Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-02-07
From the S. &. Herald.
A .IAsTER's DUTY 20 HIS SERVANT.
No. 3.

In niudicial meetings ofcnurch courts, there
is every variety Of shade of opinion, OH this
subject Location seems to have more
power to give diversity Of opinion on this
subject, than any thing else. All! what is
man? Does remove north Of the Ohio,
or Potomac, relieve men from mental msts
and fogs which had always envelopcd them
in our heavy, hazy atmosphere? 1t cam
not be. Blu: it might be as easy to settle
the dulv of masters to their servants, as to
explain the various shades Of causes which
give variety to the opinions of good men
on this Itigated question of slavery; and
We. agree comfortably on other points OF
duty. From judicial proceedings of chur-
ches we can gather no fixed opinion. One
says the relation is "morally acrongg," an
other says, al don't understand the matter
we'll enough TO give rational opinion" &c.
while good many Of us seem to make the
relation not only lawfui but even desirable,
under existing circumstances. So that it
is no uncommon thing to hear those who are
esteemed good and judcious men, say,"l
would not live in the South without slaves,
if was able to purchase them" And all
thinking persons agree that it is almost i'm
possible to live here without using this kind
of servants. The christian church, and
indeed our whole country is at this time in
a very undesirable condition on this very
subject. The man who accustoms him.
self to look on the FAIR side Of things,
rejoices that this investigation is going on.
His political creed informs him (" that cr-
ror will be harmless, if truth be left free to
combat it, and his religious creed admo.
nishes him to "prove all things, and hold
fast that uhich is good"
Several classes Of individuals are interest
ed in this discussion. 1st, those who conclude
their duty fully done to their servants when
they have in very stinted manner dealt out
to them bare suflicicncy ofrough clothing,
and course and cheap food, and as to their
spiritual aoants, that matter is Kept in perfect
silence. There is 2nd class, who with
stupidity equal to the former, and without
any impartial examination conclude that
slavery is ,crong-the relation and accursed
relation, and that Gods curse must eventu.
ally fall upon those who own slaves; and this
class cannot bear contradiction, but fire.
quen,ly entertain very severe and perfectly
unauthorized opinions respecting those who
hold slaves, or those who differ from them
on this point. Yet strange 10 tell this class
are generally the farthest Of all from having
true and useful sympathy for the slave,
and too generally It's true that whether an
African at death ascend to Heaven or de-
scend to Hell is no matter OF deep concern
to them. Some one else must attend to this.
Again, there is another class, and these
are generally professors of religion, con-
cerning whom YOU can see nothing amiss,
even on the most intimate acquaintance,
EXCEPT that they seem to think strangely
respecting their slaves; and although kind
to them respecting all their bodily ,cants,
yet seem strangely to forget that their SER
wants have Immortal Spirits destined for
glory or waing, and who from custom or
something else, can see a negro die, to all
human appearance unintcres.edin the merits
ofChrisl Jesus, with such an apparent iasdJ-
ference that you cannot but stare and gaze at
at them, and be led in your own mind TO con-
clusions bearing hard on their religious pre-.
tensions. Yet only for this apparent indif.
ference to the slaves spiritual interest, you
would be willing to write them " brethren in
the Lord. I'VE suppose that it is this class
who havcSlvcn an occasion, to those who
were seeking occasion, TO Stir the worst feel
ings, ana 10 write the mos. bitter and d.