UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

194
KEY TO UNCLE TOM S CABIN.
of men,
of alldenominations,
in bodies distinct from nominal
face of the matter.
who are organized
Christians, as professing to be actually con-
by the preceptsof Christ.
What, then,is the influence of the church
on this greatquestion of slavery?
Certain thingsare evident on the very
trolled
1. It has not put an end to it.
2. It has not prevented the increase of it.
3. It has not occasioned the repeal of the
laws which forbid education to the slave.
4. It has not attemptedto have laws
passedforbidding the separation of families
and legalizing the marriage of slaves.
5. It has not stoppedthe internalslave-
What,then,have they done ?
In reply to this, it can be stated,
1. That almost every
one of the leading
pursued such a course as entirely, and
factțo free every
one of itsmembers from
participationslave-holding.
any
in
We
refer to the Quakers. The course by which
this result has been effected will be shown
by a pamphlet soon to be issued by the
poet J. G. Whittier,
protestagainst it.
some leadingecclesiasticalbodies in the
church have expressed on
sources
Those relating
are
by the Hon.
principally from a
pamphlet compiled
"
The Church the Bulwark of Slavery.''
The writer addressed a letterto Mr. Birney,
in which she inquired the sources from which
he compiled.His replywas, in substance,
especially at the present momentous crisis, would
be morallyivrong, and fraughtwith the most
as follows : That the pamphletwas compiledangerous
and pernicious consequences. The sen-
from original documents, or filesof tians
newspapers,
which had recorded these transactions
at the time of their occurrence. It was
and clergy. Mr.
the position of the American
compiled and published in England,in 1842r
with a view of leading the peoplethereto understand
church
Birney says that,although
the statements have longbeen before the
world,he has never known one of them to
be disputed;that,knowingthe extraordinary
nature of the sentiments, he took the
utmost painsto authenticate them.
We willfirstpresentthose of the Southern
States.
1. The Presbyterian Church.
HARMONY PRESBYTERY,
OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Whereas, sundrypersons in Scotland and England,
and others in the north,east and west of
our country,
trade.
have denounced slavery as obnoxious
to the laws of God, some of whom have presented
6. It has not prevented the extension of before the General Assembly of our church,and
thissystem, with all its wrongs, over new
the Congress of the nation, memorials and petitions,
territories.
with the avowed objectof bringinginto
With regardto these assertionsit is
disgrace slave-holders, and abolishing the relation
presumed
of master and slave : And whereas, from the said
there can be no differenceof opinion. proceedings, and the statements,reasonings and
denominations have,at some time,in their
collectivecapacity, expressed decided dis-
of the system, and recommended
thatsomething should be done with a view
to itsabolition.
2. One denomination of Christians has
circumstances connected therewith,it is most
manifest that those
"
persons
know not what they
say, nor whereof theyaffirm;" and with this
ignorancediscover a spirit of self-righteousness
and exclusive sanctity, "c, therefore,
approbation 1. ResolvedȚhat,as the kingdomof our Lord
is not of this world,His church, as such, has no
righ to abolish,alter,or affect any institutionor
ordinance of men, political or civil,"c.
2. Resolved Țhat slavery has existed from the
days of those good old slave-holders and patriarchs,
in Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (who are now in the
kingdomof heaven) țo the time when the apostle
Paul sent a runaway home to his master Philemon,
and wrote a Christian and fraternal letter to this
slave-holder,which we find stillstands in the
canon of the Scriptures ; and that slavery has
existed ever since the days of the apostle,and
does now exist.
one of their'own body. 3. Resolved Țhat as the relative duties of
3. Individual members, in all denominations,
master and slave are taughtin the Scriptures, in
animated by the spirit of Christianity,
the same manner as those of parentand child,and
husband and
have in various ways entered their
wife,the existence of slaveryitself
is not opposed to the will of God ; and whosoever
has a consciencetoo tender to recognize this relation
It willbe well now to considermore definitely
as lawful is "righteousover much," is
"
and minutelythe sentiments which wise above what is written,"and has submitted
his neck to the yoke of men, sacrificed-'hisChristian
this liberty
subject
of conscience, and leaves the infallible
word of God for the fancies and doctrinesof men.
It is fairthat the writer should state the
from which the quotations are drawn.
to the action of Southern judicatories
THE CHARLESTON UNION PRESBYTERY.
It is a principle which meets the views of this
James G. Birney, and entitled
body, that slavery,as it exists among us, is a
political institution, with which ecclesiasticaljudicator
have not the smallest righ to interfere ;
and in relation to which, any such interference,
timents
which ive maintain,in common with Chris-
at the South of every denomination,are
sentiments which so fully approve themselves to
our consciences,are so identified with our solemn