The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-09-12


gospel breathes the same benign spirit to the
whole human family-for all are now brethren.
This being the state Of the case, we assert that
what the Hebrew could not do to his brother He
brew you must not do, | must not do, 10 any Of
those to whom God has commanded the gospel to
be preached; and this includes the whole human
family, from the time the order was promulged
go preach the gospel to every creature down
to the end Of time. The Mosaic law says Pro-
iessor Stuart, contemplates fugitive slaves
who have escaped from heather masters in a for
elgn land" These says Mr.. Stuart, "were
the slaves which were not TO be delivered up to
their MASTER" and so say we LIST Because the
treatment OF slaves among the heather was more
rigorous and severe than 1t coull lawfully be un-
der the Mosaic law, the heather master possess
ing the power of life and death of scourging and
;ISPsie9s+og, CT pr.tiAg IS fSerzSse toll even to
,.Ny S%;Ss.SSiI-SE - r.---~-.
Jbe second an5 by far The ,,lnra jspnortant
consloera'ion was mat only among the hebrews
could the fug Sss~e slave come to the knowledge
and worship Of the only living and true God
NOW, admitting that these are the true reasons land
we know Of none other why the slave was not
to be delivered up to his master, (Dew xiii, 49,
10, &c,) We remark, with respect TO the first, il
clearly defines our course as Christians towards
fugitive slaves escaping from Southern planta-
lions. II the laws in the SLAVE States warrant
and justify more rigorous and severe treatment
OF the slave than would be tolerated under the
Mosaic law, or by any people whose legislation is
based upon the laws Of Christs kingdom, or is
consistent with Christian ethics, then is it right
We ask, TO place them again under those laws,
which IN severity and rigor are snti-Mosaic and
anti-Christian 2
Do not our slave laws leave to the master the
power Of ScOwgmg, of imprisoning, il may be in
his cellar, or garnet, clubhouse, with or without
the chain, or in the common jlil2 Do they not
leave him the power Of putting 10 excessive toll
the poor slave, even TO any extent he pleases
While there are laws guarding the health and
comfort OF white minors among US, forbdding
their 6cidg 0'Sf a5rstd, we are hoe awsyS of any.
thing of this kind in favor Of the trodden-down
negro slave III ihere j., we know ii is dead
letter. His only security is the humane feelings
and enlightened moral sense of the master into
whose hands he may chance TO fall. And had
not the slave, held by heather master, in ante
Christian times, quite as good guaranty in the
kind sympathies of his master Why, then, ask
a Christian man to assist in the arrest and
return Of the fugitive slavel
The slave must not be restored to heather
master, because, secondly, he would be left il
darkness and ignorance of the character and wor
ship of the only living and true God. And il
there any legislative provision for the moral anC
religious training of the negro slave2 With ref
erence to the character of God, the way to life
all his moral and religious duties it was incul
Gated in the Mosaic law, Thou shalt teach then
diligently to thy children Is there any respec
shown to this counsel by Southern Legislators
providing for the education Of the slave? SO fal
from it, that many Of our slave laws are in tn,
| very teeth Of this command given to Israel, anC
soemnly binding upon all Of u.s. Ii we do no
egregiously mis- axe to teach the negro slave L
read is in some States made penal offence
Even here in my own State, and close to Masor
and Dixon's line, it is warmly maintained by som,
who call themselves Christian men, that to re
ceive colored children into our primary schools
| is an indctable offence "Tell it not in Gath ?
Laws claiming like paternity may be found in al
slave States Such legislation is surely not suited
TO induce Christian men to disregard the prohibi
ton in Dem. xii, Is, l6 &c, with Professor Stu
arts reasons for that prohibition. We doubt no
that there are truly pous Christian men among III
who deplore this state of things, and as indiyid
uals they do to some extent instruct their slaves
and labor to win them over TO Christ. But arr
our Northern friends in duty bound to returl
our fugitive slaves, when those laws under whic
they would sgain place them are rigorous, severe
cruel, oppressive, and adapted and intended I
keep them in ignorance and deep degradation
Surely not if Professor Stuart is correct rs t
the matters upon which the prohibition in Den
xiii is predicated. G.