The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-06-17
NEW scrooi. PRFspYrEnIANs.

he NEW GCHUUt uGUttdi hoSClAuAy VI thN i
Presbyterian Church has Just closed long
session at Cleveland. The attendance was
large, and much important business came
before them, all OF which was promptly
and tremendously disposed Of, except the
question of slaveholding in the Churches.
| This was early introduced from both South
and North, both desiring some inality.
There were 228 members present, thirty Of
whom we're from slaveholding States. Vi
these Southern members twenty signed and
presented a paper. in which they say
"Slavery does exist by Divine ordination
and recognition for wise purposes.
That sin cannot be predicated Of the relation
itself, but of the abuse Of that relation.
That it stands in the same category with
the family relation, in the fact that II IS or
dained of God, in the sense above explained.
IL When we say it is right Tor our
churches to hold slaves under the present
circumstances, we mean to say they are
acting consistently with the spirit and letter
| Of the Gospel in SO doing"
The result was the adoption Of resolutions,
by a vote of l67 to 25, affirming the past
testimony of the church against slavery from
1887 to the present time, and further
, stating
1T is with deep grief that we now dis
cover that portion Of the church at the
/. South has so far departed from the establish
ed doctrine of the church in relation to
slavery as to maintain that ii is an ordinance
of God and that the system Of slavery cx-
isting in these United States is scriptural
and right. Against this new and alarming
doctrine we feel constrained to bear our
solemn testimony. II is at war with the
whole spirit and tenor Of the gospel Of love
and good will, as well as abhorrent to the
conscience Of the Christian world. We can
have no sympathy or fellowship with u aud
We exhort all our people 10 eschew II as
serious and pernicious errorr,h &c,
, Against this act twenty Southern mem
bcrs entered protest. Of which the follow
ins is copy:
The undersigned Southern Ministers
and Ruling Elders protest against the pre-
sent decision Of the General Assembly.
1--WE protest because, while past General
Assemblies have asserted that tie system Of
slavery is wrong, they have heretoiore
affirmed that the stakeholder was controlled
BY State laws, obligations Of guardianship.
and humanity, that he was, as thus situated,
without censure or odium as the master.
This ayermcnt in the testimony oil past
Assemblies has 80 far satisfied the South as
TO make it unnecessary 10 DO more than pro-
: test against the mere anti-slasery part OF
such testimony.
!. :" We protest then, now, tlat the present
act Of the Assembly is such an assertion OF
the sin Of slavery as degrades the whole
Southern church--an assertion without au-
I, thority from the Word Of God or the organic
: law Of the Presbyterian body.
I'VE protest that such action Il, under
present conditions, the virtual excluding OF
; the south, whatever be the motives Of tlose
who DO the deed.
I'VE protest that such indirect excision
j il unrighteous, oppressive, unealled for, the
b exercise Of usurped power, destructive Of
. the unity Of cur branch OF the church, hurt,
! ful to the North and to the South, and
d adding to the peril Of the union OF these
j States.
i IA. Ra.s, III. Logan, R.MtLrin.
e l. W. X Handy. y. NJ. Atkinson. A. J. Mode,
4 u. :. MuAe, r. 4. Gray, T.. X. Grnian.
q. W. Hulrhins. J. G. Hammer, 4. w. Cleand.
ti..rge plinief. ". q. Caldwell A. G. DirkersOn
u Henry Matthews. " A. Carson, X L. Rhsa,
L John r. Chester, Il. NJ. MInsOn, u. s.uck.
+, j. V. Barks,
e The Assembly. through the Moderator
2 appointed committee u repl, 10 the pro
e test, who, alter withdraw ing lrnm the llOus,
! for the purpose, reported the following re-
sponse:
g la reply to tie Protest against the actor
Is taken b, the Assembly on the subject d
!. slavery, the Assembly make the following
J. remarks:
. 81. The present action Of the Assembl,
e on this subject is in perfect harmony with
d the Testimonies OF former Assemblies, ant
le consists chiefly 10 re-affrmation of ihos'
!, testimonies. The General Assembly hai
e never affirmed that the stakeholder was -
E, controlled b. State Laws, obligations o
u guardianship aud humanity, that be was. ii
thus situated. without censure or odium ii
the master. Ii has only conceded that GER
81 tain exceptional cases may exist. such a. az,
!. defined in the resolutions adopted BY th,
n Assembly Of 1850 and approved BY thu
b. Assembly.
/ 80. We see nothing in the present actor
l. which is unconstitutional or even reflect
4 upon any portion ol the southern Church
pf which still abides BY the old doctrine Of th'
u PRESBYTERIAN Church in relation 10 thi
:. subject.
u 20. With respect to the complaint tina
!, such action i. under the present conditions
u the virtual extending 81 the SOUTH thl
{ Assembly observe that no such excelsior i
~ intended, and We cannot perceive that il i
ie in any wise involved even BY remote iinpli
Al cation. wehase simply affirmed the estab
10 lshed views Of the PRESBYTERIAN Church d
I. the subject Of slavery, and distinctly con
', demned the new aud counter.luctrine
le which have been declared and defended b,
some within our bounds.
-. With regard to the allegation tia
to our action in this case is unrighteous. OPP
10 pressiye, uncalled for usurpat0ry and de
II .trnriiNn nE t,rnat iniereaia We need nnll