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Communications: For The Signal: Letter From Rev. Mr. West

Communications: For The Signal: Letter From Rev. Mr. West image Communications: For The Signal: Letter From Rev. Mr. West image
Parent Issue
Day
10
Month
July
Year
1843
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Monkok, June 28, 1843.MKS.=ns: Lditors: Gk.ntlkmkk - One wri:cr observe?, "To acquie.-ce under a report in .ilence is f ei acknow l dire ir. opcnly - ai least in the opinión of l.nlf llie world, and to rn..ke a !nstle in contradjcling1 it, is to confirm it as stfonply in the opinión of tle o' her half." Almost every piíbffc man can bear testimohy to t lic Iruth of t'iis remnrk so far a it refers to the repu atioti or (Ji'preci.ition of characier. I tiierefbrc do not tronble you with this Iet!er for the purpose of ei'licr the odp or The otlier half of the world in relation to myelf or !hqt?, tiut only to show you thut ihe mnjority of the Tririihiní Aseembly were ot odfiiafëd withtl.e "liisposiJi-.ins" attnbiireil to them bv n wriser in yotir paper f i!e I9:li 'mst., and to ende vor to place the net ion of the Afí?ñnlily on tlie ptibjcct of Slavery in itá true lijiht befbre tho minUtprí aiul cIhucIips ciuh]iusii ihe Synod of Michigan, and befur; :i!i othors uho (Vol nn interePi in the t-nme, wherev?r yniir poper mny be red. Afior n larnri; sharc of bitter denuitci.ition agninst the innj ri'y of the awembly, nml af.er q:i'ttinir Mr. Pinney. and mttkiiiir ijni sn, "lint lloll liivd0 Jutiüce every yenr the Gononil A-Sfinb!y j mpets," tliPii your pnpeij umicr í!ic fiii of "Retnark.-,'' hiRihis pcïfteïifec - ":he rhsposi - t!on wliich led the Ascm!ly to take tliis roi:rsp, in othor circum nances vvoulil cause them to puslave the Jn of G)(1!' On tlir Piippo.-Mlicm as yonr pnpor f-inlrvs it. that Jesus Chiii-t v:is a slive of Dr. EIv'.-", and huri corno liefere thf Aspomïily and stated his éS&ê as laid down fbr him by th wntc, thnn the q'iestion is put, "whnt ivonld Chrisi' doctors sny f.o t his?' To givc an anivvrr to Jhe qup.stion, words nre put int o the niouths of "Rev. Mr. R.uvland, Rev. Mr. Tvlor, D.-. Hill, Dr. Wisnpt, Dr Bpecher, Ur. D(Beld, oud Mr. West.'' ca rjeat thfi part ihcy would tnke to enslnve Je.-=us Chrisf, or if was en.laved, lo keep him so rntlier than offend Dr. Ely, or "pnúu'ngét t'nc Uii:n of the Piesbytcri-tn ' Church." For myal y.mr p-iper in a:i nrti ele from a writcr in Detroit, mukes me almost jriiilty of "Blapphetny. ' In the same article, Dr. Duffield. of Detroit, is publi.-hed as ííaVJnyj j riven "a proslavery vol e.'1 n though he made !(a capital Anti-Slawry Speech." Even the mprk and excellent Rev. C. I'. Wins s nnde t nruilty of "Doiighfitceism.'' Dr. Cox, Dr. Dicknon, and in short !he entire mijrity of ilip asft-mhly have all recoived "the Itish c) luid on' lor not doing vhl tboir Judgks htindreds of miles distnnt from the scène of doImtft thoiiL'ht they ouwlit to Imve done. How Dr. Biddlp, of Piltshiirgh, pscaped by name, after tlie luminous speaeh he mndp, I cannot lel!. Now deor sirs, I wish fo put thi.s euhject belbre yon jnst os the facts in the case ivill vurranl as far as I know, and as fa ras the ümits 'af this sheet will ii]w. 1 cannot bo üevo that oither of yon, Messrs. Editor.", vvo'ild willinly citlier mireprfse-nt the As-pmbly or Fiib-titiite truth with ftlseliood in his or in any otljpr aff.ur. I wül say then, Í. That we had not a man in that Assembly svho was or is a proslavery min. Nor had vf one who wns pjther a feníimontal o voluntai-y slavehol 'er. Every one who spoke cloared himself in this respect. 2. Not a man argued for an instant to susain plavery even foran hour. 3. Dr. Duffield did not g'ive a proslavery yote. He voted with the majority.be lievin it j)ii the whole to be the best way. His i pecch ïnd his vote might oppear to soine aa j ■pconcÜable: but every wisc man in final , :isions vvill tnkc the way which appears lo liim best, nll tilinga C)ii3idered. whatevor way he j mny fpeak. Dr. Beeciier Jr. took the same ' course. 4. Dr. Wïsner in his masterly manner, ehowcd how thenpostlea treated the subject rif slavery ns existiiig in those days: nol f.T the purpose of sustüining slnvery; an instilation at wliicli hit soul revolis, but for the sole purposv, as he stated over nnl over agnin, of ludücing the asseml Iy to lollow a similar course. f. Dr. ïlillfütlusc words very similar to thosc ai-cribcd to him on the ËUbjqct of Lynchfnr as sta'ed in our pappr. bot nfterwnnl.s rccalled them. It were well indeed if all who lonir for the emancipa t ion of the poor 6Jaye, coulfl show and prove tlipireff rts for ihat end ns mnch ns that good nnd venerable Futher in thechnrrh !ms done. 6. ítisnottrue that "Mr. West' nrgued 'out oud out" for non -interference with the qncstion of slnvery either on the part of the Assembly or the church. I did give itns my j opinión t halt he General Aísembly, circumstnn ! cpsas marters were, ontr't not to nlcrferc. - I spoke as I meant to votp, nnd voted asï h:id spoken. I liever believen tint the G eneral Assembly must of necessity be agitated on tfcat subject or on nny othor subject nbout which a jrrpat diversity of opinión existod, and which subject might be st:rronnded vvilh Ipgnl j difficnltios. Besides, the cliurch Sessions, Prsbytrrief, and Synods, the ren] conrts ïf discipline with us, have the whole subject in their hands, and can act as their jiidgment may j direct. 7. The Ger.ernl As?embly did not find fauit. ! witb Pref-bvteries for oppo.ing Slave-holdors in proncliing in their pnlpils or commiininrr w:th them. T5nt the Aá-rfunbly found faulr to'Tth puch l'resbytpnes as took the kind of nction they dhl npninst slaveholder?; while as yotno npplicafion was made by nny slaveliolder furliberty either to prench or to commune with tliorn. A Brother coming from nny eection of i!e chnrch wi;h clean crpdentinlí, or certifícales must firsl he received cording to our conatitntion, and wlien received ] undor proper jurisdiction, t hen if found to be j living i:. fin of any kind, must be disciplined according to his offence. This was the position the Assembly assumed, and it was a true píiíition. No man acling nndor civil or ecclesi:istiral law ought to have his conduct cast out as evil, or be abused or traduced without j nrnof of hia-criininalit} being first had by fair nnd consMIutiotnil trial. The contra ry of this doctrine, if inuintnined, and extended would. commensnrate with the exlcnt, set all men cvnv.vlioro i:i confucion. Now, gentlemen, supposing the Genernl AsPPmbly had prononnced flavpry n sin.whal rood would íiave come furth as the result? - The innjority believing suc!) ti decisión would havo divided our church illimït gaining nny ground for thp nritisíavery causo at all. Yoa :m.l otiicrs migi.t bücvo the contr.iry; but imfn m'i?t net ns tftpy Iirlievo. GommlsèioiiC! e are Pent to the Assembly to 1.A', ctmsnlr, voie, nnd ilptrrrnine. on n!l tliings that mny como licforc t.liat body, nccording to the prncipl(;s fiii'l ronstlttitirni of tiiis rluirrh, r. tul ilio word l ofG'xI." I sn ated as I believed nnd :iijder - 8t0od the principies ;m I constitntion of ihis fliiircli and the wonl of Godrrny wortliv brclhrfii in Cfirist who took a itíffefent courso, :icted ns tl;fv bèlievpÖ. and T fiw) lio Tault with llipm. É:ieh pnrty spoke nd voted as tfièy ..ir.l! nn-uerto.-i tribmi'il infiniie'y wi.er timn that of mnn's. nn.'l wiiliout nbusing eit lier party, that final nr.d solem.i Iderhion shotild now be awaitrd. I seo no jjood fhnt c;:n afeorup tothe uri-sl.ivery or to nny other cmusp bv lioTflilijr "P ' bitter Pcorn, and O"P:cniit beFr-e the puiiüc and tiuir CoTigregalioni?, n body of rinisiprs nnd cMers who labor for tho salvaiion of öoölv, nnd the libety of the n-tlifiii, incessnnlly : bpcaiioe lli'-se w!o nspirc in politiciil nvcpndenéy c:i) not get the decisión ihey wish for frotu such a body. 1 wil] freely concedo thal ttie doc'ion sonirht niigJit. ifobtninpd, do good in thal direciion; but I ennnot sec Ikivv it woult! do good m any other. Wennydifltr in judgmenf, but must I ho!d you tipto scorn, ffpntleniPn, through the public press because you diflbr from ine in your judgmem? Mut I hold you up ns a subject for the very devils in Ilrll lo rojoicp at?-Mnst I represent yoii as ensïaVprs of the sou of God? As "Inving your lrarned lieads togetlier," ngitated with fcar and liypoc isy, nr.d as concocíing a scheme to prevent, n npccsnry action of mercy nnd ju-tice to m -nkind? Uow would you ns profesor of the religión ol'.Tesus, ind members ns both of you are in respectable churches. ni d us freemen in a free country, tnke this? If we nre wronjr, ca'mly and re.s! )pctri)lly, aud wiih fjood humor reason with us. ■ Aiul if we ennnot show gronnd befo'o an er liefhfensd nnd christian public sufficiont to su-stain us, then Iet us retrace our patli, or sink. (I gr.css'" T couldtell the gentleman's name i in Detroit who wrote Ihnt nrticle for your pnI per. But no matter, hefeli difanpoirted.denr ' mnn. I was at onr Presbylery as-embled in Adrián wh.en your paper n-rlved, or 1 s':ould hnve wriUen ooller. And I assuro you, gpn tlrmen, that body, nlthongh all anti-slavery men, did not pngg the lest censure on me. or find the least fanlt with me, or nppenr thp least "ashnmod of me'' for any thing I did while attending the assembly. They just ac led in a clearcontrary wny. And now, gentlemen, asking your pardon fot tnxing your patience so much, and prnying for the best bleesinge to bo your portion, I subscribe myeelfvours most respcctfully, etsemprr idem.REMARKS. As we consider Mr. West and thfi tnnjority of the Assrmhly wrong in their posiiion?, we .slrill lakoMr VV's. advice, and 'calm.y imd rerpcctfully and in good humor reasoa witli them.' Tiiis has been oiir umforn course.- üur readers wiil btmr us witness, that from tlie stirn mencement of the Signal, while we have nsed grcat ) inncss of speech in exposing whnt wc considcr ihe wickedness or erruncous principies (f o'.lierp, we have ever discnssed our difïorences with cnn.Ior mul good feeüng. But wherein do we and Mr. West differ? 1. He aarts v th lliese positions. 'We had not a man in ihe Assrmbly wlio was or is a pio-t-lavi-ry m;n. Nor hnd we ono wlin wüb êil'hér a íentimeii'nl or vulnntary sl:iv.lio'der. Kvery ono who p[oke clenred hmispl''in tiiia reaprt.t. Not u mun argned fr an ins ant to uslain slavery even i'or an lioor.' It'tliis sentence menns any t!iing,it amotinls 10 Ihis proposition: tliat sojtir is the gvilt of hilding sluves and advoca f mg sluvenj was concenied, etery member of the Assanüly icas hlamcless. We suppose the impressioñ was intended to be made tipon the reader, tliat every mnn 'clerred hiroself' of al] cnlpabihty in tlie matter. We ure utterly astonished Mr. W;st shouid luke t.'tis ground. Mr. VV. wiil not deny that Dr. Ilill of Virginia, and Dr. E'y of Sl86ourít were properly and Jegally, sl.iveholders. Thnj fully admitted it. But Mr. West says they were nut vn'.uiltry slaveholders; consrqiieiuly they held sl.ives nvtdnitdrily. Now nn involuntary slaveholder cannot be gui'ty of sin; because ihe terms imply an nbsurdity. Wli ever knew ar. involuntary smncr? It is Flieer nonfonee. Involuntnry filaveholdinir cannot besinful, and as D . Ely and Dr. ilill are of the involtinlury c)as., it , must fi'liow froni Mr. WcM's positions, that 11 is not tci'ong to hold s!avcs in the circuin, slances in toljich tiiey hold thnn. It' it be r'glit for Ilirm, iL must be rigiii for tip, for Mr. W]est for Jesus Chris, for nll otlieis in j like circumtinces. Tliu Mr. Westpreennts itiinsolf as a cliampion of slavelu)idini ! VVlio would have droamcd it?But what are the circimstnncea that frre the-e Reverend Doctors from blnme? Dr. Hill h:ti! part. of his sluves willed to him from his futlier and part froin liis wife's futlier. He has treated ihem and their children as slavef. The laws dn not adniit of emancipation in Virginia. He has ofTerrd tliem jiberty on condiüon of b.'inisluneiit to ihe charncl house of Liberia. Thoy refused it. He did not lliink it M7st(we quote from rc-emorv) to take ihcm I to a free State for emancipation,and turn lliem loose jnst for ihe name of liberly. A for Dr. Ëly lip otvri) sotue eight or ten, pnrt of whom lio volcntarily purclitued, ond tlic remainder were boni alavés to him. And de hnd theimptj. düiceto te!l thu Assfimbhylnt lie,like Abreimm, hod slave.s born n his own house, and thitt his sluveo vere botter off t lian certain poor white ppople. He liad oflvrcd i hom their liberty (nn what cmdition he did not! st.-ne) and íhy tvould not accept it. If the laws forbid cmoncipation in Missouti, couki not Dr. Bly t;ke tlipm arros.s Uie Missisj-ippi, anti .et theni Pree? Beside-, the laws can ni mom eoiapcl n ninn to he a bhvpiioliJei ag-ains! his wil] than thoy can cornppl iiiin to be an imultercr, or a luir.-e steiler, or n house bieakrt. Anv person can utterly nffiide to OHSiunn tiio rel.ition of ovnr to n Imman beiiip. - W.'iat siiou'd c-'o tliink oí' a snt of men claim - in io be involnntary horsë stealers, or invohiofnry eamblers. or adnlterers? We wish Mr. West to ray, distincilv, whnt ennstitutes an involuntanj slnveholder. If' Dr. IJill bi'l'inijp to thal order increly braw?e Ihe Imp. of Ii is Stat forhid emana pation, il is ol)vioiiï! thnt évery olher slaveholder in the State will lm in the saine predicarnent ini:il the laws shall he nlicred. Ir' Mr. West exerses one from blame on lliat nrcount. he excuses them nll. Renlly, we did not know that Mr. West was ntnung "hr: pntriarchs1 beforo, evi'ii entiiijentally.' But furthnr: supposc Mic!iir.]ii to be a sla ve Stnte, wilh Inwa lik. tliose of Missouri, Mr. West could, consistent'y with lus princilep, ovn n dozen or two ofhi-! own bre: heren of the Monroe Chureh, and after robbinw thom 'involuntarily' all his dnys, hand them down to his children to be finislied up. Wc do not pay he would do sucli an act; forbeüeve bet'.er thins of him; bnt lus mvolunfnry system would pennit him lodo it usa riyhtfoiis act. Wt'31 tnay we ask 'What hae the Norlh to do with slaverv when our most eloquent a n' isla ver y speakers appear as defenderá of invetérate elave-breeders. 2. .Mr.WpstrPayt-', 'Not a man argued for an inslnnt to sustam slavery even for on hour.'- How can Mr. W. sny. th'n in the face of the following declaraticn of Dr. Ely: 'If the .acred wrilors did not moan to mply slavery in all tlu lonsrth nnd brea!th "f 'ts meatiintr when tliey sponk of the .-luve as dovlos, thn no ]ai)riiíigc thiv could liavfi nspfi wonld im,'lv it. Thev nsed ttie tnrm wluch wnp mo't exprpsfivi? of a firm and ndissolu - blf Iiotidttgc that could be lonnd. The Fnme iprm Paul used io expresa iis allpianco to Clrist - thus unkincr Ihe. efation nf rmitler and servant equal in aulhority. enti renets and pkkpktuitv. with thnt wliich bound him to the service of his Lord.' I we understand Ian2iiayr, tliis poes to iutain slavery as a Gospel institution. not only 'for an hour,' but as os the Gofpel -hall endure. 3 As to Lynching; Dr. IM1 did rotract. - But he still insisted that the Methodist minister who receivcd 'thirty-nine loshes for ' ing the slaves to insubordination, 'deserved' wliat he got .' What 'w the nature of this 1offence? Does nol everv Aboütionist who feetls n hangry fiigitive and helps him to escapeto Canada, excito hirn to insubordination? Are we all wor hy of tliirty niño t-t ripee ench for every sluve we enlerla:n? Wore Dr. Hill our jticljjc. it seems the backs of some oj v$ won ld soon be covered willi senrs! And Mr,West comes lo ns willi a ruloiyy on Dr. Hill os 'a good nnd venerable father in thechurch telün.' os liow much he has done for emanci paiion, when the veternn breeder has practica lí y snstnined the hell-begotten system 6nce he wns old enouph to own a slave!! 4 Mr. West stibátan'ially admits that ha opposed all ac'.ion in ihe Assembly npa'mst sliivery, becanse there was 'a {jreat diversity ofopinion,' brcaupe the subject wns 'surronnd cd by leíruldirficiiliie.V because it 'vvoiild hav dvided onr chiirch,' and h:ive dne no pood. Snid we not rijrhtly that the mnjoiily of tho Assombly would by tliir aciion continue thejr MASTF.R a slavr, rathtr than endaner their union? 5 Mr. Woft snys Synodt, Presbytcriri, and Churcli Sessions can uct iigamst sinvehuldinsr. Would he recommend to them to act? Ni) answer! They hnve the rxample of the Assembly and of Mr. West in favor of nol actmg. 6. Our nexL charge s a serious one. Mr. West is fur introdticing knoicn and nvutotd men-stealers into everv Northern Church whore they may prefent thrmselvep with a certificóte of member.hip from i slaveltolrüng church! Ile would rojwal tlic rules of hwn dreds, and pr rl np6 thoueands ofcluirches, for ïhe sake of ndmiliing .luvéholciers into tbem, nnd if it npprnr iftervvards that the sluveholdl ers are 'volunlnry' or 'sentimental' ones, the i sessions lcmC turn them out, if ihere be not danser of 'dividmg onr clmrch!' Look at a particular inntnnce. Tie Session of the Prebylerion Ciiurch of Webster, in this Counly, have ndoplpd t he followiug rule; 'Res-Jped, That tliis $c6no] will not receive into ilie Cimicli ony pereoii wio a a I slnvo'oldnr, an'l no si.tvelioliler sfiaïl be odtnit tml to the coniuiunion of tiiis Ciiurch.' Suppose a siavehüider comes to the Sesion anil says:'Br'íthrpiiJ wnnt ndmisiion to yonr chitrch . Hcrc is niy ccmnYali. But y'ou mnst nót lliirik 1 í ni nn Aboülionist. I nave traded in aves nll my lil'o. I now own nb-ut a dozen, n part of wíioin nre intohers of tiie pamc Clmrch witli myscK I treitt them as pther o-nnd rliriyti.-uit! do: I rob tlirm ni ihcir wnpru every dny, enchive iheir children trom binh, whip ilicm when tlioy Ifsnrvp it.'tnd sell them wnen I can make goot] bir. a !W.!' Wint ëli-ill llic Session do? Upon Mr. West's plan tlicy must ndmit t'ie noiorioua mansteáler, direclly in t lio fce ot' bis confesión, and ihns render religión a hissing a::d a byword lhronglrul til] the rpgioH; for thrruis not an infidel m Michigan wlio does not now it is ivróng lo enslnve liumnii brinps. Thua ve Fce tlínf Mr. VVcsi vvmild !iavo slavcbrrcdciá and truders received 'n!o cery pulpit and ovfry clmrcli in the Uni'in 10 contaminóte and poison our whule population, nnd pervert tbe benign doctrines of the Gospel into the support of ui infernal sysíem of outrage and wrong. 7. lr. West objocts lo our 'bitcr denunC.iatïons, 'Imlding up to ecorn n body of mitii.-iors and elders,' icc. VVeU, what are toe spccih'cation.s? Iïnve we nscd nny unkind lüiiiriiage, or rpyilinr op] he!s? Hovó we nsyaileil thoir niolivp.--, or cklléd in qiipslioiv their Mucèritv? Wo intended to do exact j'isrico to p"?ry onc. VVo said that the ]rfrrpss of'tlie Pre-hvlcrian C!mrc i on this subjei:t lof half a cpiitnrv had bren re; rogrmli?-- ■ lliat the Assernblv Ind ampio pruvers to d all1 they wem nskeil to do - ilial tliy fefoncd for (e-ir of di'stroynig tbeir orga niz.it ion - t hat tlieir i)rp.-pni cmir.-e vas sii kiiK' lirm in th elim.itnn both of the nyhtcoi'S and the wicKpd - Í Iin't tlipclitirches are i lie B rea t bulwark ofslhvery - and 'lia' íhcwwnsn st riUingr rp.-emblance betuepn the conduc" if the an cient Pliariscop, and a portion of ihe General Asrembly. We stated tiie.-e thin&S; in the mildpfit lonsriiace "f facts, Eupjiosing then lo bc .-o. Will Air. Vo.-it deny 'hcir corn?ctness? As to the iiiferenccs we drew frotn them. wo Fiihmit tlip'ir projirièty to our rraders. They ma y ngreo villi up, or tliey rnay not. Evcry ono i entitled lo bis own opinión. We nre told the?e mumlers nnd elders 1ubor for theMiIvntion of sonls and tlie liberty of the nnlion.' ' Shnll siirh men as Dr. Ely who preaches etornal slavery from the Rible, nnd Mr. West, who del'endd him in holding huinnn bnings as brutes. claim exception from jnst an'rnndvervion in the rhnrehes brcautc tliey both 'lnbor for the salvatton of souls?' 8. Mr. West Feems to thinlc it prpsnmptu ons in us lo pet up ouryelves aB jndges' of the propricty of thodoinsrs of the Assembly, whei we were lmndreds of miles distant from tho pcene of debate.' What of that? Snrely all the cotnmon sense of the rluitches wos not impersonnled in he dclrgaics. We think that npjther tjp nv inbprs to the As-pmhly nor to Congress ate nbove or beyond ths jndgpment oftho.se tlipy rpprei-ont. We do not considcr the Assrmbly to be infall'ble yet. ]jd iih recni'imlate. We understand Mr. West's popition to be this: 1. He opposps nll onti-slavery nction in the Gneml AsFPmbly. 2. He wonld have all the Northern church es open for the cordial reeption of slavehold" ern as hrethren in the Lord. 3. lic b'dds that certiin kind9 of flavfr holdinfr nre not 'voluntary,' and conseqneBy tliey ennnor. be sinful. 4. He npproves of slaveholding a9 practlcw by Drs. Hill and Ely. Ineach of these particulrs, we think MrWest purswen a coureo calculated to

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