Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-07-23
T III E B u G L E .
Orthodoxy and Slavery-What have AbOll.
tiOnlStS Done

tiOnlStS Done
TIE following remarks of Joseph Barker,
were made in the course of his recent dis
cussion in this place, with Jonas Harizell.--
They are OF especin value just now, when
rnbid orthodoxy is making desperate effort
TO dissever its connection with oil sorts of
unorihodox anti-slnvery. We commend Mr.
Barker's remarks to the Editor of the Chris
tian Press, and others Of like faith aud pur-
pose.
Mr.. Hartzell had claimed for Christianity
the honor of opposing slavery so far as it
had been successfully done, aud had dispar-
aged the lnbors of nll who 10y any other than
orthodox means had attempted this work.
Referring to Mr.. llarizell, Mr.. Barker said !:
ale says slavery prevailed in all nations
previous to the appearance OF Christianity.
il he sure? II prevailed in most nations; but
did it prevail in all grant the same broad
statement may be found in my own early
writings; but formerly leaned too much
on authority. I now believe the assertion
should be limited. But, grant that it pro-
vsilOd in every land; il certainly prevails
most now in the most religious and most
Bible reading nation under heaven. It pre-
wills here in its most hateful and revolving
forms. Its advocates justify themselves by
appeals to the scriptures. The scriptures
represent il us n divine institution. The
clergy consistently uphold il. The churches
nre its bulwarks. The Bible is the strength
Of the churches, and the churches ure the
strength of slavery. The mass of the Di-
scipIes or Campbellites themselves advocate
slavery. They hold one hundred thousand
slaves, I am told. Alexander Campbell, the
founder and leader of the sect, advocates
botlI slavery and the fugitive slave law, in
the most heartless aud coldbooded manner.
lie proves by unanswernble scripture nrgu-
ments that we are bound to obey the Internal
law on pnin Of dalnnation. Mr.. Harlzeli's
views, as ! am now obliged to understand
them, are as much in favor of slavery as the
most abandoned stakeholder could wlsh.-
Mr. Harizell, you never need he afraid again
TO go to n meeting in the South, If the slave
holders get report OF your yesterday even
ing's speech. They will not hurtsa hair of
your head. They will place you in the list
Of the men whom they delight to honor.
MrHarizell is against all agitation of the sub
ject. lie speaks of the labors of anti-savery
men, whether in Congress or out Of Congress,
with contempt lie says they have not nbaled
the evil one jot.He would lain persuade us That
tf slavery is to he abolished, it must he by
letting il alone, or 10y leaving it to be quietly
destroyed 10y a silly and souless theology
which he mistakes for the Gospel of Christ.
lle quotes some words from some old work
of mine fhvoring this view. am sorry
such words should be found in any of my
works. | loath and abhor them with my
whole soul. But well remember that when
a Methodist minister, looked on reformers
outside the church with fear and jealousy.
4 neither judged their motives, nor appreciated
their labors as they deserved. could see
cE"i'' no virtue, no worth but in the church
49, ..e..-' -
Eanu hh3lfsug. 4 Nuuicu tilO OuspSi w
ii,il the honor Of all ibe good that was then
sin the world. / nonored the Gospel at
Jzhe expense of humanity, and the church
at the expense of the world. But 1 have
seen my error, Mr.. Harzell, and have rel ent-
ed. Iretract those hateful words you quoted.
And glad / am you have given me an opor-
,duni,y of retracting them thus publicly. OF
all that has been read from my early writings
during this discussion, let me above all retract
those words. Leave the work OF reform to
ahe churches! had rather answer 10 God
for thousand other errors than for that 1t
lis a deadly and damning doctrine. Wo to
the slaves, and wo to the nation, If the church
and the priesthood should ever succeed in
,psrsuadng people to /" stand still, " and wait
for asalyation" from them. M
,"But even in my earlier days, never
layorsd such procedure as Mr.. Harizell
faxors. The Gospel, as understood il, was
freedom, righteousness and benifcence.--
This Gospel preached with all plainness
and fidelity. l made it the reproyer Of all