The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1864-08-04
Northern General Assembly.
ACTION ON SLAVERY, 1864.

mittee on Bills and Oserlures.
They begin by saying, -ssitf Che opinion
Ct the General Assembly the solemn AID
nomentoas circumstances Of orr times, tbs
state Of our country aad the condition OF ouI
church, demand plain decerstion 2fsit'
sentiments upon the question of slavery, 10
view Of its present aspects 10 thi. country
Fhne after 7q.,esiog IL ~aale or in part
TIE former action OF she PreshYteriau church
in the years 1887 1895, 1915. AID 1878
which they req fiji IN, the paper proceed
Ee give it in full:
"Slch we're he early and nneq1ivocal
instructions Of our church. 1t is not neces-
sary to- infinitely to irq1;re how faithful
and obedient to these lessons and warnings
those to whom they were addressed hare
been. # ought to be sckro alsdg ed that
We al bs7e much to confess and lament rs
to chr shOrtcOmingsiD this respect. Whether
q strict and careful application of this ad
vice wohd have rescued the cruntry from
the evil of its C ndition aud the dangers
which have SINCE threatened it., is .,nown to
the Omniscient alone; whil.t we do not be-
lieve that the present Judgments of our
Heavenly Fa,her aud Almighty and Il ghte-
Qua Governor have been Inflicted solely in
punishment for our continuance in this sin;
it is our Judgment that the recent events Of
our history, and the present condition of our
church aud country furnish manifest tokens
that The time has at length come, in the
providence of God, when. il ia Ills will that
every vestige Of human slavery among US
should he tFaced. aud that every Christian
man should address bvnseif win industry
and earuestness to his appropriate part in
the performance of this great duty.
Whatever excuses for it's postponement
may heretofore have existed, no longer
avail. When the country was at peace
within itself, and the church vas uDbroken,
many condolences were perplexed in the
presence Of this great evil for the want Of
an adequate remedy. Slavery was so for
midsbly intrenched behind the raDP1rts. of
personal interests and prejadices, thai to
attack il with view. to It's sp edY over
throw. appeared to be attacking the very
existence of the social order itself, and was
characterised Us the inevitable introduction
of on anarchy worse ia it's coIssq 1ences
than the evil for which it seemed to be the
only cure.' But the folly and weakness OF
men have been the illustrations Of Colts
wisdom and power. Uaier the Hhience
Of the aoss iacnmprehensibls infatuatIon Of
wickedness, those @ho we're NEST deeply in
terested in the perpetuation of slavery,
hare taken 0way cusry motiUe for It's further
liberation The spirit Of American slavery,
lot content with its defences, to be found in
the laws Of the states, the provisions of the
Federal Constitution the prejudicea in fa-
vor Of existing institutions, and the fear oil
change, has taken arms against law, organ
lied a bloody rebellion against the national
authority made formidable var upon the
Federal Union, and. 10 order to found an
empire upon the corner stone Of slavery
threatens not ouly our existence as peo-
pie, but the annihilation Of the principles Of
free Christian government; and thus has
rendered the continuance of negro slavery
Incompatible WITH the preservation of our
own lber5v and independence.
In the struggle of the nation for ezistence
against this powerful ard wicked treason
the highest executive authorities have pro.
claimed the abolition of slavery within most
of the rebel states, and decreed its extinc-
ton by military force. They have enlisted
those formerly held SO slaves to DE soldiers
ia the national armies. They have taken
measures to organize the labor of the freed
men, and instituted measures for their sup
port and government III their new condition
1t is the Presidents declared policy not ti
consent to the reorganization Of civil gov
eminent within the seeded states upor
any other basis than that of emancipation
Iu the loyal states where slavery has moi
been abolished, measures If emancipation
in different stages of progress, have beer
set on foot, and are near their. consumma
tor; and propositions for an amendment t.
the Federal Constitution, prohibiting ala
very in ell the states and territories, are
nov pending in the national Congress. So
that, in our present situation the Interests
OF peace and of social order are identified
with the success Of the cause oe emanciPs
ton. The fi ;ulties which formerly seem
ed insurmOuntable, in the providence o.
God appear now to be almost removed. The
most formidable remaining obstacle. We
think, will be found to be the unEillingnesi
of the human heart to see and accept th'
truth, against the prejudices of habit and o
interest; and 10 act to~ards those who have
been heretofore degraded as slaves, with th'
charity of Christian principle in the ueces
sary eff ,rts TO improve and elevate them
! a T. &c a. Ea-.-.c-.