, 1860-05-14
Resolutions and speech OF Rev. Sam-
mel W0jcott, of Chicago, In the Amer.
lean Tract Society,"

that ha4 doubt IA relation The ain Of Af.n
!ea s,idtae ha; sesanaatts s uatltb: bseons
opened BY vesses E1 sazaus paa OF this country;
Rs.,ss Th,tthe publication rspueIe.sion q suitable
tss y tng forth The lnqats q hs African saVe zade
Rev. Dr.. Wolcott, in support of the resolu-
tions just offered, said: Mr. President, ac-
knowledge have three reasons Tor offering
these resolutions, aud, as it will be in order for
me 10 state them, whether derived from the
sentiments embodied in the resolutions them.
selves, or from the circumstances urder which
they are offered, and Is it is not my Intention 10
introde my remarks at any great length upon
the Society, hope may be heard without in.
teTruption. And, Sir, my first reason for offer
ing them is to yindicate the freedom Of debate,
and the rights Of the humblest member Of this
Society, [Applause,l BY asserting boldly and
fear|essly my personal right to q full pertciua-
ton IN its regular deliberations. have no dis
position to make any farther reference to the
proceedings Of the last meeting which have i'm.
implied in the word "Tindicate.' / regret the
necessity Of any personal allusion; hut it is,
nevertheless, proper for me to add that in cir
cular letter which, since the last meeting has
been prepared by one Of the Secretaries Of the
Society, the Rev, II. EASTMAN, which Was print
tuuds for the advancement Of evangelical litera-
ture, | have been referred to By him as having |
joined the Society on purpose to assist in Great |
ing 3 disturbance.
This unworthy and uncallod-for imputation |
this di*parsgement Of mr. motives and my |
character, widely circulated through these Off |
c'al channels, is the penalty of conscientious |
ness, is the penalty Of fidelity to my conyic- |
tions Of truth and dnty, and is the penalty of |
an honest dissent from the views and opinions
entertained by me from those Of the managers |
Of this Society, or rather Of CHIN to Chris
fjan PYnrpSS1nn nf that 9iaaanf IN fha
wisdom of toelr measures and the righteous
ness Of their policy. At the last annual meet
ing offered resolution similar TO those now
present, and the cla1nor of opposition which so
unexpectedly greeted it WIS succeeded By the
suppression Of tbst 5eesoutioo, aud also Of the
other resolutions 5ased upon it offered by
venerable pastor ef khis city, together with the
Societies action upon it. in the official recordr
Of the meeting. And this was followed BY the
thus silenced: My own resolution Is embodied
in the words Of the great Apostle ITO whom
we give place By subsection, no not for an
hour" And if there were no other reason than
this. it would be decisive in my mind as impos-
ing it upon me as duty: The second reason
| for presenting these resolutions is to maintain
/ unabated the proper sphere Of the Society's re-
| sponsibility and controlling agency. 1abored
attempt Was made atthe last meeting to merge in
| the Executive Committee the functions which are
properly inherent in the Society as whole An
etaQUT2te plea WAS pnt 10TH ny learned i0H.
yer Of this city to the effect that the society,
| an cleemosynary institution, exhausts its pow
ers 10 the act Of choosing its officers, aud that
the discussion Of its principles and measures at
| its annual meeting is irrelevant md unconsti-
tutional The author Of this novel plea paid 10
his opponents u graceful compliment by cutting
of, on his own 1uoton, any reply to bis own ar
gu ment. [laughter.1 That plea was under
stood to be at tile time expression Of the SEN
tments Of the managers OF this Society. It was
| received as semi official exposition Of their
views. 1t was printed by theua, and has been
distributed BY them through the land, and these
resolutions arc presented as challenge, and
| contradiction to that sophism. They recognize
the fact that the charter from which we derive
| all our powers, provides that certain persons
named therein, and all such persons rs now
are, or may hereafter become, members Of the
for tue pu1pose Of printing and circulating re-
ligious publications. The members are the cor
porate body, and they are assembled here Us
such, and here are lodged the powers which the
charter las conferred upon us. The officers OF
the Society are the servants Of the Society.
They cannot legally be Its masters. The Con-
stitution Of the Society is the act Of the Society.
They made it, and can repeal it, and can define
it. The charter restricts us only to the issuing.
! printing aud circulating Of religious publicl.
lions, and iu the Constitution tile Society has
added restrictive clause which il calculated to
1
tians. Ny third reason is the Necessity Of COT.
recting the present policy Of the Society, aud
| eleyattng it to more Scriptural standard. ]
90 not propose to dwell upon this point. But
let me say, in conclusion, that the purpose
which was avowcd two years ago, By leading
opposer Of the present policy of this Society,"
and which was made the theme Of rude derision
| that be would wage this battle to the end, and
that. we're calEea away before it was decided,
he would bequeath it to those who should
come after him, is strong to-day aud inextin.
guishab}e in the breasts Of alt who are associated
together in this *'irrepressiblc conflict" fLoud
applause.} Strive are not enemies Of the Tract
Society Heaven forbid: To US, Sir, as to you,
it is consecrated by tender and sweet memories.
We know that it has done great and good
work in tie past, and we trust ii is destined to
do greater and better work in the future. (Ap-
plauEe. While we hare faith in God and in
the future, we also believe thnt it occupies now
talse position, where it is stripped Of its NOR
ii power; and, God helping us, we will not rest
until it has been 4eoeemed and recovered.
Us the similar resolutions were voted down a
year ago, and your Secretary, it he cuu find no
oetter use for the sacred funds Of your Society,
may send out his circulars prononnc,ng IN un-
FUR and blated judgment upon our motives, and
intcting any stismas he may sec fit. But it
snail not daunt or discourage us. The present
and previous policy Of this society cannot be
enduring. 1t aas no moral ylgor. 1t has be-
come weaker year By year. Each anniversary
brings us nearer to the attainment of our end !;
and, IN the meantime. we will labor on with
courage, and patience, and hope, feeling as they
"that watch for the morning." mud today, in
this commercial city, in this center aud cou1u.
ence Of chilling Conservatism, stand in the
presence Of an uns5mpatb'sing majority, sus-
tanned and cheered by the words Of my early
teacher: ;" Have faith ia truth, ueycr il NUN.
bers." The z. cat surge OF numbers rolls up
| nniSjIT 10H 11t hr1t fate ntrtt. "a