Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-05-21

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ETY..
Rev. DR.. Thompson of the Independent,
took the floor, amidst cries of question, Kisses
&c. After the storm was lulled somewhat,
he proceeded to say that he could follow the
precedent of DR.. Bethnne Whoever might
state that he had desired to transform the
Tract Society into an abolition society-or to
have publications on slavery made prominent
would tell an untruth and he appealed
to all he had written and said to confirm his
words. Mr.. T. read extracts from tract,
now circulated and obtainabe at the Tract
Society house-entitled "Sambo and Toney,'
on the duties of servants-the title and Ian
guage showing indisputably that it referred
TO slaves-and said "now what we ask, and
all we ask is that the Society which prints
that should also print tracts for masters, and
quote St. Paul to them as well as to their
slaves He also read extracts from publica-
tons of the Episcopal Society, which do not
fear to speak of slavery. He had more con-
fidence in the christianity of the South than
to believe that the American Tract Society
could not do the same thing. Mr. Thomp-
son then offered the following resolution
Resolved, That while the Society accept without
question the statements of the Publish ing Com
mittce of their for delaying to publish any
tract, in accordance with the fourth resolution
adopted last year, yet inasmuch as there is now is
sued by the Society tract instructing servants in
their duties the Committee be instructed to pub
;yb tr,c tbo Irfin If mas tprs IN
the New Testament.
Rev. Il. S. Cook, a former secretary of the
Society, spoke ut length on the financial af-
fairs and colporteur system Of the Society.
The floor was then assigned to Rev. Mr..
Dennson of S. C. He said the South regarded
this vcxed question as matter entirely their
own.
The South did not object to the matter
contained in the proposed tract The objec-
ton to it was, that if it was adopted by the
Society, which could not sympathize with
them in their circumstances, the uniform
opinion was that there was danger to be ap-
pretended lest other tracts be issued to which
they could not give their assent, and that
thus this great Society which they loved and
cherished would become the mere organ of
the Anti-Slavery party of this country.
Gentlemen spoke as if there was danger of
doing harm by prosecuting the course that
was commenced by the Committee of Fifteen
last year He told them that there was no
danger The work was DONE Confidence
in the American Tract Society was destroyed
now. If any evidence were wanted of this,
a reference to the statistics would exhibit the
fact. South Carolina had for many years
contributed from $4,000 to $4,000, to the
c. L. - LoI E,l1
to $3.50, $50 of which had been given by his
congregation, where before the amount given
had ranged from $500 to 5000 a year. In
abiding to the rejected tract, the speaker
asked if it were possible that any member of
the Committee could have thought of pub
fishing such tract and sending it to the
South?
IIu would say that the cmissaries who
brought it would have done 50 at the risk of
their necks. Self preservation demanded of
them, whether Christians or not, when a
man presented himself at their loors with
such miSsal as that, to send him away, and
if he would not 60 by request, he should go
by violence.
A Voice-It is free country, is it not
Mr.. Dennison-We would show him, very
soon, whether it is free down there. [The
Rev. DR.. Murray was observed to make a side
remark to the speaker. The speaker said if
he had used an expression too strong, he would
withdraw it. In conclusion, he alluded to
the fact that the Charleston Bible Society had
distributed copies of the Bible among Slaves,
many Of whom could read.
In reply to a question OF Judge Jessup,
Mr.. Dennison said that he did not refer to
the tract prepared by Mr.. Young on the du-
ties of masters, as the rejected tract. The
rejected tract was an incendary document.
The Rev. DR.. Smith said that with that
they had nothing to do.
Prof. Howard Crosby offered the following
amendment
ReSoirca, That it is oxpedient that tract bear
ing upon the relation of master and slave be issued
at present, and that the circulation of the tract
Sambo and Tonoy be therefore stopped.
Mr.. Chittenden thought the colportage
system of the Society wrong and improbable.
Bishop Johns, of Baltimore, said he read
the tract of DR.. Young on the duties of
masters, before it was printed, and
with slight notifications, he thought it
an excellent work. lie would suggest,
however, that any matter BE- published at the
South rather than at the North, as it would
do more good
Rev. Dr. Chccver spoke at some length
against the course pursued by the Committee.
At three O'Clock tho question was taken,
and both Professor Crosby's amendment and
DR.. Thompson's resolution were laid upon
the table
John Jay offered the following resolution
Resolved, That nothing issued by the Publishing
Committee should express or imply the Christian
lswfulness of the system of American Slavery.
And it was laid upon the table.
Tho Meeting then proceeded to elect officers.
DR.. Dewitt offered the following reso-
luton
Resoiue9, That the officers Of the Society for the
ensuing year, be the same tho last year, except
that in the lace Of the Rev. DR.. Ludlow and tho
Rev. DR.. Young, deceased, tho Rov. George W.
Bethune and Peletiah PERT, ESD, be elected Vice
Presidents and Rev Edward p Humphrey of Dan
ville KY, Director.
which was adopted
The election Of the Executive Committee
of the Society by the Directors then followed
Rev. DR.. Bacon communicated letter from
the American Tract Society Of Boston, re-
ferring to the understanding when the union
between the Societies was made that the wishes
Of the Boston Society would be regarded in
The election Of the Publishing Committee, ana
expressing wish that one Of the Publishing
Committee Of the New York Society might be
taken from the Executive Committee of the
Boston Society, DR.. Bacon nominated there.
fora, Rev. Mark Hopkins, President of vii.