The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-09
A Reyere.a re, 10 Freea.,n.


PREAcHER," which was said by the editors to be
's from reliable source" We wish the writer
had seen proper to sign his name 10 his commit
nication, that the public might know which one
Of the many Baptist preachers in Kentucky
could hive written commynication so ut
tsrly incompatible in its tone with the pure
and holy sentiments Of christianity.
The reverend gentlemm feels deeply sg-
grieved that any one shoald have stated that
majority Of the Ministerof the Gospel in Ken
lucky "are in favor Of the present movement
for the emancipation Of the slaves" He says
that the ministers among the Baptists are more
numerous than those Of any other denomina-
ton In this State, and that " most Of them are
opposed to agitating the subject Of slavery"
lie rejoices that only two Baptist preachers at
tended the Frankfort Emancipation Conven-
ton, and addsthat the Reformed Baptist preach
ers are also opposed $40 the present wild and
unreasonable movement upon the subject OF
emancipation" He coses his communication
with the hope that the efforts Of our neighbors
Of the Democrat, "to thwart the schemes Of
the present agitators Of slavery" may be
crowned with successl!.
This reverend lover Of chains and whips, and
Of all the necessary and lnseparable aojuncts Of
slavery, 10 probably mistaken in his opinion as
to the number Of Baptist preachers who are en-
deavoring TO break bonds and 10 let the OPP
pressed 20 free. 0urnformation differs widely
from his, for we have been assured that large
number Of Baptist preachers act so much in
consistency with their profession Of christian
ity as to offer direct and effective" aid and COM
fort" TO those who are struggling in the great
and good cause Of emancipation. Some Of the
most able, thorough and efficient friends Of
emancipation in this State are Baptist preach
ers, although there are many who, like this cor
respondent of the Democrat, oppose freedom,
and 20 out Of their way to display their unholy
zeal in favor Of sEystem whose influences are
all fatal to that purity of character which Chris
tianity prescribes.
Now, is it not strange that one who calls
himself christian minister, should, In the full
light Of the nineteenth century, address letter
TO the editors Of a political sheet, In the hope
Of relieving numerous body Of christian minis
tiers from the odiun Of giving countenance to
q movement based on the fundamental christian
precept of doing unto others as you would have
them do TO youi Has shame no limits that
preachers cannot overleapl Has inconsistency
no ignominiOus depth that some reverend up
holder Of wrong, oppression and outrage is not
sure to founder int What wonder IL II that de-
isfs and opponents of christianity are found In
q community In which slave-helding is summed
by the smiles Of clerical appreciation, and in
which the most heart-rending scenes, although
those who follow the example Of Christ, the
bond breaker7
or all the sources Of unbelief in the commu-
nifty, perhaps the most prolific is found In the
vices Of professors, and particularly in the con-
duct Of preachers who look with complacency
on the most revolving scenes Of inhumanity, and
daily support a system Of the deepest wrong
that poor human nature is called on 10 suffer.
SO abhorrent is the system of slavery even in It's
mildest form--such, for instance, as it Is in
Kentucky--to all the sacred sentinsnts and in
stincts Of the human heart, that there are many
men, who, seeing that preachers do not scruple
to traffic in slaves and pocket the wages of slaves
with avidity, revolt at the very idea of church
which tolerates such abuses, and declare that
II christianity approve Of such conduct, it is q
foul libel TO say that the Father Of all good and
mercy Is its author.
And who car wonder that good men are driv-
en- from churches when preachers afford coun.
tenance to the system of slavery Is there
music in the clanking Of chains, in the groans
Of the oppressed, which, rising from earth, h
sweetly echoed around the Throne Of the Al.
mighty The man whose heart tells him thai
slavery is the deepest injury that man can sus'
tain at the hands Of despotic authority, cannot
be brought to view any church which give.
countenance to itwith pleasure. or respect. Al
such men think that the curse Of slavery and
the long and black catalogue Of crimes and vice.
that depends on 1t, are precisely those evils ant
enormlties that pure and true religion, re.
ligion which is love, must necessarily and con,
tinually strive against.
II slavery such as'exists around us, not slavery
in the abstract, but genuine, practical, wretchee
slavery Of the color.d race, II such slavery is 1
system Of right instead Of wrong, then the steal
ing Of men and women in Africa and examining
them in the narrow and filthy deck OF slave
ships, is right also, for the system could hav'
had no existence in this country unless sucl
atrocities had been committed in Africa and oil
the bosom of thu Atlantic. If the system b
| right, then TO tear a husband from u wife, and
child from the breast Of It's mother and to sci
them far away in distant land in violation o
all sacred instinctsof copjugal and parental love
is right also. II the system Is right, then I'll
thefts, the lying, the cruelties, tina hardness q
heart, the most criminal sexual indulgence'
4 and host Of unmsntionable vices, that are rii
wherever slavery exists, are right also. 1t
vain that a minister shall declaim ever 90 ON
phatically against theft, adultery, cruelty an
crimes of that kird so long as he declares Thu
the gospel sanctions system Of slavery whc
cannot exist Independently Of such vices.
the system is right, then men, inspired and III
inspired, have, In al ages. been wsging warfa
against the right besauseit was associated vii
: go many Of those startling barbaritiss. at u
sight Of which the boldest heart 10 thrilled wi
; agony. VA.
We envy not IN. feelings ofa Baptist Prsse
. er'' who opposes movement essentially chri
tan in its character, which 10 destined to sccor
= plish the overthrow of the system OF slavery