New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-12-26
discussion on slnvery.-NS. "

70 show that in this seEse, Slavery is, from the very
nature OF the case, essentially moral evil, aud
violation OF tie rights OF man in every case, and
under ell circumstances
He now considers The assertion that Slavery IS a
moral evil. with reference the second dehaition OF
neral emil: meaning in this cage that . whoever
holds a iaiow-nan in bondage is guilty OF sin."-
-. moral law exists, guilt IN violating H. as
well as cur virtue IN obeyins II, depends Isl Upon
orr E1ourlsdye of It's triSreRcc.' We may be Tree
from gull: IN violating neral law from ignorance
OF lis existence.
d. Our guilt in violating moral law, depends
! upon orr opportunities for he acquisition o.
| knoniedge." Voluntary ignorance can be no s1-
case.
81. Our guilt may he modified by the manner in
nhica truth is presented to rs. Ii may he offered
so commingled with error, and in manner so re-
pulsiye 10 ali my feelings OF sell-respect, that IN
stinctvey reject it." In this Gaze my guilt is less
than when the same Truth IS presented IN KIND
manner. without error. These principles apply IN
the present case and hence, among those who, us
believe in violation oil right, hold human beings
| in bondage there slay be found every possible gra
dution OF guiltiSess." Long continued Gus ON, ana
| the practice OF those love and venerate, render
us iasensi5le TO the guilt OF our actions. a lew
years since and many Of our best citizens did rot
| susnect any guilt in the manufacture and sale OF
spirituous liquors. 1.-The tcroRg WIS ever the
| same, butlhe guilt commenced as soon as they were
convinced of The wrong and continued in the prac-
tce of it.
"Now all this absence of consideration may e1-
| isl among many persons al the South, or the sub
| ect sc Slavery" On The other hand there may be
some who "u,,erly regardless of justice, knowing
'. hat ihcy 90 to be wroDg-deiiberately sacrlhce
every right CT their slaves 10 their own pecunIary
| Advantage" SC. Here ara Tho extremes. These
men are both Shareholders; they both do wrong
act. but their moral guilt is by means the same
:. The one may be brother behaved, dcsirous oil
doing the will Of Gcd; the other is monster IN
niqnnity." ,u. ,soso ,sn,ss nav h.
| flied up with every gradu;lcn OF guisIinsss" Here
| il wide ground for the exercise oil Christian char
i,y," and these classes cannot he included IN
| the same sweeping sentence OF condemnation. =
Hence Gun never approve OF those appeals which
treo, all men al the South ss though they WERE IN
| respect TO Slavery, under the same condemnation
| and hence consider much oithe action oil cnurches
and associations at The North as false in principle
and nnchrstian in practice. Ii affirrns gnih OF The
actioa, instead Of affirming of the mind OF the
actor: hence il makes the act III ol times and uD-
der ali circumstances of the same guilriness."
Again, "the degree ef guilt, attendant upon a
rerong action mast be continually changing ntM
| 1bs Drcsress Of light end knOntedge." Sixty or
seventy years since the guilt I'll Slavery was very
different from the present time "I'be subject IS
predicting fearful e1ciiemeat throughout our whole
| country - .sUnier these circumstances, it surely
| becomes every man VINO holds man in bondage 10
inouire whether he can be innccent in The sight OF
rhe Judge Of the whole earth. If Jefferson tFenl
bled for his country when ne remembered that God
is lust and declared that in case OF instruction
The Almie hty has attribute that take part
| With us in such contest, surely ltbecones usci-
pie of Jesus Christ to pause and reflect"
| Again, the personal guilt of the Shareholder
maj be modified By the iaw Of The community an
| lrt1ck he iires. A person may wish 10 mnnums his
Slaves, or leach them and improve their condiion,
and would gudiy do il 10 his own disadvantage, but
| they GTe forbidden BY the lave under winch iney
| i've There are doubtless many such ut the South.
| Such nen uud women do honor 10 human nature.
They are the true friends OF tiielr race" Here is
m ey rene, and before, thera IS smother eXtrene
There are some Shareholders "who love the very
law which gires them the power over Their fellow
men, who daily strive TO render that law more sriu
gent and resist every attempt To modify it" The
| moral character OF the two is very dssmi!ar, and
/ between these extremes, before, there are many
9rhd6tunS OF guinness.
These are some Of the grounds of Christian char
| ity, but by ne means do they extenuate ibe neral
| wrong of Slavery. These can avail only where
they exist. and before any can plead that he
is guiitess, he must show That he has done, and Is
doing every thng in bis power To- discontinue and
| make rsparation Tor the wrong
Once more: In these remarks :"e nave referred
onlv TO the responsibility Of iadiridn1tS. As mem
bars OF society, each has duty. I" Ii the moral
sentiment of the STATE is wicked, ne is bound 10
labor with his whole power to corectit.' .Unless
| ne do lhis he cannot, member Of socety, be
free from the guilt ni the wrong which the society
perperates." This may be referred 10 hereafter.
The above remarks illustrate the principles by
which the personal guih of holding man in bond
age may be modified" The application must be
made by each separate individual. :. You, who ore
well acquainted with Slavery in sl its phases, can
form, presume, Il more correct judgment in this
matter than myself OF one thing, however, there
can be no doubt. SO far es Slavery is a wrang PER
pe,ra,ed by society, no modification OF guilt can
arise from the want Of power 10 remedy ii. The
power resides in the society. They have placed
themselves in their present position ia regard TO
Slavery. They can, whenever they please change
that position. And for This guilt every member OF
the society who he's not exerted his full eonstltll-
tonal power TO remove it, must at the bar of God be
held guilty"
In the Reflector of Dec. 5, DR.. Wayland consid-
ers the question of Slavery with reference TO the
Old Testament. D
DREADFUL STEAMBOAT AcciDENT.-THIRTY-
ONE LIVES LosT.-On Saturday, Dec. l4th, the
" Belle of Ctarksvie" came in collision with the
la 1T ko,.x IL Nauy OVIa "a