The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1820-03-14
PAYABLE YEARLY.
MISCELLANY.
From the Baltimore Morning Chronicle

10 dSlUUIsD Atlc eUDsIcHutiJTt vi solidf Ite
has not emily .unbled from its basis, the foun-
dalton itself has not only been le,eIled will,
the ground ;but TO carry on the Illusion, the
solid earth. itself trembles with strange and
/ unnatural conyulsions. We seem 10 live in
an sge when nothing IS stable--in moral
poin, Of view, we may be said TO build our
stately and magnificent habitations on a burn
ing Etns if the flames do not burst from the
crater, the imprisoned demon applies his giant
strength TO the mountain itselt-he struggles
| or emancipation and shakes that pile Of e,rth
TO its centre. We are called upon now 10 prove
The orthodoxy of opinions, moral and religious,
never before doubted, doctrines hoary as the
venerable locks Of creation. Nothing is sta.
bic, nothing is sure, nothing is permanent.
Looking around over The regions OF The cath,
even amidst the most dark and bcnghed
mo0arches, amidst those countries flat
constitute The abode, the receptacle Of foul,
unnatural and malignant spirits, even in these
masses Of shade, The stars OF mercy beginto
glitter, and faintish silvery dawn, announces
that Me triumphant orb OF christianity is al
vancng. Yet with this spectacle before OF.
eyes, we bear it graveycontended on III.
floor Of an American Congress, with our decla
ration OF independence, I" that Almighty Coz
hes created man free" staring the orator in
The lace we hear it maintained that slavery
boasts divine original we hear the curses
OF our creator inflicted on a wicked and nnre-
penanl people for their sins we hear these
horrible maledictions cited as evidence that
the Deity himself approves Of violation OF
his own laws by human hands /; we hear the
penalty oil criminal statute appealed 10 as
proof that the legislator countenanced, nay
sanctioned and consecrated the crime.
From this mode of considering arguments.
We find the pillars Of society shaken to Their
basis. The plain question put TO The mem
hers Of congress was, whether Missouri was 10
be admitted a member Of The American con
federation, 1pitt or xifhom restrictions, Slave
~ was in the outset OF the debate ocknopie1g
ed on all hands 10 be an evil. And now this
evil, this curse, as il has been denominaied, Is
attempted 10 be justified by the volume OF holy
writ II has been said. that the favored ma
ton Ct God were slaves 10 the Egyptians.
The fact is true, but why does the orator over.
look The divine miracles wrought for the
emancipation OF the Jews Why does he er>
desvor to prove by divine ma!eJieiions, the
justice Of slavery Why does he step short IL.
his argument Why does he no; endsavor to
shew that Americans have no right TO freedom,
that the fathers Of cur independence coun,er-
acted the divine law, when they proclaimed.
that" almighty God had created all men free '''
Why does he not maintain, that we were all
born TO servtude, as our native and inaljena-
bic Inheritance !? This would be speaking a
doctrine, plain and ineligible, and the orator
would prove by his argument, that he bad no
right himself 10 represent ireemen in the Sen
ate Of the United States.
II slavery is to be justified by the DEGREES Of
Heaven, let this orator boldly maintain this
doctrine, 10 The ears Of Americans let him
pour soon and contempt on the tombs OF our
revolutionary ancestors, on the mouderinC
dus, of the heroes of the field and Of the cabi.
net let him say, if he dares, that our consti.
tuition violates the divine ordinances, and ought
Immediately to be abolished. But we give
an extract from the speech in questionable
orator is Mr.. senator Smith, from South
Carolina
"Whon, and by what authority were ws
taught to separate the positive laws of God from
the christian religion! Christ himself gave 4
sascton TO slavery. lie admonished them to be
obedient to their masters aud there is not single
word in the whole of his life which forbids il.
Slavery was known to great extent, among all
the nations of the earth. Christ came to fulfil
the@sw, net to destroy it. Christ came TO do the
will Of his heavenly father, who sent him he
came to take away the sins Of the world, and 70
turn men from their wicked ways. Some who
are DESTROYS to fix the character Of irrelison on
the practice Of slavery, have said that Christ
tolerated slavery, lest he should disturb the tram
guilty of the world, by exciting the numerous
slaves to insurrection. This is a doctrine for
you, sir, that God should send his only SON to re-
deem The world, and yet that he should be afraid
to do his duty, and suffer so crying sin slave
ny is represented to be, by our modern politicians,
to 60 unnoticed, lest he should interfere with I.
principle of civil policy. Aud some Of them have
had the edrontery to charge the Shareholders
with impety, for alleging the Scriptures justified
slavery"
We have now heard this doctrine advance
ed, that our adorable Redeemer, who Came
upon earth, who expired upon the cross, who
flung open the dazzling portals OF eternal lie
to man, who poured his life blood to enaoci.
pate US from the slavery Of sin we have heard
even thai awful and august name cited 10
prove that ilE gave a sarciton 10 slavery.