The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-08-17
chri.tian Anti-slavsry Convention.

nations.
A. A.GUTHRTE. was President, j. R. GID
DIxes, and J. s. CARPEsTER. were among the
Vice Presidents, 81. B. SpelIman, of Cleve-
land, was one of the Secretaries. All por-
tions of the State we're represented The
assembly embodied great weight of
intelligent and heartfelt piety. and
courageous. self sacrificing devotion to the
cause of truth and justice aud humanity.
The discussions were characterized by great
eloquepce, power and thoronghness. and were
well calculated to fire. encourage and strength
en- the hearts of Christian freemen. This in,
of praying, Christian men.
touching one of the great. indeed, the very
greatest evil and crime of the age, cannot but
be fraught with good.
The following admirable resolutions, after
full discussion were unanimously adopted:
l. Resoiued That the natural law. giving
to every human being the right to live. to that
liberty which is necessary to cherish and pro
tect life, obtain knowledge and prepare for
Heaven is hni the clearly revealed will of God.
2. Resolred, That to enslave innocent
men aid women, paralyzing the moral facnl
ties. shutting out the light of truth from the
understanding and compelling them to drag
out an earthly existence amidst the gloom and
darkness of moral death. constitutes one ni
the most aggravated violations of Gods will
one of the most momentous crimes presented
to human consideration.
g. ResofUed That the turpitude of thi:
crime rests on all who capture, enslave. import
SELL purchase. hold. Te-cap,ure, or re-enslave hu
man beings; on all who aid. encourage. pass
approve or enforce enactHaents for the cap
ture. enslaving holding. re.captnre, or re en-
slavement of Gods images. and the person
TINS offending will be held responsible at tbs
Bar of God.
4 Resotved That governments are con
stituted among men TO secure the enjoyment
of human rights, and they hold no Just au
thority to violate the will Of God bv iepriv
ing the humblest individual of his liberty; tha
Congress in passing the fugitive slave act o
1850, conferred no right upon slave catcher
to capture or ensave. to re capture or re en-
slave men. nor do they impose upon any per
son, the duty to submit to such capture o
| enslavement. nor is the law of God, nor tn
inalienable right of man. changed or modifet
by such enactments. nor are our christian du
ties to feed the hungry, clothe the naked. pro
,ect and defend the laws ard liberties of our
selves and fellow men, impaired..or changed b.
the enactment.
| 5. Resotred, That said Fugitive Slav
Act does not command that which is right
nor does it forbid that which is wrong-i
comes within no description of law and pre-
poses no essential element of law-it is an as
sertion of the will Of slave holders, and no
the will of God; it is the mandate of despoi
ism and not the statute or the lato of Chris
tian people; to maintain it is to uphold slave
ry in its worst and most revolving features
to permit its enforcement on the soil of Ohis
constitutes surrender of the rights and tn
dignity of our State and the liberties of on
people.
/ 6 ResoLred, That irrespectiv of politics
organizations, we will vote for 70 man for o
6ce who besifates to assert and to the exter
of his religious, moral and political influrnc
maintains the right of our State and its pet
pie to bs entirely lustrated and exempt frol
the expense, the guilt and disgrace of su,
porting the slavery of other States
Z. RESOLVED, That it is the duty Of Chri
tians and of Christian ministers to hear fatl
ful testimony against the sin of slavery cecil
siastically, socially. and politically. throng
the pnlpit and the religious press. and to ca
ry the wrongs of the oppressed to the thron
of grace in importuna'e PRAYER. that God ma
speedily deliver them that are in bonds
8. Resolved That to have any voluntar
agency. nficiaI or otherwise. in the re captur
or rendition of fugitive slave. is incompat
BILE with Christian character. and unless RI
pented Of should be punished by excomm,
lv,,1 IN ha nf IL H.
4 guilty of the crime against humanity an
! God; that this Convention do therefore al
prove of the act of exci~ion passed recently b
, the Market Street Baptist Chnrch of Zane
vile, Muskingum county. against a membt
who, in the capacity of Deputy q, Ma
shall restored fugitive 10 his claimant in vi
ginia.
9 Reso1red That that the example of II
Oberlin Wellington Rescuers in patiently ST.
iering long Imprisonment f r their mob
disregard of the nnconsti' utiona and nnchri
> tian Fugitive Slave Act, not accepting deli
eranre OH any terms that wonld compromi
principle and weaken the moral effect of tie
act and testimony, and finally triumphing o
er the Government. and gaining a release no
, orable to tho mselves. but disgraceful TO the
prosecutors. and humi'iating 10 The slave no,
er meets our hearty commenda'inn, and cal
forth our gratitude to God, whose wisdo
guided and whose ace snsi aimed them.
Prof FaircbiId. from the Committee a
pointed to propose plan of operations f
, the future submitted the following repol
/. which was adopted:
E lst. That this Convention appoint cor
mittee of twelve men. representing differe
parts of the State and different denomination
of Christians whose duty it shall he TO ma
age and promote the interests of the anti sla
: cry cause as they are represented by this Co
r ventioD, for the ensuing year. and until the
are dischaI ged by similar Convention, to
called by themselves, at the most suitable tin
and place in next year.
I'd. That this com mittee be recommen
: ed to appoint a general agent richly imbue
4 with the love of God and man, who shall lie
ture through the State for the ensuing yea
and collect funds for the promotion of OF
t cause.
Sd. That the general agent, with the q
n rection OF cub committee, to be appointe
:, by the committee of twelve, be authorized
: employ other lecturers, whenever and where
er suitable men can be obtained as far as Il
8 state of the treasury will permit.
: 4th. That these lecturers supply themselv
with anti slavery books and tracts, under ii
direction of the sub committee, and sell the
as extensively as possible through the Stat
also that they act as agent fo- anti slavery p
:, pers. 4e ~
5th. That the committee and gener
. agent be advised TO secure. as far as possihl
the cooperation of the Churches and mini
ters of the State. and of county committees
j. he appointed bv county Christian and ami
y slavery Conventions.
,. 9Th. That the committee be advised I
establish, if they shall deem it expedient,
Christian anti slavery paper. as an advoca
of our principles, and means of commur