Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-10-03
THE AMERICAN TRACT sOCIETY's LAST
DODGE

Does not seem to meet with decided favor, either
North or South. All its proceedings for tho last
two years on the slavery question have been just
such as to bring upon it the contempt i: justly mer-
ito for it's cowardice and double dealing. We shall
rejoice to sec %juetice done to this paltering as
~Sociation which protesting the larges. benevolence
strikes hands in christian fellowship" with the
most desperate oppressors of this or any other
age.
The richmond South justly regards it as merely
= trick TO coax the South out of its sulky humor"
and expresses tho hop pc that tho overture may DO
rejected by those it lie designed to cozzen.
The conservative papers of the North which
we're we'll enough satisfied with the original ex.
purgating policy of the Society, speak out with
becoming surprise and Indignation at the regent
c curse of the executive Committee.
The Cincinnati Gazette says:
At the last annual meeting of the American
Tract Society, it will be Iemembered, certain def
mite action WAS agreed on y 18th reference to publ
cations on the subject OF Slavery. A number OF
the warmest friends of the Society at the North
have felt aggrieved that this subject. on which
they felt bound in conscieuce to speak out plainly
had so long been sejulously slurred over III :he
Society's publications. On e. other hand, ns con
slider able pecuniary contributions had been made
from the South, in aid Of the Society, and as it's
publications we're extensively circulated there, the
friends of the Society from that quarter objected
TO anything of an abolition tendency among it'd
works. 4 middle party proposed IA resolution,
which aYerted the anticipated storm at the ami
yersnry, and ultimately received unanimous assent.
IL was decided to publish 80 incendiary volume ur
tract, no work assailing Or discussing the institu
ton itself, but to set forth distinctly the moral
duties growing out of its existence-to speak Out
on the collateral bearings of this question.
The action of the society was decisive and per
emtory. 1t did not confer IA mere discretionary
power on it's publishing committee. To make the
matter more definite, in fact, one work was already
understood to be agreed on, The Duties Of Mas
ters," written by Southern hands. The commit
tee we're expected to go Forward with its publ
cation the present season. Quiet people congratE'
lated themselves shat this theme Of contention
WAS so happily disposed of.
Instead of the expected book, or, any other or
the same subject. We have an Apologize circular
from the committee, announcing their determine.
= ton to nulity the action OF the body from which
their power is derived, and to publish no work M
the subject whatever. And why Because, say
D the committee, "To proceed is to palsy one whole
3 side of our institution" They have been warned
that such publication ''could have no other result
than precipitatiDg the entire withdrawal Of thu
South from cooperation with the Society" The,
have accordingly decided to suspend the discharge
of a duty, explicitly and unanimously enjoined OF
them by the Society, until the next annual meet
ing.
This timorous, temporizing, tampering policy
has involved the Society in a difficulty tror
which it will be next to impossible ever to extri
cate it. Such lack of common foresight is amaz
. ing. Such absence OF moral courage is deplora
e BILE. We do not hesitate to say, that by this veal
e act the usefulness of the Society, for the presen
A at least, is essentially impaired. and that the ex
y ecutiye comrhimittee have forfeited the respec
alike of the North and the South by their surpris
n prising moral cowardice. II is a sad commentar,
on the times. 1t is one Of our most unexpecte,
failures. No matter what view n man may tax
of the subject in itself considered, or whether b
> be a Stakeholder or a non Slaveholder, he cannO
y respect such a time serving shifting oc purpose
: The course in question was resolved on, ate
earnest and prayerful consideration as We wer
9 in substance, Informed at the time, and was expli,
lily placed on grounds of conscience and duty
We do not undertake to decide whether this actio
" was right or wrong. With that we have nov
3 nothing to do. But a great public association
= charged with such important religious interests
: should, we Insist, be one thing or another.