Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-05-31

thus sent back 70 bis reformed man. and thus hand
down the truth that christianity, however much may meo
the condition Of the slave, does interfere with but
distinctly recognises the rights Of the Il is perfectly
obvious that Onesimus the slave of Philemon.
30 general slavery in Greece that in the famous
of Paiea there but 5000 Spaans and S5 600 slaves
while in the Spartan feet they composed the Of the
sailors In Sparta there were 500 900 slaves to 5O 900
heemen. At the time Paul wrote This episs Coosse
under the procOnsushp Of Rome Slaves under the Roman
Empire the most abect Of slaves Single masters in the
Roman Senate had many 10000 and some As many as
&c, 900.
Psulus Emius sold 10000 prisoners Of war slaves,
and julius Cesar half million According to Mr.. Gibbcn,
they comprised oneha Of the Empire, and could not have
been less than sixty millions As body Of men they were
considered dangerous the State and therefore their bondage
They the most unfortunate class OF human
beings, excluded from every privilege OF society," and from
almost every blessing Of h They entirely at the dis
poss Of their masters torture them, MAIN Them put them
death they might and be amenable TO human laws
that the changes which subsequently took place in the
moral and political condition OF the empire greatly meloraed
the condition of the slave and find them employed IN
honorable occupations and well cared for But il was not
until the time Of the Emperor Adrian that masters de-
prved Of tho power they their slaves in the
days Of the Republic and the Cesas This long alter
Psuls letter addressed TO Philemon.
Here then, in view Of the character Of Roman and Grecan
slavery we have fact Of some consequence times
No less man than the apostle Paul. writing to christian
minister in Phyga, at period Of the Roman empire when
slavery existed in its most exceponable FORMS sends oae
this fugitive slGvc He does secree him he does not
tell him to resist the public authorities he does not help
him" escape bis bondage; he sends him back Modern
aboionists would have branded Paul slave-catcher
But there his character stands in its high and unsed in
egy and loneliness the advocate and friend Of Ko-
man slavery bu, the friend olaw and good government II
there evils in the Roman empire, the way in which he
desired remedy them by preaching the gospel by dit
fusng s spirit OF love and geneness and leaving It to work
the Of evils by the gradual moderation Of them. which he
knew could not suddenly And. therefore, he says
word the subject Of slavery; uers not hint of
Duke to Philemon for being stakeholder not ntimaton
about giving Onesmus his freedom but simply request that
he would receive and treat him christian ought to
treat christian slave Would that Paurs mantle had fallen
all the ministers Of the gospel and that the example Of
this great apostle might speak in these ends of the earth
Slavery what is it! What has il been What is it now
What the slavery Of the South compared with the tenfold
extensive and absolute sevude of the myrads of
the Russian despo What is it n mental and moral and
physical degradation compared with the condition Of operatives
the manufactures and especially in the coal mines of
Engandl Let the British quarteries these inquiries
The word sauy is the evil M is the amount and
suffering that il often occasions which deploe. And
If this be the evil the most udicious writers the other
side of the instruct that the working classes Of Great
comforts them, the slaves Of ancient Egypt
Rome" Cruelty is always sinful; sarery not always
do how any christian affirm that slavery under
christian influences sinful have desire TO be slave
holder but were such STAKEHOLDER job Abraham and
Philemon, my conscience would not condemn If all
like these, where would be the sin Of slavery