Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-12-17

The religious Society Of Friends is known to tn
community people entertaining conscentiou
conviction of the incompatibility OF Slavery wit
the spirit and preeepts of the Gospel anu undo
this conviction have ut different times appeared be
fore the public in advocacy of the cause Of Libcr
~ as the inalienable right of all men. a
We feel engaged once more 10 invite the atten
ton of our fellow citizenS-protessors of rhe be
! nign religion of Jesus Christ whose Office il wa
prophetieally declared should be "to bind up the
broken hearted, 10 proclaim liberty to the captive
and the opening of the prison TO them that arr
| bound, TO a serious consideration of this subject
! There can be no doubt that the Church Of Chris
Is designed to occupy very elevated position as
! relates to purity and uprightness, and to exert
! through It's teaching and example purifying IN
iuence in the world that the members oft should
be distinguished by scrupulous observance OF
the noral and social duties, agrecably to the Ian
| guage of the prophecy-"He hath showed thee, o
man, what is good !; and what doth the Lord re-
quire of thee but 10 do justly, and TO love mercy,
and TO walk humbly with God gu
Our Holy Redeemer, in his public minisrations
while on earth, was engaged expressly TO set be-
fore his followers the high position in which they
were to stand, and the weight of responsibility
that would rest upon them. 'Ye are the light of
the world, said he, "a city that is set upon hill
cannot be hid. Neither do men light candle and
put it under bUshel, but on a candlc-Stck; and
it giveth light unto all that are in the house Let
your light so shine before men, that they may see
your good works, and goriiy your father which is
IN Heaven"
1t becomes then very Interesting inquiry wheth-
or the Christian Church, in the present day, does
indeed stand in that elevated position which is re-
presented by the figure of "a city that is set on
hill :" Whether the light which it dffuses is of
that pure and holy character, that will induce otIl-
ers to gorify our Father which in is Heaven ?"
If such an inquiry, scrupulously conducted can
lpoT mr. bp inn tbn
bcrs of the Christian Chrch are in such condi-
ton that il NAV be truly said of them in the Ian
guagc of the Apostle, that they walk as children
OF light proving what is &C ceptable unto the Lord
and have no fellowship with the unfuitful works
of darkness" then may we be comfortcd in the
hope that the blessing OF the Lord will rest upon
the Church, and upon our beloved country for its
sake. For we ale instructed by the highest au-
thOrity to believe thu Tie mem jcr of the Church
if standing in their proper aohments, are the salt
of the earth"
But, if the proposed review should result i'll the
conviction that the Church. i'll the present day,
has, in some degree, fallen below the standard Of
its upright original and that practises at variance
with the principles Of justice and mercy tolera-
ted in it then is there not that it should be
earnestly engaged 10 return to its first love, and
to do its first works
We are aware ofthe sensitive state offeelng re.
speeding the subject of Slavery. 1t is our desire
section of our country in hostile feeling against
another. But in all sOberness would treat the
subject as question of right, and in the pres
ence of Him who Is TO be our Judge, and who has
solcmnly forewarmcd US, that lie will regard
the Withholding of deeds of mercy from even
the lowest of our fellow beings, as being Withheld
from himself. 'Ncrily | say unto you inaSmuch
We did not unto one of the least ofthcsc yc did
it not unto me"
1t will be readily admitted that all who take upon
them the name of Christ are called TO depart
from iniqutv, and that the declaration Fright
couSneSS eXalteth nation, but sin is a reproach
to any people" is Il language full of truth The
Deity is represented in the holy scriptures as a B
ing infinite in power and wisdom, and perfect in
justice mercy aud love. The nature of man, his
relation and responsibility to his Creator, and his
duties to his fellow creatures are also clearly de-
fined therein. We are told that man was made
in the image of God that although finite in knowl-
edge, and limited in power he is called to initiate
the divine attributes in deeds of justice and mer-
cy, and works of love, and that though the image
of his Creator has been lost by transgression, it
may be restored through f;li h i'll our Lord Jesus
Christ and ly obedience TO his prccepts.
OF the prccepts u,tere by Him, the following
has been distinguished by the appeaton of the
golden rule '-"Therefore, whats, ever We would
that all men should do to you, do We even so to
them, for this is the law and the prophets"
Now, if we compare the practice of enslaying
our fellow men with this rule, and try it by this
test it is evident that the unhcsitating verdict of
conscience must be against it. If brought to bear
upon ourselves and our posteritv, should Ger
tainlv regard it as the greatest possible calamity
an act Of oppression to heavy to be borne. And
if we Judge thus in our own case, by what rule as
Christians should we Judge in the case of Others !
! We are warned in the sacred scriptures against
! allowing our judgement to he wrapped by consid-
eratiOns Of self interest popularity Thou shalt
not follow multitude TO do evil neither shalt thou
speak in a cause TO decline after many TO Wrest
judgement"
That all mankind are descendants of a com
mon ancestor that God ''hath made of one
blood all nations of men to dwell on the face of
the earth and that he is no respector of persons
are truths prominently set forth in HOLY Writ ;
aud they appear to have been fully recognised
in the Declaration on which our form Of govern.
ment claims 10 be based that all men are crea-
ted equal; and that they are endowed with GER
| tain uaicnabie rights; and that among these
are, life liberty, and the pursuit Of happiness.
Happy, indeed would it have been for our conn
try had these i3mujabc principles been CARR
into practice. Ii appears strikiIgly inconsistent
that our free form OF government, and its liberal
institutions, should be linked with slavery and
there IS the plainest evidence that they DO not
harmonic. II We trace to their source the dis.
sensiOns which have disturbed the tranquility of
our government? and even threatened its dlsao.
ution, it will be obvious to all that slavery has
/ been fruitful source of those troubles.
| Amongst the measures lattery adopted to al
/ lay the excitement, and remove the discomfort cx-
/ istiDg in some portions Of our country, was the
enactment of the stringent law for the recovery
Of those who escaped from bondage. The exc
! cution Of this law has been attended with cir
cumstauces, from the contemplation of which
! humanity shrinkS yet the discomfort has not
/ been aliayed. But, we wonld seriously ask, ha.
not an additional weight of accountability in the
! sight OF our Omniscent Judge. been incurred
| Patriotism in lis purest form may lead us to
/ regard every country as our country, and every
man as our brother, an! may prompt the desire
to promote the happiness OF all, to enlighten the
uniformed, assist the needy and 10 relieve the
/ oppressed and popular Oulbursts OF this nature
are not unirsqnenJ,y manifested BUTT belongs
! to religion to enlarge and perfect this generous
! feeling Religion found, is sentiment, not al
/ one OF the circumstances Of a common Creator,
/ or common ancestry, bat also upon the interes-
ting truth that all are alike objects of love of a
| common Redcemer, who gave himself ransom
| for ALL lie has taught US to regard him alone
as our master, and that we are brethren, design.