Communications: For The Signal Of Liberty: Quotations And St...

Much fault has been found with men of lone idea,1 - my trouble is with men of two. Tx the man whomakes slavery the object of his undivided hostility, exposing its pernicious influence in all its forms, and give most cordially the hand of fellowship. If he and others think proper to exercise their single orcombined influence, at the ballot box, though I may, or may not think their course the wisest; I fully admit their right so to do. But when with this one idea is coupled a second, viz: to get the control of organizations, designed for olher purposes, with a view to wield them in their organized form against slavery,Iamprepared to say, 1 Hands off. ' We want no unión of church, and Political church and State. Such are churches, Ecclesiastical bodies, Benévolent Sociëties, and Literary Institutions. Ypur creed ernbracing their control, is too long.If tliis is not the plan of Abolitionists, please let us know it. VVhat mean the quotalions cited already, and those I am about to present, if leading Abolitionists do not intend either to wield, the churches - Ecclesiastical bodies, and Religious Institutions, at will, or else to break them down? Whatmeans the jibes,and thrusts, and complaints, and denunciation, respecting churches and ministers, that for the last ten years have heen incessant, but this? What is it but markingout a course for religious bodies to follow, and then prosecuting. an incessant warfare upon those who do not pursue it. You say perhaps, the plan is good and that it ought to be so complied with. But who invested you with the right of dictation? To argüe; to persuade is proper, to judge and denounce, is 'taking too much upon you.' To illustrate my meaning I give the folio wing extracts: 1. Address of Rev. Prest. Green, of Oneida Institute N. Y. to Senior Class. - Pa. Freeman, Oct. 15, 1840. "They [slaveholders] bid church and state bow to their insolence, and run on their errands, and. share in their disgrace, and their demands are yielded to - their dirtiest work is done. The statesman and the priest vie with each other for the privilege oflickingup their spütle." 2. Editorial remarks, of Liberty Press, Utica N. Y., March 21, 1843. "It isa mortifying fact, that the churches, in their organized capacity, have presented the strongest obstacles to the cause of Reform. The work has been done by Christians, - but while this is triie and to the praise of our common christianty, it should be recorded, it has been in spite of the churches in their organized capacities, and with their associated power against the?7i' &c. Also an extract which the editor indorses thus: 'Jesus Christ intended that his church should be the great reforming agent of society- his pretended followers, have made it a stumbling block and a restraint. ThO only life it ever manifests, is the spasmodic and galvanic life, which is shown in what are cal led its revivals, or those periodical 'stales of artificial excitement which convulse it 'between sleeps"." 3. Signal of Liberty, July 17, 1843, remarks on the action of New School Gen. Assemblv of 1843 on slavéry. - The Assembly Resolved: "Whereas there is in this Assembly great diversity of opinión, as to the p?-oper and best mode of action on the subject of slavery, &c: That this Assembly do not think it for the edification of the church for this body to take any action on the subject." Please contrast these with Signal of Feb. 26, 1844, in remarks on the action of the Mass. A. Slavery Society, i. e. Garrison and his coadjutors. This society voted: "Resolved, That the Church of Christ likc its Head never held a slave - has never apologised for slavery - has never received the plunder of the poor withwhich to spread the gospel.or circuíate the Bible; publish Tracts, or establish S. Schools, and has never held within its embrace dumb days which will not bark against the wrongs which crusli humanity: therefore the Am. Church which perpetrates all these enormous crimes, is not the church of Christ, but the synagoge of Satan." & 6Of the Gen. Assem bl y they say, They, [the Assembly] were called upon to answer this simple question, 'Is slaveholding right.' They were afraid to say it was wrong, lest the slaveholders should leave the Union, and afraid to say it was right and thus insure the accumulated scorn of mankind. There is not a scoffing infidel in the land but knows it was wrong. Is it using too strong language to say, of the course of this body of grave,learned and talented divines, that it was cowardly and contemptible? The disposition which led the Assembly to take this course, in other circumstances,woulü lead them to enslave the son of God!"Of Garrison and the Society they say, "It embraces men of all notions and degrees and kinds of extravagance : and yet comprises we doubt not, superior abilities, and exalted moral wortli. The debates were anitnated and spirited"&c."Well might Mr. Finneysay as he is reported to have said that Heli. holdb a JUBILEE EVERY TIME THE Gen. Assembhj mects." , These quotations taken almost at random, from such papers as I happen to lay hands on, are a sufficient specimen. They are exhibited asillustralions of my position, only. I enter into no labored defence of the Gen. Assembly, though I know not how severer language canbe used. Their motimes are impugned, and their conduct is not only represented as -cowardly and contemptible;' but Heaven and Heil are put in requisition to express horror - at what? Why, a portion of the Gen. Assembly after a full discussion, fínding the Southern members,softening in their feelings, thought itbeststill further to exercise the 'charity' that 'suffereth long and is kind.' Perhaps they erred in judgment. My own impression is that the time had come for a decisive resol ution. But wiser men on the spot judged differently, and I accord to them the same right of private judgment, that I claim for myself. A resolution has no binding eflect on a single member,in thePres'n. church. lt after all is but an expression of opinión only.If our Abolition friends too, can exercise that charity that "hopeth all things," towards Garrison and Iris coadjutors, whose love of Jiberty, has made them common brawlers, against both civil and ecclesiastical institutions - men the object of whose meetings on the Sabbath is to denounce both Sabbath and public worship - they are welcome to think them, men of "superior abilities, and exaltjed moral worth." We complain not 'of the song, that David has skin his ten thousands," but consider it rather a pity that our brother can think no better of us, than, that for our account once in three years, "Heil holds a jubilee."!! In regard to the oft repeated complaint, that Antislavery sentiment progress only, "in spite of the churches, in their organized capacities," it is all sheer nonsense. We give you free access to every member, every minister, every woman and child in our churches. Convert them all if you can. Every church, every minister may pass resolutions and take measures against slavery to their entire satisfaction. There are none toforbid. Convert every professor and minister you can in the U. States. Is not this enough? O! no says the Abolitionist. We wish the 'largesi Hberty,' that of acting according to our own notions of right; and of compelling all others to follow our directions." 'Just let us control your Gen. Assemblies and all will be well.' I would only reply that there are Presbyterian Abolitionists enough, to take care of the Gen. Assembly - leavethe work lo them. The more you batter theso bulwarks, the more they will not come down.