True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-06-10
pre.byterian General Assembly IN. s.,
SEVENTH DAY.
CLEVELAND, May 70.
THE SLAVERY QUESTION. 4

CLEVELAND, May 70. n
THE SLAVERY QUESTION &C
The substitute of Mr.. Cutler for 'he IA
Report on Slavery then came up q
Mr.. Guthrie, OF Ohio, had the nooI- et
but gave Mr.. Wallace place to say sha' in
he would in the proper time produce eW' Fl
dence of the second class Of opinions, ID al
the report at the South. :,
THE SOUTHERN POSITION. 4
The Rev. Thomas H. Cleland, ol 4
Kentucky, said: AS we believe that there q
Is great doubt and uncertainty as to the Q
.rrecise views Of the Southern Churches, a
Presbyteries, and Synods upon the sub. c
|iect Of Slavery, and believing that clear {
and distinct nnouncementfof our views K
wo,,ld place the whole subject distinctly |
Ibefore the members Of this Assembly,
have prepared with some care, q paper
since endorsed by nearly alias many'as
I have seen-of the Delegates from the
South; which may be taken as the basis
of our views on that subject, and thus
greatly facilitate the discussion, OF the
I9uestion. MIRO. then read the following;
POSITION OF THE SOUTHERN CHURCHES
Upon THE SUBJECT OF SLAVERY.
We do not believe that the system OF
i American Slavery as an appointment ol
\ God, stands precisely, in all respects up
on the same footing with the family rela-
,ion--with that Of husband and VILE
Q parent and child. 10
n But upon the contrary, this system ali-
n rers from the family relation both WIN
!. respect to the date its origin, the near
3 ness and sacredness of its relations, The
# nature of its peculiar obligations, the de-
4 sign and and length Of its continuation;
;. The relation of master and slave die
t. not exist from the beginning, as did that
0. of the family relation, nor do we belleVe
lie that it will continue to the end. =.
IN But slavery does exist by Divine ord-
of nation and recognition for wise purposes,
Of 10 be oyer-ruled for His glory, in the ell
#. ovation, civilization and final redemption
d. Of the African race. Sin cannot be pred
OF ica,ed of the relation itself, but OF lhe
I'd abuse of that relation. 1t stands In the
lit same category with the family relation in
ri. the fact that it is ordained Of God in the
ur sense above explained, and in the lac
of that like the family relation it is subJec
les of divine legislation. When we say tina
cir The slavehoiding relation sis right W
in do not me an to say that every system o
ds, slavery is right, as it may have exlste
,lic in other ages and in other countries, 6o
vel o,h, as it now enists aOith as, and uhde
The all the circumstances in which we al
ma now placed. When we say sit is right
os. for our churches to hold slaves under II
on present circumstances, we mean 10 81
dis. that they are acting consistently with II
i'm spirit and letter Of the gospel in SO DOM
And were we to assert the contrary,
,se, the resolutions under consideration won
the have us assert, 10 wit: that we hold slaV
ond holding to be wrong, it would place
pom before the world as destitute not only
per. the spirit of christianity, but as beng
the reft Of every principle of moral honest
We believe that the slave Is not p
pared for freedom; that to give 1t to h
now under all The circumstances wo'
n III not be best, either for master or slave.
wo- We believe that freedom is better II
S6O, slavery where men are prepared to aPprr
niff late it-that slavsryis better than freed
sage under certain circumstances-Just as i
Ma with respect to human governments Z.
the American republicanisIn may be the
that form of government for us, but I'm
ught present circums tances it might be q
ows: curse to Russia or Mexico. - H'
the F. A. Ross. ..i q A. G. Dickerson
t the Geo. M. Crawford, p. r. Grattan' .
Il be- Isaac w. X. Handy, James u ,hamn
is ac- Henry Matthews, VIM u; 'Galaw'
amer A. H. H. Boyd, Geo. W. Hu!cl
cred, E. r. MCLEAN, Robert McLaih
i his Robt. M. Morrison, II. H. Cleland,
is, if F R, Grav. Robert F. Rea,
es, he John r. Logan. Gideon S. Viii
is en-. Charles M. Atkinson, j. W. Cleland.
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