The examiner., 1849-06-30

NIFlh y
Tl ,,s,imonv Of the Methodist Epis-
> Cly,lk has eper been against Slarery
"g1' - faror of Emancipation. She
." .Ir,ys insisted on the duty OF the
--..,,..o :, Church, seeking the extirPation
80, ~. sr-l Of slavery consistently with the
49, he land. This has been her posi-.
a. .a-' f,7' = ,be first origin Of her societies on
~ ~ eminent: and though the measures
=, 5.-..5 sr different periods have varied, as
..--oo,s,snces seemed, in the estimation
y ss- r,1ncils, TO require. yet in the main
-, s5s mas never ialtered lor amOment.
4 In support Of this position we shall ap-
i a. ,5s testimony Of Mr. Wesley the
80, Of ,be Methodist Societies both in
C-.o,, and America. ?. To the history
= 5's,inline of the Methodist Church,
- ned be. 10 the cOrrObOratve testi-
--,y - oI the standard writers OF the
Ws-bo5is,s a. different periods. MIR. Wes-
isr D,5Iisbed his tract on slavery in l114;
,.f,Is ne war Of the Revolution, and ten
"a. preyious 10 the organisation OF the
.nsrissn Methodist societies into dis
a., church under has advice. This tract
snbrs,ss some 10 pages octave in the vi
r,I nj ms standard works published by the
Isrro5f,, Book concern, New York. Ii
=. = clear and forcible view Of the slave
-,5s me character Of slavery, and the du-
-. Of ,Iayeholders. THIS tract is well
worthy The careful perusal oil all persons
v.-.ny 10 be informed on the history,
a-,fB and character Of African Slavery in
smsres. Alter setting this forth in various
vay, Nr. Wesley proceeds TO say-(Page
so "Bu, waving all other considera-
ION. [ s,ike al lhe T0ot OF this complicated
,usry. absolutely deny all slayehold-
M 10 be consistent with any degree OF
ns.ulal I0s,ice.
81 cannot place ghis IN q clearer light than
me, gres, ornament OF has profession Judge
Bls,kstOas, has done. Part OF his words
are as o.ows-"The three origins OF the
Rsh, OF slavery assigned by JusIinisn are
al. bl.l, upon false foundations
ID. Slavery is SAID 10 arise from cap
ly.y IL war. The oOnqueror having a
rEl, 10 the lie OF his captive, II ne spares
.aa- he aas then a right TO deal with
am as he pieases. But this is untrue If
aasn generally-thal by the laws OF ma
Ions, man has q hight 10 Kill his enemy.
be nas only a night 10 kill him in particular
cases, IN cases ot absolute necessity Tor self
defence And il is plain this absolute ne
cessy did no, subsist since he did not Kali
Inn 5I make him prisoner. War IT.
sslI IS llsaiable only on principles Of self
preservation; therefore, 1t gives Us no right
70 prisoners, bur TO hinder them from hurt
ING Us, BY oOn6ning them. Much less can
il give a night to torture or kill or even 10
snslsye lnem after the war is over. Since,
therefore, the night of making our prisoners
slaves depends on the supposed right of
slaughter, mat foundation falling, the conse-
gasnce which is drawn from it must fail
likewise.
o. Il IS said slavery may begin by one
man selling himself TO another. And il is
uus, a man may sell himself TO work for
smother. But he cannot sell himself TO be a
save as above defined. Every sale implies
az equivalent given to the seller in lieu OF
Ehsi he transfers 10 the buyer. But what
equivalent can be given for life and liber.
yi HIS property likewise, with the very
Prce which he seems 10 receive, dsvolves
IPsO faotO to his master the instant he be.
comes a slave 10 this case, therefore, the
buyer gives nothing and the seller receives
nothing. OF what validity then can a
sale be which destroys the very principle
upon which all sales are founded
o. We are told that men may be born
slaves by being the children Of slaves.
bui Ihls being built upon the TWO former
nights, must fall together with them. II
neither captivity nor contract can, by the
PLAN law Of nature and reason, reduce the
parent 10 slavery, much less can they reduce
'hs offspring. 1t clearly follows then,
al slavery is as ineconcilsble TO Justice as
% mercy. Throughout the whole Of this
Argument, Of which the above quotation
nom Blackstone constitutes a part, Mr..
Wesley earnestly contends that not only
sls slave trade, bot also the slavery grow,
H'g ouI ol Il, is inconsistent with the plain.
a. principles Of natural justice as well a'
nose Of humanity and religion. In the ap
Plesaon, alter giving his views of the
Slgn and character Of slavery, he thus sd
uiesses the American holders OF slaves: "l
e4lany concerns every gentleman that hai
- es's1e IN Our American plantations, yea
'lssEeholders Of every rank and degree
'seihg men-buyers are exactly on a leve
Sln msn.stealers." Indeed you say 81 pay
snO0sstiy Tor my goods and am not con
Ssined to know how they are come by.
HsH but you are, deeply concerned Il
AlOW they are honestly come by. Other
1le you are partaker with thief am
''e not Iot honester than he. But yol
Au'" lhey are not honestly come by; yol
Au'~ Ihey are procured by means not nea
= innocent as picking pockets, house e-break
ils' OF robbing on the high way. You
Aio" they are procured by a deliberat
us '.,les Of more complicated villany (of fraud
.OO1erN and murder,) than was ever prac
sea y either Mohammedans or Psgans; i
paiuSulsr oy murders Of all kinds; by tn
o o.OO0 o. the innocent poured upon tn
tOund Ike water. Now it Is your none
NC pays the merchant and through hir
I' captain and the African butchers. Yo,
oT T',Slole' ,S' are guilty; yea, principally guilt
y WOSe frauds, robberies and murder
raoe W. are The spring that puts all the rest
HOuon; they would not stir step withou
you therefore the blood Of all these wretcl
VINO die before their time, whether