, 1860-02-06
Old School Presbyterian Church
and Slavery

Ea..,ers P.ess AID Ts,sans:
SINCE the publication Of: Dr.. Rice's first two
lectures on Slavery in -FOUR paper hare felt
not a little curiosity to know the actual status
Of the Old School Presbyterian Church on Tbs
subject. Dr.. Rice's platform is az unexception~
bic to me as it is to you. 1t is all that any Ke-
publican or moderate anti-s1avery man could
desire. But if his lectures, taken Us q whole,
arc lie i:intatc deductions from that platform,
then it would seem to be liable to as many DIFF
fercnt interpretations a. the famous Cincinnati
Platform. on which, you know, the most ultra
sla-e code mea aud The most radical Squatter
Sovereignty udsoca.es, profess TO stand. Does
Dr.. Rice truly represent his church on tbs
subject! And if 50, are we to find the policy
aud doctrines Of tile Old School Presbyterian
Church in Dr. R:ce>s platform or in Dr. Nices
lectures! Can you in short euligbten me and
the the pabs generally as to the actual e,1ias g9,ton Of
RENAnks-We can answer; the inquiries Of
our correspondent. The Old School Presbyte-
rian Church was formerly m anti.slavery
church. Its clergy were Jealous emancipa'
tionists, and its hity were largely imbued
with the same spirit. The earlier action Of the
General assembly was uniformly on the eide
of freedom. Its counsel to the churches was
not darkcned BY reords, and its influence, as
religious organization, was clearly aud con-
stantiy III favor Of the e1tirpasion Of slavery;
In the general declension Of public sentiment
on this subject, consequent upon the pro
mitigation throughout the South Of the
views Of Mr. Calhoun, the Presbyterian
churches in that section participated to q
greater or less extent. In l845 the Genera
Assembly yielded to tho pressure. 1t adopted
report wllicl, satisfied the South. Tht
| churches which still retained their antl-slayery
! sentiments were dissatisfied. The next yea
| tile General Assembly resolved that lin it!
| Judgment the action Of 1915 was not intended
| to deny or rescind" the previous testimony
against slavery. There the matter has restct
to this day. The South. content with the nc
tinn Of ls45, knowing that practically it re
scinded all that had gone belore-the North
quictiug its conscience with the resolution q
ls4G, which fai1tly denied that tho action c
1915 was intended to rescind previous ant;
| slavery declarations. Some attempts hav
been made to obtain further action on the par
| Of the General Assembly; but they have bee
met By that body will, tho declaration that til
| report and resolutions of 1s45 were fina
The church low maintains its integrity By til
silence Of the General Assembly On the sut
icct At the extreme South, its clergy, lait
and church organs hold to extreme pro-slarer
sentiments. 1u The border states the depar
urc from The former status Of the church is NJ
so great; while in the free states the old do'
trines are rigidly adhered to. An attempt o
the part Of the Ganeral Assembly to reat1ir1
| its action Of 1915, would rend Old School Ire
byterianism from foundation to turret." S
lence il an essential condition Of allion.
Our correspondent desires to know VIII
1her Dr.. Rico has truly represented lis chure
on the subject Of slavery in his lato lecture
We think VIC are authorized to answer in Il
affirmative. His platform represents ii
Northern half; his deductions tho Southe,
hall. In this way he represents tho Who'll
Our correspondent also wishes to know VIII
ther be is to look to Or. Rice's platform or
lis lectures for the policy and doctrine Of Il
church on this subject We answer, Ills pla
form is true reflex Of its policy and doctri1
prior 10 1s45-l,is speeches as truly rcprcse
its policy and doctrines subsequent to III
period. ..............-...-..
| Illinois Supreme Courf-.Sccond Div
sion.
The following is list Of the decisions OF t
Supreme Court for the I'd Grand Division,
/ tho january term, 1SC0.
Dec1.Ycns Of the Sup-eme Court for the Second fFa
Division Vi the State u Illinois, Ut JANUARY tenn. a.
] lsC0
8. Dauby vs. Chsubcts, Ct al. Reversed and sena'
+ r kr.xurf w. Lou,sx Reversed and Tcnlanded.
9 Lypnart -. v1llar1- Reversed and FFmandea.
III. hartes ~. kefeivecT: htscrsed and Ttln7nted