Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-05-02

although the injury may produce for us solitary
benefit.
Enactments of a Legislature cannot repeal the
moral law oil God. The law of God lis binding
over all the globe, in all countries and at all times
No human laws are of any validity, if contrary 10
this and such of them as are valid, derive all their
force and all their authority, mediately or immedi-
aely, from this originals
In order TO evade the force Of this argument, the
advocates OF Slavery have attempted to justify it
| by the Word Of God. They have said, for in
stance, that Slavery existed in the times of Christ
and his apostles and yet Paul exhorted the slave to
obey his master. He exhorted the master, not to
release his slave but to treat him Justly. Now all
this may prove that Paul was not modern Adolf
ZIONIST, but IS fur from proving that he was an ad
vocate OF Slavery. "Slavery, in the age of the
APOSTLE" says DR.. Claiming, chad so penetrated
society, vas so intimately interviewer with it, and
the materials Of servile war were abundant, that
a religion preaching freedom to its victims would
have shaken the social fabric to its foundation and
would have armed against itself the whole power
Of the State. OF consequence Paul did not assail
| 1t. lie satisfied himself with spreading principles,
which, however slowly, could but work its desruc
ton. lie commanded Philemon to receive his slave,
Onnslmus, not as a slave, but above slave, as a
brother heoved;' and he commanded masters to
give to their slaves that which was Just and eq,nl'
thus asserting for the slave the rights of Il Chris
tan and man and how, in his circumstances he
could have done more for the subversion Of Slave
ry, do not see"
The immediate disciples Of Christ were exhorted
to be as "wise as serpents, and as harmless MS
doves" They did not attempt an interference with
the concerns of the State in any form. The mo-
ment that Christianity attempted the regulation of
the civil government, other than by the influence
OF Its moral precepts that moment it became cor
rupt, and lent its sanction TO n spirit OF tyranny MS
cruel and tyranncal any that ever disgraced the
annals of human history. Many of our modern
Abolltionsts might learn an instructive lesson from
the history of the past, and in their efforts fox the
cause of universal freedom would do well to mi-
tate the example of Christ and his apostles.
1t remains to be proved that Paul, or any of the
primitive Christians, were ever the advocates of
Slavery. They found it already existing among
them, and they did not seek by civil revolution to
effect its overthrow. They were probably govern
ed by that principle of erpediency, now SO often
secuted at and condemned, which preferred the
suffering Of smaller rather than of greater evil
But to argue thence, that they were the advocates
of Slavery is Just about as rational it would be
to charge many of the opponents of modern .4boi-
honiSm or the sef-styled Liberty party with sim
liar offence.
1t is our duty to look upon the sin of Slavery as
it now exists in the United States. We cannot if
we would, avoid the question. There exists in this
Union, nearly three millions Of human beings held
as property There is wrong about this matter
somewhere and the question s, upon whom shall
this wrong be visited? It is useless to censure our
forefathers, by whom this wrong was introduced
they are beyond our reach, and maedictions heap
ed upon their memory benefit neither the present
master nor the slave 1t is enough for US TO exam
inc the present; the past is beyond our control Is
the slave then, Intellectually and morally qualified
for the duties of freeman: If he be, the dipii
walton of his liberty is great wrongs if he is not
the fact furnishes 4 most unanswerabe argument
I'm
lief that the African is naturally so degraded as
r the institution of Slavery has rendered him.
The existence together in the same community
either as freemen slaves, of both the African
, and European races, could never have been origi
;, nally intended BY the great Author of Nature.
: am well aware that there are many honest minds
7 who shrink from the utterance of such sentiment
/, as something more than commonly heretcal. Blu
even they, on second thought are ready to ADM
that dellcacy and taste revolt at the idea Of anal
!. gamatlon. God may have made the two races nat
0 uray equal, but he has certainly made wide ant
S broad distinction betweenthem. The wrong, how
: ever, of bringing the African to America is, now
i neither theirs nor ours. They are here, and Gu
C duty requires that we repair the injury we hav
c done them, so far as in our power. We canno
It send them all back to Africa and even if we coult
d we have no right to send them there without thei
p consent. They are as justly entitled to resdenc
!, in this country as we are ourselves, nor have
right to make remove to Africa the only conditio
on which the slave can be restored to his freedom
s. The master finds himself the owner of slaves
= He finds nsuperable difficulties lying in the wa
> OF emancipation. lie acts from necessity and nc
re from choice. So long as he continues thus to &C
IS he is guilty Of no wrong. He should do all in hi
re power to elevate the moral and intellectual charaC
o. ter OF his slave; he should regard himself as h
a. guardian and protector. Voluntarily to dispose {
ID INN as property, to separate husband wife, pareI
child. Whenever N ia m ~
D. be most manifest violation of the Sayiours go
r. den rule, and sin Of the deepest dye.
On 1t is true that no human law can ever abroga,
IL or repeal the moral law of God. But the law
IN God condemns Slavery as it condemns the tukin
ID, of human life, when voluntarily committed, unn
! cessarily and mallcousy. We have every reast
i'd to believe that the South at the present junctur
- instead of straning every nerve for the oXtnctic
nd of Slavery, are exerting themselves to the utmo
he for Its support and continuance The slave we a
TO- told is untitled for freedom THIS is doubtle
IT. true. II is equally true that large ma ority at Il
ne, South are fully determined that the slave SHIT
be fitted for his freedom. All their conduct prov
lid it. The domestic slave trade, the efforts made
IRE keep the slave in perpetual ignorance and the
determined resistance to the right of petition
we Congress, eVincc disposition decidedly hostile
ct, the cause Of enamel patton. More than half ce
ed tury has rolled away since they became soverei
lrd and independent States, and meanwhile we ha
au seen hothlng Ike an honest effort general and III
oil ted among them, for the relief of The oppressed
:, the liberation OF their men in bondage | aim
IS" censures at the South for the present ersience
KS Slavery the blame for this if any, is past, and &c
his sure would be unavailing; but | must conden
nd firmly and decidedly that willingness to perpctu,
de its existence-that lisless apathy which refuses
me listen to the cry of the oppressed, and which is
G. frequently manifested by the Southern REpuR
CAN!
Blaekstonos Commentaries, Al.
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