Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1858-05-06
NO. &c.

Report Oh the Committee ON Slavery Of
the North Indiana Conferences Of the NJ.
L. Church.
We have from time to time in our Con-
ference action expressed in decided, yet
as we think, temperate manner, our deep
conviction of the enormous and growing
evil of Slavery. Another twelve months
has but deepened these convictions, and
we come together in conference capacity,
not to retract or take back any thing we
have said or done. but rather to reaffirm,
and according to he indications of Prov
idence, go forward till our department
of Zion be purged from this unhallowed
stain.
Slavery which in the early days of our
Republic, existed by sufferance, an evil
which the patriots, statesmen and Chris
tians Of that era deplored, now presump-
tuously claims equal rights with freedom,
while pretended patriots, professed states
men and men claiming to be Christians,
and Christian Ministers, stanl up in Iegis-
lative halls and in the pulpit to defend it AZ
a divine Institution sanctioned by Gods
word. But whe ever it goes it is deadly
blight; wherever it steps every interest
withers; wherever it drags its snaky folds
death follows in its train, when clad in the
mantle of religion, seeking refuge in the
church of God, its hideous form is still
seen, forcibly reminding us of those an
cient times when the sons of God presenting
themselves before the Lord, Satan came
also among them. Originating in man
CT nj 4. e \
by age. but it is gross outrage upon the
rights of humanity. He that holds a
man as a chattel, buying, selling transfer
ring him from one owner to another, like
the brute beast, can but be usurper and
oppressor. -
They who are reduced to the miserable
condition of slavery cannot sustain. as
God has made it the privilege of human be-
ings to sustain, the various relations of
husband and wife, parent and child
husbands and wives, parents and chill
dren, brothers and sisters are torn asun-
der at the will of their masters, and they
have no redress nor alternative but to
suffer on till He that sits upon the
throne on high shall redress their grievous
wrongs.
Slavery debases the soul, dwarfs the in
tellect, and shareholders, that they may
rivet more firmly their chains, make it a
penal offence to teach slaves to read, lest
by so doing they should learn their priv
ileges, become restless and throw off the
yoke.
We have seen with deep sorrow those
high in authority lending their powerful
influence to perpetuate and extend this
giant wrong. Executive recommendations
and patronage, Legislative enactments and
Supreme Court decisions combining not
only to rivet more firmly the bonds on col
ored men, but in effect saying to the de-
scendants of Anglo-Saxons, We, too, are
our slaves; saying, as in the case of Kan
sas. nsinorities shall rsle, .najorities must
submit.
To such a system of oppression, wheth-
er operating in church of State, we can not
as Christians give our sanction as Chris
tian Ministers we will not fail to bear our
testimony against it. We will not forget
that the slave is our brother. Our sym
pathies are with him; and our prayers shall
ascend to God in his behalf, that while he
is shaking the heavens and the earth, the
sea and the land, he will shake off the fet-
ters Of the slave and grsnt him that free
dom which is his ''inalienable right" -
RESOLVED, That we. with the founder of
Methodism, consider slavery the ''sum of
all villainy'' .-.f -, s..-.
Resolued, That we are, as ever, uncom-
promisingly opposed to its existence and
extension in our country; and that. as
a Conference, we here by pledge our
selves to stand firmly and unitedly TO-
gether upon the ground We have heretofore
taken.
Resolred, That we will labor as Chris
tian Ministers in all prudent ways to extir-
pate slavery from our Church. asa
Resolved, That we are in favor of so
amending our general rule on slavery as to
make it prohibit, not only the buying and
selling, but the holding. human being in
slavery. sri ts-o'ss- s.i iIis va-e'
ri Resolved, That we approve the course
pursued by the Editors of the Western
and North Western Christian Advocates
on this question; that we will sustain them
by our prayers and influence, and dowhat
we can to extend the circulation of those
church papers.
Resolved, That we have searched in vain
Tor any thing obnoxious in the teaching Of
he S. s. Advocate on this question,
and, believe it right that an anti
slavery Church sould inculcate: anti
slavery sentiments in the minds OF her chill
lren.
Resolred, That at the suggestion Of the
Wisconsin Conferences. we will appoint
of correspondence to correspond
With other Conferences for the purpose of
rying to secure uniformity of action on
his question, and Rev. j. j. Cooper be
aid committee.
Respectfully submitted. fi
usN lsaalisl j. B. BRIT, Chairman.
, III. III. cHAnxEs, Sec'y. .as.-ss:3o.sf In.
ReIu0rkah Sivhf.~ oF Qnff ~