Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-11-29
TO w. K.

Reverend Sir,
ain one of those who are strongly
influenced by religious considerations
and scruples of conscience in opposition
to slavery; being quite certain that it is
contrary to the spirit ofour holy religion
to reduce any human being 10 state OF
bondage, except as a punishment for
crimes. l have attentiveIy considered
the passages you have q3oted, and
learn from them that The laws of Moses
permiued the Hebrews, according 10
The custom of those barbarous ages, 10
buy boDd-men and bond-mads of the
heather round about them, and OF The
strangers that sojonrned among tbem /;
but do not dis over that they were
permitted to make them slaves. On the
contrary II is evident from all collateral
passages, tAat the persons who might
become bond men and bond maids 10 the
lsraelnes, were such as had .forfeited
their Jreeaom, and were by law suhlrc,-
ed 10 the penalty of slavery. N thin4
is said respecting their " curled halr or
sable complexons" or any tile we have
to stand in the place of he ancient Jew
in Ibis particular, or any Other
be legislature of he United Sjales
has aiken a different view from yours OF
the practice OF bringing " the unhappy
sable chidreno Vt africa To he Amerie an
continent" that they may enjoy "the
blessings of slavery" having declared
il TO he a crime of the first magnitude,
and punishable as such. In regard 10
making slaves OF the II athen roNnd
about us, which y9u conceive to be our
right as &C ,d's chosen people," that
also is proalaled. shall therefore
confinc my obsnrvauons to the ensa ing
OF tie =" slra9g gers" who sojourn amons
as; end in III ration OF your extracts
roth the law of Moses on this subject,
| lnviie your attention to the How ine
collateral AUTHORITIES, aiken from the
same code.
Exodus, 4hap. 90 v2l Thou shall
neither vex strahs er nor Cypress hin /:
for ye were strangers in the land OF
Egypt"
Exodns, chap. IS. Y. 9 i" Thou shalt
DOT Cypress siransei: Tor ye know the
heart OF stranger, SEEING We were slran-
gers in The land o Egypt"
Leviticus, chap. l9v. 35 & 81. And
# a stranger soloura VITA thee in your
aud, We Shall nor vex him: But the
stranger that dweileth with you shall be
unto you as one born amongst you, and
hou shall love him as Myself: Tor we
were Strangers in the land OF Egypt. l
am the Lord Thy God !"
Levincus, chap. "a v. %. :" Ye shall
aave one manner Of tazv as zveH for the
stranger as for one Of you, ogoa com
try ter | am the Lord your tioe y
Exodus, chap. civ l6. 4" He ,hA
s'eaeth man and selleyh hlin, or Vht
be found in his hand, he shall surely be
pui % death"
Nov, as the laws OF Moses respecting
strangers are In perfect CONFORMITY win
The principles OF our free institutions
and as you, sir, consider the negroes as
the peculiar object Of those laws, applied
% our Case, | call upon YOU to exert your
influence, as good CITIZEN and as a teach
er OF religion, that our practice may be
brought to correspond with he true prln-
iples OF christianity and republicahlsm
ihis would be better employment, and
more suited to the character Of minister
| pf the gospel, than advocating slavery
jesus CHRIST is the Interpreter oil the
Mosaic law to Christians and the fol-
owin, is his interpretations Matthew
chap. Z. Y. u -" All things whatsoever
ye would that men should do unto you,
do ye even 50 10 them for this is the iaav
and tie hrohhets." Allow me to re
mind you that tbe 6. black curled headco
Africans are men, having the same rela-
iion 10 the Universal Father with your
self; or, ii may be, a nearer: For ii IL
wri ten, =" He glveth grace 10 the hum
Die but he heholdelh the proud altar oG.,'
JONATHAN FREEMAN.