Francis Jackson Garrison, William Lloyd Garrison, 1805-1879; the story of his life told by his children: volume 2

The churches were deeply engrossed in putting down anti-slavery sentiment within and without—the Southern religious bodies with a common voice holding up¹ the abolitionists to public reprobation. A reputed vicegerent of the Almighty, Alexander Campbell, founder of the ‘Christian’ sect, proclaimed the divine right of² slavery and the impiety of interference with it. The Northern churches were divided, but the weight of expression was on the side of the slave-driver. The Methodist General Conference at Cincinnati met some mild³ reprobation of slavery transmitted by the English Wesleyan Conference with unqualified repudiation of ‘modern abolitionists,’ and particular censure of two of its own delegates who had lectured on the ‘agitating topic’ of slavery; and earned from the editor of the Liberator⁴ the characterization of ‘a cage of unclean birds, and synagogue of Satan.’ The Presbyterian General Assembly at Pittsburgh found it inexpedient to express any opinion⁵ upon slavery, regarding it as a purely political institution; yet, for failing to call it divine, nearly lost its Southern members. The Maine Universalists held the⁶ same views of expediency. Even the Orthodox Friends of New York, in yearly meeting, while favorable to emancipation, kept aloof from the abolitionists, ‘endeavoring⁷ to concentrate within the Society that moral influence which it possesses.’ On the other hand, in small localities, the beginning of non-communion with slaveholders⁸ and non-fellowship with slaveholding religious associations was made.

The theological schools and reviews maintained their⁹ evil traditions. The Princeton Biblical Repertory found a clear sanction for slaveholding in the Scriptures, and admissions in the New Testament of its consistency with the Christian character and profession. Leading Northern publishers apprised the South of their resolve to¹⁰ reprint no English work involving a condemnation of slavery, and not to make their publications ‘a medium of “incendiary circulation.” ’ One in Baltimore expurgated