Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-03-17
No. 25.....VoL. Will

10 4""4uA oAu JuSI-tOIeFated &
sanctioned by the Bible. We are told thu,
they have been educated shareholders
therefore we must be charitable With 4
qual Proprlety we might be told that tho
Jews who reject Jesus Christ, and look 70,
another Messiah, have been educated so to
do,-therefore, we ought to be charitable tn.
wards them; they profess to love and obev
God This same reasoning will apply to the
Roman Catholics. All these have been cd.
ucated to think that they are doing God ser
vice: Why then should we be uncbaritabls
and dlstellowship them? 1t will not be pre.
Tended that American shareholders are NOR.
excusable than these, because they have les.
opportunity to learn their duty from the BIZ
bic.
Is slave holding small sin, that it should
be covered up in the church Look. for
moment, at single feature of it, in the light
OF single case At a late meeting of the Sa-
vannah River Baptist Association, compos-
ed OF churches in South Carolina e. Geor.
gIa, the following subject was under discus
sion -" Whether in case of iuroLuatnrv
separation Of such character as to preclude
all prospect OF future intercourse, the parties
ought to be allowed to MARRY again." Now
mark the decision: "Such separation amono
persons situated as our slaves are, is civilEv
a separation by death, and in the sight Of
God it would be SO viewed. To forbid Sec
ond marriage in such case, would be to ex-
pose the parties not only to strange hardships
and strong temptations, but to church GEN.
sure, for acting in obedience to their masters,
who cannot be expected to acquiesce in
regulation at variance with justice to the
slaves, and 10 the spirit Of that command
which regulates marriage among Christians
The slaves are not free agents; and dis
solution by death is not more entirely with
out their consent and beyond their control,
than by such separation." Let this ecclesi-
astical decision be carefully read over, and
over again, until its ungodliness and loath
someness are manifest. The truth is this:
Marriage among slaves, whether in the
church or out, is sheer mockery. Slave
holders, professors of religion or non profess
sors, set at naught all conjugal relations a.
mong their slaves, at pleasure. when their
lust or cupidity demands This religious
Association nulli6es Gods regulation OF the
marriage institution-blots out his seventh
commandment to portion Of their own reli-
gious body, and thus throws open the food.
gates OF adultery and uncleanness. This is
but sing lie view Of hundred that might
be taken, showing the revolving wickedness
OF the system, as practiced in church and out.
This single paragraph Of the doings Of that
religious body of soul-destroyers, presents
several other points of horrifying view, which
it is not needful here to dwell upon. We
will barely mention one or two. In their
own words: The slaves are not free a.
gents;' SO that, whatever may be Gods reg
ulatlon Of conjugal relations and duties, they
are taught and compelled TO disregard them
all, and yield implicit obedience to these
earthly monsters Of sin. What says God
Wherefore they Husband and wife are no
more twain, but one flesh. What therefore
God hath joined together, let not man put
asunder." But this infamous system comes
IN and puts them asunder; and the Savan-
nah River Baptist Association gives them
liberty to obey men rather than God-to CO.
habit and live in concubinage according to
the will IF those who have usurped the mas
terry over them. Again, according 10 lie
showing OF this Association, this concubin-
age and pollution is forced upon the slaves,
no(enteS rolentes; for say they, "a dissolu-
ton by death Is not more entirely 1cith0m
their consent and beyond their control than
by such separation" And vet this document
contains no remonStrance-not a whisper OF
censrre-no intimation that there is any
tn'ng wrong or improper in this corrupting,
loathsome business. Thus, while permis-
sion is gwen to the slave to set at naught
one OF Heavens institutions countenance is
gwen to those who drive him to the foul
deed. Indeed there is no want of evidence
that protested christians are extensively en-
gagged in the ungodly traffic that disregards,
not on y the conjugal, but all social rela-
tons
Does the grog-drinker contribute TO per
petuate lntemperance? Yes-all his profess
slonS to the contrary Notwithstanding, while
he associates with drunkards, and uses the
drunkard's drink, his influence goes to per
petuate the sin of intemperance. So with
every slave holder. Whatever pretensions
he may make to christianity, while he re-
mains Shareholder he is perpetuating
system that violates all the holy commands
that stops the fountains of knowledge-that
shuts IN and takoS orrnr 4ho D:hlo thnt mol.