Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1845-08-28

ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's'-
which is the tenth of those commandments
that declare the essential principles Of the
great moral law delivered to Moses by God
himself. Now, disregarding all technical
and verbal quibbng as wholly unworthy
to be used in interpreting the word Of God,
what IS the plain meaning, undoubted intent,
and true spirit of.this commandment? Does
1t not emphallcally and explicitly forbid you
to disturb your neighbor in the enjoyment
OF his property; and more especially of that
which is here specifically mentioned as be-
ing lawfully and by this commandment made
sacredly his? Prominent in the catalogue
stands his oman servant and his maid SER
vant," who are thus distinctly consecrated
as ms property and guaranteed to him for his
exclusive benefit in the most solemn man
ner. You attempt TO revert the otherwise
irresistible conclusion, that slavery was thus
ordained by God, by declaring that the word
"siave"is not used here, and is not to be
found in the Bible. And have seen many
learned dissertations on this point from
abolition pens. 1t is well known that both
the Hebrew and Greek words translated
'servant" In the Scri pture, mean also and
most usually ''slave." The use Of one word
instead OF the other was a mere matter of
taste with the translators of the Bible, as it
has been with all the commentators and re-
lIglous writers, the latter of whom have,
believe for the most part, adopted the term
''slave," or used both terms indiscriminately.
If then, these Hebrew and Greek words in
clude the idea of both systems of servitude,
the conditional and unconditional, they
should, as the ma or includes the min or pro-
positions, be always translated "slaves" un-
less the sense of the whole text forbids it.
The real question then is, what idea is in
tended to be conveyed by the words used
in the commandment quoted? And i: is
clear to my mind that as no limitation is
affixed to them, and the express intention
was 10 secure to mankind the peaceful en-
Ijoyment of every species Of property, that
the terms 'bond men and bond-maids" in
clude all classes of servants. and establish a
lawful, exclusive, and indefeasible interest
equally IN the "Hebrew Brother who shall
60 out in the seventh year" and ''the year
SClfdIlS5 diiu lilOSC
from the heather round about,o who were
to be "bond-men forever" as The property of
their fellou0 man. You cannot deny that
there were among the Hebrews 'bond-men
forever" You cannot deny that God especi-
ally authorised his chosen people to Pur-
chase "bond-men forever" from the Heather
as recorded in the 25lh chapter Of Leviticus,
and that they are there designated by the
very Hebrew words used in the tenth COM
mandment Nor can you deny that ''bond-
man forever" is ''slave;;" yet you endea-
vor TO hang an argument of immortal con-
sequence upon the wretched subterfuge, that
the precise word "slave" is not to be found
in the translation of the Bible. AS if the
transIators were canonical expounders Of
the Holy Scriptures, and their words, not
Gods meaning, must be regarded as His
Revelation.
1t is vain to look to Christ or any of his
Apostles TO justify such blasphemous per-
versions Of the word of God. Although
slavery in its most revolving form was every
where visible around them, no visionary no.
tons of piety or philanthropy ever tempted
them to gainsay the law, even to mitigate
the cruel severity of the existing SYSTEM
On the contrary, regarding slavery as an
established as we'll as inevitable condition of
human society, they never limited at such a
thing as its termination on earth, any more
than that 'the poor may cease out of the
land" which God afirms to Moses shall
never be: and they exhort all ''servants I'M
der the yoke'' to "count their masters as
worthy of all honor" ''to obey them in all
things according to the flesh; not with eye
service as men-pleasers, but in singIeness of
heart, fearing God;" 'not only the good and
gentle, but also the frowartI;" "for what
glory is it if when we are buaetted for your
faults, We shall take it patiently, but if when
we do well and suffer for it we take it pa
tiently, this is acceptable to God" ST. Paul
actually apprehended runaway slave and
sent him to his master Instead of deriving
from the Gospel any sanction for the work
you have undertaken, it would be difficult
to imagine sentiments and conduct more
striking in contrast than those of the Apos-
ties and the AboItionists.
1t is impossible therefore to suppose that
slavery is contrary to the will of God. III
is equally absurd to say that American sla-
very differs in form or principle from that
of the chosen people. We accept the Bible
terms as the definition of our slavery, and
its precepts as the guide Of our conduct
We desire nothing more. Even the rightto
"buffet," which is esteemed so shocking,
finds its express license in the gospel, | Pc