Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-04-23

the Socicty's Tracts, there was an entire omis.
sion OF every thing which could be taken t.
bear upon SLAVERY in the United States, cthoi
upon the system itself, or upon any of the
atrocious wrongs committed under it or the
vile denominations constantly found to accom-
pany it and to spring from it. Moreover, in
a few remarkable instances it was found that
in republishing, for distribution as tracts, the
works of certain authors. some brief passages
condemnng slavery in decided terms were
| carefully struck out or so altered as to quito
blunt or destroy their original force. Neither
was there any fair notice given in tho rcpub-
lication, of such omissions or alterations
This course of procedure did not pass with
out remark and occasional rebukc from here
and there an individual. NIultitudcs of the
friends and patrons Of the Society were dis
satisfied with it, but took no positive action
against it. They continued their favor and
their contributions, and hoped matters would
be gradually changed for the better. BY de-
grccs, however, it was we'll understood
that the officials of the Society intended no
change of policy on that subject In their
view it was proper for them to press the
divine prcccpt whatsoever We would that mon
should do to you, do yc even so to them - ON
the merchant,with reference to his customers.
on the master mechanic, with reference to his
journcymen and apprentices, on the farmer
and the head of the family, with reference to
those under their influence and protection
but not upon the STAKEHOLDER in reference to
his slaves. To inculcate the reading of the
Scriptures was all well, but to rcbukc the
wickedncss of debarring slaves from all per-
sonal knowledge of them, and making it a
crime to teach them to read or write was not
allowable. Tracts against the sale of intoxca-
ting drinks were within the proper scope of
the Society but the raising of human beings
for sale and selling them like cattle was out
side of its pale. The theatre, the dancing
school and the gambling hell might be de-
nounccd, but the hell of the slave pen must
not be spoken of. In short slavery in the
United States, and every thing which per-
talns to it, was under a complete taboo in
the Society's publications 1t was to he
neither touched nor named. No more
thorough taboo was ever known in the Pa
gan islands of the South seas
Dissatisfaction with such line of policy
continued to deepen and spread and to find
open expression. Expostulations, arguments
and circumstances from individuals and from
religious bodies flowed in upon the officials.
but to no effect; while from certain religious
and secular journals bitter dcnunciations wcro
poured forth on all such mcddlers and fault
finders. They were accused Of being bent
upon turning the Society into mere organ
of abolitionism-of being ready to scatter
irc-brands, arrows, and death among brcth-
rem to promote pohiicM ends, &C. Some of
these attackS-ycry violent ones too-upon
the actions and motives Of the rcmonstrants
were found to have had their authorship
among the Salaricd officials of the society it.
self. The time came when an earnest consd-
Grafton of the subject Of disagreement could
be deferred no longer; and at the Annual meet
ing Of 1856. Il Special Committee of fifteen
persons was appointed to give that subject
and the general management Of the Socicty's
affairs thorough examination, and to make
report at the next annual meeting. We
have not before us at this moment all the
names OF the fifteen gentlemen appointed on
that Committee. but we rccollect that Ex-
Chancellor Frclinghuysen Of New jersey
Judge JeS'up of Philadelphia, President
Hopkins Of Williams College. Rev. Dr.
liawcs of Hartford, Ex-Prcsldant Wayland of
Providence, Rev. Drs Dewitt and Bndcll of
\. Y, and Barnes of Philadclrhia. were Of
the NUMBER and the others were men of equal
cminence for ability, integrity and candor.-
After patient inquiry and discussion, the cx-
ccutive officers of the society having been al
lowed full opportunity to express their own
views and to furnish information on the sub
ject, the Special Committee drew up their re-
port, and embodied their conclusions in GER
tain resolutions, as follows
:" In relation to publishing upon the subcc, Of
slavery, the Committee recommend the adoption of
IN. following resolutions as marking out the limo
OF discrimination between what the American Tract
9oclety accordn; to it, Constitution, may and may
not publish:
% Rcoirod !. That the American Tract Society
was established for definite purpose namely: 'to
GlIuse knowledge OF our Lord Jesus Christ as the
hedeemer OF sinners, and to promote the interests
OF vital goodness and sound morality by the crcu-
latlon OF religious tracts calculated to receive the
appreciation Of all evangelical Christians
q" z That this Society cannot therefore with pro-
prlety allow itself to be made special organ Of
any one system of religious or moral reform. such
as temperance, peace, anti-popery, anti-savery, |
etc; while within its proper sphere its influence |
should sustain the Of truth and righteousness
in all their departments
-. Ihat in endeayorng to accomplish its high |
and holy mission, the Society should deal even
handedly, and bear impartial testimony against
all forms OF fundamental doctrinal error and prac-
'lcal immortality, prevailing in any and every part
Of our country.
" (. That in the judgment Of your Committee
the political aspects Of slavery lie entirely without
the proper sphere of this Society, and cannot be dis
FUSED IN its publications but that those moral duties
which grow out of the existence of slavery as we'll
as those moral evils and vices which it is known to
promote, and which are condemned in Scripture
aud so much deplored by evangelical Christians,
undoubtedly do fall within the province of th. So.
'iety and can aud ought to be discussed in frater-
nal and christian spirit.
-, Ihat whatever considerations in the pat
nay have seemed to recommend to the Publishing
lommittce the course pursued in the revision Of
certain works, yet in the future publication Of
books and tracts, no alteration or omission of tbo
entiment' of any author should be made; but
works not adapted t. the design of tho Society in
heir original form, or by a regular impartial
'bridgmcnt should be wholly omitted"
The a'M referred to mode of amending
.he constitution The sercah was an ac.
Snowlcdgcment of theplst favor and blessing
which Divine Providence had shown towards