Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-01-02

OF oic, were owners of slaves, as thousands o
sincere Christians at the South are at the pres
ent day. Christ, who lived where he often
saw the system, did not expressly forbid it,
Ills apostles, who spent their lives in slave
holding States, where slavery existed in more
horrld and unmtlgated forms than it does per-
maps anywhere now, certainly than it does
among us, did not encourage slaves to run
away, or expressly prohibit the system. II
t'ey h"d done so, CHRISTIANITY probably could
| nave Ii'aue no progress, nor in that case.
would slavery ever have been abolished
lhe apostles were no; agIraiors on this eX-
ciung subject. They did not encourage
slaves 10 run away, but eojoined upon Ser
wants 10 be ''obedien to their own masters,
with all tear, not only TO the good and gentle
but also TO the troward;" to be obedient also
to the .trolcard, and not to run a,cay. They
enJoned upon the masters TO be kind TO their
slaves, 10 render 20 them what was Just aud
equal-thal is fair treatment-but they were
never understood 10 demaud-all ecclesiasl- i
cal and political history would have assured
US Oi thus, Had IL been The case,-Ihey were
never Understood 10 demand that the slaves
should al once be sci free. The principles
which they taught would effect thelr freedom
IN the end-;aey dad effect their freedom III
the enc-but they never prohibited the exis-
iente ot the relation, IN any Instance OF
watch we have an inspired or unInspired
account. When, theu, we are called upon
10 resist the law OF the land, because il is
opposed TO the law of God, il is an uuan-
swerable reply that no express command Of
God 10 tins effect, eau he adduceJ. Ii is
'rue, that In one instance, we read that the
Hebrews were prohibited rom returning Il
slave escaped from Il foreign nation into
the land OF Israel. But it is sufficient 10 saw
with reference 10 this, that the Judicial aud
ceremonial code OF the Jews are NOT binding
upon Us, and IT the spirit of this command
were obligatory upon us, it would only ap
ply TO 10 The case ot slaves escaping from
foreign nation, to our shores, aud would
have no bearing upon the case OF slaves es-
Gaping IRON one part of our own country 10
another. When Hebrew slave escaped
from one Hebrew master 10 another we
have every reason to believe that il was oh.
ligatory to dciirer him up. The commands
10 'leI The oppressed go free, 10 break every
yoke, 10 restore "the wages of la5oters,
kept back by fraud" aud others of "A similar
nature, found IN the writings OF Ihe prophets,
and also OF the New Testament can refer
only 10 such cases of oppression and bon
dage, and fraud, as were contrary to ;he
laws "l the land since, as It Is perfectly un-
deuIah.e, tiat these laws tolerated SlaCery, the
instructions of the prophets and Apos les
cannot he supposed 10 be in contradiction to
orher parts OF the divine code. Besides, the
voice OF history could not but have told Us 1t
such a demand TO give up slaves, held ac-
cording 10 national laws, had been made. w
] IL * EHftFpin Fh1I nn 81, ~ ,S
f. ever understood 10 he SET up. No obIiga-
tiun, then, rests upon US 10 dIsobey this law
ot our land. as II is not in obvious aud pal
rahle contradiction 10 any W. .ilten law OF
God. And tnot bound TO disobpy This,
shall assume II as certain, that there is no
other which we are bound 10 disobev. | re.
mark again,
). We ale under obligations 10 strive to
10 allay the violent agitation upon the sub.
Ject uf slavery, which prevails SO extern
>vely, and to endeavor to preserve tie mluds
OF uur tellow-countryneu IN harmony and
peace. IL Is not Intended that we are bound
| 10 Withhold all proper expression OF opinion,
and The suitable exercise OF influence but
tins vioieut, bnter, abusive, radical, intem-
! perate manner OF treating an evil in which
large porlion OF our counlrymen are con-
!
Iatlon, this narrow SYSTEM of exciting sec
/ rIona jealousy aud dis ike, which uuder all
I the circumstances, can hardly be regarded III
other iIglt than as absolutely wicked, as well
n dangerous 10 The last degree, ought To be
/ allayed. The violent, bitter and political
| agitation of this subject ought TO he abated
! Q In order most eflectualy aud speed
ily 10 remove the evils et slavery itself. 1t
/ : The law N Kindness "a hIrh a m Ill
per>uades them TO useful action, aud not The
law of deuunriarion. Ii we desire to carry
a particular measure with n class OF men, II
is by no means ready and natural method
OF securing the result 10 begin by employing
freely the language of threatening and re-
! proach. This is not the manner IN which
men are favorably influenced here, and they
will not he likely 10 lie persuaded 10y such
measures al the South. Ii we really dislike
the system of slavery. and desire It's removal
IA. ii Is 10 he hoped We all do, we must ad.
dress those concerned ia il, with the law ol
kindness ON our lips. Tie indications Of its
gradual aud rapid aholirIon, were far clearer
and more g-nel al, eighteen years ago, beior.
this unhappy agitation began, than they are
now. Then. The cases OF emancipation among
shareholders, both IN their own lifetime, am
AZ 'hSH utd'if, WCTc DeCOtDttiI more u0t
more frequent, and. as hada good oppor-
;unity not long after TO know, healthy
mofal sentiment on thus subject, was gradu-
ually peryading the Southern mind. Now
aud as The result of this unreasonable ex.
element which we deplore, iher minds are
embI;tered, they are armed against our ap
proach, The claims of The slaves are draw
tighter, and they weigh far more heavily
than they did before.
If we value, then, these our unhappy
brethren, who are made Of the same bloot
as ourselves. who are fastening 10 the SAINT
/ Judgment, for whom the same Savior died; l
we would alleviate their suffrrings; if W,
,could break every yoke, let US labor by NOR,
captivating aud Christian means. than 10y
command, hard names, and unrruths. w,
shall not easily force men either into goo,
temper, or good actions; while, AT the sam,
time, by this course OF compulsion and heat
we shall be very far from securing HIS iavo
who has commanded that "all bitterness
wrath. and clamor" should cease. We car
not expect in any good enterprise, perf.c
success. at once but if we mildly. energetI
caliv labor, and lct patience hare her pertec
,eork, we may hope Tor good results III lh
end.
We are under obligation to allay this vic
lent. bitter and political strife,
~ In order 10 perpetuate the govern
ment under which we live. Through thu
efforts Of fanatics, of designing and setis
politicians, whose interests may he the.
think, promoted by a course of sectional leg
isation, which, If carried out, will divide on
country into two great geographical parties
Il