American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-10-23
Recent Action OF the Committee of
The American Tract Society.

The Publishing Committee, with the
concurrence of the other members of
the Executive Committee, deem it due
to the friends of the Society to state
their own recent action.
At the last anniversary it was rcgar-
ded by many as both feasible and dcsi.
roblc that, without at all trenching on
the political relations Of slavery, certain
moral duties growing out Of its exist
cncc, or moral evils and practical i'm
moralitics deplorcd by all evangelical
criticisms, and found occasionally or
frequently accompanying it, should be
discussed in our publications;.and this
without losing sight of our original and
governing principle in the society's first
organization, that its publication shall
be calculated to receive the approba-
ton of all evangelical christians" And
the confidence was expressed that the
Executive Committee would, in their
action respecting this matter, exercise
snch wisdom as would promote the use
fulncss of the society 'throughout or
schOte country"
For the successful maintenance of
the past, and tho happy expansion of
the future influence of the society, we
have relied on the sympathics, prayers,
quits, and corporations of our breth-
ren in the South as in the North. If
the evangelical christians resident in
any portion of our wide country, give
not their confidence, aid, and personal
our agents and our tracts,
our collectors and our volumes, are alike
denied access. We have received from
churches and individuals, from men in
all the strength and fervor of their best
years, and from christians arranging
their worldly affairs in prospect of death,
among our southern brethren, gener-
Gus and happy support in the former
years Of our history. With equal fl
deity to donors and tcstators at the
North or at the South, the conductors
of the Society have aimed to dispense
far and near their respective contribu.
tions for the best interest alike Of our
common country and our common chris
tiarity.
Ihe Publishing Committee had, at
the time of the last anniversary, q trea-
tise on the "Duties of Masters" under
their consideration. 1t was composed
Of articles before issued by brethren of
various 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 unaware of tho inherent en-
barrassmcnts. Looked upon with some
distrust at the South as the treatise
might be, because bearing a northern
imprint, it was yet, on the other hand,
equally evident that many northern
friends OF the society might object to il
as recognizing "dattes" inherent in the
relation Of 'mastcrs," that relation, in
their view, being forbidden.
Since the preparation Of this treatise,
one of the authors, from whose address
ses or tracts it was compiled, has been
removed by death. Two others of these
brethren, honored & influential, known
as the friends Of the society, have iudg-
cd it inoxpcdient, in the enkindled and
excited state of feeling, awakened both
North and South upon the various re-
lations Of this topic, that those writings
of their own, which were to form a
prominent portion Of the treatise,
should be issued with northern i'm
print. They have accordingly inter
dlcted our further use Of the matter
thus supplied.
But, in addition, from all quarters Of
our southern field, and from the tried
and fast friends Of the society, we have
received expressions the most unanim.
Gus and decided that any publication
by our press bearing upon the topic of
slavery, even though Of southern auth.
orship, and carefully kept within the
terms Of the resolutions Of the anniver-
sary, could have no other result than
preciptating the entire withdrawal Of
the South from cooperation with the
society. The now works would find nc
gate of access, and the separation would
henceIorth exclude even our older is.
sues, by hinging over them the suspi.
cion of their origin from a quarter pre-.
sumed to have become hostile to the
interests Of the South. OF those nc.
credited issues, the sitting Of rich g.
vangeIical literature in our own and in
European lands, (books on which Gods
Spirit has put his evident and gracious
approyal,) it seemed a sad necessity to
be compelled to clog in any way the
circulation.
From Maryland, Virginia, North
Carolina, and Georgia, from Alabama,
Louisiana, and Tennessee; We hear but
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