Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-16
THE MORAL CHARACTER OF sI.vria's


the idea that they condemn domestic slavery either
~ or BY implication, is entirely unounded We bpess
that il existed in the family Of the father of the
Abraham, who obtained the honor Of being called IN,
# God" throughout his christian Lille, and was ,hers
nzed by GJd's direction, in the admins,:a,in, IS
most solemn sacrament of that early dispensatoa r
cson that il was expressly Gutori-ei to the Jews r
chosen people; that it existed throughout the ages ~ -
Testament revelation and. far from being once
th, nsnired men OF the Old Testament were ,ha, AZ
shareholders that il was not removed condemned No
fuller lisht of the New Testament revelation bur n. -
CONTRARY its duties were defined, and Shareholder. v
nessly admitted TO all the privileges of the churches
word that domestic slavery existed throughout the 40
revelation from the earliest institution Of the A52h
church 10 the latest day of New Testament history 49,
nractiscd continually by muudes OF Gods own i -
and was never once rc5uked bet often recognized md
rized We hold then thai, according 10 that inil!5s M
morals Revelation, domestic $sarery IS tdufgl ra...
md is strictly compatible with tie paest principles OF -
tuie.
am well aware that this doctrine is condemned hv i.
treat majority of the people of chrI*tencom aonoy,t
the political ethics of the age, and has been c"njrrr
unmcasufed terms by some o! The fathers u m Z.
public What then In the emphatic language ot Il. ~,
we have been consulting answer: " Let God Dr. lr -
every man liar" And when consider how vague s r.
political reasoninCs Of the wiscs men what ntute
dogmas, held TO be political aSios are now exr
DO not fear 10 adopt The teachings 81 The Awise O..
ference the deductions OF laundering and purhni nc
tails. have the least fear that when the deductions
history shall be made CERTAIN and the political experience
Inc world snail nave Corrected errors III 'cQs
the truly wise philosophical minds OF the civ'@st
sill return Ia The institutions of i!e oioie IN !e"fy az !
and will acknowledge that this simple This ceeE!"c ana
horred cx2edcn, If inspired !4wgiveis was better COMO:
ed 10 MAS nature, and To the dictates o 'Fue Wis.,
and hrnevrtncr than any OF the !aburlous nrenoas
political science; that, III short "tie iooshLes OF Coz
wiser than the wisdom of men,.
But here place feet upon tic zrrn:;Sson and
thortv OF our Makc and our answer tHfrownag Euc.
and Icviln9 aboOnisiS 10 world IL arms a.ans. our
su,ions. is tnS Your comics, is not ag'i9st Us
against Revelation; against God. 90 a!d convince
Oa.rsrient Ol folly; the Holy Lord u boss e. lnGSI
Yet we acknowledge the existence o! human tsGsoa and
authority within certain humble Limit have !avo..
her throughout the preceding discussion And although RI
herself says that when we have found pain dtcs
III Revolution and she stands in apparent opposition Il
must bow and acknowledge error still II Is satl:'a:tt
be able 10 the harmony between Reason aud TIE :.
rines Of Scripture And il i the duty Of him pes.
10 expouEi the holy Scriptures the sanction OF Es
ions. 10 do wha, he defend those Scriptures . &:
hatred aud reproach Of his advcrsaes, BY Ilsn!.
the bar Of reason, the opinions which they Sanction. AL
far feel authorized 10 venture into the c.cgl! III
lions oil human right II seems clear 10 me- that i..s
institution Of domestic slavery Is perfect" compatible
political justice. Here let again remind you, ba' IA
thing itself is obe separated from lis abuses The atas
do Justify. The abstract relation The slnp ?.
curing another labor for without his voluntary cons
which paey asserts be the substance Of slavery h
is not inconsistent with native ideas and EaXn 4
right.
II has been always regarded by nnslarery men rs a
ushng argument 10 say II is obnoxious every pr:a
p!e of right treat rational, immortal, human being,
thing "chateI; putting him on level win horse. la
oxen bcqueat thing him 10 heirs, selling hin for mur
and h,queah!ng him in every lespec. property
sc Slavery G,"s not treat The slave :hus
catte hut person Even the legislation ri the Sogtbs
States, unjusttc as il is, in some respects does NOT
him as chattc but person. There IS plain Gs;n
ton here which Is recognized III tact II MOI III words in
This legislation. 1t is The right 10 The slaves labor wa
slavery and the slave laws regard rs th!nG cia &c;
property Ii IS this and this only. which Ia Sold 5eIt4
and treated property. Tie person Of the slave IL ever,
where recognized ;y the las. as that oi rational hama.
being Killing him is murder He has his social rcti
lie can sue in our He is held responsible his g
obedience law, rational creature, and is tsi,i M
offences .ar coust, with all the rights ut COUNSEL w.
nrsscs aud defence which justice demands. l. is thsn
mere blind con!ounding OF PLAIN distinction oil which
The slave as il mere 'ctael" II treats nj. person a
SON. and the ownership of The profits of his a5oras cf
Ia then abhorrent the principles o natural justice =
make the rigid TO The labor Of ttoc creature, mic:
ca,Ic or properly! Let nis DC answered oy The fact "a.
the laws OF all ant-suvcry States authorize white la
sell this right TO h!s "wn labor, be legal !ngn
10 fellow creature, au: anih,rZ2 that purchaser t.
and tbs, night, property. else 10
ayes iyr its ,ss; that tas right 10 nnohc' labor il lOt
ADD sold for longer sorror Iimc every daY M! IA
this sane code Of laws give this rieht 1ef the !Urr
every parent, for twenty .oe ycars. and
izs him 10 sell property Tor money md by !tg n
OF writing, 10 any man To whom he nay Sec Il 10
mis- child apprentice Aud notice he. mat tie 'ilh,
c.s LABOR is entirely irFespcctirs q htS c0Hse
is oi the apprenticeship "i parp~. c:aGen ~
JHupcrism is crime, 10 view vi which This rIglI
paupcrs labor could DC assumed, punishment .vr ~
guilt
But Il is sa! that slavery s opposed the prime M,
cf the very Declaration of liberties: that al u,a II.
b, nature free and equal" IT, by this celebrated
il meant, that There ever wGs, could be- in
oil things, ought government. in WAT
ali men enjoyed the measure Of privilege in pr
en II would be- false lit :;a there ever cJ
be stale oil society in which every pc.son eIou!
inular his vU!itions p'orcn>itit- ns
extent, i: would he false Tor the anuru! and .a1D
able differences of property station and capacity, ,, e,r
make il otherwise. II /: were meant tina; all men are n
rally equal il would BIZ fnlsc for theyac born with 't:
degrees Of bodily and mcnaI power different moral qualities
and to the Inheritance oI different rights Ii it usar
that all free from restraints aud in the posse
personal liberty, in that position in which nature places m
their entrance into the community IL would hr il ~
crery ctM begins life under the control OF parental aIt
Save Ia his parents BY The very iw d. NJ
ufc the law OF God and the law OF every eovcnmn, o.
frantic and wicked as aboi'ions:n But, ii Gr n
that all mon are by natnr. equal in their rights 10 liberty a
the pursuit OF happiness except far ~ the good Of Tie
requires the submission Of all 10 d"gre, Of restraint c3
ponding To their qualities and circumstances cn i ~
and it implies nnthlng Incompatible win domestic h.sF
Ii ls the doctrine ot every writer on political ctH; woI
have heard Of except lr jefferson, that in c s:s
~, each individual sufrerders part u the native r4lt
the insulated savage state, the BODY p"..c, Io the co.
good and for the cil-ctua ,ecaitg of his r.mI
ing rights That great man WAS, no doubt led - deny
his love for the name of !rcednnI, and hi. !'ntne
syDnetry and simplicity Of theory. So far Is II rom bI
ire that state Of involuntary restraint la gIr'
lars s inconsistent with righul equality there can be no.
rernnlent without it, Every human government howe"
free, includes much of this All children By nc Iw-
nature and Of The country the slaves OF hcr pr=ns u
hall of tho whole community, the ,malc sN j. placed "a
state OF political inequality. In many States The rI1h.
suffrage limited 10 certain classes. Aud nuI. ar" mi
enough dispute that tie srtcnt, which tbs s,cnfcta,
native independence ID Inc general good Il 20 BE- c3ir
must depend upon the circumstances of each cDiHhN
What would Dc Just and SAT. liberty community "e-
b" uniustfaJlo license 10 anCthcf less clpaty OF se
nent.
Now, nsscrr that this surrender Of inv'GJL '1"a.e
independence tn the general good Of society j! Ut Ge
ssntia slavery il IL Involuntary t;'r!j. iF
difference is only difference o degree Ii H.. ous s ~
Inconsistent win mans Just rights, gnd if il is al 9o"
EIcn il ,nnality) the other is not except be- .t2b
that the extent to which the surrender pcrs"a inss;
encc is carried is greater thar is called for the raf
good. /: j, be- showa that that degree % e.;r
which slavery is necessary for the best coo4
Of ruler and subject then justiiibI il is Consistent
mans native equality upon inst The srOunt- rr,n SO"
all restraint that is at government is consistent, w!'h
that the only really consistent anii-slvery aie
who have pushed their principles these HORRIBLE but!
Cal consequences, that the parental marital and In7.!.
authorities also essentially wicked and ,'at Ill TIE
straints of domestic ana civil soc!.tr una".
What is slavery but dcspoVisu? The very ""r: "-
Which Gcsaosm has 'Irivcd lis os--,Tr,J 1fl.
among tie Greeks, the master Of dJmcs.ic slave %-
domestic snTery ~ the Southern states Is llr ;"ii
poiism than that which, Ut present governs RGs9 I'VE
and Naples. CT few would assert t!if suCh utHe'-
crnmcnt that OF Russia s idt!!nsicaI.y imGlJr!h
from all abuse OF X. All rational men VIII nlft ''
subjects OF Russia are too reckless Ignorant an. ''-
be restrained from anarchy under republican TJ'eth