Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1858-06-26

the Society has sustained them.
The Constitution of the Society is their
best defcnce. 1t gives ne powerto a meet
Ing OF the Society to instruct them what to
publish OF withhold. They are wholly II.
responsible, thecontrol of the Society tor-
mlnating after it has elected its best mon,
to this all important Office, with only the
power remaining to elect others in their
place at the ensuing anniversary. Even if
the Constitution reserved, to the Society any
right to direct the proceedings of this Com
mttee, such a right could not be exercised
III requiring them to violate, its own ex.
press provisions and the most fundamental
and essential principles of its existence. -
The Committee We're required by that in
strumentto publish only what should be
calculated to meet the appreciation of all
evangelical Christians,i and it was evident
that such publications as the report of the
Committee of fifteen demanded of them.
were IN opposition to the sentiments of
section OF our common country, containing
q population of eleven million Of pcople Of
dificrent classes and colors, and embracing
as many evangelical Christians as any SINH
lar portion of Christcndom. The Ixccu-
tive Committee were therefore driven by
their loyalty to the Society and its Consti-
tuition to tho only course they could adopt,
which with asingle unimportant execution,
a small and useful tract published twenty
years ago; addressed to slaves, and entitled
sNsToncy and Sambo, had been the ancient
and uniform practice of the Society from its
foundation, viz: entire silence upon the
subject of Slavery as distinctive irstitu.
ton They simply published nothing ON
the subject. -
Atthe late anniversary of the Society.
held IN New York, May 18th, 1853, twas
moved by the Right Rev. Bishop McIl.
yaine, that "thc action of The Executive
Committee ., be be,approyed by this Society,"
This resolution was carried by majority of
not less than three to one, and it can be re-
garded in no other light than that in which
it was held by q prominent and able oppo-
inentr-"a sweeping of the record clear of
oil that was done last year upon thesubicct.''
The yictote achieved by the conservative
members of the Society, over those who
sopght to transform it into q propaganda of
.abolitionism MS we'll rs those of moro mode.
rate views, who still desired to re-affirm the
resolutions Of 1857, so obnoxious to the
South, has been most complete and trium-
phant 1t was estimated that there were
present more than 1900 Life Members and
Life Directors, and they constituted a BODY
whose superior in wisdom, firmness, and
has never been seen in this +
any other country. OF this number, it is
believed that l 1000 voted without qualiR.
cation on reserve an apployal,of the grave
responsibility assumed by the Executive
Committee Now whenitis rcmembercd
that the Committee in sustaining their
course, distinctly and publicly, took the
ground that they were not warranted byt the
Constitution to publish tracts offensive to
evangelical Christians at the South who
cooperate with them, and when it is also
that the proximatc cause etho
action OF the Committee was the rapid and
wide spread withdrawal both of confidence
and contributions ON the part of their breth-
renof the slayeholdi dingSatcs, this decisionof
the Society must be considered as a sacred
pledge and guarantee to the South, that so
long as Christian public sentiment here for
bids issue oftructs or books by the Amer
IcanTnctS Society uponthe subject ofSlayery
that Society will avoid that subject in the
same manner, and for the same reason that
y avoids trcating the mode of Baptism,
Church Government, Mode Of Worship,
Prcdestipation, and Kindred Topics And
reeelycdln this light; we esteem the history
OF tho American Tract Society for the past
three years, ~ most fortunate for all par-
ties, except those whose revolutionary
schemes haze been so miserably defeated.
49,,