George T. Downing to Frederick Douglass, April 17, 1852
St. Philip's Church and the Fugitive Slave Law.
Friend Douglas:—If there be a hell, warmed with uncommon wrath, that man will assuredly feel all its pangs, who would dare be so presumptuous as to enroll himself in the habiliments of a minister of Christ, ascend his hold place, and thus attired, thus armed, there fight against the ever-living God. Judge ye from the following facts whether the minister in charge of St. Philip's Church doth not occupy this frightful position.
The Committee of Thirteen horrified at the Preston outrage, and by the like injustices which had preceded it, thought it prudent to call our people together, to consult as to the best course to pursue; whether it was not best for fugitives to leave this city. It was the opinion of the Committee, that they should; that all should leave, excepting such as were willing to make a covenant with their God, to become his instruments if needs be in sending to perdition the Martins and other abettors who should assist in making them slaves.
The Committee agreed to have a meeting and to have notices read in the churches where our people congregate. The several members promised to see the several pastors in charge of the respective congregations. Dr. McCune Smith offered to see the Pastor of St. Philip's church, where he worshiped, He did. But the result. To use the graphic and truthful expression of one of the vestry men of that
church, "The Doctor came and raised the devil." Yes, his satanic majesty was in the very body of the sanctuary in robes.
The Doctor simply presented a notice, with a respectful request that it should be read, inviting the congregation to a meeting to take measures against kidnapping. This was food enough for the wrath of the dignitary of this place—for the Reverend Pastor of a flock of colored persons. My heart says it, why not my tongue? The applicability and truthfulness of this expression will be exhibited in a subsequent fact which I shall bring to light.
With more that was infamous and outrageous this Reverend gentleman affirmed, that the Fugitive Slave Law was the law of the land—that it was our christian duty to OBEY the same! Ungrateful, wicked injustice. Our duty to obey the Fugitive Slave Law! He does not think so; it is the devil's counsel; it wars against the word of God, which declares, "Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee. He shall dwell with thee, even among you in that place which he shall choose, in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best; thou shalt not oppress him."
I may submit to the Fugitive Slave Law, because I must, because I am overpowered; but "obey it," I never will. I may submit to it in seeing a man dragged into chains and bondage, but the power does not exist under Heaven, that shall compel me to obey the mandate, lay hold and assist; but the "compromise" Reverend who presides over this colored congregation would.
A Preson flees unto our "gates," "dwells" in our midst, forms near and dear ties, forms alliances which are sealed in Heaven. Oh, dear friends, how this thought burst upon me, when I beheld Preston and his wife, when I look-
ed upon that wife, that mother, with wringing hands, reclining agonizingly upon the shoulder of that husband, that father who should ever be near to protect the wife, the mother, and the child, and beheld upon the fourth finger of that wife's hand, the ring, the symbol of that rite, that sacrament, that union, which was ordained by God.
The slaveholder came. Aye, and that coming is presupposed in the above quotation of scriptures. He disregards all obligations, all ties; he drags him from our gates. Would that this was the last of the infamy. But our REverend and MOST CHRISTIAN adviser, if called upon to "put asunder" those that "God hath joined together"—to screw on the thumb screw—yes, he would feel it to be his "christian duty to obey" Aye, he even takes his place to entwine with the rope which shall bind him and keep him from fleeing to some christian gate. This certainly wars with God. Oh! Hypocrisy, Oh! base ingratitude, for this minister connected with the more favored of the country to advise his colored congregation to obey this law; he thus to advise them in their own sanctuary, built by their own hands; worshiped in by fugitives or their descendants, and he securing his "bread and butter" from those very hands. Aye! it is base ingratitude.
As an evidence of false teaching, how the human mind may become debased, how the false shepherd can [mould] his "sheep," I state the fact, that at the first meeting of the vestry of this church the sunday following when its Pastor proclaimed obedience to the Fugitive Slave Law, they passed a vote of thanks to said Reverend and approved of his entire course. Yes the names of Philip A. White, Geo. Lawrence, Henry Scott, Isaac [illegible], Geo. [illegible], Peter H. Stevens, and John Barryan, stand disgracefully committed to all of his iniquities, as far as this church is concerned, to obedience to the unconstitutional, the man and God defying Fugitive Slave Law. I am proud of the fact that there was even one of that vestry who opposed that resolution, and that he was my father.
A reason why this resolution should not have been passed, further evidence of his indifferent, his domineering and [illegible] spirit, is the following: he came to the church on one of the occasions of its regularly appointed services, he counted the congregation then assembled, found that there were not fifteen present, he would not preach, put his gown under his arm and left the more than "two or three gathered together" alone, to worship God the best way that they might, but without his assistance, notwithstanding he was at that very time as now under pay to serve those that might there come to humble themselves, to be edified and enlightened as to their christian duty, notwithstanding God hath said "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I also."
I need not give expression to the contempt which must be felt for the pastor and vestry, that would act thus.
If I have done either of the parties above alluded to injustice, or if they feel justified in the course they have pursued, I shall hope to hear from them. Convince me and I will make the amend honorable. The following resolution bearing upon the matter was passed at the Public meeting alluded to.
"Resolved, That the Fugitive Slave Law (so called) is no law of binding force upon honset men, and that man who says that he will obey the same, is an enemy to God and our people, and he and all apologizers for any such men deserve the execration and contempt of the good."
G T D
New York, April 17, 1852.