"The Bulwark.": For The Signal Of Liberty: Number III

"Resolved, That the American Churches are the bulwark of American Slavery.1' I said that our Abolitioíi friends liad a creed too hng. The above resolution passed by the Michigan State Abolición Society at Adrián, in January, 1844, :s a specimen. In due form, 'the American Churches' were arraigr.ed before the 'Liberty party' as a court, ana after a grave reheorsal of their misdeeds, they were weighed in the Abolition 'balances and found wanting.' 'TEKEL' was in due farm etamped on their foreheads. Now. if 'the American Churches' donot either reform, or 'play dead' afler this, they must be very wicked indeed. 1 now vrish to cali attentioft : 1. To the circumslances of ils passage. - 2. To its truth and fitness. The State Abolition Society is an embodiment of the Liberty party. lts only terms of association I suppose to be - Hostility to Slavery, and a belief ík political organization os a mcans to destroy it. Any thing pertainingto the principies or measures of the Sogi ety, was a suitable topic of discussion. But the churches were no more a proper subject of review, Ihan the ïnfalübiüty of the Pope of Rome. Their merits or demerits, form no part of the legitímate creed of Liberty party men. Nor are men of all sorts of religiou faith, and of none, - helievers and ?ton' believers in 'churches,' the proper persons gravely lo resolve themselves into a court, for the trial and cundemnation of 'the American Churches.' Some anti-slavery men think such conduct sheer vsurpalion. Narrow it down.olved, that the churches of Adrián, are the wlwark of American Slavery. Would not ,he impertinency and insult of such a resolu.ion, have at once met vvith a protest? If bo, [ enquire wliether to scuttle and sink a ship ivith 100 souls on board, is not as criminal, is hanging them severally on a gallows, tho' it be high as Haman's? 2. I deny ilie truth and fitness of the resolutlon. l well know its origin and authority. But it was not only out of place if true, but is really &miserable sopkism. Like most error, it has jast truth enough to give it currency where it does the mischief of falsehood Let us take the resolution and carry it out to its full results. 'Resolved, That the American Churches are the bulwark of Slavery: - of Inlemperance: - of Sabbath breaking: - of Politieel corruptions: - of Slander: - of 'Covetousness, wliich isldolatry.' Why? Because these sins are more or les? toleraied in 'ihe American Churches.' Could all the churches be completely purified, truth and righteousness would soon triumph in our land. The sins of the chuiches, keep the wicked in countenance. Therefore Resolved, That as the American Churches are 'the bulwark of Americnn Sins, it is our solemn duty, to destroy them, in order to promote the cause of iruth. This is no evasión, no quibble, but a logical and natural deduction from the premises. Tlius are you led to Garnson's conclusión. (See Signal of Feb. 26, 1844.) Resolved, That the church of Christ, like its Head has never held a elave; - has never held within its embrace "dumb dogs, that vvill not bark' against the wrongs which crush hu- manity;- - therefore the American C'kurch, which perpétrales all these enormous crimes, is not the Church of Christ, but the synagogue of Satan.7 I like this resolution, because what the first insinúales, the last speaks out in plain English. I like open, fair above board dealing, even in an enemy. Perhaps you say, I aai not prepared for this, and yet Í do not discover the precise point of error.' Very wcll. Like most errors it shelters itself undei vague and general ;erms. They sound well, but will not bearanolyzing. The naistake consiste, ïst. In the improper usp of a melnphor. 2d. Intheheterogeneous character of the objccts assailed. A bulwark is a work of dcfcnce - a fortres-s. lts object is to dcfend a united force wilhin. from the attacks of nn enemy toithovt. iï the Americnn churchos adopted and defended slavery as a Bible ïnstitution, disciplining St excluding those whoassail it as a sin, and ite abettors na transgressors, - if this wero the general character of the churches; llien would the figure be p-oper. But so far is this from truth, that the contest even now is principally among the members of these charches in an effurt to procure its entire expulsión. What proportion of the churches are prepared to day to defend slavery as a Bible Institulion? Not onc in fifty. Even the eouth usually spe:ik of it as a present evil, that can only be abandoned by encountering other and eeveter ones. That they mistake I admir.. I but give the fnct. Then, to ansail the American churches,' composed of inJependent, and often conflicting denominatioHS, Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Cong-regationaJ, Independent?, Cumpbellifes, Unitarians, Universalists, Millerites and Mormons, &c is to attack a perfect jntangibili'ty. It is just as mtich in point, and just os defínate as lo resolve, 'That all charlered corporations are public nuisunecs.' True they include commercial, manufacturing, literary and religious interests, works of public and of individual improvement, but what of that? There is souiidand show, if not sulsiance 'm it. JNow this plan of hitting every hody in genera], Dnd nobody in particular, - this wholesale denonciation, is but another mode of doing the 6COFFKR'S AND INFIDEls DIRTY WORK, WHILK IT KE1THER PROMOTES, NOR AIMS AT RkFORM. Anotlfer sophism of the same stamp has had its day, viz: 'Expediency is the doctrine qfthedevil.' Many were taken with it. It performed wonders in 6tirring up excitable spirits, and in serving as an apology for repudiating what common sense they m;ght chance to possess. Now, it is never expedienl to do torong, - but reason is bestowed to enable us to diecern, the most expedient mode of doing right. Christ says io his disciples,it is erpedient for you thnt I go away,' &c. Paul too says. 'All things are lawful unto me, but all ihings are not expedient. These catch phrases have a. doublé erige. If they seem efFective aguinst Slavery, they also wound the cause of Abolition. If some are faken, others are repelled by them. Like all illegitimate weapons, their strokea recoil upon the hand that wields them. My reader, perhaps will say, 'Well, after all, the churches are guilty, and deserve a thorongh lashing, ond I am glad tbe State Society gave it.' Well you and I will not quarrel about it. think the resolution uncalled for, and elanderous. If you are Quaker or Mormon, nnd wish me to work with you in the antislavery cause, it is upon conditon, (hat we confine ourselves to the business in hand. It. will not meddle wilh your 'Meeting?' - nor 'Golden Bible,' nor need you utter any elang against 'the American churches.' The anclen t Greek's considered the Olympic games as sacred, Before their celebration, n general Iruce was proclaimed, and men, who a few days before or after might meel in deadly conflict, there mingled together, as friends and brethren, hostile cities poured out their population, and on this sacred ground, all strife was hushed. I am no advocate for war - and would beg at least where we assemble to delibérale and act in behalf of the Slave, that we may have PK A CE.