New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-12
THE ANNIVERSARIES.
CAUCUS OF MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN
TRACT SOCIETY

TRACT SOCIETY.
The most interesting feature OF the Anniversaries
thus far is caucus Of members of the American Tract
Society, which began Monday. This convocstion
was held in pursuance of confidential circular issued
stt month. DR.. TYING explained that it was friendly
and impartial conference Of gentlemen of all shades Of
opinion talk the attitude of the Society upon
the inject of Slavery in order to anticipate, if not 10
prevent the public drawn battle which expected at
the Anniversary meeting.
Chief Justice HORSEPOWER of New-Jsrsey, spoke
strongly in favor of decided Anti-Savery course.
He lad known something of Slavery before Justice
fancy was bonn, and he thought it sin that violates
every command in the decalogue it was the author OF
robbery, n-stealDg, murder, adultery and incest
Tolk not to me- said he, of Christian stakeholder,
sitting at the communion table with his chatteis,
while if he can get good price for his brother in
Christ he will take II.
the comr meeting to order the Co nmittee TO pub
sb as dire cted last year. resc ind the resolutions
Dr. Bacon Of Conn. thought the Committee would
press the resembling Of the resolutions.
The Rev. Dr. AsAD SMITH said the questionis not
whether the Society shall publish abolitionism, but
WI ether it shoud publish tract on the duty OF mas
tiers after one the duties of slaves.
Dr. HAYES thought they could not rescind, rs 1t
would be stultifyDg themselves
After appolntir g Co nmittee on business the eau
Gus Adjourned.
On Tuesday DR.. TYING, who was unable to attend
sent note indicating that he would adhere to the en-
tire action of last year and make no opposition to the
reelection of the present management, provided they
would agree to carry out the resoutions LEWIS TAP
PAN made a short speech, proposing to adhere, but
severely denouncing the idea Of recognizing Slavery
in this way. The Society, he said might well pub
sh tracts on the duties of pirates and gamblers He
proposed resolution that the Society publish tract
on the sinfuness of American Slavery.
The Rev. DIR. THOMPSON, from the Business Com
ufee reported that the resolution of last year TO
print on the moral duties which grow out OF the exist
,nce of Slavery and those moral evils and wees WIN
is known to promote, should be immediately carried
into effect.
Mr.. TAppAS wanted a preamble saying, " Whereas,
in the judgment Of this Society, American Slavery
| is a sill before Goo" =,
DIR. BACON thought this was unnecessary ana would
| DIR. CHEEvER supported the preamble; TO vote it
| down he thought would be a retrograde movement.
| DIR. PALMER Of Albany thought the amendment
would lead TO issues which would secure the defeat OF
| Dr. SMITH would use that fundamentally against
| Slavery in which they could all agree.
DR. CHyEyrR said unless they went into the Society
with come declaration in advance of the aston taken
| two wears ago. they would be defeated. For himself,
he had rather be defeated with the will OF God than
conquer with the devil.
Tie Rev. Mr.. CLARKE ssid tne question wa wa
| whether Slavery was sin before God or not. Inen
would they express that belief; would they out with
it. and put it before the American Tract Society
TIE Rev. Mr.. BIsHoP said that had he supposed he
was invited to an Anti-Slavery discussion he Would
| hive STAYED at bone. He was in favor of affirming
tie action of the Society in 1857 but he did not wish
to sse the meeting spt up into vulgar frations oy
the introduction Of matter not appropriate 10 the
| occasion. -
Lad sert him to New York to stand by the acton Q
the Society taken last year. He deprecated the amend
meIt uncalled for, in view of the duties sppersin
| ng to the Tract Society.
| TIE Rev Dr. IDE remarked that i. wa, often a.
| dangerous to say too much too little. Let theu
coI fine themselves in porting out TO stakeholder
their duties, and not make this broad DECLARATION
not but that in bis heart he believed Slavery {,
| be sinful and it was one OF those truths that Nigh
| SAT- " be taken for granted
| The Rev. Mr.. BARTLETT concurred IN Whist lei
| from his brother Patton. Had he been apprlsed tina
| such al amer dment would be adopted, he would no
| ht We come here OF al.
| The Rev. MI FEssENDES said that his people woul'
oppose any action Of the American Tract s'clet!
| refusing to pass refoluiion declaring American
Slavery TO be SIM If the tire had not come TO sa,
Il at American Slavery was sin, in the name oil U0'
| when would il come
| SA CHlTrESDrN, esq, observed thst the gentle
men who were in favor OF turning the American Trsc
Society into the most effective and urgent Aboitlo
Society that could be organic ed in this country can
there, he believed, to eDgrsft upon the resou!ion
| framed q year ago by fifteen men of superior edaca
| ton, declaration which they knew all Christian mel
behaved but which il was not necessary al al time
H. assert. lie did no. think the meeting deemed !
proper that the American Tract Society should D.
rent into ten thousand pieces, by Introducing her
pm cpes which, if they be true, wtud forever pre-
clude any practical salvation for the Society de De
eved the Society doomed. lie believed tina
from the facts stated in the pamphlet distributes
around the Socie'y contained the germs OF It's ow
DIE solution He looked upon al this colporteurage
Luu bug, leading to wastes and expenditures, whicl
could not be stopped unless the whole system was re
modelled. lie wanted vote on the question.
The Rev. II. w. BEEcHER made few remarks
ard was followed By the Rev. Dfs HAYES aud BUSH
| NELL.
tie amer dment preseIted 10y Mr.. Taopan.
The Rev. DR.. THOMPSON exhOrted the meeting I
think for moment Of the moral power with whic
they cou go before the meeting TO morrow upon T.
Gcp The fruit of the wisdom of fifteen well-'el.cte
mtp, after year Of Investigation tie unsn!mou. &c
clsr,tion of the Society that i, could and ougat
mint tact On the moral duties which g,es Ut Z
ne fact that Slavery existed aud the mora svi' az
vices il wss know TO promote. Had guy cnant;a
lind what they ought to d., ceased 10 be S "a 1'is
ton1 Tlese was their moral power Inc h1ev'