Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-07-12
SLAVERY.
SPEECH OF DAVID RICE,
IN THE KENTUCKY CONVENTION.
(Concluded.


Another objection to my doctrine, and
that esteemed by some the most formi-
dable, still lies before me: an objection
taken from the sacred scriptures. There
will be produced on the occasion, the
example of faithful Abraham, recorded
Gen. xvii. and the law of Moses, record
ed in Lev. XIV. The iniunctions laid
upon servants in the gospel, particularly
by the Apostle Paul, will also be intro
duced here. These will all be directed,
as formidable artillery, against me, and
in defence of absolute slavery.
From the passage in Genesis, it is
agreed, by the advocates of perpetual
slavery, that since Abraham had servants
born in his house and bought with mo-
ney, they must have servants for life,
like our negroes; and hence they con-
clude, that il is lawful for US to purchase
heather servants, and if they have chill
dren born i'll our houses, 10 make them
slaves also. From the law of Moses it
is argued, that the Israelites were au-
thorised to leave the children of their
ScrN dutos do ali iitlCTltduCS W iilSlI OWb
children forever: and hence it is infer
red, that we may leave the children OF
our slaves as an inheritance to our chill
dren forever. If this was immoral in
itself, Just COP would never have given
it the sanction OF his authority; and il.
lawful in itself, we may safely follow the
example Of Abraham, or act according
10 the law of Moses.
None, hope, will make this objec-
ton, but those who believe these writ
ings to be of divine authority; for if they
are not so, it is little to the purpose to
introduce them here. Ifyou grant them
to be of divine authority, you will also
grant, that they are consistent with them
selves, and that one passage may help
to explain another. Grant me this and
then reply to the objection.
In the l2th verse of the l7th of &C.
nesis, we find that Abraham was COM
manded to circumcise all that were born
in his house, or bought with money.
We find in the sequel Of the chapter,
thai he obeyed the command without de-
lay; and actually circumcised every
male in his family, who came under this
description. The law of circumcision
continued in force; i, was not repealed
but confirmed by the law Of Moses.
Now, to the circumcised were COM
mi,ted the oracles of God; and circum-
eision was a token of that covenant by
which, among other things, the land of
Canaan, and their various privileges in
it, were promised to Abraham and his
seed, to all that were included in that
covenant. All we're included, to whom
circumcision, which was the token of
the covenant, was administered, agreea-
bly, to Gods command. BY divine ap-
pointmcn t, not only Abraham and his
natural seed, but he that was bought
win money of any stranger that was not
Of his seed, was circumcised. Since
the seed of the stranger received the
token of this covenant, we must believe,
that he was included, and interested in
it; that the benefits promised were to
be conferred on him. These persons
bought with money were no longer look.
ed upon as uncircumscised and unclean,
Is aliens and strangers but were incor-
.pora:ed with the church and nation Of
the Israelites; and became one people
with them; became Gods covenant
people. Whence i, appears, that suita-
BILE provision was made by the divine,
law that they should be properly educaf.
ed, made free, and enjoy all the com.