UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

Assemblypublished thefollowing
of sentiment :
KEY TO UNCLE TOM S CABIN. il3
declaration
1. The system of slavery,as it exists in these
United States,viewed either in the laws of the
several states which sanetion it,or in its actual
operationand results in society,is intrinsically
unrighteous and oppressive ; and is opposedto the
prescriptions of the law of God, to the spirit and
precepts of the gospel, and to the best interests
of humanity.
2. The testimonyof the General Assembly,
from A. D. 1787 to A. D. 1818, inclusive,has
condemned it ; and it remains still the recorded
testimony of the Presbyterian Church of these
United States againstit, from which we do not
recede.
3. We cannot, therefore,withhold the expression
of our deep regret that slaveryshould be
continued and countenanced by any
of the members
of our churches ; and we do earnestly exhort
both them and the churches among whom it
exists to use all means in their power to put it
away from them. Its perpetuation among them
cannot fail to be regardedbymultitudes, influenced
by their example, as sanctioning the system portrayed
in it,and maintained by the statutes of the
several
states,wherein theydwell.
1818,it will be found to be far less outspoken
and decided in its tone,while in the
slave-holding
Nor can
any mere mitigation of its mean time
severity, slavery had become four-foldmore
promptedby the humanity and Christian feelingpowerfulỊn 1818 the Assemblystates that
of any who continue to hold their fellow-men in the most virtuous portion1 of the community
bondage, be regardedeither as a testimonyagainst in slave
the system, or as in the least degreechanging its
states abhor slavery, and wish its
extermination.
essential character.
In 1846 the Assembly
4. But, while we believe that many evils incident
states
and obligatory
to the sj'stem render it important
to bear testimonyagainstit,yet would we
not undertake to determine the degreeof moral
turpitude
church.
5. While, therefore, we feel bound to bear our
testimonyagainstslavery, and to exhort our boloved
brothren to remove it from them as speedily
as possible, by all appropriateand available
though theymay err, we ought
and brotherly love.
6. As a court of our Lord Jesus Christ,we
possess no legislative authority; and as the General*
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, we
to exercise forbearance
possess no judiciary authority.We have no right
to institute and prescribe a test of Christian character
and church
membership,not recognized and
sanctioned in the sacred Scriptures, and in our
standards,by which we have agreedto walk. We
again until the final judgment;brothers
and sisters, parents.and children, husbands
and wives,dailytorn asunder,and
means, we do at the same time condemn ail divisive
and scbismatical measures,
permitted
tendingto destroy
to see each other no more; the
the unity and disturb the peace of our church, shrieks and agonies,proclaiming as with
and deprecate the spirit of denunciation and inflicting
trumpet-tongue the iniquity and cruelty of
severities, which would cast from the fold
those whom we are rather bound,by the system the ; the cries of the sufferers going
spiritof
the gospel, and the obligations of our
up
covenant,
to the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth ;
to instruct,to counselțo exhort,and thus to lead not a neighborhood where those heart-rend-
is the ways of God ; and towards whom, even
must
leave,therefore, this matter with the sessions,
presbyteries and the synods," judicatories
to whom pertainsthe rightof judgmentto act in
the administration of discipline, as they may
judge it to be their duty,constitutionally subject
to the General Assemblyonly in the way of general
review and
control.
When a boat is imperceptibly goingdown
stream on a gentle but strongcurrent, we
can see its passage onlyby comparing objects
with each other on
on the part of individuals involved by
it. This will doubtless be found to vary, in the
sight of God, according to the degree of light and
other circumstances pertainingto each. In view
of all the embarrassments and obstacles in the
way of emancipationinterposed by the statutes upper
of the slave-holding states,and by the social influence
"
parties, it
affecting the views and conduct of those and careful.
involved in it,we cannot pronounce a judgmentof
general and promiscuouscondemnation,implyingitself,
that destitution of Christian principleand feeling
the shore.
If this declaration of the New-school
General Assemblybe comparedwith that of
with regretthat slaveryis still continued
and countenanced by any of the
members of our churches. The testimony
of 1818 has the frank,outspokenair of a
unanimous document,where there was but
one opinionṬhat of 1846 has the guarded
air of a
compromisegroundout between the
and nether millstoneof two contending
Considering the document,however,in
it is certainly a
very goodone ; and it
whicli should exclude from the table of the
would be
Lord
a very proper expression of Christian
all who should stand in the legal relation of masters
feeling, had it related to an evil of any
to slaves,or justify in withholdingour common magnitude, and had it been uttered
ecclesiastical and Christian fellowship from them. in
We rather sympathizewith, aud would seek to any common crisis ; but let us consider
succor them in their
what was the evil
embarrassments,believing
attacked, and what was
that separationand secession among the churches the crisis. Consider the picture which the
and their members are not the methods God
KentuckySynodhad drawn of the actual
approves and sanctions for the reformation of his
state of thingsamong them :
"
meet
of
is winnowed,guarded,cautious
"
The members
slave-families separated, never
to