Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-05-25


For the Spirit Of the Age.
Anniversary of the American ir0'
Society.
ican Tract SOCIETY,", ssstss fta-us ,af the Ayeer-
ing of Music, in this City, veStersizy morn
ing at 9 o'clock, which was opened with
prayer by Rev. DR.. Spring. The Presi-
dent, Chief Justice Williams, was in the
Chair. About 500 Life Directors and Life
Members were present, aud occupied the low
er floor, admitted only by ticket. A very
large audience occupied the galleries.
Rev. DR.. De Witt, Chairman of che Ex-
ecutiye Committee, made few opening
and touching remarks rs to the entire har-
mony of the Committee for 81 years.
The election of President, Vice Presi-
dents, Secretaries, &C., was then gone into,
which resulted in the reelection of the old
officers, with the addition of the Rev. G.
G. Gadsden, of Charleston, s. c., as Di-
rector, and Hon. w. G. Alexander, of N.
j., as Vice President The Executive
Committee was then reelected by a vote
Of 33l to % scattering. The election of
this Committee is only by Life Directors.
1Hc oppOuCHtS vi GHc EcOClcbYy UeCduSo
it will not approve, publish and scatter
Tracts against slavery, present, were far less
than last year. These few made desper-
ate, dying struggle to disturb the meeting
by Introducing resolutions and making
speeches to instruct or urge the Commit
tee to publish tracts against the slave trade.
Every resolution was voted down by a
called test vote of an overwhelming ma
jority, deciding that this and such subjects
do not belong to the Society, and should
not come up for discussion. After voting
| down all these resolutions, for fear some
might construe this so decided action as
encouraging the re-opening of the African
slave-trade, which christians north and
south are opposed to, the society passed
almost unanimously the following resolu-
tion, offered by the venerable DR.. Spring.
In offering it, DR.. Spring remarked, that
he had no sympathy with the spirit of op-
position to this Society, that he approved
all the action of this meeting, and that
with the great majority of those present be
desired to put an end to the discussion on
slavery before this Society, as it was an inn
proper time and place for such discussion.
The resolution is in these words, "Resolved,
that in laying the preceding resolutions up
on the table, the Society have not come to
t this conclusion from any doubt in relation
to the sin of the African slave trade and
, the great wickedness of re- opening that IN
iquitous traffic in any FORM" 1t this point
the 80 or 40 opponents left the house aCitI
$ all the aOind taken out Of their sails-the
4 Society taking the only ssc ground, that
i it is neither anti-slavery nor pro-slavery,
e having nothing to do with the subject.
n Gods spirit and grace was wonderfully
e manifested in the friends of this cause, en-
, abling them to decide and take so unani.
4 nous stand on the ground most clearly
It expoundcd in the meeting by Daniel Lord
e Esq, one of the ablest lawyers of this city
r that no abstract question, such as slavery
If could rightly be brought up by the Socie
e ty, all such being entirely out of the Secie
ty's constitutional work, which is only +
el spread such gospel truth as are. agreed III
pl on by all evangelical christians; and tha
r the Society at its annual meetings can or
etl ly elect its officers and committees to carr
IS out the work of cltarity-trost, as the com
Ell mittee shall unanimously agree; and ths
e, the Society can no more direct or instruc
I'd the action of that committee. than can tn
Ii people instract the Judge they elect ho,
Id he shall decide the questions that ma
at come before him. The whole matter
ny now clear, and with the strongest conf
- dence in the committee which has prove
be itself SO conservative and firm for man
he years, and with the continued direetio
,r- and blessing of God, we may press on wit
Al
"a needy at their homes with the bread
as life. Yours truly,
to w. J. w. CROWDER, Gen. Agt.
ce of Am. Tr. Soc for ~ ,
of New York, May 18th, 1859.
nd P. S.-A meeting in behalf Of the Al
sx- Tr. Soc, at Boston, was held this mornil
ar at DR.. Cheeyer's church. This Soc.
= heretofore been branch of the Society
the New York During the past year, no
lail ever, they begun to act as an independe
hat Society, publishing tracts on slavery, a
bit encroachiDg on the field of the Society
So New York Their meeting this morni
on took decidedly anti-slayery ground a
Ca bitterly opposed the position of the
nay tional Society. Their Secretary stated tt
lille hereafter they would publish against sla,
to nv as system. 1t was stated decided
use that it withdrew all connection with /
'rld Society at New York and would be int
be pendent, which course decides the disc,
an nection entirely Of that Society from
to National Society here. Henry Ward Bee
the er violently attacked the officers and cal
the of the Am Tr. Soc., ridiculing its work,
mo- publications and its supporters. The A
,less Tr. Soc. by this course will he free rron,
) 1t connection with those who heretofore b,
nent been determined, if possible, to force it
rue to publishing on vexed subjects.
ions Trusting in God that the National
aber ciety, which can safely 90 to all, north ,
vens south, may continue to be blessed in
they great work of carrying gospel truth to
may Fam yours truly,
YET WI. w. c., Agt
iren. for n {
hap re- Editors of n. G. will please pub
time. as soon as possible.