The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-06-30

~ ssutiments expressed n he Assembled
Of 1915, 1918, and 1919. - the year 1850
- General Asssnbly nsds the telio~ina
declaration:
awe exceedingly Asplors The wsskisg d
the whole system Of slsvegy - y exists ia
our country, and 10 interviewer with the pc.
litical institutions Of the slsveholding states
A. fraught with many and great evils to the
civil, political, and moral Interests Of those
regions where Il exists.
"The holding Of our fsilow-men in the
condition Of slavery, except in those GASES
when it 10 uuassidsbls BY the laws of the
state, the Obligstisps Of gassdisnship, or the
demands Of humsnity, b IN ohense 10 the
proper import Of thkt term, ~ used in the
book of discipline, chap. l, sec. 3, and
should be regarded and treated in the same
manner NJ other o6snses.'
Occupying the position in relation to this
subject which tho trainers Of our constitu-
ton held ct the 6rst, and which our Church
has always held, it ID with deep grief that va
now discover that portion Of the Church u
the South hes 90 far departed from the es-
tablshed doctrine Of the Church In relation
to slavery, - to maintain sit il m ordipang
Of God,o and that the system Of slavery
which exists 10 these United States u scrip.
tural and right. Against this new doctrine
We feel constrained to beal our solemn testi.
mony. It 10 q war with the whole spirit and
tenor Of the Gospel Of love and good will,
- we'll - abhorrens to the conscience Of the
christian world. We can have no sympathy
or Fellowship with II; and We exhort I'll Of
our people to sschsw It - serious and per-
nicious error.
We are especially painsd By the fact thu,
the Presbytsry Of Lexington South have Civ.
% oncial aotics to ~ that . number Of min.
listers and ruling elders, - veil - MANY
church nsmbsrs ii their connection, hold
slaves sfrom principle" snd Of sschoics,' y
.s.believing il 70 BE-, according to the Bible,
right, !" and have, without any qualifying q.
planstion, assumsd therssponsibility Of sus
talning such ministers, elders, and church
members in their position. We deem il oul
duty, in the cxsrciss Of our constitutions
authority, 70 "bsar testimony against esror ia
doctrine or innortality In practice h ssJ
Church, Prssbytssy, Synod, /" to disappfovt
and earnestly condsmn the position which
has been assamsd b the Prssbytsyy Of Lsx.
ington South, - ons whiohis utterly opposed
70 the established convictions Of ~ -presby.
tsrisn Chersh, aad must operate to mar IL
peace aud sssiopsly inju1S tt prosperity, -
well = briAg rsproash on orr holy rsliIioa
I'D - - hsesby ell On shat Pessbytsry to
tesisw - eesfsss thsse petition. Sssl
3osssinss 81 psassies sssaos b. pesnaAsss-
u tolerated IL the Prssbytseisa Chsrsh.-
May they speedily melt away andsr the ill.,
minating and nsilowine inaqsnss Of the gos-
pei and grace Of Gel eanoasior.
wedo NOT, iadssd, prOsounss sentence ol
indiscriminate condemnation upon ell oaI
brethren who are unfortunately connested
with the system Of slavery. We tendcrly
aympathiss with ell those who deplore the
evil, and are honestly doing sllin their pow
er for the present well-being Of their slaves,
and FOR their complete emancipation, We
would Aid ,aad not embarrass cash brsthren.
And ,ysk Ia the Language Of the General As
sembly oftlSt6, We would warn them sgainst
unduly extending the plea Of necessity
against making il cover for the love and
practice OF slavery, or pretense for NOT
using efforts that are lawful and practicable
to cxtinguish this evil.
In conclusion, the Assembly call the atten.
ton OF the Publication Committee to this
subject, and recommend the publication, in
a copvsnisnt,f srn, Of the entire testimony Of
the PresbytSffxHC lattsd; soaShing shis SUBJ
ject, st the earliest practicable period.