The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-10-08
The Methods. Conference for soaslern In

ton o. series Of resolutions EXPIRE 'sing
the most uncompromiSing and intoleraa ut
opposition 10 the existence Of slavery.
Slavery is declared to be an unmitigated
evil, disolving the marriage relation be
tween It's victims, separating parents and
children, promoting adultery and cruelty
and is the sum OF all villyinies.
In the judgement of the Conference the
time has fully come when all Christians and
especially all Christian Ministers. should
fearlessly lift MP their voices and unite in
vigorous action for the extirpation of this
great evil.
The Conference view with adherence all
attempts, from whatever source coming, to
suppress a full, free, and candid discussion
and expression of opinion in regard to this
subject.
While the Conference deny that their gen
eral rule of discipline on slavery protects or
guarantees slaveholding in any sense, yet
they are in favor of so amending it as dis
tin, tly to prohibit The holding of human b.
ings as property
While they disavow any purpose or desire
to interfere with slavery beyond their ecclesi-
a>ttcal jurisdiction. il is, nevertheless their
firm purpose and resolve not only rs minis
tiers. but rs citizens of this land Of freedom,
holding rights and suiirages in common with
o.her ireemen. TO prevent as fur Us in them
/ lieth by all righteous and honorable means.
the extension OF slavery in.O territory that is
now, and OF right ought forever to remain
| free.
These resolutions were all adopted
with great unanimity. There is appar-
enlly great inconsistency in the positions
assumed Ii slavery be an uhmi.igated
evil the sum Of all vila;nies. how can
the members Of the Conference reconcile
it to their own conscienceS-to their
convictions of duty to their GGd and ie,-
low man, not TO desire to interfere with
the monstrous iniquity beyond Their
own ecclesiastical jurisdiction If il lie
the heinous sin, which they declare it e
/ lie, as messengers OF Chlist-as chris
tians-as men--they are impellad b.
every dictate OF humlEity-by every
sentiment Of the religion they profess
by every obligation OF a citizen or n
member OF a christian church--to main
tain unceasing, relentless war upon
such CRYING sin--such an unmitigated
wrong. How can men with tender con-
sciences live hourly in view OF such a
mountain Of guilt and iniquity upon the
/ opposite shore OF narrow stream, and
not cross its channel or raise a hand to
destroy it. Can members of church
whose mission * to reform the world, re-
main passive and idle in sight OF dark
er miss onaTv Srounl than Africa or Asia
present? Can they recognize the men
that maintain AMI uphold an institution
80 monStr0uS, as brethren AMI fellow
christians? The resolutions either stu!
tly their authors, or lead directly TO the
rankest- practical abolition. Their allie
/ cations and conclusions are inconsistent
or inSincere.
The Rev. E. II. SABIN was one Of the
most earnest advocates Of the resolutions.
lie said
Some :hings in the preamble and resolu
! ticu did &c. expc.ly suit him. md enc Of tha
resolutions be should endeavor TO umcnd.-
The fist resolution lie liked very much. II
was the honest expression of an honest sen
timent, an in tie m,rc express Oh OF Il u
timent ,hcre is moral power. We have seen
illustrations OF tits in n, Il and po ii a
world where The expression Of an opinion or
sentiment excited the whole nat on. lie va.
freely # the opinion this was ,he appropriat,
worn, of the church. The time was when b.
had conf lence in many other things besides
the church. but il was all gone now. II had
no confidence in the efficiency OF Temper
ance, anti-slayery, Odd Fellow. or Masoni,
societies for the elevation Of man. Ii til
werld is ever civilized and saved it Is TO bC
done by the church Of Christ.
For the vindication of moral principle We
need not lock to ci;il bodies. The church
was Gods appointed method FOR the discus
sion of moral truth. lie. the church take
these questions in hand-let them ur-e thcii
members to the faithful discharge Of duty
and by the blessing Of God the work would
be accomplished.
lie would take this occasion to say that he
did not believe that emancipation was the
remedy for the evils Of slavery. The expert
m-nts made demons ra cd this.
We fear that the Conference has, II
this movement committed a lamentablt
error that will impair If not destroy the
influence Of the church in is lcs.tinat,
sphere. BY meddling with mat,
that has become a prominent pOltica
and party question. it will make th(
church polti.o-rtligious body, AMI n
volve it in the biitereSt party eXcitemenl
Of the day. Party influences must hav,
: seduced aud betrayed il into the unror
tunate miSSt'p. In allyins Itself Will
RepublicaniSm, it will encounter the Bit
terest hostility and unrelenting perSecu
tons OF Old Llneism. 1t will be rem