Imagens da página
PDF
ePub

by an address, in which he entered | met in the city of New Haven, Conn. at length into the objections urged by on the 7th and adjourned on the 14th the Abolitionists against the scheme of May, the following Report was of colonization, and in which he adopted:successfully demonstrated the wisdom as well as benevolence of the

en

terprise; showing from what it has already done and is capable of doing, the strong claims it has upon the sympathies of a Christian community.

The following resolution was then offered by B. B. Thatcher, Esq., of Boston, and unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the American Coloniza

tion Society is eminently patriotic, and commends itself to the regards of the young men of our country as admirably adapted to strengthen and perpetuate the Union of the States, as well as promote the best interests of our whole coloured population.

American Colonization Society.

Resolved, by the New York Annual Conference of the Methodist E. Church, in con+

ference assembled, 1. That this conference view with increasing interest and favor, the truly noble and philanthropic enterprise of colonizing the free people of color of these United States, with their own consent, on the coast of Africa.

2. That the pecuniary and other embarrassments which have attended the operations of the Board of Managers of the Ameri

can Colonization Society, so far from lessen

ing the confidence of the conference in the practicability and final success of the enterprise, should serve but to increase their interest, and efforts in its behalf.

3. That the measures recently adopted by the Board meet the cordial approbation of the conference, and in their opinion, if the Mr. T. made an interesting ad- Board is sustained by the public, will soon dress, showing the strong obligation place the Colony at Liberia in a condition of the North to assist their brethren more prosperous than at any former period. of the South, in the great work in regret the opposition that has been got up 4. That the conference view with deep which the Society is engaged. He and He and prosecuted with so much heat against was listened to with great interest. the colonization plan, by men who profess to The two following resolutions were have the same great object in view as the Cothen offered by the Rev. Dr. Brod-lonization Society; viz. the good of the man of

head, accompanied by a few remarks, and unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the American Colonization Society was, in the opinion of this meeting, founded in benevolence towards the people of colour, and that its proceedings and success afford the best grounds for hope that the expectations of its friends will be realized in the final elevation and emancipation of the African race.

Resolved, That committees be appointed by this Society to obtain subscribers to its Constitution, as well as to solicit donations and contributions required, in aid of supplies to be sent in the Jupiter to Liberia.

The meeting was then addressed with great eloquence and force by Rev. Mr. GURLEY, of Washington City, and after the benediction by Rev. Dr. Brodhead, adjourned.

It is contemplated to hold similar meetings in other churches for the purpose of more fully diffusing light upon this interesting subject, and from which great good may be expected to result.

NEW YORK CONFERENCE.

F.

At the late session of the New York Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which

color. This conference consider that oppo

position and the other movements of the abolitionists, as directly calculated to injure the best interests of colored men, whether bond or free, whether on this side or the other side of the Atlantic-and at the same time, they cannot but apprehend most unfavorable results from such operations to the progress of Christian principles.

5. That, hallowed as Liberia is with the sleeping dust of the first foreign missionaries of the M. E. Church, and identified, as it is, with the holy design of the Church to spread Gospel light and truth, not only upon the coast, but also into the interior of Africa, our Christian sympathies gather around the infant Colony, with an intensity of feeling not to be overcome by opposition, or cooled by time.

6. That each preacher be at liberty to take up collections on or about the 4th of July, for the benefit of the American Colonization Society.

COLONIZATION AT METHUEN. We have received from our worthy correspondent, in Methuen, an account of the formation of a Colonization Society in that flourishing village. Our friends there have engaged in this work with a spirit and zeal worthy of themselves. The meeting at the Society was of an interesting character.Among those who addressed the meeting, were Messrs. Tracy, Baker, Hackett and McLane, from Andover.-Lowell (Mass,) Evangelist.

e hundred fine oysters and fish. It was paid for with y, to be ex- merchandise, to the exclusion of ardent spirits to be ship--and a stipulation made by the Society to establish, within one year, three free schools for the benefit of the native children, in of the Board three of the principal towns. The disposiColonization tion of the natives is friendly and their deished, con- sire for improvement strong. chase for a

FUL. X.]

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

ch $90; J. & J. Townsend $60; Hawley $25; Jason Page $20, ar, James Denniston, James P. & J. H. Prentice, Ambrose sselaer, Joel Rathbone, Aaron ith, Christian Miller, each $30; rey, Russell Forsyth, John A. nas W. Olcott, David Wood, g, Harmanus Bleecker, D. D. Potter, Ladies of South Dutch 10,

Richard Yates, Bradford R. ssady, George Dexter, J. McOstrander, Theodore Olcott, R. h Sherno, Peter Boyd, J. Alexauncey Johnson $2; Mr. Jones Watson $1: Cash 75 cts.: Cash

$150 150

95

390

165

40

TH

THE Rev. Amos
to be an assum
in theory and
ing his own jud
-"by holding

or consent of

ate thing, such
hen, like an item
gular operation
Mr. Phelps' obj

cases, a sin. A
at it is so. Our

plies on the part of sin: but that ma all do not necessar ment based upon it d complete eman The sin in slave dividual" judges Caty lies in motive He is ever

(under

himself or others.

except where such controlled,) he i Nor does the sin of are held without th cannot be trusted does the sin lie ne in that they are so tes are of pecunia re so, while guilty

that they are held

80

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

THE REV. Amos H. Phelps of Boston, in his Lectures on slavery, defines it "to be an assumed right of property in man; or it is the principle admitted in theory and acted on in practice, that in some cases, each individual being his own judge in the case, it is lawful to hold property in man." He says "by holding man as property, I mean holding him without any will or consent of his own, more than if he were a mere animal, or an inanimate thing, such as an axe a hoe. I mean, moreover, holding him thus, when, like an item of property he is guilty of no crime, by which, in the regular operation of equitable laws, his liberty has been forfeited."

Mr. Phelps' object is to prove that slavery is in all circumstances and all cases, a sin. And doubtless he believes his very definition of it shows that it is so. Our opinion is, that all that, in existing slavery, which implies on the part of the slaveholder a violation of the perfect law of Christ, is sin: but that many things entering into Mr. Phelps' definition (if not all) do not necessarily imply sin in some cases; and therefore that his argument based upon it cannot sustain the doctrine of instant, unconditional, and complete emancipation.

The sin in slavery thus defined lies not necessarily in the fact that "each individual" judges of his own duty either to himself or another. So far as duty lies in motive, every man is under law to God and to none beside.— He is ever (under God) judge in his own case of duty, whether it respect. himself or others. And in regard to his conduct towards his fellow man, (except where such conduct is prescribed by human laws, or by some power controlled,) he is also judge, responsible only to his conscience and God. Nor does the sin of slavery so defined lie necessarily in the fact that men are held without their will or consent; for children, minors and those who cannot be trusted with freedom, are restrained without their consent. Nor does the sin lie necessarily in holding them as property (in one sense); or in that they are so held while guilty of no crime, for children and apprentices are of pecuniary advantage to those who provide for them; and they are so, while guilty of no crime, but in this alone, is there necessarily sin, that they are held as mere property, and not regarded as men, to be treated as capable, and when qualified as entitled, to all the privileges of humanity. The sin lies here alone, that in not fulfilling towards them the law of Christ and treating them as we would be treated in an exchange of circumstances.

And will Mr. Phelps say that there are not, may not be, hundreds and thousands of slaveholders at the South who regard their slaves as men, not as brutes or chattels, but as men against whose interests no pecuniary advantage is to be weighed in the balance?

The writer of this, has no disposition to defend or excuse any thing in the Institution of which we speak, that is contrary to the rule of Christ; in his opinion, the system is totally wrong as a permanent Institution; but admitting only of a cautious and gradual remedy. The time necessary benevolently to remove it, may be innocently taken; but the wisdom and picty of the South cannot too soon commence measures for its removal.

THE POWER OF PREJUDICE.

No man in this country has had more to say against the power of prejšdice, than our editorial brother, Wm. Lloyd Garrison; and yet we never knew a more palpable exemplification of its power, than he has furnished in the statement below:

"Vermont Chronicle.

"Rev. Joseph Tracy has retired from the editorial management of this egotistical and pernicious publication. For the sake of the cause of humanity, of truth and of righteousness, we heartily rejoice at his abdication. We have been unable to perceive in his lucubrations any marks of genius, originality or candor. We have scorned to answer his paltry quibbling and vain-glorious sophistry. He is succeeded by his brother, who recently edited the Recorder of this city. We need not write HIS character."

Now, whatever may be said of Mr. Tracy's opinions, it is universally granted that no editor in the United States has shown more ability in maintaining them than he has done. His eminent "genius and originality" we never before heard questioned. Now we are among those who believe that "prejudice is not invincible," either toward coloured men or white. And we recommend to the editor of the Liberator to make an experiment in this very case; and if he succeeds, he will have furnished a demonstration, which no mortal can gainsay.- Western Recorder.

SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT.

In the March number of the African Repository for the present year, was published a Report of a Committee of the Board of Managers of the American Colonization Society, prepared in compliance with a Resolution which had been adopted at the Annual Meeting of the Society held in the January preceding, calling for detailed information concerning the Society's debt; and in the May number, a Resolution of the Board, stating that certain accounts and vouchers had recently arrived from the Colony, and instructing the same Committee to prepare an additional Report. This has accordingly been done. The importance of the elaborate document thus prepared, and the known desire of the friends of the cause to see it without any avoidable delay, have induced us, in order to make room for it in the present number, to exclude other matter already in type. The supplemental Report and the proceedings connected with it, are as follows:

Extract from the Journal of the Board of Managers of the American Colonization Society, July 24, 1834.

WALTER LOWRIE, Esq. from the Committee to whom was referred the resolution adopted at the Annual Meeting, and also the resolution of the Board, of the 8th of May last, made the following report:

"That the Report of the Committee of the 20th of February last, was limited to a statement of the aggregate amount of the Society's debt,-a comprehensive view of the expenses of the Colony,-the general causes by which the debt was produced,-and an exposition of the principles by which the Board would be governed in their future operations. The Committee regret that in preparing this Report, the absence of the Secretary of the Society,-first at New York, and at present, in Virginia, that without interruption he may finish the biography of Ashmun, has deprived them of the aid of his talents and experience.

The following is a detailed statement of the debt of the Society as it existed at the last Annual Meeting:

John Hanson's draft in favor of Grant and Stone, for the charter of the brig
Hercules-due last June,

A. and S. Ralston's do in their own favor, for supplies in June,

Alex. Read's

do

do do

for do

for do

do,

do,

Girse and Kirkhouse's do
Anslem and Hatch's do in favor of C. and J. Barstow, for charter of the brig
Roanoake-due in August,

Three drafts of Dr. Mechlin, for supplies due in May,

Three do

Four do

do do

for do for

do

June,

August and September,

Thomas Bell's draft in favor of N. Potts for 100 barls. pork in the America,

due in September,

Dr. Mechlin's draft in favor of Wm. Peters, for freight and supplies by the
Jupiter, due in October,

Eight do for supplies in October and November,

One do for do in

do,

One do in favor of R. and F. Allen and Co. for supplies, due in Jan. 1830,
Three drafts of N. Potts, in his own favor, for do, due in Jan. and February,
Thomas Bell's draft in favor of Smith Anderson, for part charter of the Ar-
gus, due in March,

[blocks in formation]

do for supplies sent in the Argus, due in March,

Two do of N. Potts, in his own favor, for supplies due in March,
T. Bell's draft in favor of W. Peters for

[blocks in formation]

Six of Dr. Mechlin's drafts in payment of salaries at the Colony,
Dr. Hall's draft for his salary, January,

John Hanson's claims for supplies furnished to the Colony by Waring and
Co. Cheeseman and others, and for sundry orders taken up at the Colony,
Balance due to Dr. Mechlin, agreeably to his statement,

Navy Department for the Agency House,

Estate of James Ramsay, Baltimore, for supplies,

James C. Dunn for printing,

Sundry unsettled accounts,

D. C.

9,217 50

495 37

589 45

1396 62

2870

1200

591 96

1921 77

1209

1311 1850 27 192

2479 41

1600

1160

2000

1729 87

999 50

316 4

2377 29

1320 72

5364 68 997 53 626

58 60 1075

696 14

$45,645 72

In their former Report, the Committee submitted various facts and circumstances, showing the causes and manner of the rise and increase of the Society's debt. These, it is not intended to recapitulate in this Report.But in addition to the list given above, the Committee have thought it would be satisfactory to have the expenditures placed under distinct heads, showing the amount for the last four years expended under each. In this manner the resolution of the Annual Meeting will be complied with in the only manner in which it is practicable.

To prepare this tabular statement, the Committee have, with great care, and at the expense of much time and labor, examined the papers on the files of the office, as well as those received in June last, from the Colony, by the Jupiter, relating to the expenditures for the last four years. Every account, voucher, order or receipt, has been separately examined and placed under the appropriate head, as far as these various papers afforded the means of specific designation.

« AnteriorContinuar »