The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-01-19
ANT g. A VERY.
From Theod IRE D. Yields Bible Argument.
The ISible Against Slavery.

From Theodore d. Yields Bible Argument.
The bible Against Slavery.
Ghe spirit of slavery never seeks shelter in tn,
e, of its own accord. 1t grasps the horns o
ar only in desperation rushing from the
of the avengers arm. Like other uncear
Blrits,it {" hateh the light, neither cometh to the
light, lest itsdeeds should be reproved" GoadeC
to phrenzy in its conflicts with conscience anC
common sense, denied all quarter and hunted from
every covert it vaults the sacred Enclosure ant
courses up and down the Bible, " seeking rest anC
finding none" The LAW OF LOVE, glowing on ev
cry page, flashes around it an omnpresent an
guish and despair. 1t shrinks from the hateC
light and bowls under the consuming touch, as
demons quaed before the Son of God, and shrek
ed, Torment us not. TAT last, it sinks away un
der the types of the Mosaic system, and seeks tc
burrow out of sight among their shadows. Vain
hope! Its asylum is its sepulchre its city of ref
uge, the city Of destruction 1t flies from light in
to the sun; from heat, into devourng fire. and from
the voice of God into the thickest of His thpnders
DEFINITION OF SLAVERY.
If we would know whether the Bible sanctions
slavery, we must determine Ohat Slavery IS. A
constituent element, is one thing; relation, an
other; an appendage, another. Relations and APP
pendages presuppose other things to which they
. belong. To regard them as the things themselves
or as constituent parts of them, leads to endless fall
lacies A great variety of conditions, relations
and tenures indispensable to the social state are
COMPOUNDED with slavery; and thus slavehoding
becomes quite harmless, if not virtuous. We will
specify some of these.
l. Prication Of Suffrage. Then minors are
slaves
d 2. bseligibizity to office. Then females are
slaves.
3. Taration 1Uithout representation. Then
Shareholders in the District of Columbia are slaves.
4. IRRITATION Of >one'S oath By lav. Then disbe-
levers in future retFibuIion are slaves
5. Privatton Of trial 6.t 1Drg Then all .
/ France and Germany are slaves'
+. Being required 10 support a Tarticn1ar e-
hgion. Then the people of England slaves.
. (ro the preceding may be added all other disa-
! bilities, merely polHica1)
j 7. Cruelty and oppression. Wives children,
and hired domestcs are often oppressed; but these
forms of cruelty are not slavery.
g. apprenticeship. The rights and duties of
master and apprentice are correlative and recpro-
"al. The claim of each upon the other results
from his obligation to the other. Apprenticeship
is based on the principle of equivalent for value
received. The rights Of the apprentice are secu-
red, equally with those of the master Indeed,
while the law is Just to the master, it is bemeuozen
to the apprentice. Its main design is rather to
benefit the apprentice than the master. 1t pro-
notes the interests of the former, while in doing
~ it guards from injury those of the latter. 10
the master it secures a mere legal compensation
TO the apprentice, both legal compensation and
virtual gratuity in addition, he being of the two
the greatest gamer. The law not only recogni-
the right of the apprentice to reward for his
labor, but appoints the wages, and enforces the
payment The masters claim covers only the
services of the apprentice. The apprentices
claim covers equally the services of the MASTER
Neither can hold the other as property; but each
Ids property in the services of the other and
9TH EQUALLY. Is this slavery?
9. FSliaI Standardization and parental Ct0ln2S.-
Both are natures dictates and intrinsic elements
Fof the social state; the natural affections which
blend parent and child in one, excite each to dis
charge those Offices incidental to the relation, and
constitute shield for mutual protection. The pa
rents legal claim to the childs services, while a
minor is slight return for the care and toll of his
rearing to say nothing of OUTLAWS for support and
education. This provision is, with the mass Of
mankind, indispensable to the preservation of the
family state. The child, in helping his parents,
helps himself-ncreases a common stock, in
which he has share; while his most faithful SER
vices do but acknowledge debt that money can
not cancel
TO- Bondage for crime Must innocence be
punished because guilt suffers penalties? True,
the criminal works for the government without
pay; and we'll he may. He owes the govern
ment. century's work would not pay its drafts
on him. He is public defaulter, and will die so.
Because laws make men pay their debts, shall
those be forced to pay who owe nothng9 The
Z law makes no criminal PROPERTY. 1t restraints his
an Sty, and makes him pay something, mere
in the pound, Of his debt to the govern
but it does not make him a chattel. Test
own property is to own its product. Are
en- born OF coavilts, government property {?
Edes, can property be guilty? Are chattels
punished?
IL. Restraints upon freedom. Children are
restrained by parents-pupils, by teachers-pa-
tents, by physicians corporations, by charters
and legislatures, by constitutions. Embargoes, ta-
riffs quarantine, and all other laws, keep men
from doing as they please. Restraints are the
\ web of society," warp and wool. Are they slave
Try? then civilized society is giant slavea gov
eminent of LAW the Gilman Of Sopery, and its ex-