Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-09-08

/ The following are the resolutions
adopted by the above named body.
which met in Columbus. Ohio, week
before last.
/. Resolved. That the natural law.
giving to every human being the right
to live, to that liberty which is neces-
sary to cherish and protect life. obtain
knowledge and prepare for Heaven. is
but the clearly revealed Will OF God
>. That to enSlave innocent men
and women. aralysing the moral fac
ulties. shutting out the light of truth
from the understanding, and compel
ling them TO drag ont an earthly ex-
istence amidst the gloom and darkness
Of moral death, constitutes one of the
most aggravated violations of Gods
will, one of the most momentous
crimes presented to human considera-
tion.
3. That the turpitude of this crime
rests on all who capture. enslave, inn
port, sell, purchase, hold. re-capture.
or re-enslave human beings; on all
who aid, encourage. pass. approve, or
enforce enactments for tho capture. en-
shaving, holding, recapture, or rc-en-
shaving Gods images. and the persons
thus offending will be held responsible
at the Bar of God.
f. That governments are constitu-
ted among men to secure the enjoy
ment of human rights, and they hold
no authority to violate the will of
God by depriving the humLlest indi-
vidual of his liberty; that Congress in
passing the Fugitive Slave Act of 80,
conferred no right upon slave catchers
to capture or enslave, to re-capture or
re-enslave men, nor did they impose
upon any person, the duty to submit
to such capture or enslavement, nor i
the law of God. nor the inalienable
right of man, changed or modified by
such enactments, nor are our chris
tian duties to feed the hungry. clothe
the naked. protect and defend the laws
and Liberties of ourselves and fellow
men, impaired or changed by the en-
actment.
5. The Fugitive Slave Act does not
command that which is right. nor does
it forbid that which is wrong-it
comes within no description of law
and possesses no essential element Of
law. it is an assertion of the will of
slave holders, and not the will of God;
it is the mandate of despotism and not
the statute or the LAW Of a Christian
people; to maintain it is to uphold
slavery in its worst and most revolt
ing features--to permit its enforce
ment on the soil of Ohio, constitutes
surrender of the rights and dignity
of our State and the liberties of our
people.
6. That irrespective of political or
CARNATIONS, we will vote for no man
for Office who hesifates 4" assert and
to the extent of his religious, moral
and political influence. maintains the
rights of our State and its people to
he entirely lustrated and exempt from
the expense, the guilt and disgrace of
supporting the slavery of other States.
Z. Resolved, That it is the duty OF
Christians and of Christian ministers
to bear faithful testimony against the
sin OF slavery enthusiastically, socially
and politically. through the pulpit and
the religious press, and to carry the
wrongs Of the oppressed to the throne
of grace in importunate prayer. that
God may speedily deliver them that
are in bonds.
8. Resoiped, That to have any vol
untary agency, official or otherwise,
in the re-capture or rendition of fu-
gitive slave, is Incompatible with
Christian character, and unless repent
ell of, should he punished by excom-
munication in the care Of any church
member guilty of the crime against
humanity and God; that this Conven-
ton do therefore approve of the act of
excision passed recently by the Market
Street Baptist Church of GAINESVILLE.
Muskingum county, against a member
who. in the capacity of Deputy L. s.
Marshal, restored fugitive to his
claimant in Virginia.
9. Resolved. That the example Of the
Oberln Wellington Rescners in pa
tiently suffering long imprisonment
for their noble disregard OF the uncon-
stitutional and unchristian Fugitive
Slave Act, not accepting deliverance
on any terms that would compromise
principle and weaken the moral effect
of their act and testimony. and finally
triumphing over the Government,
and gaining release honorable to
themselves, but diSgraceiul to their
prosecutors. and humiiating to the
slave power. meets our hearty com
mendation. and calls forth our graft
tudc to God. whose wisdom guided
and whose graces sustain them.
Tribute to the Late Horace Naun.
Rev. James Freeman Clark Of
Il