Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-06-09
THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL
ASSEMBLY---OLD SCHOOL.
Important Report on the
Slavery Question. -
Strong A Anti-Slavery
Sentiments.
The Rebellion and its Causes,

ture from the Presbytery OF Newton. The
reading OF this report produced profounC
sensation. and it was by large majority
ordered to be printed and made the specia
order for Friday.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON BILLS AMI
...f -ff ovERTUREs. asa. .
The Committee on Bills and Overturcs
report: s. - ...t .
Overture Ne. IL, from the Presbytcry oi
Newton, reciting the former delverances OF
the General Assembly upon the subject OF
slavery in this country and the duty of eman.
clpatiOn, and asking this General Assembly
to take such action as ia their wisdom seems
proper to meet the present aspects Of hu
man bondage in our country, and recom.
mend the adoption Of the following:
In the opinion Of the General Assembly,
the solemn and momentOus circumstances
OF our tunes, the state OF our country, and
the condition of our Church, demand plain
declaration of its sentiments upon the ques-
tion of slavery in view OF its present aspects
in this country. u.r7.. r...U. 60 -,.I
In our early days our church in America
delivered unequivo,al testimonies upon this
subject, which it will be profitable now to
reafhrm. ...-...B .. p.
hioIOhlCAL REVIEW OF IHE ACIION OF
FORMER GENERAL ASSEMBLIES.
In the year 1887, the Synod of New York
and Philadelphia, in view Of movements
then On foot looking to the abolition Of
slavery, and highly approving Of them, de-
clared that "inasmuch as men introduced
from servile state to participation of all
the privileges Of civil society, without pro-
per education, and without previous habits
of industry, may be, in many respects, dan
gerous to the community, therefore they
earnestly recommend to all the members be-
longing to their communion to give these
persons who are at present held in servitude,
such good education as to prepare them for
the better enjoyment of freedom. y =
And finally they recommend it
to all their people to use the most prudent
measures consistent with the interest and
the state Of civil society in the countries
where they live to procure eventually the
6nal abolition of slavery in America. ?.
In 1895, the General Assembly assured
all the churches under their care that they
view with the deepest concern any vestiges
Of slavery which may exist in our country.
In 1915 the following record was made
"The General Assembly have repeatedly
declared their cordial appreciation Of those
principles of civil liberty which appear to he
recognized by the Federal and State Gov
ernments 10 these United States. They
bave expressed their regret that the slavery
of the Africans and of their descendants,
still continues in so many places, and even
among those within .he pale OF the Church,
and have ur.ed the Presbyteries under their
care to adopt such measures AZ will secure,
at least to the rising generation of slaves,
within the bounds of the Church, religious
education, that they may he prepared for
the exercise and enj yment Of lib 'ry when
God, ir his providence, may open door
for their emancipation.
The action of the General Assembly upon
the subject of slavery in the year 1918 is
uDequivocal, and so well known that it need
not be recited at length.
THE DUTY OF THE PRESENT TIME.
Such were the early and unequivocal in
structions of our Church 1t is not neces-
sary too minutely to inquire how faithful
and obedient to these iessons and warnings
those TO whom they were addressed have
been. 1t ought to be acknowledged that We
have much to confess and lament as to our
shortcomings in this respect. Whether a
strict and careful application of this advice
would have rescued the country from the
evil of its condition and the dangers which
have since threatened il, is known to the
Omniscient alone; nor do We assume the
right confidently to declare that the present
judgments of our Heavenly Father and Al
mighty and Righteous Governor have been
inflicted solely in punishment for our con-
scious continuance in this sin; but it is our
Judgment that the recent events of our his
tory and the present condition OF our Church
and country furnish manifest tokens that
the time has at length come, in the prov-
dence of God, when it is His will that every
ves,ige Of human slavery among US should
be effaced, and that every Christian man
should address himself with industry and
earnestness to his appropriate part in the
performance OF his great duty. st.---l
Whatever excuses for its postponement
may heretofore have existed no l1nger avail.
When the country was at peace within
itself, and the Church was unbroken. many
consciences were perplexed in the presence
of this great evil, for the want OF au ade.
quate remedy. Slavery was SO fOrmidably
intrenched behind the ramparts OF personal
interests and prejudices, that to attack it
with view to its speedy overthrow appear.
ed to be attacking the very existence of the
social order itself, and was characterized as
the inevitable introduction of an anarchy
worse in its consequences than the evil for
which it seemed to be the. only cure. But
the folly and weakness of men have been
the illustrations of God wisdom and pow
er. Under the influence Of the most in
comprehensive infatuation of the wicked
ness, those who we're most deeply interest.
ed in the perpetuation OF slavery, have ta-
ken away, from every good man, every mo-
tive for its further liberation. The Esprit
OF slavery, not content with its defences, to
be found in the laws Of the States, the bro.
visions Of the Federal Constitution. the
prejudices in favor of existing institutions,
and the fear of change, has taken arms
against law, organized bloody rebellion
against the national authority, made for
midable war upen the Federal Union, and
in order to found an empire upon the cor
ner stone Of slavery. threatens, not only our
existence as a people, but the annihilation
of the principles oi free Christian govern.
ment; and thus has rendered the continul
anee Of negro slavery ncompatibls,vitht the
preservation ofour own liberty snd d'indepsn-
denoo..