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VOL. XI.—NO. 28.

REFUGE OF OPPRESSION.

From the Raleigh, (N. C.) Recorder and Watchman.

Triennial Convention.

Beaufort, 1st June, 1841.

My Dear Brother: I have just this moment seen, for the first time, a copy of the minutes of the Savannah River Association, and to my surprise and regret, find there the following resolution:

Resolved, That we, the Savannah River Baptist Association, deem the conduct of Northern Abolitionists highly censurable and meddlesome, and request our State Convention to instruct their delegates to the Triennial Convention, to demand of our Northern brethren whether they can acknowledge those fanatics as co-workers in the great work of evangelizing the world, and to state fully to them the impossibility of our further co-operation, unless they dismiss such from their body.

As I was a delegate from this Association, I feel it due to myself at once to disclaim all knowledge, up to this moment, of the passing of such a resolution. The idea of the Triennial Convention's catechising its members as to any matter of conscience, and excluding from its body all who hold certain sentiments, is so singular, that I want words to express my astonishment at it.

My object, however, is not to make any remarks upon the resolution. I attribute it to that excitement under which good men sometimes act, and which happily in this instance seems to have subsided in a few hours; for the very next morning the corresponding letter was, we find, 'read and adopted,' and this letter breathes the mildest spirit of peace, and deprecates warmly any disunion in the great missionary work for which alone the Convention was organized. Indeed it is difficult to conceive how the Association could have addressed such an epistle to the Churches, without first rescinding the resolution. The printing both together makes the minutes quite a curiosity.

You are aware that at the meeting in Baltimore, I, in common with all the Southern and South-Western delegates, declared that we were free of all instructions in giving our votes. Now, even supposing the above resolution to have reached me, it would not have amounted to any thing like an instruction. The Association says nothing to its own delegates, but requests the Convention to instruct theirs—a request which the Convention evidently deemed improper, as no such instructions were given.

I am unwilling, however, to allow any brother at the North, to suppose for a moment, that in disavowing instructions, I was acquainted with any action of the body represented by me, from which such instructions could be by any possibility inferred. It will be seen from the Minutes that the Beaufort Church had no representative in the Association, and the only information I received, was as to my being one of the delegates.

Had the Minutes been published, and the information they give, been communicated before my going to Baltimore, I should still have gone and acted as I did. But I would then, in candor and frankness, have certainly mentioned the resolution—at the same time protesting against its being viewed as conveying instructions to me, and denying the right of any body to bind my conscience by instructions.

While writing, let me say that none of the papers have given an exact account of the proceedings on Friday morning.

The reason of my putting the question to the President and Secretaries ought to be known. It was this. Having formed a very pleasant acquaintance with our brother Galusha, I ventured to suggest to him whether he himself would not propose his removal from the Board. His answer was, that he would do so but for one thing, viz: that an official demand was with the President and Secretaries that he should be sacrificed. This will account for the course I took. I was confident that our brother's mind had been operated upon by a rumor most unfounded. At all events, my duty was clear. I had supposed that the answers of the officers would have settled every thing, and confess I was at first not disposed to allow the inquiries which were put to us.

As, however, they were prefaced with assurances of strong desires for peace, we answered. The result was such as to give perfect satisfaction. Brother Hague of Boston exclaimed, 'we have now a clear sky,' and the exclamation seemed to find an echo in every heart. But I regretted to find that when the result of the election was known, one or two of the abolitionists raised the cry of persecution, simply because the Convention did not vote as they wished.

I think that even they cannot seriously continue in this opinion. The public, at any rate, will rebuke them if they venture to make the charge any where on this side of the Atlantic.

Your affectionate brother,

R. FULLER.

N. B. On looking at the Minutes, I find that the same committee, who reported the resolution above named, offered also this, which was adopted:

Resolved, That the State Convention be requested to retain the funds sent by this Association, until the Triennial Convention shall publish their repudiation of the whole spirit and conduct of Baptist abolitionists.

Yet in the corresponding letter, the Association, after recommending moderation as to the abolitionists, say 'But let us, in the mean time, not forget the heathen. Let us feel that our contribution must go out to them. If northern enthusiasts have proscribed us, let us not follow their example and proscribe the heathen. But in the might of christian magnanimity send our contributions to them, over every opposition.'

The Association has in fact, retained the funds itself. Now, I submit to you, and through you, to my brethren of the Association, whom I most sincerely respect and love, whether this be not an unwarrantable stretch of power. The Association is the agent of the churches, and when they send funds, has no sort of right to stop them. I do beg my brethren to consider this matter. Our missionary operations are embarrassed deplorably for want of pecuniary resources, and the churches have sent their contributions, and I humbly hope they will not be withheld longer.

Yours, &c.

R. F.