Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-11-09

J
our hands, and the ordinances oil HIS
house within our reach, what would we
more! Surely people so highly favor
ed, So prosperous, will exhibit nought
but gratitude and smiling contentment
Alas F.. The human heart, depraved and
insatiete as il is, stops not 10 enjoy the
good 1t has, but res,lessIy pursue seme
phantom OF the imagination beyaad its
reach. misunderstanding schemes OF
self ACKNOWLEDGEMENT sre spread By the
arch TEMPER before the eyes OF credu.
lous man, and he forgetful Of the thou
sand times his fiattersd hopes have pro-
we'd deluslve, eagerly grasps at each sha-
dow, pursues it as it flies, and finds al
each successive DISAPPOINTMENT that tru-
ly call IS vanity and vexatlon OF spirit ;"
Witness the strange iniatuation that
lately urged so many of our fellow citi-
zcrs To course, the inevitable result Of
which must have been the destruction
of our stale.
| | pause not to consider the political
evils ofsiavery. will,not labor to shew,
as conceive might easily be shewn,
how pernlcious to our pscuniary Interests
1t would have been 10 bring among as a
class of men who felt no share in the
common wcal---no wish for the improve
ment ei our property-rio care for its
preservation; but who on the contrary
could only hope to prosper by our decay,
to profit by cur destruction. These
things leave to the statesman and the
pciiical economist.
But to the Christian, to him who takes
the Bible for his code, its authar for hls
lawgIver, the Lord Jesus Christ as his
saviour and example, vino desires =" to
walk even as he walked" and tie be found
''in him made perfect unto every good
work" -and who expects to render sn
sccoutnt at the ewiul bar, on s'the great
day." how in6pitily more important is il
to contemplate tbs moral features and
The moral consequences OF this system
of oppression and wrong.
And what are these? Think my brc-
'fren; let your minds dwell steadily Oh
the subject. Contemplate it in its essen
tia{ qualities, stripped oil all the colorinas
IN which the zeal of its advocates and o!
it's opponents has shaded it. Take away
tho horrors, sonetimes--i fear tao II -
.ttendsal on it---alid via, is Slavery? Ii
IS deiraudlng human creature OF the
product OF his labor--without even the
tope Of remuneration. Ii is deprivIng
him Of the power Of lacomotion. 1t is
prohibiting hin from acquiring or held
ing property. Ii takes from hiu the
o1sans and tbe right OF obtaining know
,odge. II debars MIN from ne pursu.
Of happiness. II tears his children from
hm--eVen at the moment of their birit
aud makes them The property OF another.
1t suojsels not merely the powers OF ms
ooGy, Dot the operations of his will 80
The caprice ei MS fellow man. In short,
il is the totai deprivation OF all tins rights
and privileges which God has gwen TO
man, and OF The free use Of those fscol-
ties watch God 10 - lanted in him tor 10
Bile purposes, by placing him at the die.
Dosai of one who in all respec,s, excep-
ting power, is his equal. And YET, This
SLAVE bound snd shaeA ied as re is an
der the domination Of his fellow, is a
moral agent; accountable TO God Tor
his conduct, end boo,d to the same aw
ful bar of ludgn as MS master!
Nov, What is Slavery II it en- act o.
giaieuce. committed by tbe strong uDon
The weak and delencelcss, whereby the
{, v;alator robs his nnhaopy victim" at one
fell swoop" Of all he has, and all hc
might have had, and leaves ain a hepe-
| Ines cpnrch ~,
! gloomy prospect Of his ilfe.
!. And are there any who will contend
that this is in accordance with the law oil
God, or the pure principel Of the, Cos
Will any say thai this is " dom, !,
justice and loving mercy" In vain is it
, written, Theu shat not steal" If it be
!. lawful to take by force--nei ~ srely the
, properly but the flcsh and bones and
blood of man In vain arc we comman.
dad not 70 "cavet our neighbours OK or
his ass or any thing that is his," i, VS.
nav lust after and appropriate, not only
, eli his property--eut his person IA oor
,wo uss. The precept OF our blessed
LORD, " AS yc would that men should
do 20 you, do We also ~ them is idle
aud nnreaning, if, while we would sa-
cri6Ge the life OF one who should attem ut
TO enslays us--we may still be justified
in dooning our fellow man TO bondag.
And who is there would zvish 10 be sub
!, lected during life to the viii OF another
sndto be bought and sold ard treated AS
the brntes Who is there would peace
ally submit to it None! Then le,