The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-04-19
ThsPresbyterian Church .. slavery.

here last week, expressed the opinion that
slavery is contrary to the principles of
Christianity and to the rights OF man,
and had brought upon us the present civil
war, and that death blow might now be
Constitutionally struck at the system by
the confscation OF rebel property, and
they urged upon the churches to suppl
cate Almighty God to enlighteu and guide
our rulers and public sentiment to the
adoption of a patriotic and Constitutional
policy on the subject.
For this mild expression Of moderate
opinion, our contemporary took the Pres
bytery to task in two column editorial,
denouncing them as fanaticsl, quoting ma
merous texts from scripture, and insist
ing that their opinions were not only un-
patriotic and anti-scriptaral, but tended
strongly to infdelity. We defended the
Presbytery, and insisted that they sim
ply promulgated views in reference to
the subject of slavery which had been an
nounced by the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church in 1878, before the
division of the church into the Old and
New School. We are now charged with
falsehood and Misrepresentation because
We did not quote all that the General As
sembly adopted on the subject. Wequo-
ted enough to sustain our position, and
it viii not certainly be claimed that she
General Assembly contradicted what We
quoted. We 4uatea their assertion that
slavery was violation Of the law of God
and the rights of man, blot on our
holy religion, &C., and it will hardly be
claimed that the General Assembly stul-
tilted itself in the same document by as
serting the contrary. The truth is, they
made the matter stronger Is they pro-
crossed by rejoicing that the Presbyteri-
an Church was amongst the first in this
country to engage in the good ,eork of
endearoring to put an end to slavery j;
and by exhorting all to continue and in
crease their exertions to effect total alb
clifton of slavery without regard to ex-
pense, and Influenced by the sole consid-
Grafton of the happiness of the injured
slaves.
To set ourselves, as well as the church,
right on the record, we now publish the
proceedings of the General Assembly of
1918 on the question, in full. And in
doing so, we remind our readers that
these were the officially expressed views
of one of the most numerous and infiuen-
tial denominations in the United States
at that time, and that they were gen.
orally concurred in by all denominations
Our subscribers will do we'll to keep
the following for future reference, to
stir up their pure minds by way-o of re-
membrane of what our Christian fathers
thought of slavery
A fau erpre.som Of the A..enblys vis,os Of Slavery
IN 1918.
The committee to which was referred the reso-
luton on the suLiect of selling slave, member
of the church, and which directed to prepare a
report to be adopted by the Assembly, expressing
their opinion in general the subject of slavery
reported; and their report being read, WAS smant-
aousiy adopted, and referred to the same commit
tee for publication.
1t ie as follows, viz
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church. having taken into consideration the sub
ject Of Slavery, think proper to make known their
sentiments upon il TO the churches and people un-
der their care.
We consider the voluntary enslaving of one part
OF the human race by another, asA gross violation
OF the most precioas and SACRED RIGHTS or NJ
MINIATURE: as utterly inconsistent with the law
OF God, which requires to love our neighbor az
ourselves; and as totally irreconcilahle with the
spirit and principles of the Gospel Of Christ which
enjoin that ali things whatsoever We would that
men should do to you, do you even so to them -
Slavery creates n paradox in the moral system
it exhibits rational, accountable, and immortal be-
tngs In such circumstances rs scarcely to leave
them the power Of moral action. 1t exhibits them
rs Dependent. on the viii OF others, whether they
shall receive religious instruction; whether thew
shall know and worship the true God vhether
they shall enjoy the ordinances Of tho Ga.nel
whether they shall perform the duties and cherish
the endearmenis of husbands and wives, parent,
and children, neighbors and friends; whether
they shnl preserve their chastity and purity, or no
gard the dictates Of justice and humanity. Such
ARE some OF the consequences of 6lavery-conse-
quencss not imaginary-but which connect them.
selves with its very existence. The evils to which
the slave is always exposed, often take place In
fact, and In their very worst degree and form AND
where aii OF them DO not take place, as we rejoc.
70 say that In many instances, through the inHu.
enec OF the principles of humanity and religion or
the minds Of masters, they do not-still the slav.
Is deprived Of his natural right, degraded - = bn
man being. md exposed to the danger of passips
into the hands Of master who may iniict upon hin
al the hardships and injuries which inhumanit,
and avsrice may suggest
from this view of the Consequences rcsultiu,
from the practice into which christian people hay
most ineonsis'ently fallen, of enslariug a porto,
Of their brethren Of mankind--for &c cd hath mad
OF one blood all nations Of men 10 dwell ON m,
face OF the earth"-itis manifestly the duty az II
Is