Basil Manly Sr.

Basil Manly Sr. (January 28, 1798 – December 21, 1868) was an American planter, preacher and chaplain best known as the author of the Alabama Resolutions, which formed part of the argument for creation of the Southern Baptist Convention on proslavery grounds.

In 1816, Manly attended the Bingham School, and that same year he was baptized at the Baptist Church of Christ at Rocky Springs, Chatham County, North Carolina.

On April 26, 1818, he received his license to preach from the Baptist Church of Christ at Rocky Springs, North Carolina.

The following day, he preached his first regular sermon at the Baptist Meeting House in Beaufort, South Carolina.

In 1855, Manly resigned as the president of the University of Alabama, and he accepted a call to preach at the Wentworth Street Baptist Church in Charleston, South Carolina, where he remained for four years.

In 1859, he returned to Tuscaloosa as State Evangelist,[citation needed] and then went to Montgomery, where he took over as pastor for Isaac T. Tichenor at the First Baptist Church.

Manly is best known as the author of the Alabama Resolutions, which formed part of the case for creation of the Southern Baptist Convention on proslavery grounds.

[2]: 36  He was elected chaplain to the Alabama Secession Convention in 1861 and delivered its opening prayer, which was published on the front page of the Montgomery Advertiser.

He was often called upon to deliver prayers at public events, wrote in defense of the rebellion, and officiated at hundreds of funerals.

[2]: 59 Manly's view differed from some other religious leaders, who saw slavery as a pragmatic issue, an unfortunate economic necessity.

"[2]: 82  Manly taught that if everyone followed their role in the divine hierarchy (meaning white masters on top, and black slaves at the bottom) the system would work to everyone's advantage, and provide rewards not just in this life but for eternity.