The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-06-05
From the Liberator
HUMAN SACREEICES,

HUMAN SACRIFICES
| Is il not astonishing astonishing TO |
see how absoluel 7 the influence OF pre- !
conceived opinion and accustomed habits |
ofthoughl cah subjugale and nullIfy reason, I
the faculty that distinguishes men from
brutes2
Never in my whole experience as a
Christian minister, have ! been more in
pressed with this truth lhan in my CONVEX
salion this morning with New Zealand
chief, whose amiabte disposition, acute
mind and remarkable facility in acquiring
our language and adapting himself 10 our
manners, have induced the captain OF one
of our merchant SHIPS to indulge his love
of novelty by giving him free passage to
this country.
Captain H., who has long been an es-
teemed member Of my congregation, and
whose voyages generally furnish some
accession 10 my Iittle cabinet of curlosities,
had this time brought me some curlously
carved spears, paddles, and Patoo patoos,
and a perfectly preserved tauooed human
head from New Zealand; and knowing
how much it would CRAFTY Inc to see na-
tive OF that heather and savage island, ne
Brought 1'apio, aud left him 10 my study,
promising 10 call for him when he had
finished some business with my next neigh.
Dor.
was delighted wiki the opportunity CT
learning, from such unqnestonable author
lily, the truth respecting the manners, Gus
toms, and religion Of New Zealand, aud
especially respecting the horrible practice
of human sacrifice, which is said sllI 10
prevail in that country. Indeed, my ca
gerness upon the las, mentioned point was
such, lha. it formed the irs, topic Of my
inquiries, after such commons place obser>
vatioas as were calculated to put him al
ease in his new position. He showed no
reluctance 10 speak upon the subject, but
answered me quietly, simply, and with no
more emotion than if he had been speak
ing OF the most unexcepionable act. that
ATuA, his god, required human sacrifices
on c-r'ain occasions, that he himself, in
his Office OF chief had sometimes assist, d
at them 10 my successive inquiries he
replied ,ha. he felt no conjunction, but
rather satisfaction in performing this Office;
lha, his god had right 10 dispose OF men
', a, his own pleasure, and that his pleasure
y was 10 have many human sacrifices; thai
= it was his imperative duty 10 obey The
gods commands, and that he knew these
{ offerings 10 be his command, because The
;, priests assured him OF it, urged upon
G him as forcibIy as | could, the consdera
/, ton, that the Creator Of the world beng
u clearly God of infinite beneyoIence, hav
c ing commanded the love Of human beng:
u to each other not less than TO himself, baV'
: ing implanted gentle aud kindly affections
e 10 every human heart, aud having so con
- stituted men that mutual kindness, conf
IS dence,' forgiveness, love and hell Away
% renders them happier, While strife and op
70 position always diminish their happiness
'e "a command 10 one human being to XII
= another would be reversing his own work
~ and it is therefore impossible that ne car
70 have given such command, and IN
Z priests VINO assert that he has done so mus
IL be DIT ceived or dtceivers 70 thus he repll
:" ed that such mig hl be the character OF m
'e god, but that ATUA was vlndlcl've an
~ malignant being, who If mol propltiated b.
% u, such sacrifices, would bring great caIam
III tiles upon the whole people.
Ie then presented TO his mind The lrqul
RI ry whether being cherishing such Gspo
ar si;ions, and issuing such comm ,nds, cou
W possibly be the true God, and whether al
"a such representations OF the true Go
as must not be necessarily regarded a
e, mpious and llbelous, though all The priest
nr 10 the world should unite in assertin
ur them. He seemed struck with the justlc
Do Of this thought, and begged me to tell hir
e. more of the true God and his mode {
nd communication with men, | then to|
ne him of the covenant of God with Abraham
and in reply TO his further inquiries, MAJ
ly rated to him the chief events 10 the HE
ny The falhe-. OF The faithful. His auer
of lion was strongly arrested by Gods co"
of mand to the patriarch to sacrifice his sol
,al and hU insisted, with the strongest pert
re- nacity, that this command was precise
ri. like that of ATUA to the priests OF h
heathenish island, though / pointed O.
as the difference in the clearest manner. +
". dwet so long upon this poin', that Ie
he rather relieved when a knock at the do
as. interrupted our conversation.
30 q My new visitor proved TO be n messe'
RAJ ges from the sheriff, requesting me to pc
en- form the religious services al the exec
rth lion Of two pirates, which was to tai
ip. place thai day. Tapio accompanied i
to 10 the place OF execution, and stood a.
,ral Iulls distance white | assembled the seattle