The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-09-16

| Aaoo anu IVY
The Evil Divine knsiiuztf0n.
1t is a very prevalent opinion among the ad-
vOcates and supporters of African slavery that
the system is not forbidden by Divine law. We
perceive that Senator Badger of North Carolina,
in his speech on the COMPROMISE Bill ia the
Senate, took this view of ii. We admire the
toae of his speech, even where we repudiaas its
logic. We take the subjoined extract from the
speech:
| slavery in itself is not an institution for
hidden BY Divine law, as is inconiestibly proved
by the conduct of the Apostles. II may be an
evil. 1t may be proper that il should be Tsmov-
ed"
Now, this is precisely the kind of language
We so often hear from those among us who seek
to Justify slavery. We really think it far be-
meath the dignity of a gentleman who s,oys
so high a reputation as Senator Badger IL be-
FITS the lips of those who are unable to reason
clearly, but is unworthy Of an able, upright, sa-
gscious Senator, such as We believe Mr.. Bigger
to be. Let us glance moment at the srgu-
ment.
4
undertakes to prove, from the conduct OF tbs
Apostles, that the system of negro slavery as 1t
exists IN the United States is not forbidden BY
the Divine law. Another occasion viii be EN-.
braeed by Us TO do that For the present We
must content ourselves with asking senator
ba5gsr and others who use similar loelc. Il n.
is not rather sbsurd in them TO acknowledge that
slavery is evil while conie nding that IL is not
forbidden BY the Divine Iaw1 Can II be sup
posed that the Supreme Being regards any evil
aPPrOVingiyl And IL that superstition is &c, be
tolerated, how are we 10 determine what evils
what evils We are to shunl Is it not impioa, to
call Divine Institution an evil7
A few days ago we held a Conversation with
two Of our fellow citizens who think slavery a
great evil, and are anxious that il shall be re-
moved from our Commonwealth. Both Of them
are members Of churches, in good standing. and
they both asserted that. notwithstanding SLAVERY
is great and oyershadowIug evil. yet there was
a warrant for il In the Bible. One Of them told
US that II he believed slavery inconsistent with
the Divine law, he would not retain his slaves
in bondage a day, and both admitted that the
only defence that can be made for the instltat, On
is that which is derived from the authority Of
the Bible We confess il always shocks US to
hear good men talk In this strain. We greatly
fear that Christianity has sustained much inia.
~ from such illogiea! friends We have alwsys
thought that Christianity Is arrsysd againss
nd ovfls ~ al
represent il as lending its holy sancti,ns to any
system, the evils Of which are clear to the mind
of all persons conversant with il, IL the sure
way to bring reProach upon it. 1t is obvious
that African slavery is TO be regarded as syn |
tenn, and Is not TO be judged of by any excet-
tons as to its general character. Il has never
existed unassOciated with a vast number a
crimes, atrocities, and inhumsnite.; aad 10 have
just conception Of the systern. IL il necsssar,
to look at its darkest al well as its faies. traits
As system, there are but few who will saw n !
is not accompanied with a host of niauitie,
which are utterly condemned by Christianity.
There are many slaves whose experience has,
not been darkened by those evils that are.
incident to every slAveholding community. -.
Their LOT may not be very grieyons; 1lnt fhA..,l
are thousands Of others on whom the sunshine /
Of human kindness does not fall, whose Guns
have been filled to OverfOwing with bitterness.
The men who fancy they find in the Bible
warrant for slavery denounce those who treat
heir slaves inhumanly as deeply sinful. And
yet if the Divine law does not forbid slavery. n
cannot be assumed to be hostile to those evils
which have always been associated with II. Ia.
;ause they are the necessary constituents Of the
Iystem, and will be connected with Il as long as
1 is suffered to infest society.
The fipPancy with which the advocate, Of |
lsvery talk Of its consonance with the Divine
sw, and Of a warrant for il in the Bible. AZ i'm
great measure attributable to those preachers
rho, with a sanity expression: of face, an
ounce the remarkable congruity Of christian
b with African Slavery. These sleek, round,
lily. astuie biblical critics, who, with painful
nd prayerfal efforts have labored to prove that
ertaln radiant texts Of Scripture illuraine and .
lake fair aad beautiful, the system which good T
ZEN, IMMERSED in scriptural lore. instinctiyely
ondemn and abhor, are responsible for the !,
isin argument which is used to sustain slavery i
J It exists In the United States. These clsri. Il
d defenders Of negro slavery have the proud
Of knowing that. but for their pro-
und isbors, the ungodly members Of the CON- "
unity would repudiate the institution with =.
orn and intolerable loathing. Men who look =,
ny at The system, and learn from its barbara ~
. its incsicnlabls evils and its manifold pols- m
'oas irhnences on society. to hate IL and to
IN Tor Its ex'irPatiOn, are surprised to llsarn
I'm reverend eommentatcrs on the Bible, that th
ey are ioathing an institution ordained bv On
nat and mssciful Creator, who, TO bless ,olh fro
lite and black. put IL inta I'm. h.,, a.,