Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-12-03


va IL isworiliy of notice, ila all those Tho
auvocatc schene OF emancipation, concede,
w,thoni appearing 10 he aware Of the fact, one
OF the positions on which the writer's on natural
law place the legitimacy of slavery. The
scheme noticed in this Letter and that of Lord
Melville IN 1852. conceded that masters or
owners nave right TO be Unidentified for the
trouble and eXpence OF maintaining the etl,-
spring of slaves, by the labor of tins offspring.
INNS right be admitted, the question is set.
ted a new question may be made but it
must refer, NOT TO the existence, hat to the
extent of the right This however is but a
small matter. discerpible BY the eye of reason
only. And who will resort to reason on such a
subject. when eloquence answers the purpose
SO much better:
05.) Gen C. II, VIA
Q6 EXod. C. 2i, v. 81, Sc.
w Levitt. e. %, v d5. 40, sc,
may moi he ainiss To remark, that in the
bible, the Hebrew word, meaning slave, isaI-
ways translated servant" EncycIo titIe
Slavery. This, however, is believed 10 he suf
hcently evidentfrom the text. The notes 10
the rs c. Levitt. in DR.. Hewlelt's edition of.the
HlDle PINT This matter beyond doubt.
19.) Matt g. II.
t20.) Hewletis note OH Matt G. Is. vat
" Iorinentors Persons who ofiiciated as jalors.
and iniilcted corporal punishment"
(2l.) Epst 10 the Ephesiaus, c. 6.
10 the COlOssianS, cS.
10 Timothy, CO.
10 Titus, CT.
10 Philemon,
ISL. Epist. of Peter, CO
(22:) DIR. Hewlett, in his splendid edition of
tue Bible, makes remark OIL this epistle
Which, with the conduct OF the Apostle may
ne deemed by some persons worthy ola little
paintul reirospection. - Convinced of his
ianlt perhaps says Dir. Hewlett by ST paul
himself, he was DESTROYS of atonn. for il by
retui ming 10 his master; but dreadng the ar
6'trary punishment which the lac aio,ped masters
t0tnHtct on tugitire SlureS, lie ed the ho-
~ Apostle to iutercede for him by writing To
lie ffr a al.
me penitent slave might he again received into
his household" Pliny says Dr. H. is suppos-
ed TO have written "A letter on a similar occasion
lib. o. epst 81. have no access ar tb;s mo-
meDt to his works. tits not, however, material.
There are people inland Inland ill., &c AVID
very pious people, too who never heard Of
fiiny and act, IN relation 10 runaway slaves.
as it they had never heard ST. Paul. though his
name is probably mentioned at every meeting.
If ii be not silent meeting
Dr hewiett. whose notes, collected from
every orthodox source, to explain and iIlus-
trate the text of the edition of the bible (Dub.
iiShed IN London, 1911 } has the following note
on Tim c. q. v. l." By ordering Timothy to
teach slaves 10 continue with AMI obey their
masters, the apostle shews that The christian
religion neither alters mems rank in life. nor
ab0lises amy right to which they are entitled
by The law OF nature or by the law OF The cOun-
try where they live"
(23.) How far the doctrines and laws pro-
mulgated in The Old Testament. are 10 he re-
III.
christians, OF The law Of nature shall not un-
dertake TO decide but some very good and
very able men have decided.
Grotins, IN the preliminary discourse TO
his great work giving an account of the yari-
Gus sources from which he derived his priuci-
pies and opinions. expressly declares that the
VIII OF God asexpressed III the sacred writ
ings. is never repugnant TO the law ofuature
itself sec 10
81 e was so tenacious of principles incuIcatcd
by those writings that, because the Jews were
prohibited from lending money OH interest to
Jews, lie contended that christians ought nor
lend money upon interest at all He publish
ep this opinion in his book but he afterwards
abandonedit, as the jews were permitted so
TO lend to strangers.
Book l. c, ], sec. IL, he says" The law of
the ancient Hebrews serves TO assure us that
nothing is enjOincd there contrary TO the Iaw
OF nature; for since the law of nature, as /
saId before, is perpetual and Interchangeable,
neihiDg could he commanded by God who can
never be unjust contrary TO this law. Besides
this law of Moses is called pure and right,
psalm 10 81 and by the apostle St Paul ho-
~ just and good Rom Z IL
In speaking OF permissiOns allowed by the
law OF NJ eses. ie distinctly maintains that what
the law allows, cannot be contrary o the right
of uatuIe.
He further states, 4" christian princes NAV
now make laws of the same import with those
given by Moses, unless they be such laws as
wholly related either to the time OF the expect
ed Messlas and the gospel not then published
OF that Christ himself has IN general Grin par
tirular cemTnandedtb the contrary. For except
ing these three reasons, no other can he ina
gined why that which the law of Moses for
merry established, should nov be unlawful
Barbeyrac ,noie 3 to IL sect book l. G. n
discusses the subject The following promo
SitiOns are deduced from his reasoning
J. That all positive permissioDs from God
are certain proof OF appreciation.
z. That God cannot positively permit the
least thing Evil iu its own nature.
3. That when God permits thing in GER
tain cases sDd to certain persons or in regard
to certain nations, IL may be inferred that the
thing permitted Is not evil in its own nature
&c.
| do no, quote the opinion Of these men as
authority. The opinion OF man is rot au-
thOrity. | only mean to suggest thatstb
Old Testament ex preSsly authOTiscs slavery.as
The New does not condemn it, ana. ON The
contrary expressly makes IT the duty OF SER
wants 10 obey their masters and as some vcyv
wise aud pions men have thought that nothing
authorized 10y the Scriptures can be regarded
as immoral or unjust; there would be no inn
on the part OF the relofmers and ab.
III talking with alittle more humili-
" on this subject in looking abOui a little to
see where their cnrses and donucaiions are
hkely To tall in looking forward little to ex-
plore the path they mast take, aud to asceT-
tain hetbcT any thing sacred will be injured
or removed whether any thing valuable must
be sacrificed, and Ia estimate accurately the
rood that may confidently be expected and
inalll IT, euquiring before sentence Of cor
aud nfamy is pronounced on hjph
llipdeI aud q generous people for holding slave.