The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-07-04
The Clergy OfFrance and England
ON American Slavery.

n. Y. Independent
The Clergy OfFrance and England
on American Slavery.
We find in the Manchester, England
Examiner, OF June 4th, the following ad
dress OF $50 Clergymen in France with the
response OF $3.50 minister's of England, upon
the subject of American Slavery: THE
names, which are all printed in the Exam.
ine'', occupy two whole pages.
"IO the Ministers and Pastors of all evan.
gehcot denominations an Great Britain.
''PARIs, February IL, 1868.
"Honored and beloved brethren in the
Lord-lt is the glory of England to have
given to the world the example of abolish.
ing first the slave trade and then slavery
1t Is her glory to have continued for the
last sixty years the work of suppressino
universally the slave trade and slavery, al
a cost, tits asserted offifty millions of pounds
| sterling. And it is, under God, chiefly to
| her religious men. TO her Clarksons, her
| Wlibertorces, her BuXtons, to her mission
airy societies, that England owes this glory,
Will not the sons and successors of these
great Christians complete their work, by
urging their country to declare itself for
the holy cause of the liberation of the slave
in the terrible struggle which is at present
convulsing the United States of America ?
mo more revolving spectacle has ever
!
| Contederacy consisting mainly of Protest
ants, forming itself, and demanding indie
| penGence in the nineteenth century ofthe
| Christian era, with a protested design Of
maintaining and propagating slavery; a
| Contederacy which lays down, as the cor
ner stone of its constitution, the system of
slavery as it exists at present in the South
ern States-a system of slavery which NAV
be defined briefly as the right to treat men
like &cattle, and to commit adultery and
muder with impunity. Setting aside all
political considerations, can any Christian
heat fail to be stirred to indignation at
hearing the chief Of that Contederacy an
sWering a degree of emancipation by an
implied threat Of determination?
The triumph of such q cause would put
back the progress of Christian civilization
and humanity whole century. 1t would
make angels weep in heaven, and demons
rejoice in hell. Itwould enable the friends
OF the slave trade and of slavery in all
lands to hold up their heads, ever ready as
they are to reappear at the first signal, in
Asia, in Africa, and even in the great cities
Of Europe. Ii would give fatal blow to
the work Of evangelical missions. And
what a frightful responsibility would
rest on the church which should remain a
silent spectator Of such triumph.
II there is q peaceable means Of hasten
ing the end OF the war, and of rendering it's
issue such as is desired by all the friends
of humanity, is it not that the sincere
Christians of Europe should give to the
cause OF emancipation a powerful testimo-
ny, which would leave those who fight for
the right Of expressing the slaves no hope
fever seeing those Christians give them
the hand of fellowship.
ministers and pastors Of all the Evan
gellcai denominations of England, Scot
land, and Ireland. it is here we need your
assistance. Take the lead, and let US call
forth great and peaceful manifestation of
sympathy for the colored race, so long OPP
pressed and debased by Christian nations.
Let us thus discourage the partisans of
slavery. Let us strengthen and encourage
those who wish to abolish it, at the same
time disposing them to listen to our sug-
gestions. 1t is in free England that such
manifestations can be powerful. What
may We not hope for if, throughout Great
Britain, the voice Of ali the ministers of
the crucihed Saviour-and in France, our
voice echoing theirs-pray and plead that
soon there may be no longer i'll the United
States a colored man that is not free and
equal with the whites!
May God grantit, and may his blessing
rest alike On Great Britain and the United
States, in Christ the true Liberatori
"Signed up to this day by $50 pastors in
France.
COPY or REPLY.
Dear Brethren;-We whose names are
undersigned, share III your views, we
rejoice in your zeal, and we are thank
ful for your exhortations. 1t is honorable
to France and to French Professionalism,
that you SO heartily wish the destruction
of the slave system, which makes four
millions Of negroes wretched, debases their
masters. has been vast calamity to
great Protestant nation, and dishonorst
CHRIST, by whose protested servants it is
upht-..
Like yourself, we feel deep compassion
for the slaves, who are a part of the human
family; we wish by all means in our power
to discourage those who are seeking to
found an empire on their degradation; ana
we wish success to all just and humane
measures for their deiiverance.
With these sentiments, we beg to assure
you, that, following where you have SO no.
bly, taken the lead, we shall do what we
can to accomplish those benevolent objects
to which you invite our attention.
Accept our fraternal wishes that YOU may
enjoy the favor and blessing Of God, through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Signed by $3.50 ClergyLnen of England,
Ireland and Scotland.
At great meeting held in Free Trade
Hall, for the purpose Of hearing addresses
from Baptist Noel and others
The Rev. DR.. Massie, of London, after a
few preliminary remarks said that the
ministers in England thought it right and
proper to join with their friends in Ameri-
ca in coming forward to identify them
selves in the cause of negro emancipation.
They, therefore, came there that evening
in that name, for that purpose, to advocate
the abolition of slavery and to denounce
with all their heart and soul every effort
that could be made to establish a republic
having for its basis the slavery OF man.
loud cheers.) They stood there TO main
tain that the right of free labor for the ne
gro was identical with the right of free
labor and suitable reward for the white
man. tCheers.) Those who We're habit
mated TO oppress The negro as a slave. and
to despise him for his labor, despised labor
hv whomsoever ii was performed. Cheers.
In their preparations for the present occa
sion they had anticipated the pleasure 81
ministerial brethren Of all names and
creeds coming together, not only to sign