Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-04-23
AWl-SlaVcry Principles In Kentucky
Thirty Years Ago.

Thirty Years Ago.
The Synod Of Kentucky at its session
held in Danville, October g, 1884, by vote
Of fifty ysiX to eight adopted the following
preamble and resolutions
This Synod believing that the system of
absolute and hereditary domestic slavery, as
it exists among the members Of our com
munion, is repugnant to the principles Of
our holy religion, as revealed in the sacred
Scriptures, and that the continuance of the
system any longer than is necessary to pre-
pare for its safe and beneficial termination
is sinial, feel it their duty earnestly TO re
commend to all presbyterie3, church ses-
sion;, and people under their care, to com
mence immediate preparation for the termi-
nation Of slavery among us, SO that this
evil may cease TO exist with the present gen
Grafton, and the future offspring Of our
slaves may be free.
In recommending that emancipation be
universally y extended to all slaves hereafter
b,rn, this Synod would be understood as
e.cluding those now living from the opera
ton Of the benevolent principles above com
nended, They believe there may be, at
he present time many slaves belonging to
hc members of the Presbyterian commm-
in whose situations would be greatly i'm
proved by emancipation, and that many
'thers, especially Of the children and youth,
night be prepared for freedom by the use
O reasonable efforts on the part of their
masters; but it is difficult to provide by
Il 4,
tbs Synod thinks it best to leave them to
tie operation of the Christian law of love
OF the conscience Of men. For the purpose
o. promoting harmony and concert of ac-
tim on this important subject the Synod
d,
ReSo'rc That n committee of ten be ap-
pintcd, to consist Of an equal number of
minister's and elders, whose business it shall
h to digest and prepare plan for the moral
AID religious instruction of our slaves, and
fir their future emancipation, and to report
such plan to the several prcsbytcries within
hc bounds Of this Synod for their consider
alton and approval.
Res0lred, That the whole document Ms
amended, be published in the Western In
mjndyY and that it be recommended to each
pastor and stated supply to read the same
to the congregation in which he Iabors pre-
vious to the next meeting Of the Synod.
Our next extracts from 4 report unani-
mousIy adopted by the Kentucky Annual
Conference, at its session in Shclbyvile,
Ky, Sept. 23 1885:
Although citizens of Kentucky, we are
not the advocates Of slavery. We believe
it to be morally wrong, and relatively mis-
chicvous in all its tendencies, We consider
it an evil even in its most tolcrable aspects
We deeply regret and anXiously deplore its
existence in this or any other country and
in relation to our own, particularly, we
pledge our cXcrtons and influence, in an
appeal to all Just and lawful means and
methods for its removal wherever such cX-
ortions and influence can be brought to bear
without infringing the rights of others, con
stitutionally secured in the construction of
the Federal Government. But while we
avow these sentiments, and act upon the
avowal, publicly and privately, We are COM
PEELED to believe and assume that the rccti-
tudc, as well as the policy Of action, will,
in the existing state OF things, in almost
every instance, derend materially upon the
means selected, and the manner of their APP
plicaton, to accomplish the object proposed.
1t must rccur to the well-iniormed and dis
cerning, in every division of our country,
that the abolition of slavery in the United
States is question involving great variety
Of rights and interests; Il complication Of
relations and claims, the nature and bearing
of which demand the most serious attention;
and must be expected, and not without reas-
on, to influence and modify the conduct and
action, whether general or special, Of the
well disposed and sobcr-minded, in all at
tempts to correct or cxterminate the evil
under notice
Signed: IT, B. Bascom, J. Stamper, J.
Littlejohn, J. S. Tomlinson, II. II. Kava-
naugh, r. Corwinc, J. Tcvis, J. Beattie,
COMMITTEES
The war is likely to bring back-indeed,
is already rapidly bringing back-thc peo-
pie of Kentucky to the healthy views enter
tanned generation ago.
o.