Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-02-25
DR.. COX'S LETTER.
AUBURN, N. Y. Feb. 10, 1886.
To Doct. IONA. A. ALLEN,
Middleburu, Vermont

To Doct IONA. A. ALLEN,
Middlebury, Vermont:
DEAR SlR,-Yours of the 25th ultimo duly
reached me; but my official duties have him
dered this answer for several days; and at
present, feel that the time adequate to the
preparation of a proper answer, Is not at my
control.
You especially invite my attention to the
question, WHAT HAVE CHRISTIANS IN THE
NON-sLAvE-uOLDrNG STATES TO DO WITH
SLAVERY OUGHT THEY TO HOLD COMMUNION
WITH SHAREHOLDERS OR sLAvE-DEALERs, EVEN
IF THE CASES ARE MODIFIED AS MUCH AS THAT
OF THE Rev. DR.. ELY, FOR EXAMPLE,?
There is a manifest difference between
principles abstractly and absolutely viewed,
and their application to particular cases
! these may be qualified and even palliated,
Just for the same reason that they may be
aggravated also, by circumstances. That
slavery, the system identically of our own
country, is intrinsically and pre-eminently
wrong, is at variance with the everlasting
righteousness of the moral empire Of God,
or, as the lawyers say, is NAHUM in Sc, is a
proposition Of almost self-evident truth. |
know that all masters are not equally cruel,
covetous, oro6durate; and that all slaves are
not equally abused: nay, that some are treat
ed comparatively we'll and kindly, and are
comparatively happy. But wha: of this, as
it respects the conscience2 1t is all one sys-
tenn. Every owner of a slave, not even nv
honored friend above named excepted, up.
holds the system-ends it the awful sane.
ton Of his practice, his influence, and his
name; and IS, like temperate drinker, Gas
it respects another grand moral interest O.
reform) a mighty obstacle to the ascendan
CIV Of correct sentiment and correct action ir
the community.
am more struck with the similarities o
injury, than with the seeming exceptions O
favor, in the privatlons and degradations 0
the slaves. The experience OF the wors
treated. is the liability of the best treated o
them all and every good master, who die
? interstate, leaves to the machinery Of the Law
r the disposal Of his whole estate-his fellow
: creatures included; and the hammer of tn
auctioneer invoked 10 sell them, sing ly, Q
in pairs, or in lots to suit purchasers as ar
the phrases of stereotyped commercial usage
: But, make these observations by the way
to show that the system is one,-that tn
ble,-that they vary not the principle or tn
. casUistry Of the matter,-that the system
Utterly and awfully wrong,-that no Chris
tan ought TO do eri1 that good may come
( favor Of it; and that tho2c who care for the
u souls, and for the appreciation of God A
! mighty, ought not to be driven from the trr
i state and nature Of these matters and the
invalued issues.
l. AS to the principle, as related to the mo
al code of God, hesitate not moment
say, that, other things being equal, slav
of any description ought to be excluded fro
= the communion of the church; and that,
J. consequence, the members Of the church, /
- dividually, ought to Withdraw commune
from shareholders and shareholders unive
er sally. Whatever in the system, or in
support of it, is morally wrong, is no SIN;
ze criimniDality It is piacular, rather than vel