Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-06-06
SESSION.

After O fiery Southern speech from Mr.. Hast
ings, of Tennessee, the Report of the Commute
upon Bills and Overtures upon slavery was takei
up. -.
tute the following:
"Resolved, That the constitutional Presbyterian
Church will not allow preachers to preach in thu
slaveholding States, without their being subjected
to the annual roproofs and admonitions OF the
General Assembly"
After a speech from the mover, the resolution
was postponed indefinitely.
Mr.. Cutter, OF Ohio, offered the following sub
%stitu.e for the report of the Commute;
The General Assembly in view of the memorials
presented, and under a deep sense of their respon.
sibility to God and the Church, feel called upon to
take the following action.
We do hereby explicitly condemn the doctrines
that slavery is sanctioned by the Scriptures of the
Old and New Testament, as O fundamental
error, with which we have no sympathy or fellow.
ship.
And whereas, the Presbytery of Lexington
South, has forwarded to this Assembly q memorial
containing the following words:
"There are ministers of this Presbytery who
are Notwithstanding slaves under the belief
that according to the Bible it is right-and also
nearly all the ruling elders in the churches under
the care of the Presbytery are Shareholders, be
lieving it TO be according to theOld andNew Tesla
ment Scriptures right; while a large majority oil
the members who are property holders are slave
holders, believing that it is right :" and while
offering no qualifying explanations of theii
language, the 'Presbyteary "have assumed the re-
sponsi5ility of sustaining such ministers and
elders in their position" Therefore,
This Assembly is constrained in the exercise o.
its power OF reproving, warning; and bearing tes
timony against error in doctrine or immortality il
practice in any church, presbytery or synod, to dis
approve and condemn the position which is assum
ed by thePrsbytery of LexinGton South as one which
is not only unscriptural, but utterly opposed to thu
long established and often expressed convictions o.
our church, and calculated to mar its peace anC
seriously hinder its prosperity, as well as bring re-
preach upon our holy religion, and this Assembly
does hereby call on the Presbytery Of Lexington
South to review and rectify their positions, and in
case the Presbvtery shall neglect to comply with
the request, the Synod of Mississippi are directed
to take coguizance of the case OF the earliest op.
portunity.
Mr.. Wallace, of Phils., thought the Assembly
would, after a full discussion, fall back upon the
report Of the committee as the best under all cir.
cumstances. There were two classes in the church
in the Southern States two distinct opinions. That
those who believed with DR.. Ross and the 4. 4od Of
Mississi 2pi. were a minority, forming the fret class
with whom the speaker did not agree. The second
class were largely the majority. They do not agree
with Or. Ross, but believe lis doctrines contrary
to the scriptures. They do not believe the slaves
sought to be emancipated; but are in favor Of grad
ual emancipation--they desire it. They have NO
sympathy with the first class, at least not with
their principles. They believed slavery to be q
violation of mans rights. This doctrine was for
merly held by DR.. Ross and he showed his sinceri
ty by setting his slaves free. lie believed that
slavery was wrong, but he also believed that the
Almighty tolerated its existence, according to
the testimony of the Scriptures, and thought it
best for them. They went free on the day of
and were thus gradually emancipated.
This was what the Savior and the Apostles
taught. He was from Pennsylvania, the first
State which abolished Slavery in the
world, an he could not shut off men holding
of the second class. He did not say the
phraseology of the report was just right, but be-
lieved its fundamental principles right
Mr.. Guthrie, of Ohio. When such sentiments
came from another quarter he did not mind
them; but coming from a Northern minister, he
'ould not but be astonished. He did not believe
he assertion that tie majority of the members
If the Presbyterian church South were opposed
o slavery and slaveholding involuntarily.
Mr.. Grafton said he was from the South. and
would testify that no such views as those attribut-
I'd by MIR. Wallace to the second class were held
here.
Mr.. Guthrie liked that. 1t was straightforward
and outspoken-the idea of a large majority of
the Shareholders being opposed to slavery was non
sense.
The Assembly then adjourned to Friday.