The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-04-08
COMMUNICATION.
r,....,. on Emaueipa,is.-No. ~.

There is no portion Of the Old Testament
more confidently relied on in support of Ameri-
can slavery than the statutary provisions of the
Mosaic code. Il i argued that the regulations
established by the Hebrew lawgiyer, recognized
the existence of a system Of seryitude, and that.
therefore, there is nothing wrong in the slavery
OF the present age The premise is conceded,
but the conclusion cannot be admitted. Does
mol every one perceive that it involves the as
sumption that there is perfect analogy between
Jewish seHitude and American slavery Bat
i this 30 Can the analogy lay any claim TO
perfection Let Us see: Prominent among the
statutes Of the Hebrew Commonwealth is the
following: And he that siealeth man, and
s-Ileth him, or if he be found in his hand. he
shall surely put to death FIX XXI; 10. Here
tie question arises, How were slaves intro
1uc-d into the United States Does not all the
world know that they were kidnapped on the
African coast and brought TO the American con-
iinent' Has not Africa been weeping for ages
over her stolen children, snaiched so cruelty
from her embraces, Suppose the Mosaic statute
had been practically regarded from the discovery
OF this country until now Would slavery
have an existence among u.s. Would not cur
Statesmen have been spared the Herculean task
Of attempting to make the principles Of slavery
cOalesce with those Of liberty? Is il not strange
that the Mosaic law is considered an authorita-
tive precedent. Justifying the bondage of human
beings, when, if one Of its enactments had not
bssn Condemned, slavery would probably have
been unknown in America How that law can
afford said and comfort" to shareholders, when
fsiniract,on has, 10 say the least, been promi-
nently instrumental in making them slavehold-
rfs, certainly defies the comprehension of ordi-
Hary minds.
Again, the Mosaic arrangements indicate that
iAe servitnde recognized among the Hebrews
"as much less rigorous than that in the Uni-
Ted States. Servants were especially protected
ifom cruel treatment. la Exodus XXI, 20 W,
read, "And IL a man smite his servant, or hi,
mad, with rod, and he die under his hand; hs
snail be surely punished" Are there statute.
IKE TINS IN all the slave States in this Union
IA able writer states that "should death en-.
sue by accident, while the slave is reseiv
aRg moderate correction, the Constitution o
Georgia, and the laws Of North Carolina
denOm,nate the offence Justi6able horai eide
@'Justifable homicide" Of necessity preclude
tse idea Of Punishment-an idea quite promi
hent in the Mosaic statute. But | quot
stall farther from The 2lst chapter of Exodus
"And If man smite the eye of his servant, o
The eye Of his maid that il perish, he shall lie
him 20 free for his eyes sake. And IL he smit
Vani's tooth, he shall LET him 20 free for hi
ISSih's sake" The spirit Of the regulation is
mat II servant was manned, in cured, or cruel
w treated he was entitled To his freedom. ii
"ss TO be emancipated Immediately. Were ther
provision Of this kind in the laws Of slav
curt
As II is, injuries inflicted on slaves often pas
nhnoiiced. Men inbued with the spirit Of hu
man'ty and kindness land there are many sue
IN slave STATES are deferred from making 6,
animation into the cruel treatment received b
slaves IN their neighbsrhood, lest they he coz
-i-ered buSy-bodies ia other mems matters.
moi esidrBt ;.ai American slavery differs ms
'-fiaily from the seryllu.- whjcb the Mosaic la
SO humaneiy regulated And ii 50, as u "A
iowabie TO appeal TO the latter in justification
Tue fsrDerl The writer eDterlains the opinio
hai u tbs differences between the two system
we're eandidiy Investigated, il would be SEE
TAI msay % the arguments derived from Il
Il Moses 10 favor Of modern slavery are
I~ th sophistry. But more in reference
PC W. "6.is in my next.
'' MOSAIC 4 SOUTHERN kESTtcKIAN.