Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-08-14
NO. 4S.
Alex. Campbell and the Fugitive Slave Law.

clples, are remarkable instance. The Ed
itor of the Millenial llarbinger, the celebrn-
ted Alexander Campbell has been giving his
views of Slavery aud the Fugitive Law in
language not to be misunderstood. But
scarcely one in a hundred of his sect, who
accept him as their organ aud moutbpece
to the world, through their principle public
Journal, seems to know anything of lis
views aud sentiments on the most important
subject which now agtates the world-Ilu-
man Slavery.
The following from the Ilnrbinger of June
1851, shows most unmisiakeably the senti-
ment Of the Editor OF the subject of Ameri-
can Slavery. The extract is from one of
series of articles, headed the Fugitive Slave
d.aw."
"Before presumiug to dogmnlize on the
attitude IN which the apostles of Christ place
themselves before us on the subject of servi
sudc or slavery, we must he informed of the
nnture, character aud extent of slavery, us
then existing in the countries and coninuni
ties in which they planted churches"
Then follow several pages of historical
quotations, to prove that slavery in its most
terrible forms, existed in many of the nations
aud places where Christ lubored aud the
apostles gathered churches. Then, the wri.
ter pays the apostles aud their Master the
compliment of charging them with counte-
nnncing and approving that terrible chapter
of denominations. His argument on this par
tirulur is divided Into six heads aud com
piiscs numerous quotations from Paul, Peter
aud perhaps other New Testament writer's.
From his argument, hc arrives at these con
clnsons.
ain reviewing all that is written in the
Christian Scriptures on the subject Of Chris.
tinn masters aud Christian slaves, we may
sum up the whole in very few words. To
musters, the Lord commands the duties of
Justice aud humanity. These are always
necessarily dependent Oh times, places aud
circumstances. They therefore chnngo IN
their forms, with time, place mud cucuni-
Htnuce. Public opinion, prOvidcntlul dispcf-
EniiOn, accidents aud contingencies, nuncr-
ous aud various, necessarily clUnge the forms
of Justice aud Iumnniiy. The Golden Rule
therefore is the invariahle aud imnlutnhle
standard by which we must ascertain in dit.
fcult cases, what is right aud cXpcdirnt.-
Let the master place himself in the relation
al tlie slave, aud ask HIMSELF in all the cir
cumsiances of the case, how he would like
10 be treated. Aud let the servant place
himself in the relation of the master, and ask
himself with all the light he has how lac
would like, in any given case, to hc served.
Let the par,irs, IN all the mutations of the
friils OF Justice aud humanity, act according
10 this rule, aud the system will work well
for The good OF both"
Next follows mn ingenious commentary of
II page or more, on the case Of Oncsimus aud
Philemon; defending the return of +. Slaves
and closing with these pretty bold words:
"Ifn nny man could invent n stronger case
thnn This, To stnliiiy aud nbasli that morbid
aud visionary lIumnuiiy, proirsrd, ar felt by
some of Our contemporaries, can only say
must envy his ingenuity"
Aud then comes this bold conclusion
mnrk il wel-make your comments upon il,
pnd nsk your readers to make theirs. Its
like is not under henvcn--no matter how far
under heaven you plunge 10 scuk il.
" "Assnrrdly from these promises, we may
confidently say that the Gospel Institution as
clearly, ns fully, MS nulhoriWivey sanctions
the relation Oi master aud Slavr,ns that oi ma
trdiOney or civil, or ecclesiastical pnliy: and
that no christian nan, can censiire nnoth'
er christian man hecause he is master
ter aud owns n ilInli, amy more than bccniIse
he owns n wife, or son, or daughter! But
he may aud ought 10 censure lin for any
net OF cruelty or injustice, to wife, son, n
daughter, or servant"
Excuse me, but | hnve no language to
comment upon this one single word. All The
foregoing extracts are from the ilarbinger of
June, in the year 1851.
In the January number of the same year,
is contained ! think the first of this series OF
articles on Slavery and the Fugitive Slave
Lnw. At any rate have seen none of nn
earlier date. In that article is the following;
"Thnt any one well instructed
in the Christian Religion could recommend
violence, or insiIbordilntion TO Law, passed
by Congress that merely represents aud
reflects The will OF the sovereign people, is
10 me, rather an unexpected developement."
"Waiving in the first place the character,
fhe spirit aud the bearings of tins, or any
other statute, conslilulionally enacted by our
representatives, what an example To the civ
ilized world of our law abiding spirit! What
an exemplification of our respect for the
christian religion and its divine founder do
we furnish to the world in the violent spirit
of resistance and insuhortination, manifested
on this occasion?"
al speak to the Christian public,and
not to the sovereign people in their mere
citizen character-and ! solemny aud aflec-
tionately ask them. Have you, my christian
friends, so learned Christ? Is this n fair eX-
pose of your reverence for his authority, aud
that of the Holy Spirit, who inspired the
Christian Aposlles?"