The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-08-04
ABOLITION AND IHr1DEIITY.

The editor of the Fairfield g. CT Herald
publishes our comments on his Correction"
and appends the following remarks
g For the qualification of the Era, we will
state that our idea of Christianity consists in
belief in the propriety and legality of those in
stitutiOns which Christ recognised, and, by his
not condemning as evils justified because his
errand on earth was to correct evils. We do
not wish to enter upon review of this point.
Suffice it to say, that the evidence in favor Of
the institution of Slavery being an acknowl
edged and legalized feature of society at the
period of the Advent, has been summed up by
some of our most able diyines and are irrefu-
table. When, therefore, Abolition assumes
upon itself to denounce it as moral. political
and social evil-a SIN and disgrace 10 our
national character-it does 30 in defiance and
in contemptuous disregard of this holy sane.
ton. Its denunciations fall not only upou
those who uphold the institution but also upon
the very Founder of the Christian religion. who
sanctioned it. IL is not actuated by a .supreme
love for the God of Christianity, because il is
deficient In yeneration and respect for his wine
appreciation; nor by love for all men, for it is
confined exclusively to the inferior African
race. We have no desire to enter into dis
cussion on this subject which has been 30
often and 50 deliberately treated We do not
Halter ourselves that we can convince those
who are fanatcaly disposed or wilfully blind"
The holy sanction of some Of our most
able divines" should not blind us to the teach
ings Of common sense. The Saviour, when on
earth, did not nveigh specially against partcu-
lar sins, though they abounded in His day as
they do now. He aimed to correct the foun.
tain of sin-the human heart-that all the
issues from it might DO pure and holy lfany
man is in Christ, he is a new creature '-oid
things are thenceforth done away. Selfishness
is the root of Slavery; and true Christian
man who loves God supremey--can no more
enslaye his brother, though he be Of the "lnie-
rior African race than he can enslave his
own children. The Herald is not ignorant oil
what Slavery does to man-that it degades
maa into q ohattel, ignores his manhood,
withholds education from him, and denies him
the right to his own earnings and his Own chh
dren. Did the Founder Of Christianity by any
word or deed teach that this is right "o@
most able diyines" cannot show that he oio'
But suppose, for the sake Of the argument ns
the Heralds view is correct, and that SLAYER,
is not q a sinD-is il not a mistake, blupaet
disgrace to our national character lns
testimony Of the civilized world is agA'nss 'ns
Herald on this point. We are not "fanancs'p
disposed or wilfally blind" but we have deem
cd it proper to say this much in reply to .n'
Heraids argument, though he has no des''
70 enter into a discussion on this subject ,a
argument he adduces, we fear, does NOT NV
gether satisfy his own mind that Slavery S"o,
Z" disgrace to our national charscsef
should be removed as early a. 1891
The Heraids devotion to "Sousne'. 49,"
should not lead it to ignore tho rs"" ~
inferior African race"
The OVERFLOW on the IsrAsuRY,-i nel9
is now a surplus Of within iracuon Oh tweny
two millious Of dollars IN sne treasury 10,
withstapdipg the Secretary rs redceming on,Iso
Statas ssocks and osherw'se paying the pun.
dshx ~ far = the law TO that end VIII anor
him. Thus IL appears that the Governmenss
rsvcnues are incfsasing 30 rapidly as thai ~,
,s,h,;c dsbs + bsing fast extinguishsd, without
,~.h~rislIy decreasing the amount Of cash o.
md. What will Congress do with this SUI
,Irsl VIII Il mot DO very bane TO The re-.
!sserssts Of the States The fear is, thai
vii be regarded merely rs 10 much planosa'
70 be squabbled for by a horde OF sharp ~
ssch Of whom will keep free doggery n 70
next winter, TO aid their operations Cd ~
members-Nat Intsiiigsnssr.