til At had
been before them confidently believing that their &C
ton in the premises would commend itself to the Soci
ety VI der the phases which the subject has assumed
and the Executive Committee united in sustaining this
as the only present action conservative OF oil the IN
terests and Just to all the parties involved.
Itwerc a waste of the Societys funds to issue
treatise on Southern duties for which could fnd no
Southern readers and for the sake OF securing such
i.ue TO foreeo deliberately, and without explicit war
rant from the Society all farther opportunity of send
irg htherwarc the large body of publications We have
hitherto under Gods manifest blessing scattered
there. -
TO the farther development of Gods good provi-
dence and TO the guidance of his Spirit, promised
where Ieyerently anG hulIbly implored, the Commit
tee now refer this question, meanwhile seeking tue
'things that make for peace and aiming 20 secure
the fruit Of righteousness sown in peace oi them
:" tina. make peoce.'
PubAag CoAee Di'fr'buting Colsflee tnaase 1osn. e.
JoHN KNOX. WILLIAM FORREST hlChp 4 hANE9i
DAVID MAGE, WN WINTHROP, MOSES ALIEN
WM K WILLIAMS, 4 j. TREADWELL, IHos G. DoREMUs,
WILL, ADAMS, OLIVER II. LIE, RIcH 5. FELLOWEs.
BtNJ { CUTLER. ALFRED ;. BARNES GEORGE ~ ItrUs,
Nm. al ,4 An,Ns OLIyER L. WOop,
Executive Committee.
WN A. UALLocK, o. E.sINN, J. SI1vENsoS.
Nec York, Sept. 10, 1851 Corresponding herTet-fle-
sn........s.9
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