The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-12-02


les to their present form OF expression IN
It's condemnation. Had they used such Ian
guage as this, "Slavery is sinful" some
modern apologist for the system might have
alleged that our slavery was not such as eh'
listed among the Greeks--that slavery here
was different thing from that which the
apostles denounced. But the course they
pursued leaves no room for such subter
fuge. We have received the command,
Love thy neighbor as thyself;" and we are
conscious that we are violating the whole
split as we'll as letter Of this precept, when,
for our own trifling pecuniary gain, we keep
whole race sunk in ignorance and sln.--
We are commanded to give our servants
that which is just and equal" and no soph-
istry can persuade US that We fulfil thus to-
ward those whom We deprive OF the reward
Of their labor. We know that the idea oil
bondmsn receiving just and equal re-
Enumeration for his labor. never enters the
minds Of shareholders. The precepts against
fraud, oppression. pride and cruelty, all cut
directly through the heart Of the slave sys.
tenn. Look back at the constituents and the
effects of slavery, and ask yourselves, ais
not every one Of these things directly at va
rance with the plainest commands Of the
gospel" The maintenance OF this system
breaks not one law Of the Lord, or two
laws; il violates the whole code-it leaves
scarcely one precept anbroken. And will
any one, then. contend that slavery is not
reprobated by God, and that he may part.
cipate in the system, and assist in lis perpet-
uation, without deep criminaliy? Forbid it,
conscience--forbidi il, common sense. Gam
ing. horse-racing. gladiatorial shows, in
which men were hired to butcher each 9th
er, the selling of children by their parents,
which was often practised in ancient days;
all these things are condemned by the scrip.
lures, not by name, but, Gas slavery is con.
demned) by denouncing those crimes oil
which these acts are notifications and illus.
trations.
These views OF the sinfulness OF slavery
place it beyond all doubt that il is the du-
~ OF every individual connected with the
system, to aid, vigorously and efficiently, IN
its abolition, and thus free himself from al
participation in its crlminality. How u
this to be done? Certainly not by merely
treating cur slaves kindly. and thus nitiga
ting the evils OF their condition. ioi
may say you have already, in the case Q
your own slaves, abolished the worst evils
of the system, and that in every way you pro
mote their comfort and welfare. Still, dury
absolutely requires at least one more STEP
a guarantee that their future happiness. e.:
that Of their children, shall not be at tn
mercy of another's caprice. And this ca
be effected only by legal provision Tor thel
release from bondage. Ii is probable ths
the Romans were in better condition On
der Titus, than they would have been hn
they governed shemseivos. But the gentle
ness Of his sway only aggravated the hor
rors of their situation, under his dark ant
bloody successors. Granting all that an.
man may urge in favor Of his OWE kindnes
to his dependents. still he is. contrary to tn
laws Of nature and God, retaining them i
condition which is tolerable only unde
the most rare and favorable circumstances
= which inevitably works wo and ruin, vi
less prevented by the singular virtue En-
generosity OF an extraordinary master
Would we be willing that we and our chi
dren should be thus held! And remembt
; that the fundamental principle Of Christia
: morality is, that "What things soever y
! would that others should do unto you,
ye even so unto them" Are we complyin
with our Savior's injunction, when we thu
: leave our fellow-beings exposed to all III
e future miseries which avarice, ceprice, an
I. cruelty may iniict, Yet we profess sui
q lection TO Christ's laws---"He that knowei
4 my will and dOeth it, says tho divine r.
8 deemer, che it is that loveth me-" TT
d very best condition of slave for life, is lii
the condition of those unfortunate men tn
y We sometimes read Of, who have been III
v Justly condemned to die; but mercy or pol
cy aTesting the execution Of the sentenc
/ they have, for time. been permitted 70 {
o at large, yet liable every moment 10 be 7
II manded to prison and to death. This is Il
u situation Of slave, at his best estate; al
. who will say that either mercy OF justl
+ permits US to retain him in such situatio
e. 1t is often urged that our slaves are bett
+ of than the free negroes. IL mankind h
q considered this plea for continuing to no
Ct slaves q valid one, the whole world wou
n have been still in slavery; for all natio
- have been at one time or other in some XII
T. Of slavery, and all despo!s urged this Pl
is against their emancipation. Besides,
y msn ought to urge this as lis reason for
10 tanning mis- bondmen, unless he feels CO
ss sclous thur il is this real motive. And \
n willingly appeal to every mans conscIen
lie to say whether his own imagined interest
IS not his real motive for refusing to adopt a
ny efficient measures for changing the con
I'd ton of his servants. That our negroes
70 emancipsted, will be worse of. is. we fe
m but the specious pretext for lulling our o
no pangs OF conscience, and answering the
ise gument of the philanthropist. None OF
as, believe tina. God has 90 created VIII
me race, that il is better for them to remain
I'D perpetual bondage. One mode oil ernar
~, patton may be preferable to another
any mode is preferable to the perPetaatl
nS' through generations to come. OF detTad
lge bondage. History. with hundred tong
ses testifes that, as general rule, 70 ema
II pate is to elevate. And it is vain for
ion man to argue against such general Law
Cd, nature. by adducing the occasional de
,ov- lures which have fallen under his own
Ter sonal observation We plant curse
{ is Io,,,,, nm tho h,oad and acknowledged 2