Presbyterian Menstealers

It mny ssem strange to some of oui readers that wc should assuciatc the name of so respeetabic a body of'Christians as the Presbyterian denoniination with a crime so odions nnd hate;u as (hat of manstcaling. But in pursuing our ïlustrations of slaveholdiny, we purpose to show (hat thisehurch reiains many thousand menstealers in itsfellowship, accoröing to its ovvn deiinition of the temí, and we shall present some account of tlieir treatment of the liuman beings wfióm tliey stolen. In 1S94, he General Assombly o.f'thifi cliurcl Snid. (in a note on the command. 'Thou thalt not steil.') ;'The law was made fbr manstalérs Tliis crime aniong the .Tcws exposed the per] e trators ofit Eocajital punishment; and the Apostlu classes tliem with sinners of the first rank. - Stealer3of men are all those who bring ofi'slavcs of freemen, and [nTKr.Fr, kuy. or skll tih;.m. To steal a freeman is t!ie highest kind of theft." We do not'know tiiat tlns decisión of the Assembly has ever been formal ly reversed; but in 181G. twemy-two yeais a'te.' it-s ;d. tion, tl. e follewing vote waspaesed: "Resolved. Tint in priri tingr future odilions of of thö Conèssion of tnis church, the note in vhich the nature of the crime of mansteaün and lar cr y is düated on, BE oKirTm!" Are we to infer frOm tlns aiteralion in the reigious faith ol '.he church that slavery had become esa atrocious thnn Jormeily. and that slaveholders had become sinners of a lower rank? Or. hall we not rather conclude that these first rale nnershnd obtained such a foothold in the church hat they could not be cast out? That mis last conclusión is the correct one. is demonstra'eci tíy subsequent action of the General Assembly; for we fmd that in ]S '5 a resolution, that holding our fellow men es property is a higlily aggravated sin. and should be so regarded by all the church judientories. was rejectud by a vast majonty. In 1S37, one of these 'sinnersof the first rank,' Witherspoon. was made Moderator, and on motion of Dr. Ilodge the vvhole subject w:s indefinitely postponed-ayes 150 - n ïys .- i. Rev. C. Stewart Rcnshaw, who (ormerly resicJed in Kentucky, saysof the Piesbytcrimi minister and church where he resided: ', 'The minisier aud all the church menibe;? held laves. Some were trealed kindly, oïhers haish.y. TIictc. icus not a th'idc if (,'ifcrcn,;, bö-tweèn tbeir slaves and ÚioBéoí their infidel nèighbore, either in their phyaioal, iniellectuul. or moral eöndilion: in some cases tlicy 'svjfer in the eomparison. "In the kitchen of the m:nister nf the churdi a slave man was living in open aduItèVy wiih i sl.ive woman, irlio icis a vum'jcr of' l.'u; church. with an násUred hope of heávéli - whilst the man's wife was on the niinister's fiirm in Fayetle county. The minister had to briiiï a cook down fiom his iarm 10 the place wbere he wne preaching The choice wasoetw.een the wifö oJ tlic man, and ihis church member. Ho lelt th svüc, and lroughc the church member to the adtdterer'a bed. 'Mn n recent converaatiön With Wr. Rob3ft Willis, hc t.ld me his negro girl had ru.i away from him somé lime previous. He was convinccd she was liulwni: aboui aiid be Watched fojr her. He S')on found the place of her con cealment. drew her trom it. got u ropo, and tied her hands across e K-h other. then threw the repe over a beam in the Juichen, and huisted her up by her wrists; and. süid. 'I wi.ippcd her thorc ti!I I made the lint fly. I teil you.' ' I liskeri him wlint he meint by making ihe ünt fly.' and he replied, till the Lliod flcio I spokc öl th' 111iquity ati'l pruelty of s.aveiy. and of i;s immcdiate übandoment. lic confessed it au evil. but s.iid, 'I am a colonizationist - I belicve in that sélleme Mr. Willis is_a teacher of sirred :nusic. and a member of the Presbyterian church in Lcxington. Kcntuckj'." Mr. William Poe, a Presbyterian eider of Delhi, Oliio, formejly a Viiginin slavuhol.ler, snys: i;An eider in the Prosbyiciian church in Lynchburgli had a most faithful servant. whom he flogged Borcrely, and sent him to prison. and had him confined ae a felón a number of days, for bejng süïiciji Anoiher c!der of the same church, an auctioneer, habitually sold slaves al his stand - very frequently partcdfnmi.ics-wonld often go into the country to sell slaves on cxecution and oiherwifc; when rcnionstmted witn. hejustiiicd himsclf, saying 'it was his business'; tCfilie church also justified him on the same ground." Rev. Bourne. of New York, who preached seven years in Virginia, gave the following tegtimony: Benjamin Lew.'s. who was an eider in the Presbyterian church, engngéd a cnrpenier to re. pair and enjargg his house. Alter some tima had elapeed, Kyle, the buildcr. was awakencd verv early in the morning by a ir.OBt piteous moaningr..-.d sliriekujg. Ho aróse, a d following the sound. ' I a colon i! woinijn nenly naked. re, while Lcwts wai laccrniüig her. istijiiJy cüiUKieii ■■ '1 he Brave dnver to dcsist. Lewisirinuitaiiuil ction overiiw i.ml g.ireftten.ed Ky)ü ihat hewoul ; him fur h s intérierence. Fmally Kylc obtained the relefise ol ihe victijii. .. , "A ecohd and n tfair-d scène of the sime kmü occurred, and on ihe tliiid occasion the nlu'ixation ihiiost prothiccd a btii'.lc between th-ï eiucr aml tli; cm (iiit'i-. , ' KyleiiDiiiediaiiiïy.-irraiigcdhisaflaii-s. poéke.q up bi&toois and prepared lociopnrt. 'Whercnre you goingV demanded Lewis. '1 om ging iiorne.' R.iid Kylc. -"Ilion I wül pay you iiolbing tor wjist you íicve done,' retorced ihe sl.iye onver, ';íh!(j you complt lè -'inr contract. "e carpena-r went away ui li ihis oifyiiying decltntion. 'J wiil t:t)t st:iy here ny liióger föt ' ex' peel the lire of God 'wilt come down nndburn you up altogetlier.. nr.d l cjo npJ chboao to yo to heli w!i yon.' Throuyh liu?h-ii!one aud promies nol ro whi'p tlie wome-i nny more. I leiieve Kyio rerürned nd completed his engngement, "Jnea Kyh-oi Hnirisonburgb. Virginin, frequently rfarratéd thnt gircurnstancé, nn hiaso.n, the enfpemer. confirmed it witii all the nimnte pnrticulirs conbined n-iili his teüiporary resklencc on thn Sherwin ';i!i river. ;-.:..!!i .M'Cuc ()t!!uasta cpttnty, Virriinin.a Pres! '-yt-rim pre iricr. freqtieñtlíy on thu Lord 8 dny morninir. ticd u; hfè slave's anti whipped ihejn: and left tlicn qoüñd. whjle he wem to the m eting Ikjksc and p'rcclied - and after lus return h.'me repeated his scoitrfiine. Thai f.ici, wii'' otliers mote lieinoiis. vns kiunvn tp n 1 in his congregiitipn nnd around liis viinl'y: pnd so (ar fïoiii heini? censurad íor it, he and his brethren jiistiliod il as essetltial #to prererve the ir domestic institutions.' Ilev. Slves:cr Cow.'es of Fxedonia, N. Y. snys - i:.N yonnrj inan, a rn'ember of t!ie chure'i in Conewjiieo. wem ;o Alaliama last ye.-ir to reöide ;:s n clérk in an uncle's store. Wlien líe liad heen there abont nine tiionifisj he wiote his fnthrr ihnt he must return home. To soa meinlieis of the sime churcji 8t at the conimunioíi labio of onr Lord one iiy. s:id ihn -.ext to see ono poize nny wenppn and knock iho othtr down s h ■ rad geen. he could not live there. Flisgw'ód Oither fonhwith gnvc him pormissiori to return home.'' T-he Rcv. Frnncis linwley. Baptist minister of Colebrook Conn . vrhö residcd fourteen ycmy in the s'avc States, sivs:;'Some yehrs eiftce n Preshyferinn ininisier mover] fioin .iiitii Carolina U Georgia. He had n negro mmi of uncommon mi.-ui. For some cause, IJinow nol what, "tïïïü minisrer whipped him most Hhmercifuijy'. He m-xt ncarly o'rmrned hïtn; hé'tbeá put him ín thefence; this is done by lifting up the corner ufa worm fence. ■ïnd ilion putting the fret through; the rails serve s stocks. !!■ Fcept him there sönictime, how lbng I wáá not informed. but fhe poqr elr.vc died in a few dnys: iind if 1 'vfaa ri;rhtly informcrl.nothing wns one.about f. eiilior ncLurch or s'nie. Alter .s.!iie tiüie, f ie movcil b?ck l North Cnrínná, aiid is n'aw a membor of Pircsby. !Piy. I h'ive hpr.rd liicn prench. and hnvc lieën in the pulpit wirh him. Mny God (orgiyo me! One of niv neïghborsaold to : sprculfltor n neirro boy abouf 1! yems old. Jt wns inore th.m 'u's poor fnotfrer cüld Kear. Rer rcíson fied. nnd she bRcnn-e a porfeel manirje. nnd End t ■; be liept in c'ose connnevnent. Shn w.ould occasjr o:n"y rretout nnd run offto iho ne;tr'ibo:s. One )! tliosc (if?r-i?.i(in phe rr.nie tó'mv ho;ise. S'ie was indeed n pi'iüble objeci. Wnh te:irs rolling lown her checks. frn':l shikintr vi:h ninv, slic svniihT cry ouí - :tlmi'f y ' kc-rír ;.'..' - .'' y are. ■' ". ing trim nojtc. and hu, ís callirtcfir vic!' - This noiííhbijr of mine. wh i toro tbe n.i)' nv.-,iv from his pnv nio'lvr. and thus hro'-e lier he irt. was amrmber of fki Bresbyteritty Cm re!:.'' Rtv. W. T. AHffn, of CüirtJww'y 111.. tk son )f Rev. Dr. Allftwj a slivtí'iol'ler of Hu:vpviüe. !a., wrifee: 'Leg.il marrialrè is unknon n'moirg the slnvés - thoy èömetitAc have a miringé fórrn - rrenoinlly, however, nvc nl n}} . - The pastor ai the Pie-byierian c!;urch n liunlsille. had two families ofslnves when I left t'iere One coupïe were mnriiod by'a nero pre.-i he man was rohbed of his wife a nurtrber of months afterv.-niils. by her 'ownnr.' The other couple just 'tonk up toirether' wiihout any forin of már'riage.. Tkéij are both members cf chuvehrs - the man a Bripiis? deacon, pobor and correct n his dVpnrtntent. They hnve a larpre family of children - all cirldrcn of coricubihage - living in i niinister's family."Shys Néhérrtiáh Cnulkins. of Watèrfofdi Coiin. 'GoiuL one mcrnmg' to the Bnptist Sunáay -cliool, n yiltninglop, in which I was on:: i : i. feil in wiih the Rev. Thpmna P. Hunr, ivhp v;is góing to the Presbyteiian School. I ;is!;ci! ïim how he could Lear to see the liitle nero chrlarén beaiing iheir heons, liallooinír. a:ul 111:1ïing aboiit t!ie streeis. as wc then snw 'l;e )i. tlieir noral condition entirely neglecled; wliüc the vhites were so carefully gathered into the school?. ;:s régly w.is BiibstaiYiially this: - ''1 can't bear t. Mr. Cauikins. J feel as dueply ns ;my om' an 011 ihis sulijoci, but vh;it onn I do? My lAMis ai!e TiK.n." I bclieve Mr. H-uht bafl ince becoincrn agent ol the Teinpcrnnce Socio y-" - .Extract of a letter. 'Jaicd Jnnmry 3, 1830, rom John M. Neisöfr, l'.sq.. öi liillsborotiyh. - Mr. Ndson rea'jovcd? fVoiñ Virginia to Miihnd county. Oliio, thany y en is si nee. where lic is exc-nsively known and respecte. 1. "I was born ;ind ra'se.d in Augusta county, Nrgmrêj n.y fatber vjie ;ui eider in !e Bresbyeriqn Cliurch. and was owner" ol about weny sla vea; he was what was generally termed u LT)O'l toaster " Hisslaves were generalij? tole ably wcll used and olóthêd, and not over wuiked: ,iey VCSFfl soüieiimes permittcd u atlenjj ÉbajrSIi, nd callud in to iannly wors'htj); few i theni, iiwovit, availed tneinselres oftiicsc privilgcs. - n some occasions 1 Inv'e seon him u!ii lliein everèly; -the cime ofuuiig io biain ilieir liberiy, grioi vyhnt u.iscillod, "runing aw'ay." Fur tliis-lhe wcre Scourged r.ntïe éverèly thm for any ihing else. Alter ihey havo een retnfcen, I have seen them stripped naked nd suspended hy tho hands. "soiiiciíjücs hj ;i tree. ometitnes to a post, n n til iocs barejy touch- (1 tlie grópnd. and whippf-d whh ;i cówhide umil ie Álood dr'ipp'cd frêtli iheü l).:c!is' A lioy ainöd Jack. jjanicularly, 1 have seen servcd in rjij v.iiy mofa than unce. Wlien 1 w.ís quite a hild, f recollect ii grïved me very üiucli to sn; ne tied ip u be S'bïppoii; and I usöd 1 1 inte - ede witli tears in tlieir bebalf. and mingle my ies with theirs. avidfccl a.UngSt willing to cake ian ui ihe punishniein; I haye beeij ebuked by my lathor for this kind of'syippailiy. fnt, sucli is ilie iiarsning n i'ine oJ silch int fro.ni i hits kind of cúia'riiserfttjpn for the uflefing sIüvc-. 1 qccaiüe so btuulcd ihat I cou.d ot only witncfs (hoi r snip 3 vwth compnsure. int viijïclf inili.it hem. .nd that without reior?e. One ense 1 Irive olten loolved back to 'HUsorrow nn'd contri tinni paniculaily sincc I ïave been convinced iliat i#n;gröes me uww. " - Vhcn I was pprhipj fóúrteen or lii'td-n ycars oi zc I liniferto'ok to cbrréèl a youni: feTtow nam d Nc(I, for soiirè BQpposod offence; l il) :ik it v.-ris c-ivin n Iv d;e on' ot' i:a proper place: lip being ■ . ' ■■ i, touk hold oí' íny rniS iiti'l held me, in oVJer to prévegt rny strik-ng hi'rn; ibis I considero the h'tíigh't o ence, and cried fcr help, when n;y fèthcr arul oth r b)ih crime running to my re.-.cu?. My "ather 6trippcd him and ticd him. and took him ito the orchnrd, whcre switches were plenty, and irectcd me to whip him; when one switch woreout ho supplicd nie with others. Alter 1 lia whippc'd Siim a while. he fel! on his knces 10 implore foiííivdH'ss.'nnd I kickedliim.in the (ace; ifcrsaid. don't kick Inm. bui whip hmi:" thisl lid until liisba'ck was literally oovercd wilh velu I know I Wve repented, and trust I have obtnirted pardon for these things. híy f..ther owneda woman.(wc 'uscd to cnl! olcï unt Gincc, ) she vv;is purchascd in üld Virginia. Sne KflS told me that lier old nnistcr, in bis leill, jènve her her ficedetn. butHt tíis dea tb hi.8 áon8 liad sohl lier 'o rny father; wben he booglil her she manifested ome uinvillrngnèBS togo wiili him, when she was put in inms and taken by iorce. Thia wna befpre Í was born: I rcmcniber to have seon the rons, nnd was told thut yas what tlicy had been had for. Aurit Grticc is still living, and nnist be betvvéén scvonty nnd eihiy yenrêöfége; shehns. for rhc laêl foriy yerns,becn nn ex(.ini!.'iry Clnistian. When I wisyoung 1 foolc ii io pju'ns to lciirn her lo rend; ihis is now coneolation tú lier. Siut-e np;n ;nitl infirm}ty have rendercl lier of iïttïe yahi'ö to her 'nwiü'r." she is peiniirted to reul ns murli fis she picases; this shc c;in lo, with the aid oí gtasaes. in the old fnmily Bil)!e. which is nlmosi the only böok süe bas (ver loo!e.- into. 'l'lns wifh -ome littlo monding for the black cnildren is all she di.r.s: slio issiül h !1 ns a slave. I well rernember what á kart-1'tvlio.g ceno tliere was in the faiiüly when my fulhcr st ld lur hushand; this was. I stippose. thirty-live years ago. And ;t my faitror was considcred onc of the best of mnsters. I know of few who wcre better, but of movy who were worse. The last tijnfl I saw my father, whiel wns in the fall of 6Z, he promifeJ me that bc would fice all his slavcs at his death. Me died howevcr wjthout dpi tig it; and I have "jnderstood si nee. ih.ü he omitted it. thronyh the influènce of Rov. Dr. Speei.-e, a Prcsbyterjan minister, who livid in the far.iilv. and jyaá a wmm ic.nd of t'ic Colonizatión Society.'' Angelina (Iriir.ke, daughter of Judge Grioake, of S. C, relates of one of the firsi ladics in Charleston : ::A flnve who vvüiicu iri tlic house, was guilty ori a particular occasion pfgoing to visit hia wile, and ktpt'd.nner waitini; ;.a littie, dus wile. was tbc sla'vG of a lady wlio ived at a littie distance.) Vlien the family satdown to table, the mistress began to scold the wniter for the o'flence- liê a;teiñptód to excuse liiuiself - sho prdé'reÖ him to iiold his tongue - he yentüréd another apology - her son tiien rose from the table in a rage, nind beaf the (uce and ears of the waiier so dfoadfullv that t:ic lilood güalied froni his mout'n, nose. nnd ears. This mTstrcss was 'aproTessór of religión; hér djiughf,er who reliitod the circnmstar.ee. wasa ffümc vitm'e.r of the Prcsbyterinn church wii'i the-poof u::in."jr;:l sime - insicnd of feelins; i" digna'tiön at tbis putrágenus abóse of lier btoiher in the ehiircÜ, she justiilod the deed. and said he got what hè deserved.' I soleïiïnly believu tuis to be a true picture of slavcholding religión. " A clergynian writes fiomthe South to Anhur Tappan :"Do yuubelievc it. sir, rot six monihs tinre, ! snw a ñymber QÍ my Chriit un neigh.birs p:'i. ing up provisión?, as I suppused. ioi a di er hum: hut as 1 was nbout ofiering iyse!í'o t lie p;ni y. 1 earnéd that thrir powder hnd bilis for - vciy (üiTciciu purpóse: it w;is. ín shori (lie design ofthé party i bririg hoinesome i;yiinyáj slaveSiOi to shoot tiicni ií úwy slioüld not be otile ' ge iliem ín any ojber váy. Ynu will nsk, la im tilia mijrieil ('ü1 it. sir. by wlial !}a;ne yuu ).!( a-i-, such ure i'he fcc:s: nrnnjt are sh'oteyeüj yoar. and thaí t"; wlnie ibe inasicrs s;iy t!ie ireat iheir sluves well." Vo will coiicliide this lang artiete with ú 'oüowing. witb íhc pief;icennnexcd to it by llcv W. Ishani of the Detróit Jüxnea. It is not stutc 1 oí w.iat cl;nouii:i ,ti"n this R.everend p'isuA carii'1; ywisJ but the anocdote show? ihckind of religión íhat pre varis Qtih'è South ainon ill denomina ions, and which gie;itly 'excites t'aeír adriáration. What should we think of the Apóátlts Paul or John, were they to prendí to us 'the lovo o! God.' or 'the unsearcliable riches of Christ' - sviili ;i loaded pistol in eac-li iiand!The following account seUiDjr forth the prowe.ss of' a tlev. gentleman , lias ]oni been tr;. veiling the rounds of thrè newspiapers, a tliouijli thore were some.lting1 in it wliich shouía excite adiniration. For our part we read iho nrticlo with fe]Í!!ETí of a very differ ent . chnrnc'er. That a minister of the gospel of thé prince of peace, shoiiW, to make a parade cf lus courage, arm hjmself witJi deadly wcapop.-, anr) evnn tako ihefn along with liim in'o IIir sacrpil desk, is a inonstrous iñcongruïty - Det. Times. CoCKAGK IN TUK PüLPIT AND OUT OF IT. - In the year 1830, when the U. S. Ship Vineennes was at arHior in the harbor of Pensecola, a fiVhttook place on shore between pomp erican seampn and the Spaniarde, during wliich a nomber of the fortner were fatally viun(!od. Arresta werp made. bjit the jiidges, jurors nnd counsel, were all Spanish, ind the assas.-ins were Boqnitied in the very face of the proof. Tlie Cnapl.iin of Ü)e Vincennos was Ó8sisfant counsel for the seami'ii in the case, and i:i mnkiiig: a report, to the povernnient, he renruked with sevnrity on the adniui.strarion of j tice in Pensi'coJa. The article was puhlishod at Washington, nnd while th'i ship rein-iined in port it reached Peiisecula, nnd produfjed rreat excitemont. - rheaiitlmr vas ut once disco ered, ná tbredtS of ciíastiíement, if nol assas-inatiop, were thrown out, if hu carao on shore. I-Je was iccuhtomed one"part. of every S hbalh, to jre.icli in ilio chapel ai Penáccola, and part of the d;i on siiipboard.S.ibbutli morniiig cune wjfli tlic threits hangiiig over lm néad f 'rom some of the most i prominent, as ucll s: savagi, of the Spnniards in Pen.ceolu. Even the Mayor liad armi'd hi niself, aimownciug' !)ia determínatioñ to assassmate the chaplain. Hearing of the.-e ' threats, on the murqtpg of tlie íáabbath day, I not to bo dr.ven from Int ciuty, lie placed lus I Joadcd pislol in his girdel, anl went on shore. ! Tliey were ex)ccting hini, and many fiorce j giancos and sayage Inoks uoro exchanjued as j lie i a tcd J'rom doek to ihe chnpeL lie] entt;red the cruwdcd cliurch, ascended the j pulpit, and delibera tely plticed his pistóte m the de.-k bcsido hit bible. Pravers wei said, tbe sermón preñe ed, and iheandiencedismised wiihoüi uny disturbance, excedí the fierco lypkfi whjch Öaehed iromeyes tïill of cecp and itn)lacabif! ha tred. Tiie cliaplain returned to the doek through ihe streel with no proiecion bnt liis moial and physical power, and reachcd his slnp in talety. Mo snbs-eqnenlly leurned thnt no lea tlian i'wo individuáis hul been pos led, in sëcrci. placen, wiih uiu.-kc: s . to n.-sasfnate bjm but wljicli t. hoy wfro prevenl'e.l 'ro:n doinji bv his fiill&'ing another rouf. In a FéW diys thesamec liaplain became qniti1 a hero at Pensocola, iJTConsequonce oí' hu, imdi'i such uncohifuriable cirmmsianees. He s-ubseqnontly va repeatedly on shore undidairbo' It may not beihiiiroi)er hpre to staie, that tlif cli pláin here aRudcd to is now the editor oí the Norih American. - Pkila. tve. Guz. QC"? The comnjtnicalio3 in our p:iper to day wil! be found inleresli yg, especinlly thoéfr' .from a valucd friend at Waifhinglon, and (rom our corresjjondent at Marshall. Read them Notice how the Liberty principies are dying away in all parfs of the country. ?