The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-09-27


and slavery as a "complicated crime ;"
and yet Southern conferences were or
ganized under his direct supervision.
In 1880 a conference held, not in Bos-
ton or even New York, but in Balti-
more, on slave soil, said: "Slavery is
contrary to the law of man and nature,
and hurtful to society-contrary to the
dictates of conscience and pure reli-
gion." You will be told that our church
has become abolitionized. Open our
Discipline and read it. Itsays nothing
stronger than was said by that South
ern conference in 1880. In 1884 Bal
timore again spoke saying, "We view
it slavery as contrary to the golden
law of God, the inalienable rights
of mankind, AS WELL AS EVERY PR1N-
cIPLE OF THE REVOLUTION" &c.
These are mere specimen quotations,
but they express the early sentiments
of Methodism. Slavery was wrong,
and by religious agencies was to be
extirpated. Holding these views, they
spread everywhere through the South.
They encouraged no instructions, they
|
interference with state laws. We stand
upon the same platform, and hold SIM
liar views.
1t so happens, sir, that am able to
give you the views of our church in
Maryland at a somewhat later period.
In 1918 minister preached sermon
in Washington county, in which were
some illusions to the relations of slave
ry, and was indicted for attempting to
promote insurrection and sedition
among the slaves. By change of
veoxe the trial was held in Frederick,
in March, 1919. The senior counsel
for the accused was Roger B. fancy,
now Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court of the United States. One of
the attorneys read from the Discipline
of the Church the law bearing on
slavery, which may be thus condensed !;
! 0.) A strong declaration of the great
evil of slavery; (2.) A requisition up
on such as unite with the church to
emancipate their slaves; (3.) Forbid
ding any STAKEHOLDER to be travelling
preacher; a. Forbidding the sale of
slaves, or their purchase, except for
purposes of emancipation (5.) Ad-
monishing slaves to obedience and in
dustry.
These were read in a Maryland
court, to Maryland jury, in the pres
ence of a Maryland Judge, and the po-
sition boldly argued, that there was
nothing in them contrary to the peace
and safety of the state. The accused
was acquitted. Mr.. Taney said of the
Methodists living under these rules,
, that they equaled any other people in
, "their moral department, and in their
habits of obedience to the laws" He
also said:
"No man can be prosecuted for
, preaching the articles of his religious
creed, unless, indeed, his doctrine is
immoral and calculated to disturb the
! peace and order of society; and sub
jects of national policy may at all
J times be freely and fully discussed in
the pulpit or elsewhere, without limita-
, tion or restraint. Ii is wellknown
, that the gradual and peaceful abolition
; Of slavery in these States is one of the
f objects which the Methodist society
, have steadily in view. >. f. There is no
law that forbids us to speak of slavery
as we think of it. Any man has right
: to publish his opinions on that subject
2 whenever he pleases. 1t is subject
of national concern, and may be freely
) discussed. Mr.. Gruber (the defend
| anti did quote the language of our
, great act of national independence,
t and insisted on the principles contained
1 in that venerated instrument. He did
rebuke those masters who, in the ex.
ercise of power, are deaf to the calls OF
humanity; and he warned them of the
evils they might bring upon themselves
He did speak with adherence of those
reptiles who live by trading in hu
5 manfesh, and enrich themselves by
: tearing the husband from the wife
> the infant from the bosom of the moth
: er. Shall / content myself with
t saying he had a right to say this, and
!, that there is no law to punish him?
: We are prepared to maintain the
r the same principles, and to use, if nee
: essary, the same language here in the
SSuipio VI JUSTICE. n udTu ne
}. cessity indeed, oompels us to endure
the evils of slavery for time. 1t wa,
: imposed upon us by another natior
. while we were in state of colonia
: vassalage. 1t cannot be easily or sud
r denly removed. Yet,while it continues
it is blot on our national character
a and every real lover of freedom conf
n IDENTIFY hopes that it will be effectually
r through it must be gradually, wipeG
e away, and earnestly looks for the mean.
a by which this necessary object may b,
e best attained. And, until it shall bt
: accomplished, until the time shall come
r when We can point without a blush tt
e the language held in the Declaration o
! Independence, every friend of human
n ity will seek to enlighten the CALLING
4 chain of slavery, and better, to the ut
most of his power, the wretched condi
: ton of the slave"
y Perhaps, Mr.. President, the above
n paragraphs have more decided rhet
e oric than the distinguished author o
,s the Dred Scott decision would now EN-
J. ploy, but they are truthful, and our peo
l. pie will endorse them.
y 5. There are many persons residing
II in the slaves States who prefer our dis