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

rs le lOO uGlllkS III klONIcuHe, anu his nina opens
up to the realities of his condition in the sight of
the great God, and of the world beyond him.
1t is strange, that when the question is us to
placing the Bible in the hands If the slave we are
inclined to uscribe to its teachings n reverse nfu-
encc to that usually claimed for them. We argue
as though the Bible, in the hands of The slave
would metnmorphosc him into u demon, blood
thirsty msurrectionist midnight assassin. Not
so when the question is as to placing the Bible in
the hands Of the Chinaman, the lIindoo or the in
habtant of the isles of the sea. Then we are loud
and long in our praise of its power upon the human
heart-to melt it, to humble it, to subdue it, and to
disgorgc it OF everything that is fierce angry, tur-
bulent, rCbelliOus, that is at all hostile to the
peaceful sway Of Emanucls sccptrc. 1t is passing
strange that when the question is as to placing the
Bible in the hands of the slave, we reverse our
opinions to the importance of an ability to read
Scriptura instruction for all the essential purposes
of salvation. Not SO when the question is us to
placing it in the hands of the heather. Then we
argue the perfect harmony of oral instruction
aside from an ability to read the scriptures, and
call loudly for the school house and the printing
press, even at the cost Of immense expenditures.
But to me- the strangest thing of all is the fact,
that the very same Christians, followers Of the
meek and lOwly Jesus who invoke the prayers Of
the Church and of Christendom, for men and means
to put the Bible into the hands Of the idolator,
should invoke legislation, and use the strong arm
of the law to st it from their own slaves mem
+ ~
children
Does the feature of slavery Justify the distinction
made, or destroy the palpablc antagonism in the
reasoning? If the teachings of Holy Writ were at
war with the institution OF slavery, and we were
struggling to maintain it in opposition to those
teachings; or if the proposition was to put the
slave IN possession of knowledge Of tie arts and
sciences-to confer a high degree of intellectual
cuturc-fuy to educate him,-we might be dis
posed to yield the point. But how stands the case
WI hy that the teachings-of the Bible are not only
not untrendly to thenstiution of sni ery but that
it is in them the institution is most amply rceog-
nized; it is on them shat riumphantly rest its
defencc and the proposition is not to educate, but
simply to teach the slave to read the Bible--NOth-
ing more.
Does sthcaccessiblity Of the slave to other books,
documents, and payers in the libraries and upon
the tables of the master, and his exposure to the
baneful influence Of tracts and pamphlets from the
hands Of designing and intriguing men, Justify
the hard decision that he is to be denied the pryi-
eye of reading the word Of God. If we have no
confidence whatever in the conservative nature of
! of divine truth operating upon the heart
and could be made sensible Of the possibili-
ity OF danger from this source, still we would say,
/ give the Bible to the slave-relieye it from the
embargo Of legislation-and would urge by all
means to provide against the danger in some w
other than by muzzling the Oracles Of the living
God
i But does the fact that the slave lives in land Of
Bibles and Bible institutions, and enjoys the bene-
fit Of the reflected light of the Gospel justify the
j assumption of responsibility upon our part to
withhold from him the written Word? This is the
! question for consideration, and grave one it
is. Are satisfied that the spiritual interests of
not single individual Of our slave population
would be promoted by means of reading the bible?
If we are not is tnot fearful responsibility that
we nave assumed? We should see to it that we
stand not in the way Of the salvation of souls yea
of even one soul.
In the second place. this fear to put the Bible
into the hands Of the slave argues eithera want of
confidence in the Scrporoi prop,iaty Of the insti-
tuition, ora want Of confidence i'll the propriety Of
our own conduct III reference to the Institution.
" are either afraid for the light OF the Bible to
shine upon the institution, or for it to shine upon
our conduct rs Shareholders We are either afraid
for the slave to bring his condition to the test of
BiGie aHthorty, or we are afraid for him to square
our conduct towards him as his master by the
plumb Of Bidie injunc'ioR. Which is il?
\ Now it, as masters We would only do our duty
if we would only study the full import of the text
/" Masters, give unto your servants that which is
just and equal, knowing that ye also have 1t Mas
ter in heaven" if we would meet the full measure
Of duty imposed upon US, when we eYacted the full
i!mcnt of the measure imposed upon our servants
If more were not eXacted upon the one hand than
the Bible authorized and less rendered on the other
than it required; or, in other words, if the Scriptu
raj view Of slavery were allowed to preyal-that
is, a reasonable obedience and service on the part
Of the servant, and humanity and kindness on the
part of the master, upon the mere operation of the
simple principle of human nature, aside from any
influence Of the Bible as an inspired volume, we
would have nothing tc Far from putting it, or in
my opinion, any other book into he hands of the
slave. lie would be drawn towards and bound ia
the master by the strongest bonds of affection and
by the ties Of friendship that influence could
sever.
L. l.
of slavery institution aliurding mutual bene-
disadvantages to the slave as well as advantages
/ to the mastcr-a man whose bearing towards his
slaves is uniformly kind and humane--who sym
pathizes with them in sickness, in their bereaye-
ments and petty troubes--and | will show you
servants whose devotion to their masters would not
only prompt them to Il willing and faithful obedi-
encc and service, manifest itself in expression
Of the most heartfelt sorrow at aflcton and be
reavement in the masters family, but even to
cause them to sacrifice their lives in behalf Of THEN
master, or any member of their masters family
The truth Of this is verified by every days expert
ence and observation We have seen the slave
: with 4 smiling face, buoyOnt heart and nimblC
foot fly in cheerful obedience to the commands o
a kind master; we have seen him immersed in the
very bitterness Of sorrow ut the occurrence Of thC
mastcrs death, or the death Of masters .child
nay we have seen him eopardiZe his life in defence
2 of his master and his family; and all this, too
under the operation of Il system which puts tht
, Bible in the background, so far as they are con
cerned, and when the rays Of its light are but fee
bly, reflected. How much might this happy state
of affairs between master and servant be enhanced
by the genial influence of the light of Revelation
f beaming broadly upon it--oach with copy Of the
law in his hand, learning well his duties, the ont
to the other and to his God, and each inspired viii
5 a holy determination faithfully to discharge them
l Why to such extent as to put the stabilit,
of the institution beyond the possibility Of cayil
2 or OF doubt--as to make it perfectly imprcg
nabc
But, on the other hand, show me man VIII
looks upon the institution of slavery as one side,
aiair--as an institution alone for the benefit an,
advantage Of the master--a man who REQ ards TIN
slave as he does the mule or the ox--a beast 0
( burden, whose mind is ever revolving the prob
lem the greatest amount of labor ut the least ex
pcnse Of food and clothingwho visits the slave il
I sickness as he visits the sick horse. with drencb