The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-05-13


and Rev. DIR. Theanpss~ Disagreea-Tne
Chairman II the Publishing Committee
Hisssd-The Society Backs Down Frsm Its
Former Action Defeat and Rout OF the
AbslitSsnists. &C., &c.
The thirty third annual meeting this society held
yesterday morning, In the Dutch Reformed church. Laay
etc place. From the differences existing between tho
Publishing Committee and certain members Of the society
the subject Of circulating tracts the duties OF slave
owners 70 their slaves, the utmost excitement mani
fested and long before the hour appointed for the
mencement Of the proceedings 70 o'cock) The vicinity Of
the church WAS crowded. Several Of the life members
were seated In the galleries early a. O'Clock and
persons but members were admitted. Policemen were
stationed during the day around tho church,
but their services were not required The building
filed 10 ts utmost capacsy-the life members occupying
the left galleries. and the directors the right The pulpit
charman's seat and gas srgs draped in mourning
IN consequence Of the death Of theastor Of the church,
DR.. Know.
O'Clock the chair wss taken by the President Chief
Justice williams.
The Rev. DR.. Plumner, OF Richmond, Va, having offer
ed up suitable prayer.
The Rev Dr. ADAMS read an elaborate report from the
executive committee, explaining their reasons for not
acting upon the resolutions Of the society passed last
year reference 10 the distribution of the slave
States We publish the following extrscts:-
state of things not rcreseen by the Committee Of
Fifteen-and which this Publishing Committee, though
carly appebendng IT, most certainly never by any act or
wish or delay of theirs aided precipated-now de-
welcomed itself The 1--WE resolutions first quoted had 10
many at the North seemed full commtta Of the Tract
society the anslsvery cause and had been widely
circulated Is SUCH apart from the countepose Of the
accompanying report and the other resolutions Southern
known and fast friends of the Tract Society in the
Southern and South States from coporteurs
and agents there from branch and State societies. and
from depominstions gatherings in that feld, there
back abundant and overwhelming mass OF evidence,
the files Of the society, that further action IN the
issue Of the contemplated treatise though OF south
ern auhorrhip, would have the effect Of dismemberng
society, Of destroying It's nationality far that
portion Of the country was concerned and Of excluding
fro that entire field our coporteurs and the volumes
and tracts Of the society those books that
other topics, because bearing sociey's imprint
imprint now made suspected
The living authors OF the proposed treatise on the
duties OF masters protested against their share Of IL being,
in this state OF feeling issued from press They had
certainly moral right say in what mode their writings
should be published We had no warrant or preceden. To
send out the words Of living author against his
plicn wishes In an institution from It's catholic aud
Christian character pledged 10 'love the brotherhood
fitting to counteract the express wishes Of breth
rem, in mode which even secular publishers are accus
toned ~ avoidY
We had no right To use in this widely changed state
OF Affairs, ~ peremptory Instructions set OF resolu.
tons that had been drawn up under another condition
OF feeling and with the expressed hope Of the Commit
tee OF Fifteen their suthors that these views would meet
appreciation in "sn parts Of our country Instead
there was, justly or unjustly, fixed and emphatic dis
appreciation in very many parts Of the country" Even
in the North manya great body perhaps in northern
conssftuenoy-were not ready 70 sustain such action
body Of bank directors who might have laid down. for
subordinate committee plan Of finance predcated the
older and more prosperous state OF exchanges and traffic,
would certainly not have expected that plan 10 be mp
city followed, upon the country's passing into . new
phase Of dstust insolvency The change fsurround
ing affairs would require, a. act Of justice 10 the
thors even Of the instructions suspenson OF action by
thoa al&axd hnnld NJ HvoS
instructions involve, In the phase OF the COM
merciAl community, vide spread loss.
ing body, important question in casusry with re-
gard TO new law. And that question in this case be-
comes What was the purpose Of the societynot Of the
Committee OF Fteen-out the society 1T s annual meet
ing, adopting that report, and in sending down the
officers and Executive Committee these resoutonsS That
society the party laying on u.s. or Imposing these IN
evidently, not separation from the South. The unxnmy
Of the vote tangible and rrefutsbe evidence OF this
No candid thinker conversant with the sentiments OF the
members OF the society and with the tone OF feeling In
the anniversary meetings believes that unanimous vote
could have been ever given CONSCIOUSLY for the dsmem-
plated result the services Of devou thanksgiving W Al
mighty God which followed the adoption harmoniousy Of
report and resolutions, would have been altered God
would have been sought but Il would have been with
some other and conflicting emotions rather than those
jubant exulsaon II the act Just passed had been though
70 be- In purpose and In assured result the farewell OF
tribes going out of our israel
After the declaration Of the entire dissatisfaction
by the Tract Society this topic, the constitutional ques
ton up, whether the original incorporate purpose
tons Of he Committees Of Ftses) did MOI explicitly for
bid such publication whom large bodies OF evangelical
me Executive Committee from the nrst we're, with
their experience, unable 70 forcsee how any path len
open the committee could, in the COLLISION Of Earring In
he society For ar.Tns, either a Inc North or the
South which they forbidden 10 resAliase, they
bad little regard Anxious 70 know and do their duty,
nFT
calmly but prayeuy with their brethren Of tho society
and with the God OF providence Out Of this society and
IN their own spheres political and eocesiastca hey have
which they do NOT however, deem the basis Of their
ton trustees in subordinate capacity Of great
uonal organization
the Vice Presidents, Rev. Dr. Ludlow, Of New Brunswick
and Rev. Dr. Youpg, OF Ky.
The Rev. Or. d. MioEE, chairman of the Publishing
Committee. then addressed the meeting He said be bad
but few words 10 say. The statement which they had
made had been ernded, and the meeting had listened
70 with such kind interest," thai be felt would be
treating the sudionoo fairy he spent much moro time
In stating the views Of the committee. There Two
reasons for the action the cpmmiee had akcnone Of
which was. had they pubshed the tract referred 70 they
would have dsmembered the society. Right wrong In
their views, that Was their conclusion; and they would
permit him 70 say thai they had evidesoe on that
.ubiec. which could no, be fully understood or
sincerely believed thai had they perevered the line
indicated by some and whch would have met the WINES
OF some they should have been the occasion OF dsmem
berine the society. Another thing equally plain
whether they we're misnformcd not-whch was that
large majority OF the friends and supporters q the society
not prepared for the result Of any such course they
not prepared for any Incidental advantage 70 be
secured by publ shing certain tract certain CUB
jet, which would dismember the society and break u
into dvistons. What the OF publishing
the duties OF masters vhen such tract would no, ind Cur
eulaOn IN the very Geld where was required and the
North not wanted They had been therefore, shut up
70 The course they had pursued and the society much
mistaken fthey believed that the Committee had treated
the Wishes Of The society shly They had considered the
subject and could not do otherwise than they had done
II, therefore, the society sustained the Committee they
were rcrdy TO 60 on but they thought they could get
men 10 do their work better then, IN the name Of Cod
LET them do 20. The matter entirely In their hands
Az IN Illustration OF this the reverend speaker nsisnced
the case OF Archtshop Leighton, who was, while Pres
byeran censured Tor not preaching up the umes while
all others did So He ssid"Do ali others preach up the
tmesf' and vas answered, Eyes" Then" said he,
"permit one humble brother 10 preach Christ Jesus"
(APplaee he trusted the society would not persist In
this course and thus separate from them neen states Of
the Union and ten millions Of people, and by such sepa