The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-08-18
For the ExamiI
The Dtv1ntty Of Slavery.


There are great many men who believe, or
profess to believe, that slavery is divine insti.
tuition, and sanctioned by the word of God
The absurdity Of such an opinion has often
been pointed out, and the arguments brought
forward to sustain II completely overthrown
but men cling to 1t as those who lay hold on an
only hope. 1t Is not surprising that this "Bible
argument" as they call 1t, is so dearly cherish
ed, for the system they endeavor to defend, Ia
90 contrary to natural justice and all the laws
Of right, that no reasons In lis favor can be ad
vancsd, and the cause would be left without az
advocate, had not men recklessly coDjured up
arguments by misconstruction Of the precepts
Of that Book which is the guide of all men, and
which teaches every man to do to his neighbor
as he would be done by.
The advocates Of slavery pretend great rever.
snce for the Bible, and to pay great Difference to
ito truths. would like to call their attent on
to only thrse words Of that blessed book.
"Search the Scriptures" This is command
Of our Savior, and If 1t applies to any man il
applies to ALI none are allowed to disobey it,
Bat can II with propriety be given to our slaves
They have mo Scriptures, and no means Of
searching them. II is true that God has given
them the natural faculties for this work, but
unless these powers Of mind are improved, they
do not avail the possessor. Men cannot search
the Scriptures unless they can read; they can
not read unless they are taught, or allowed op-
portunity for instruction. But our slaves enjoy
neither. They have no schools, nor can they
even use the faculties which God has given
them, but In certain sense, their minds and
.,, 49,. A.long to their masters as well as their
bodies. How many OF 90. '"o uuAu'ea 'h0u'
sind slaves can read2 The merest fraction.--
These have learned, certainly not in piytue of
their condition, but in spite of it; many of them
not with the aid and consent Of their masters,
but stealthily, and In opposition to their wills,
e-- -i----. .l--s, 1------n-- -----.-A-,- 49,.
command; they would be as ignorant of the
Scriptures a. tina Hottentot, IL they had 10 get
their information by their own Searching. -
And can God institute system which prevents
men from obeying the commandments which he
gives them7 What would we have thought of
the character Of God, had He commanded Moses
first to put out the eyes of the Israelites, and
then tell them to look at the brazen serpent and
bs healed! Such thought is so dsrogatory to
His character that we cannot indulge it for
moment. But do not the advocates Of the d.
vinity Of slavery make Him guilty of a similar
thingf How can God call upon people to search
the Scriptures, whom He has previously disa.
bled BY an institution which hiuders them2 If
q minister, one of Gods ambassadors, should
60 to negro plantation to preach to them, what
kind of sermon would he make from the text,
Search the Scriptures'" 1t would be almost
As much a mockery as 10 tell the lost in hell to
&c tn heaven. What do we conclude now7-
Just this: slavery Is not Bible institution.
will propose to those Of an opposite view
this simple question: Can that be God' s institu-
ton, which places Gods people in condition
that disables them from reading Gods word2-
Let them consider carefully this question, lei
them consider the character of God, let them
bow 10 their knees and in the very presence Of
their God, with their hands on their hearts weigh
this matter. Let them bear in mind the express
sions "Christ died for ALL" eve are one in
Christ" 1--WE must all appear before the judg-
ment seat Of Christi then let them arise and
with conscsnces void Of offence towards God
and man say. II they can, God instituted our
system Of slavery. y.sY.
LznAxoa, KY.