Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-01-14
roR THE sPEcrAro
Letters to Northern Uni0nists on
THE Scripture View OF Slavery.
LETTER no. 1.
JTrvc-

THE Scripture View OF Slavery.
LETTER no. 1.
WEST VinalNIA, December, 1851.
Slavery and the Union--The higher la,o,
and the highest lav.--Wha. is ike precise
question al issue 2;-Ascertdinsd 5y COM
parison of Northern and Southern tis.cs
of Slauery.-WiH The North hear both
sidess
RESPECTED FRIENDS, ,GWill you permit one
of your own number, bound to some of you
by the nearest ties of blood, to address you on
a topic of vital interest to our whole beloved
country. The conflicting sentiments on the
subject of domestic slavery, which prevail
in the different sections of our land, furnish
a cause of serious apprehension to the en-
lightened patriot. These sentiments oppo-
sed an obstacle, all but insurmointable, to
the first formation Of the Federal Govern
ment; and twice since its formation, they
have brought it to the very brink Of disso-
luton. Within few months past, we have.
seen the splendid fabric of our national
greatness tottering on the verge of the awful
gulf of disunlon. From that dangerous po-
sition, we have been removed little space
by the kind care of the Supreme Ruler,
who has interposed for our deliyerance in
manner almost miraculous bringing about
Just and wise compromise, and at the same
time, giving us an administration, brought
into power by remarkable series of prov
licences, more peculiarly fitted to carry out
the compromise, than any other which has
ever been at the head of our Republic
But we shall deceive ourselves if We sup
pose that the danger is entirely over. Let
the "Fugitve Slave Law" be repealed,-a
measure which many honest and well-mean-
ing, but miserably deluded people are striv-
ing to efect,-and the result of the act will
be like the falling OF spark into maga-
zine it will produce an explosion which
will rock this continent to it's deepest foun-
dations. 1 say this from an intimate ac-
quaintance with Southern sentiment. But
suppesing Our Country to be carried safely
through the present crisis God only knows
how soon some apple of discord may again
be thrown among US, and the. whole slavery
question be opened anew. The Union can
never be safe while there IS so much antag-
oni.m of opinion between the North and
the South. Such being the state ofthe case,
ii becomes most important question to the
friends of the Union, whether greater con-
cord of sentiment cannot be produced. 1t
is plain that such result is not to be ex-
pected from that course of angry crimina-
tion, IN which each section of the country
has been too much in the habit ofindulging.
1t can never be reached unless the people
of one or both sections, will consent care
fully and candidly to review their opinions,
that they may be prepared to meet their op-
ponents on the ground Of truth. We OF the
North have, to great extent, been accus-
toned to consider it our duty to enlighten
our Southern brethren on the subject in
question. But is 1t not proper that the
Northern man should cast the beam out of
his own eye, or at least examine carefully
whether lie has not one in it: before he pro-
ceeds to pull out the mote,-or the beam if
you will out of his brothers. eyer To in
duce such an examination is my object in
writing these letters. To them / respect
fully request your impartial attention.
As tie religious aspect of the slavery
question is by far its most important aspect,
and the only one which makes it an exciting
and a dangerous question, shall confne
myself to this view. The standard by which
l shall test all opinions on this subject, is
not the pretended 'higher law" Of human
conscience, imperfect and fallible as is ev-
erything human; often misguided, and CIV
ing utterance to the most contradictory de-
cisions: but that highest Of all laws, the
written Word Of God, unerring as its au-
thor, and acknowledged by all christians as
the only and sufficient rule of religious faith
and practice. And on this religious view
of the question, shall admit no appeal TO
any human authority, philosophical theory,
or political dogma; either In reference to
human rights or any other subject: "To
the law and to the testimony if they speak
not according to this word, 1t is because
there is no light in them"
In order to make any satisfactory progress
in this discussion. 1t will be necessary to
gain. at the outset, distinct conception of
the precise question which is at issue, and
which is now to be tested. The want OF such
a conception has been the cause of vast
deal of rambling defamation, which has
tended to no useful result. The question is
not, whether slavery ought to be abolished
Immediately; nor yet, whether it oug mt to
be abolished at all by the action of the
Northern States, or of the General Govern
ment, the Constitution remaining as it is
These questions would be answered in the
negative by an immense majority of the
Northern people. Nor on the other hand
is it whether slavery be an evil. To this
the majority at the South would reply in the
affirmative.
What then is tile question: 1t can best
be ascertained by considering, tor moment.
.be peculiar sentiments on the general SUBJ
iect, which, prevail in each section of the
Union. At the North, we find great num-
Der of shades of opinion: but OF those who
take much interest in the discussion, by far
the greater portion agree in adopting, as
fundamental position, the principle, that no
man can rig ghtfully be made the prop
erty of another man. This principle is
thought to be involved in the ''inalienable
rights Of man." Hence it is argued, that
whoever holds slave, is "guilty of steal
ing the man from. himself" The Constitu-
ton of the Am. A. S. S. declares, Art. I'd,
"Slaveholding is heirous crime in the
sight of God," and "ought therefore to be
Immediately abolished" This, the one idea
of the immediate abolitionists, is drawn di-
rectly from the principle above mentioned.
They carry it out SO rigidly, that they do
not admit, that any circumstances whatever
can Justify the existence Of slavery for a sim
gle moment. But their principles are so
absurd, and they themselves are, in every