Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-02-04
NO. XII.

Philemon shows, that the Apostle could not
only recognize shareholders as christians,
and church members, but could cherish Tor
them the highest esteem and warmest al
fection, PhIem. Al. Whether 0nesimus
was afterwards emancipated, as has been
without proof pretended, or not it is GER
tain that he had not been, at the time when
the epistle to Philemon was written. The
example of Paul teaches us that fugitive
slaves should be seat back TO their masters;
instead of being helped off by "the UNDER
ground railroad"
We see that Chiist and the Apostles, far
from condemning slavery, have clearly
cuuntenanced the institutions: Did they JUS
tify it solely on the ground that the good OF
the slave required it? We have no intl'
nation to that effect; nor have we any rea-
son whatever to suppose this was the case:
On the contrary, Paul, while he speaks OF
the condition of servithdc as circumstance
to be little regarded, tells the christian SER
want TO choose liberty if it be offered, Cor.
7:21. 1t was not for his own advantage
then, but for that of his master, that he was
held in bondage. 1t should be remember
ed that the slaves of that day, as well as
those mentioned in the Old Testament were,
in general, of the same color with their mas
tiers so that, ON being emancipated, they
would be in much more desirable condI-
ton than that of the free negroes OF this
country. There can be no doubt that
throughout the whole period of the sacred
history, inanumission would, in general,
have been decided advantage to The bond
man. So that neither the patriarchs, the
primitive christians, nor the divine law IT.
self could be justified, on the ground which
many represent, as the only possible Justi-
fication of slavery in any case:
The circumstance of the ancient slaves
having the same color with their masters,
while it made emancipation more valua-
BILE boon, at the same time diminished the
obstacles which lay in the way OF It's be-
stowment. 1t is universally admitted by
all people of this country, whose opinions
are entitled to any degree of respect, that
the liberation of all the American slaves is
not to be attempted, except on the condi-
ton of the deportation of the greater part
of them. And why : Because such mass
of free negroes remaining in this country,
would not only be IN miserable condiaon
themselves, but would also be an intolerable
nuisance to the white population. Even
much smaller number has been found SO
great an inconvenience, that the Southern
States have passed laws forbidding emanci:
patton without expatriation and some OF
the Northern States have prohibited me-
groes from entering their limits. But the
ancient slaves when liberated, did not be-
come such a nuisance; and It was not con-
sidered necessary to enact laws against their
manumisson. Consequently, If any mas
ter wished TO give liberty to his servants.
there was no obstacle whatever in the way
of his doing so If then master cannot
have right of property in his slave, there
could not be even an apology for the slave
holding of the apostolic and previous ages.
Neither could there be any apology for the
permission Of slavery by tie Mosaic law,
or fer its federation by the Apostles. Laws
prohibiting slavery could have been enforc-
ed in the Hebrew Commonwealth, at least
as easily as some of the laws which were
actually given TO that people. The Apos'
ties could, with the greatest ease, have ex.
cluded shareholders from the Church; and
they were perfectly inexcusable for not do
ing so on the supposition that the master
has no right of property in his slave.
The positions taken in this letter and the
preceding, exhibit the most important point.
of the Bible view of slavery, They need
to be expanded and illustrated in order to
be seen in their proper light. These po.
sltions, as ALSO some others of similar kind
which might be taken, are capable of being
amply supported by the testimony of the
English Bible. A very clear and strong
argument may thus be deduced in, support
of the proposition, that slaves may be prop.
erty; and as such may be rightfully held
like other property, for the benefit Of the
owner. shall attempt to show in my next
let.er, r,that the argument may be drawn,with
greater advantage, from the Scriptures Id
their original languages.
Yours respectfully,
NoVANGLUs.