The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-11-04

Heaven. And while we believe you sin
cere in your Indignation, we should aitec-
tonateIy beg you to reflect, whether'
through us You are not attacking the re.
vclation which God has given to man, and
yourselves assuming responsibility un-
der which an archangcl would slagger."
submit to you that the rule Glove
your ncighbor as YOURSELF" incontesta-
bly requires not that the master should
manumit his servants, any more than that
of ono of you should divide his property
with his ncighbor who is poor. Yet this
is the only passage you attempt to bring
from the Bible. Dear Brother, is this
not, candidIy, all abandonment OF Scrip
lure argument And is not the assertion
gravely advanced, that this precept bears
upon the question, a lamentablc evidence
OF the power of prejudice!
I can hardly suppose you serious IN
saying the apostles "were too busy to
condemn slavery although it existed every
where around the n, anl in churches es-
tablishel by themselves. Are the scrip
lures then not given by inspiration for
all ages? Do not the Apostles expressly
recognise slavery, and under inspiration
utter Gods will as to the respective duties
of the slave and his master? You say
thev do not condema "horse racing, and
gambling. and piracy" 1 do not stop to
relite this-bal do they, any where re-
cognise these crimes, as allowed t" be
practiscd by Christians, and publish from
God, the rule BY which Christians admit
ted nto the church should be governed in
gambling and piracy, &c? Is it possible
that NY Baptist brethren adopt the plea,
of deficiency in the sacred Canon, and
are foising in human Improvements and
interpretations?
You quote ST.. Paul's cxhortation that
"Masters should give to their servants
that which is jusi and equal" This, in
your view, means to emancipate them,
and to 60 to "thc prairics and the wilder
ness?' | ask, again, in affection, is not
this palpable perversion of the scrip,
turcs? But you inquire do the slaves OF
the Southern Baptists, receive what is
Just and cqual' l reply-if not, the pre-
ccpt is violated and sin incurred. But L
hope there are many Slaves who-in a
constant supply of provisions tor them
selves and familes-in land and time al
lowed to plant for themselves in abundant
comfort while in health, and medical at
tendance while sick; in having the gospel
preached freely, and missionaries en-
ployed 10 visit them and ca,echise their
children; and many gifts from time TO
timc-do receive "whal is just and equal
In some cases they receive more; since
the master fuils his engagements in sea,
sons, when the harvest, if all belonged
to the slaves would not suffice for their
necessary supplies-a case of~whlch /
knew not very long ago. But as said
before, am not speaking of the abuse
of slavery, bat Of the institution itself.
But arc not husband and wife, and pa
rents and children separated! As to the
latter, /. must occur with all men, after
children grow up. Our slaves live toge.
thcr, and die on our firms without any
dispersion of families, much o(lener than
any class Of men. Ii the separation ever
takes place when the children arc not of
sufficient age, it is rarely; and every man
among Us, who is regarded as man,
would revolt at it. Nor are such instances
of inhumanity as frequent here, as in the
factory SYSTEM
As TO husbands and wives, the church
in th;5 place would deal with a member
who should "put asunder those whom
God has juined."
These are both, however, only abuses,
and have long wished that our legisla-
,urc would prohibit them.
Iregrct to find your letter descending
to such terms as '.chaincd cofles," eek
posed female rceking under the lash,"
"nakcd gang in the cotton field" &c. l
only ask YOU to "comc and see," and
when you show me these things as part
and parcel Of our institution, will unite
with You in condemning that institution
as shocking. There have been found
brutal husbands and parents. But would
il be Just to select those as specimens, and
urge them agains, the conjugal and paren-
tai rclatons' Why then argue thus as to
Slavery?
Bu, have extended my remarks farther
than intended. l merely designed to
implore you to reconsider the unscriPtu-
raj position you have taken. 1t is the
first step in a course which must soon di-
vide our hitherto happy union, as Bap-
fists, into fragments most hostile and win.