The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-11-17

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/ them. But when no pretended owners appear,
and when, of course, the presumption Is that
they are freemen, what then? Why, then
/ they are sold as slaves for life to raise money
to pay their "jail fees % And what law OF
Moses is adduced to justify this and thousand
other atrocities connected with American Sla-
very! None in particular but merely the I'M
supported allegation that God sanctioned Sla-
very among the Hebrews The truth is, Sla-
very never emanated from that holy, Just, and
merciful Being, who is the Father OF us all :"
and of whom it is declared a. Con is LovE!"
This horrible institution originated in force,
and has in all ages been maintained by force.
! Ii is the subsection Of the weak by the strong
of he poor by the rich the most awful and
disastrous triumph ever achieved by might
over right.
CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS.
The view we have now taken of Hebrew do
mestic seryitude presents it as peculiar and
most extraordinary system. Embracing both
natives and foreigners, it conferred on all equal
privileges and exacted from all equal conform
ity to the established religion. As a system,
it's extreme mildness wisdom, and wonderful
benetcence excite our amazement and our ad-
miration. Such a system was never devised
nor adopted by human pride and selfishness.
No institution so Immediately adapted to ele-
vlte the character and promote the comfort,
happiness, and morality, of the poor and
friendless, was before or since, incorporated
into the frame of civilized society.
As general rule, the relation of master
and servant was indissoluble for the period of
six years. This tended to protect both from
many Of the evils resulting from hasty, pas
-. 4
against the loss of his place for trivial faults,
or through the caprices and ill-humor Of his
employer, as well as through his own reckless
love of change. The master, on the other hand,
was relieved from the inconvenience of being
unexpectedly abandoned by his servants, while
his inability to dismiss them encouraged on his
part flrbearing department, and desire to
cultivate their good will. The permanent ma
ture Of the relation naturally excited mutual
kindness, and feeling of common interest
The servants were all family servants and in
a far more literal sense than in any other age
or country. This system, moreover, secured the
servant u safe and peaceful refuge amid the
intirmities of declining years. In the bosom
of the family in which he had served when in
health and strength, he found resting place
in age aud decrepitude The frendess, desti-
tute female, if once employed in the family,
was certain of an abode and maintenance for
six years; and might, if she pleased, on the
expiration OF the term, continue in its service.
1t is scarcely possible for US accustomed as
we are to the refnements and distinctions of
an artificial state of society, to estimate the
different influence on the feelings affections,
and comforts, of the poor and humble, of that
cold and distant and reserved intercourse with
their employers, exacted by pride, wealth, and
rank and of that easy friendly intimacy be-
tween master and servant encouraged by the
Jewish laws. The long and thorough domes-
tication of the Hebrew servant, his participa-
ton in all religious rites, his presence with his
master and family in the great feasts, his fire.
quent journeys to jerusalem and his mngling
for weeks in the vast and joyous multtudes
there assembled at tho three festivals, all seem
to unite in raising him from the condition of
servant to that of a companion.
1t is painfully startling to turn suddenly
from the contemplation of the highly favored
Hebrew servant, to that of the American
slave-a vendble beast of burden. Had we
found in the Word of God the figure and type
of human chattelhood, bearing the impress of
Divine approval, the discovery would have
proved a more formidable objection to the truth
OF heVela1lOD, than any ever raised by the
combined ingenuity and malignity of infdelity.
But, blessed be God, the volume of Inspiration
contains no warrant to the rich and strong to
rob- to Cypress, to degrade, to keep in ignorance
the poor aud the weak. On the contrary, we
find in this blessed book o system of volun-
tary service, which for equity and benevolence
is unparalleled by any ever practiced before or
since. The system of Hebrew servitude is one
of the strongest testimonies borne by the Bible
to its own divine origin, since no human art
could have contrived so perfect an illustration
of the attributes claimed by its author-the
Lord God, mercful and gracious, long suffer
ing and abundant 10 goodness-justice and
mercy are the habitation of his throne, mercy
and truth 90 before his face-which delivereth
the poor from him that is too strong for him
who executeth judgment for all that are op-
pressed--a swift witness against all who op-.
press the hireing in his wages-l am the Lord
God, which exercise loving kindness and Judg-
ment and righteousness on the earth, tor IN
these things delight, saith the Lord.