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spectfully report that in their judgment the following resolutions
are necessary and proper to be adopted by the Synod at the pres-
ent time:
  Whereas, the publications and proceedings of certain organ-
ized associations, commonly called anti-slavery, or abolition soci-
eties, which have arisen in some parts of our land, have grbatly
disturbed and are still greatly. disturbing the peace of the church
and of the country; and the Synod of Virginia deem it a solemn
duty which they owe to themselves and to the community to de-
clare their sentiments upon the subject; therefore,
  Resolved, unanimously,-
  "1 That we consider the dogma fiercely promulgated by said asse-
ciations-that slaverv as it exists in our slaveholding states is
necessarily sinful, and ought to be immediately abolished, and
the conclusions which naturally follow from that dogma, as di-
rectly and palpably contrary to the plainest principles of com-
mon sense and common humanity, and to the clearest authority
of the word of God."
  The above are all of the Old School. The following is
from a slavebolding New    School church, in Petersburg,
Virginia (16th Nov., 1838):
  "W Whereas, the General Assembly did, in the year 1818, pass
a law which contains provisions for slaves, irreconcilable with
our civil institutions, and solemnly declaring slavery to be sin
against God-a law at once offensive and insulting to the whole
Southern community,"
  1. Resolved,-
  That, as slaveholders, we cannot consent longer to remain in
connection with any church where there exists a statute confer-
ring the right upon slaves to arraign their masters before the
judicatory of the church-and that toofor the act of selling them
without their consent first had and obtained."
  2. Resolved,-
  " That as the Great Head of the church has recognized the re-
lation of master and slave, we conscientiously believe that slavery
is not a sin against God as declared by the General Assembly."
  3. Resolved,-
  "That there is no tyranny more oppressive than that which is
sometimes sanctioned by the operation of ecclesiastical law."
SENTIMENTS OF PRESBYTERIAN MINISTERS.
    The Rev. Gardiner Spring, D. D., of New York:
  At the anniversary of the American Colonization Soci-
ety at the city of Washington, in 1839, this gentleman
appeared on the platform as one of the speakers, with Mr.