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not been contented with disturbing meetings, but have also attacked and destroyed property.

In New-York, savage mobs interrupted two meetings of abolitionists on July 4th, and among other acts of violence, on successive nights, sacked the house of Mr. Lewis Tappan, and destroyed his furniture; attacked and seriously injured the house of Dr. Cox; merely to punish them for their obnoxious opinions. The rioters also attacked and damaged several churches in the same place, sacked St. Phillips' Episcopal Church in Centre-street, demolished the African school house in Orangestreet, and twelve adjacent houses, principally occupied by colored people. For a number of nights, the mob seemed to be masters of the city.

In Philadelphia, the riots were more destructive than even those in New-York. For several successive nights in last August, the entire command of the city was, as in New-York, in the hands of an infuriated multitude. In the course of this time, the rioters attacked and destroyed the houses and furniture of many unoffending people of color, and treated their victims. with brutal inhumanity. Forty-four houses, and their furniture, and two churches, were either destroyed or damaged during these riots.

Various riots and outrages of a similar character, have been committed in other places, upon the unfortunate colored race, and their supporters. But time would fail, should it be attempted, to enumerate them all.

It is with great regret that the managers record that an attack was made on the house of Miss Crandall, in Canterbury, by some heartless ruffians in the night, in October last, who so much injured the building, that it was thought expedient to discontinue the school, rather than to expose her pupils to renewed outrages.

The frantic and barbarous proceedings to which we have adverted, though boldly reprobated in some newspapers, have in others been met with so feeble a tone of remonstrance, as to amount to encouragement; while some have gone so far as explicitly to recommend force to punish such persons, as have dared to advocate unpopular doctrines too freely and too loudly.

The friends of slavery are much deluded, if they suppose that the opinions of its opponents can be extinguished by per

secution. They ought to know that the love of truth and justice, in generous minds, is only kindled by opposition. In fact, as might have been expected, the proscriptive measures pursued against abolitionists, so far from diminishing, have multiplied their numbers, and filled the whole body with the invincible fortitude and resolution of martyrs.

While in the North, the opposition to anti-slavery principles has become thus virulent, they have been widely spreading both here and at the South and West.

During the last winter, a debate was carried on by the students. of the Lane Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the following questions:

1. Ought the people of the slaveholding States to abolish slavery immediately?

2. Are the doctrines, tendencies, and measures of the American Colonization Society, and the influence of its principal supporters, such as to render it worthy of the patronage of the Christian public?'

After a debate of nine evenings, every vote was in favor of the affirmative of the first question, four or five of those present, however, excusing themselves from voting at all.

At the end of another debate of the same length, the second question was decided in the negative, with only one dissenting voice. Four or five persons declined voting at all.

The result of this debate is equally gratifying and surprising, when it is recollected, that eleven of the students were born and brought up in slave states, every one of whom adopted anti-slavery principles. The readiness with which young men, whose early prejudices were probably strongly enlisted in favor of the slave system, have thus been led to abandon them, affords unanswerable evidence, if any were wanting, that the hearts of slaveholders are accessible to the pleadings of justice and humanity.

The Trustees of the Seminary, taking the alarm at the rapid spread of truth among the students, and yielding to the influence of popular clamor in the vicinity, on Oct. 6, 1834, adopted the following resolutions, rules, and orders.

Resolved, That this Board approve and adopt the Report of the Subcommittee of the Executive Committee, 'relative to the proceedings among the students on the subject of slavery,' and the proceedings of the Executive Committee thereon, of the 20th of August, 1834.

STANDING RULES. Rule 1.-Societies or Associations of the students shall not be organized in the Seminary, without the approbation of the Faculty and where such organization shall be desired, the Constitution and the object and general regulations of such Society, shall be submitted to the Faculty for their consideration.

Rule 2. The students shall not hold general meetings among themselves, other than those of a religious or devotional character, or for purposes associated with the course of studies; nor deliver public addresses, or lectures, at the Seminary or elsewhere, in term time, other than those connected with ordinary religious exercises; nor make public addresses or communications to the students when assembled at their meals, or on other ordinary occasions: nor be absent from the Seminary in term time -without the approbation of the Faculty, or of such person as they shall designate for that purpose.'

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ORDERS. Order 1.-Whereas, the Anti-Slavery Society and the Colonization Society lately organized in the Seminary, are considered by this Board, in the present state of public excitement on the subject of slavery. as tending to enlist the students in controversies foreign to their studies, and to stir up among themselves and in the community, unfriendly feelings and useless hostilities, thereby counteracting the great objects of the institution therefore, ordered, that the students be required to discontinue those Societies in the Seminary.

'Order 2.-Ordered that the Executive Committee have power to dismiss any student from the Seminary, when they shall think it necessary so to do; and to make any rules and regulations for the admission of students, or for the government and management of the Seminary, or any of its concerns, not inconsistent with the charter and the regulations of this Board, which they may deem expedient.'

On these tyrannical and inquisitorial proceedings, little comment is necessary. It is manifest, that the object of these rules and orders was, to prevent, as far as possible, free discussion on the subject of slavery. The fathers of an important seminary, established for the express purpose of disseminating Christian truth, have boldly endeavored to stop all inquiry on some of the most serious questions of religion and morals. They have shamelessly dared to say to young men, who are preparing for the gospel ministry, It is no part of your business to examine what course a christian minister ought to adopt in respect to slaveholding the crying sin of the age and nation.

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How wonderful is the uniformity in the proceedings of tyranny! Associations, public meetings, and public addresses, are always special objects of fear to arbitrary governments. It has been so in Europe. And it is remarkable, that public meetings of slaves, and preaching to them, are also denounced by law and public opinion in the slave States.

The Trustees of Lane Seminary, however, have found that they were not dealing with slaves. They thought, probably, that they were putting out a dangerous flame in their institution,

but they have done it by scattering the burning brands far and wide over the country. Thus they may, perhaps, prove the unwilling instruments in the hands of Providence, of aiding to kindle a moral conflagration in our country, which neither trustees of Seminaries, nor even governors and legislatures, will be able to extinguish.

The arbitrary enactments just recited, have been so far successful, as to lead nearly all the students to leave the Theological Class, and to prevent many others from entering it. It is said that the Theological Class last year consisted of forty, only two of whom had entered the fourth day after the commencement of the term in October. In the Literary department, the diminution had been similar. Out of sixty of last year, only five had entered.

It is to be hoped, that few young men will be found willing to enter an institution, in which they are debarred the liberty of thought and speech on one of the most momentous subjects which can come before them.

The young men who have thus been driven from their studies, published during the last month, a statement of the reasons which induced the students in Lane Seminary, to dissolve their connection with that Institution.' It is signed by fifty-one persons. Others who agreed in opinion with the document were at such a distance, that their names could not be affixed to it. It is written with great ability, and unanswerable force of argu

ment.

The Faculty have also published their statement respecting the difficulties in Lane Seminary.

The students of Lane Seminary are far from being alone in their opposition to slavery. The young men in a considerable number of Colleges and Theological Seminaries, have engaged with great ardor in the same cause. When the influence which these young men, who, in the usual course of things, will become lights and guides of the people, will have upon society, is considered, we may reasonably hope that the time is not far distant, when the whole American people will become sensible of their duty to the colored people of the country.

The increasing interest felt in every part of the United States for the oppressed, is also proved by the proceedings of various ecclesiastical bodies.

The Synod of Kentucky, at a meeting held at Danville, Oct. 8, spent the greater part of several days in discussing the subject of slavery. They finally adopted a paper, of which the following is the introduction :—

This synod, believing that the system of absolute and hereditary domestic slavery, as it exists among the members of our communion, is repugnant to the principles of our holy religion, as revealed in the sacred scriptures, and that the continuance of the system, any longer than is necessary to prepare for its safe and beneficial termination, is sinful, feel it their duty earnestly to recommend to all presbyteries, church sessions, and people under their care, to commence immediate preparation for the termination of slavery among us; so that this evil may cease with the present generation; and the future offspring of our slaves may be free.'

The New-York Evangelist, from which this account is borrowed, states that the synod then proceeded to advise that emancipation be universally extended to all slaves hereafter born;' but without discouraging that of others whose condition would be greatly improved by emancipation,' or who might be prepared for freedom by the use of remarkable efforts.' Far as these opinions of the Synod of Kentucky are from being sound, they are remarkable as coming from a slave state, and exhibit a growing improvement in public sentiment.

The Synod of Illinois, at a meeting held in Springfield, in that State, in October last, after discussion unanimously adopted the following resolution :—

Resolved, That this Synod do most earnestly recommend to the churches under our care, the use of all proper means to effect the speedy emancipation of the slaves in these United States, and especially in the Presbyterian Church. Synod do consider the existing system of holding in involuntary slavery their fellow men, as a crime of no ordinary character, against which they do hereby most earnestly and solemnly testify.

Various other religious bodies have in a similar manner, during the year, published their testimony against slavery.

During the past year, many strong indications have been given, that the desire to abolish slavery is becoming more active and extensive in the Western slave states. A few of them will be mentioned.

A society has been formed in Kentucky, it is believed within the year, called The Kentucky Society for the gradual relief of the State from slavery.' We regard this Society, though based on unsound principles, as springing from benevolent feelings, and as the harbinger of a brighter day. It cannot be, that conscientious men, who are earnestly seeking to benefit their

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