The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-11-03
LOUISVILLE KY. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3. 1s4e

le "a: IL. At another time we find the Jew
1t lamenting the absence of Gods blessing
d and, like many Of this land, fasting ar
) praying; yet, ''smiting with the fist Of wicl
d edness -persistng in the enslavement ,
}. their feliow-men. God withholds his bles
ing rom them, and tells them that iussic
4 and mercy are far more estimable in hi
sight than these hypocritical shows, or rt
: liglous ceremonies. without right state Q
{ hear. Read lisa. So: 1 to 6. "Is not hi
. the fast that | have chosen, to loose tn
bands of wickedness. 10 undo heavy bur
dens' and to let the oppressed 90 free, an
that ye break every yoke?" Nothing coul,
more clearly show Gods adherence of tn,
SIN OF slavery, and his approval Of freedom
| Do you say these last cases cited, ha,
reference to the enslavement of Jews! w,
answer:
l. Doubtless God would have been a.
much displeased had the Jews snslaved am
other people than their brethren, for the
rights Of one man are as sacred in his sigh
as the rights of any other man.
2. The Gospel tells us the partition wall
S broken down-that there is no difference
between Jew and Gentile-that God is no
respector Of Persons-that he too, is un-
changeable, and, therefore, if It was wrong
for Jew to Cypress Jew, tbs no,c equally
wrong Tor any human being to Cypress any
other human being.
Do you now say there are other passages
which seem to sanction the principle of
slavery? We remark:
1. Ninety nine hundredths of Bibls-read-
ers will admit that the foregoing passages
show the general principles Of The Bible
Justice and Mercy; and are in accordance
with The general tenor Of its teaching in
historical incident.
?. A correct rule Of Interpretation, as is
universally admitted. requires that no au.
thor DO made TO contradict himself, and no
isolated passages be 50 construed as to con-
tradict clear and ,ceu defined principles
laid down by that author.
3. That when words or isolated passages
are susceptible OF two constructions. we
must choose that construction which har-
monies best with principles previously laid
down.
Now, the passages you vii cite are sus-
cePtlble OF two constrpctions-one which
you will put on, and one which we shall.
And that construction which harmonizes
best with the principles which we have seen
are laid down in the Bible-that construc-
ton must be the correct one.
Do YOU begin by saying the Bible de-
clares Canasn was to be a servant OF ser.
wants unto his BRETHREN We answer:
l. As Ham was the offending person and
not Canaan, Hams act having analogy to
characteristic acts OF the Canaanites in al.
ter days, became the suggesting occasion
Gas the act of Hezekiah, lisa. 80: 6, Of
prophecy that the Canaanites would be con-
quered and subjugated for their o,cn sins.
See Dot. Is: II.
2. The iul6lment of prophecy is no
justification of those who fulfil il, else Judas
who betrayed Christ, and the Jews who
crucise1 him, were Innocent for these
events were loretold.
3. The prophecy has ned its fulhlment
by other nations long since.
4. The people whom we are enslaving
are not Canaanites. The Canaanites were
Asiatics. little tawny, with strait hair,
differen: features and different language
from that Of the people Of Western Africa
from whence our slaves were Obtained
The Canaanites were the enterprising men,
the shipbuilders, the traders and merchants
of their age, as the Sidonians and Tyrians.
They settled the land of Canaan and
islands OF the Mediterranean. A colony
went to Carthage. These, as historians
tell US, had strait hair.
Phut settled in Africa, and his posterity
and some Of the posterity Of Cush, as Rol- |
lin tells us, migraged westward, and they
doubtless were the progenitors of our slaves,
but, on whom, no prophetic malediction
rested.
Do you again bring up Gen. II; ~, and
say Abraham bought children with his
money and that be held these as slaves
as property in involuntary servitude, for this
only is slavery. We answer, 1. If such
we're actually bought, we know from the
same passage and others that a;; ;;a-.e children
were to be circumcised, and that no male
person, young or old, could be member
OF the families Of the Patriarchs, or Of the
Jewish Commonwealth, nor partake Of
their feasts, unless he had been circumcised.
ISee Exod. II: A. Gen. II: 1914.
In so doing they became Jews; Esther 8:
II, and entitled to all the privileges Of
Jews. ISee Calmet Art. Proselyte and
jain s111, /. These engaged themselves
to receive circumcision and to observe the
whole law OF Moses. "Thus they were
admitted to all the privileges of the Lord. 7"
Watson. Foreign servants as well as He
brew servants were TO be initiated into the
Hebrew religion; and, when trilling, they
were 10 Do received into the Hebrew COM
munity; and thus received, they were emit
tied to all the privileges and immunities OF
native Hebrews.-C. E. Stowe, DID,
Thus il is clear that these children went
out free at the time the children Of Hebrew
parents did and were entitled to the same
immunities and privileges. ''
2. Ii is clear that the Patriarchs living,
not in confederacies with the strong arm of
municipal law to aid them, but wandering
as individuals from country to country, with
their hundreds Of armed servants, they could
not have held these servants as slaves-per-
sons held as property in involuntary service.
From the very circumstances Of the case,
the servants must have been voluntary in
their service.
President Shannon supposes Abraham