The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-09
The BaPiiss Banner and tire Slavery
Quession.

A short time ago there appeared in the Bap-
list Banner Of this city, series Of articles on
the subject Of slavery. The editor requested
the readers Of his paper to preserve each num-
Der until the completion Of the series, and then
to read the whole together. In the last num-
Der that we saw, the editor seemed TO promise
a continuation. As nothing has appeared for
some time, we suppose he has completed the
series. Accordingly we have read the articles,
and ind them to contain some very excellent
ideas. We quote the following passage: :.
So far from considering African slavery as es-
sential TO the happiness aud prosperity of the
white population Of this country We have al
ways regarded them as being mainly the In
iured party by its introduction and perpetuali-
Nv. II may have contributed in settling and
developing the productive capabilities Of those
portions Of the south whose climate and local
peculiarities rendered them less favorable to
the health Of white than 10 black immigrants;
and the wealth Of many individuals has result
ed from slave labor: but these and all other adj
vantages, in our opinion, have been more than
overbalanced, by the peculiar character Of the
system Of slavery In this country. and the per-
nicious influence which it has exerted upon the
moral and social interests Of many in the
country.
Slavery in this country, az defined by GER
tain class of laws, and carried out in the
practice of thousands Of Shareholders, is not
the slavery Of the Bible and cannot be defend
ed by an appeal to Its laws or examples, as we
have briefly stated in another place. That
kind of slavery which makes no provision for
the Improvement and moral training Of the
slave, which disregards the marriage relation
and the common laws Of humanity and justice,
10 a peyuersion Of slavery, and has no more
affinity to the slavery Of the scriptures than
socialism or concubinage has 10 the marriage
relation as recognised by the law Of God.
Such system Of slavery may justly be de-
nouneed as sinful and only sinful and we doubt
not that thousands are heaping to themselves
wrath against the day Of wrath, by such sys-
tenn Of slaveholding. But we no more condemn
slavery in the abstract, because wicked mon
have thus perverted and abused il than we con-
denim the marriage relation, because wicked
men have condemned and violated its solemn
and holy obligations. As we have elsewhere
said, we feel confident that there are multiplied
thousands Of Shareholders In this country, who
hold their slaves In the fear Of God, and whose
ccnduc. in relation to them is regulated by the
law Of Christ, remembering that they have a
master in heaven, 10 whom they must render
sustain disccmforts for the good OF their slaves
as purely disinterested as any act OF Christian
benevolence can be, and certainly to as great an
amount as in any other department Of benevo-
lent effort. Hence the injustice and the i'm
piety Of the sweeping condemnation Of south
ern shareholders by the Abolitionists Of the
north DEB s t
The editor Of the Banner, in one part Of his
essays ON this subject, strives 10 show that sla.
very .'in the ABSTRACT" or slavery 'per se," il
not wrong. We will not say that he is not en-
tirely successful. We consider the subject
scarcely worth discussing in the present condi
ton of things. II mny afford good theme fol
the exercise Of the reasoning powers, but moth
ing more. "That kind Of slavery which maks
no provision for the improvement and mora
training Of the slave, which disregards the mar
rage relaiion'tl &C., is not slavery in the alb
stract. " Such a system Of slavery may justl.
be denounced a. sinful and only siIal" Well
this is Just such system as oar laws establish
There IL no such thing % marriage among slave
according 10 our laws, and no provision 10 mad
for intellectual or moral education. As the ed
tor Of The Banner believes that thousands ar
hssping 10 themselves wrath against the day .