Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-10-08

there can be no palmer Christian duty than
that which every free man and woman in this
country ives to his humble and oppressed
%neighbor, the Southern slave. He should
not be excused who sits all the day idle.
On the 10Th of August last, on the arrival
of Mr.. Campbell at Edinburgh, he was wal
ted upon by a deputation of the Scottish An
ti-Slavery Society, TO ascertain whether his
views on the subject of Slavery were the
same as those published by him in the Mil
lenial Harbinger, in April and May, lS15.-
The News gives from that publication the
following extracts. They probably are fa-
miliar to many Of our readers, but will bear
repeating. In April 1915, he says:
as the simple relation of master and slave
necessarily and essentially immoral and UNI
chriStian-as that, for example, of the adulte-
rer and the adulteressl We are clearly and
satisfactorily convinced it is not. 1t would
be, In our most calm and deliberate judgment,
a sin against every dispensation of religion
patriarchal, Jewish, and Christian-to sup
pose that the relationship of master and slave
was, in its very nature and being, a sin
against both God and man.
In May, of the same year, he declares fur
Their -
''There is not one verse in the Bible inhib-
iting it, but many regulating it. 1t is not,
then, we conclude, immoral" ''Ihe disci-
pine Of TIE Church is the only discipline an
der which Christian shares can be pi1ced by
Christian masters. If they will not faithfully
serve their Christian masters, who partake
of the benefit of their labors, then are they,
after proper instruction and a1monitiOn, to
be separated from the Church, and to be put
under whatever other discipline a Christian
master, under the existing laws of the State,
may ~intlict." ''To preserve unity of spirit
among Christians of the South and of the
North is my grand object, and for that pur-
pose am endeavoring TO show that the New
Testament does not authorize any interior
ence or legislation upon the relation Of mas
ter and slave, nor does it, either in letter or
spirit authorize Christians 10 make it a term
of communion. While IL describes the duty
IF both parties, masters and siures, it sanctions
The rchiion, and only requires that these du-
ties be faithfully discharged by the parties (;
making it the duty of all Christian churches
TO enforce these duties, and to exact them un-
der all the pains of Christian discipline, both
from the master and from the slave-leaving
1t TO the Lord to Judge. correct, and avenge
those that are without"
Here certainly was reason enough why
VI ouOulO VI WI .
Campbell whether his views-Femainedsun-
changed. He presented himself TO them as
a Christian teacher, and they very naturally
wished to know if he still held opinions so
eminently unchristian. They were satisfied
that he did, and "a caveat was accordingly
forthwith issued, cautioning the citizens Of
Edinburgh, to beware of the leaven of pre-
slavery imported from Virginia, in the per-
son of Mr.. Alexander Campbell" The An
ti-Slavery spirit of the people was aroused,
and the Secretary of the Society challenged
the reverend gentleman TO a public discus
sion to vindicate himself, if possible, before
an Edinburgh audience. This he declined
to do, but offered to discuss the subject in
the public prints. He afterward, however,
set forth his views in a lecture on Slavery
on the 18th ultimo. This lecture, the News
says, has been industrionsly circulated by
his friends. 1t gives two extracts, and first
what she himself teaches -
"For myself, | greatly prefer the condition
and the prospects Of the free to the slave
States, especially as respects The rhie portion
of the population. MUCH AS ] MAY sYMPA-
THIzE WITH A BLACK A | LOVE THE HIT
A MORE. As a political economist, and as
a philanthrQPist, | have many reasons for pre-
ierring the prospects and condition of the
free TO the slave States; Lut especially as a
Christian, / SyHpathi-e more WiH the OlUnerS
IF shares, their heirs and successors, than acith
tie Siares which they possess and bequeaih."
And then his view of what the Bible teach
es:
''FrOm all these views and convictions,
from my understanding of the Bible, Old
Testament and New, from the whole genius
and spirit of Christianity, as indicated by its
Founder and by the apostles, | am constrain-
ed to take the position | now occupy, and,
therefore, | affirm the deep and solemn con-
%viction, that any Christian man who eXacts
more from master and slave than the duties
%enjoined upon each toward the other, as these
duties are developed and defined in the Holy
Scriptures, as a term of communion in the
Christian Church, does that which neither
Jesus Christ nor any of his apostles has au-
lhorized him to do, and makes himself a
transgressor of the law of Christ"
Upon this the News says;
Overlooking the dangerous doctrine taught
in this passage, it is a piece of sophistry
from beginning to end an entire begging Of
the question. The duties enioined upon
masters and slaves, each towards the other,
as these duties are developed and defined in
the Holy Scriptures, is the very point upon
which we disagree. We would say, that if
the master were to obey the rule of Scripture,
in rendering unto his slave that which is
Just and equal he would Immediately eman-
cipate him. Mr.. Campbell says, that in no
case is the master commanded 10 emancipate
his slave. Here, then, Mr.. c.. and we are
entirely at issue. We affirm that the whole
genius and spirit of Christianity, as indica-
ted by its Founder, and by the apostles. in
stead of sanclioning and sanctifying slave
holding, frowns upon and forbids it under
the most terrible responsibilities. What
Christianity approving and baptizing Slave
ry! Heavens light shedding its sweet in
fuences upon the lake of perdition! Christ
walking in sweet concord and fellowship
with Belial! Nay, as soon shall that ''spir-
it accurs'd" be admitted to tread the golden