, 1860-01-25

H. 'ui"oEA tue Dl>tflct, exposing tue
eVils Of slavery. But he was not elected.
Pre.b5terians through the State, 50 far a.
can learn, generally took this ground. topk
occasion. at that time, though residing in Gin
cinnati, to publish letter il Kentucky urging
emancipation. The other leading denou1ina.
tons did not sustain MS in this effort. Tho
Methodist Church was divided, and very natural.
" the South church went to The other extreme.
a leading Baptist minister ran as pro.slayery
candidate against the Hon. Thos. F. MARSHALL,
and WIS elected. And, strangely enough,
many men not holding slaves, opposed emanci-
patton, because the shares, it As said, would be
placed on an equality *ish them! It was not
portion of the community, that defeated the
cause Of emancipation. Tie result was, that
instead Of getting Constitution favorable TO
emancipation, ope was adopted that totally foz-
bids It. l hm not sure that many OF cur Abo-
lition friends here have heard OF these things
Il any one in Kentucky bud greatly abused Els
slaves, they would probably have heard the
news. Let the whole truth be known, and let
the Presbyterians have due credit.
There would be much greater difficulty in
other Southern States, in efecting any change
in the laws in favor Of emancipation, and the
very first effort to effect any such change, es-
pecially in The present state Of feeling, would
merely aggrayate the evil The cause Of this
state Of feeling may appear hereafter; the fact
Of its existence is painfully evident.
It is, moreover, fact. that many of the
wisest and most earnest friends Of emancipa~
tion Of the slave, believe that any plan Of
emancipation toithout colinisation would do
TO have been opposed to slavery, aud be threw
his great influence in favor Of gradual emanci-
patton Let me quote sentence or two from
speech Of his before the Colonization Society
Said Mr.. Clay-"lf could be instrumental
IN eradicating this deepest stain upon the char
acter Of our country, and Removing al cause Of
reproach on account Of it By foreign nations
i'll could be instrumental in ridding Of this
foul blot the revered State that gave me birth,
or that not less beloved State which kindly
adopted me Is her son, would not exchange
the proud satisfaction which should enjoy for
ali the triumphs ever deereed TO the most sue
cessful couqueror."
And yet i1e safd-"If the question was sub
mlsted, whether there should he immediate and
gradual emancipation Of all the slaves OF the
United States without their removal or coloni-
zation, painful as it is to express the opinion,
have no doubt that it would be unwisa to eman-
cipate them. For believe that the aggregate
Of the eriis Which would be engendered. in so:
ciety, upon the suppositlon of such general
etnancipation, and of The Ibera.ed slaves re-
naming among us, would be greater than all
the evils OF slavery, great as they unquestioa-
ably are.''
Such was the opinion of that eminent man !;
and i is the prevailing opinion in the South.
AL Efforts there to get change Of laws in favor
Of emancipation without colonization must be
frnltless. Such are the difficulties now existing.
And certainly We have no right to ceusure The
feeling 80 long Us we ourselves cherish it.
An able writer in the Sout., in an article on
this subject, has charged upon US our ipconsis-
tency. "You Of the North who reprove u.s. he
remarks in substance, make laws against few
struggling blacks, who come amongst you, aud
yrS +. 81,
Of them in our midst" 1t would be difficult
to answer this retors. For Christians Ut the
South to attempt such change in the laws az
we have supposed, would be eminently un,sise.
Such course would only prevent those i'm
provements in the law, which may be secured.
What, then, ought our Southern brethren and
our church do: DO you say, let them, if they
cannot fee their slaves legally, recognize them
as men and apply the golden rule in their treat
ment Of them: 1agree with You heartily. You
will not contend, however, that they must have
the responsibility Of maintaining their s!ayes
without requiring them to labor. This would
be most unreasonable. No man should be held
responsible fo- persons wbou, be cannot con-
troll. II held legally responsible, he must have
the ri ght Of control; or he is slave to the ser
rant. But for the exercise Of authority, let
ham treat them as men, guided By the Divine
lAw.
.,lch precisely is the doctrine Of the Preshy-
teri4n Church. Dr. Thompson maintains that
while the Apostles did not abolish slavery, ther
lifted it up from the plane Of the Cisil Law 10
tie higher plane Of the Gospel law. Now, sup
pose the Presbyterian Church has done the
same thing.
Let me read an extract from the action Of the
General Assembly Of 1918. That body speaks
Of "the practice into which the Christian pco-
pie have most Inconsistency fallen, of ensIay-
'ng portion Of their brefh-tn Of mankind. For
hath A<,fc ,(
men for to dwell on MI the face Of tic EARTH"
Thisis precisely in accordance with ms position
DO yon sny this doctrine could nut be preached
in the South! This document was adoptcd
unanimously. Dr.. Baxter Of Virginia w:ts a
member of the committee that reported it. The
Assembly further urge the churches to enleav-
or TO obtain the complete abolition Of slavery
trr""""out the world" Is not this strong
enough:
}. ...ay be said this paper was adopted many
years NO, but it was re affirmed in 1876 by both
The North and the South, uuanimousl. .-and
again in 1850. In the Resolution Of 1S4'; the
Assembly said in substance, tina. for sixty years
the General Assembly hay been nttcring the
Word Of God. In speech ir II r Last General
assembly, in 1n3iauapoiis, declared that
hold tile doctrine Of the paper of 1918 to be
true to the letter. Aud yet was elected with
unantnsty to Profc ssorshp in
the Theological Seminary Of tue Northwest.
What evidence is there then that the Church
has changed her grounds
In lS45 the General Assembly received kescr.
al pettlons from Abohtiuuists to exclude alt
from the Church. The Assembly
decided that they could not exclude any oDe
from Tue Church, as shareholder, not without
looking u tue circumstances. In that document,
which ! had the honor Of drafting, the following
rF a.
ing mntter to remember that his Muster is also
in hcaycn, and in view Of uil the circumstances
in which he is placed, to act in tE.e spirit of.he
tiolden Rule, Whatsoever 70 would that men
SHOULD do unto you, do yc eren 80 unto them.'"
such was the ground taken in ls45, and every
southern member voted forit. About thirteen
from the Nnrth did not.
Do yuu say tnat the church ought to so far
ther aud forbid tue traffic in meu, and the sepa~
ation Of husbands and wires. This has been
done. Let nc read the law Of our church on
TINT po;nt- The General Assembly Of Isis
said, ia the following language:
" We enjoin it on all church sessions and
l'resbyterirs under the care Of this Assembly,
10 discountenance, and ns FIR ~ possible; 10
prevent all cruelty Of whatever kind in the
treatment OF slaves; especially the cruelty Of
husband and wife, parents end chilli
rem, and that which cous lists in selling .tavesto
those who will either themselves deprive these
unhappy people Of the blessings Of the Gospel,
ur will transport them to places where the Cos
pei is not proclaimed, or where it is forbidden
to slares to attend upon It. institutions. Tic
manifest violation of this injunction, heregiveu,
in its true spirit and Intention ought to be con-
censurcs OF the church. aud if shall ever
happen that Christian professor ia our COM
uunion shall sell a slave, who is also in coua-
munion and good standing ia the church, con-
Irary to hi or her will and inclination, it ought
Immediately 10 claim the the particular atten-
lion. OF the church judicatories; and unless
here be such peculiar circumstances attending
the case as can but seldom happen, it ought
10 be followed without delay By suspension
nf the offender from nll The privileges Of the
church, till be repent and make all rcparaiion il
ls power to the injured party.
Such is the law oftae Presbyterian Church.
The Assembly Of 1915 used the following; Ian
be understood as denying that there is evil
with slarerJ. Much less do they ap.
prove those defective aud oppressive laws By
which in some Of the States il Is regulated. Nor
would they by any means countenance the tFaf-
lie in slayes for the sake Of gain; the tepara-
linn Vi husbands and wives, parents and chill
Iren, for the sake Of til.hg lucre or for the con
renience Of the master; or cruel treatment Of
slaves in any respect. Every Christian and
certainly should seek by all
,taceable and lawful means, the repea!! Of un.
ust or oppressive laws, and the amendment Of
such rs arc defective 90 to protect the slaEcs
rom evil treatment By wicked men and secure
10 them the rig ht to recire religions instruction"
no you say tue Church should go further and
condemn the mere chatst<,sn1 CT huu,an beings!
bet me read again: "Nor il this Assembly to
DC understood as coun.ensuciaZ the idea that
masters may regard their servants Us ta<r<I'rop-
RITZ and moi a. human beings, rational, ACCOUNT
,b!e, immortal. The scriptures prescribe not