Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-12-30


which speaks for itself, and tells its own tale.
1t is not an abolition document, is it pub
mshed by an -Anti-Savcry Society; il comes
not from Northern fanatics infdels, Sab
bath breakers or scoffers at religion, but from the
Robert Affair." Esq,of South Carolina, and was lis
tened to by the Abbyville Bible Society, and pub
lished by the American Bible Society, and yet it
admits in principle all the atrocities (if not in de-
taiD in principle that the aboiionists charged
against it. 5. BROOKE.
Extracts from an Ad1yess dclireyed before Me 4J-
6yriHe Billie Society, at lis 1RRtcGSa1Y,Juiy 1851.
BY ROBERT \. FAIR, ESQ, ADDYy1LLE, s. c.,
On the following topic:
"ouR SLAVES SHOULD HAVE THE BIBLE"
Upon an occasion, then, like the present, the an
niyersiry of Il society, the object Of which is the
distribution of the Bbe-thc free circulation of
the Word of God, and the dissemination of the be-
nign principles of the Christian religion, it might
not be altogether out of place, or unproftable to
inquire if this anxiety for the spiritual welfare OF
others, in the bosoms of Christians belonging to
the Southern portion of this great Conicdcracy
prompts them to an impartial medication Of those
benign principles upon all rauks-to inquire if IRE
distribute the bread of life alike to all classes, Civ
ing to each its portion in due season.
An unbiased consideration of the facts, nGces-
sary to be noticed with view to solution of the
inquiry lust mooted, will conduct us, we fear, to
the painful conclusion that there is amongst us II
class to which, in the administration Of the Word,
we are parsimOnous-to which our allowance in
holy things is too scanty for the maintenance Of
vigorous, spiritual life and upon which thousands
are perishing; in brief, that there is amongst Il
class of people in whose bosoms live the immortal
principle towards which, in religious matters, we
are derclict in duty Doubtless our allusion is un-
derstood-wc our slave population.
Of the several particulars wherein consists this
dereliction, we will specify but one--tho discus
sion of which will be much, we feel, your pa
tence will bear
We are wanting in duty to our slaves in this, as
n very essential particular-that do not teach
them to read the Scriptures of Eternal Truth. 1t
is to this point, upon this occasion, that would
ask your attention.
We submit toto coelo, to the legislation of this or
of any other State where such may exist the effect
of which is to eXclu lie the slave from the light Of
the Bible, as reflected from its own pages and to
clog the free circulation of the Word of God with
fines, imprsonments and stripes. We object to all
such legislation, wherever found as enacts that
slaves shall not be taught to read.
We are of the process of induction by
which the conclusion is reached, that the slave
should not be taught knowledge of letters, and OF
the public good meant to be secured, by giving to
this conclusion the form, force, and authority of
legislation. Not intending to pervert the premises
of the reasOner, msStatc the object OF the lCgS-
lator we would avoid the insnuation that this
legislation, though Objectionable, proceeded from
the head or heart of the nidcl-that it is the off
spring of feelings unfrendly to the Word Of God or
that it germinatcd in desire to SUPPRESS kuowl-
edge of the Bible, to hedarkcn Its teachings, or to
becloud its Examinations. That no blow to Chris
tianty or disrespcct to the Bible, hostility what
ever to the promugation Of its principles is intend
cd by it, we readily grant. But the reasoning 2
adopted upon the subject is short, and is tis 1t is
taken for granted that slavery is most compatible
with state of profound Ignorance that it will not
bear the least degree of enlightenment; and that
lust in proportion to their elevation and advance
ment intellectually will be the restlessness and
dissatisfaction Of slaves with their condition thus
originating the danger that this rcScssness and dis
satisfaction might lead to rebellion and insubordi-
naOn-to the pGrpetratiOn of horrors akin to those
of St. Domingo, or of tragedies similar to those
formerly enacted in and about Stono, and to pre-
vent the bloody occurrence of which is the public
good meant to be accomplished by the legislation
referred to.
Such we claim to be correct representation Of
the premises of the reasorer, anu true statement
of the object Of the legislator. Neither would we
msrepresent the positions Of those who defend this
legislation, they allege upon principles of po-
itica policy OF them, it is but just to say there
those who are willing to admit and, in fact,
who do admit, that no danger whatever is to be ap
pretended from allowing our slaves to read the
Scriptures, provided their reading could be confined
to the Scriptures But they assert that this abil-
ty to read the Bible would be perverted and abus-
ed; that other documents, books and papers
would be sought and read, and that information
which would be derived therefioin might, in its
consequences, prove disastrous to the institution Of
slavery and imminenty hostile and dangerous to
the safety of the master But it is not to be de-
MED that there are others, who boldly assert and
maintain, that the degree Of mental improvement,
dervable from the bible itself and alone, would
disturb the slaves cOnentment, and probably lead
to the same fearful results to prevent the possible
occurrence Of which they all agree that he should
not at all be taught knowledge Of letters, or even
allowed to read the Bible alleging at the time
1--WE will do them the justice to remark) that for all
the essential purposes of salvation oral instruction
from the Bible is amply sufficient.
We respectfully submit that this reasoning comes
with a bad grace from the Ii ps of those who have
been reared up amidst the privileges of Gospe
land, and in the light of Gospel day-that thi'
legislation is ynbecoming the South--that it is un
becoming the statute books of our own chivalrou.
Sate--and that it is slur upon the Christian age
in which we live.
The fear to put the Bible into the hands of th,
slave, argues, in the first place, u want Of conf
dence in the efficacy Of its divine teachings whel
no man. especially Christian, should allow him
self to feel or acknowledge 1t is fact that il
all reasonings upon this subject the effect O.
the Bible, Us read by himself, upon the heart O
the slave, is entirely overlooked; no allowance
whatever is made lor thls-lt never once enters
into the calculation. We look at its influence upor
the intellect and argue learnedy and plausibly
therefrom; but no view of lis influence upon thC
heart is entertained for a moment We base oul
calculations upon its omcdyd, not upon its nrarC
teachings. We reason from It's influence upon the
outward, not its effects npon the inner man. We
gaze with trembling and alarm upon the natura
man, as he stands with his Bible in his hand anc
reads, dreading the rising Of mighty tempest o
rebellion in his breast as he drinks in knowledge
and his mind opens up to the realities Of his soeia
condition. and of the world around him. Bu
never, with opposite emotions swelling the bosom
do We allow ourselves TO gaze upon the spTitua
man, as he stands with the same inspired yolun,
in his hand, and reads, awcd by lis commands