The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-03-24
Siabefy.
e.

EDIroR HERALD OF FREEDOM DEAR
SIR "A few days since a friend placed
in my hand a published lecture on slave
~, the production of the Rev. Lean
der Ker, of Fort Leayenworth. The
lecture is entitled Slavery consistent
with Christianity and though pub
lished year or two since, think it
merits a passing notice.
Had the author merely affirmed that
slavery was consistent with his Chris
tianity," it might have been difficult to
have disproyed his proposition; for that
would depend entirely on the correctness
of his theological system. But when he
has unfurled the bold and broad propo-
sition, that "slavery is consistent with
Christianity" then indeed do we feel
compelled to deny and repel such wild
aspersion on our Holy Religion.
We can reconcile slavery with dreams
and phantoms, with dogmas and creeds,
with human laws and human conceptions,
but we cannot be persuaded that that
Religion which has but two grand re-
quirements-one to love God supremely,
and the other to Glove our neighbor as
ourselves be reconciled with sys-
tenn which does unto others just as we
would not have them do to us.
If the inspired penman had not utter
ed one sentiment, one doctrine, one COM
mand, or one precept, from which, either
directly or indirectly, the condemnation
of slavery could be inferred, but the law
which requires us "to love our neighbor
as ourselves" / would plant my feet
upon it, and stand, like the sea- -girt rock,
till ingenuity was lost in its own dizzy
and deep labyrinth of human sophistry
On this simple truth plant my feet, and
here / expect to stand, while there is one
remaining plank in the theology of the
Bible.
VIII some pro-slayery editor, minister,
or man, show me how can +" love my
neishbor as myself" when / doom him
and bis posterity to perpetual bondage
How are we to love our neighbors "a;
ourselves" when we dounto them JUS
what we would not have them do untr
us? Where in the universe of God is
there man who would like to bea slave
Would you like 1t? If not, Heaven.
law of love viii not permit you to enslaye
another.
1t is quite an easy task to write a lee.
ture on almost any subjectand find some
thing in the natural or moral world
,,-Isak enar.s ~ e,,cfo,, - Tf ,,-a ,rr,te
on " American Slavery" We can turn to
the Bible, and from its magnificent scene
ry, its vast compass of figure, its pecu-
liar dispensations, and those numerous
and varied duties which are evolved by
human existence and human corruption,
and find many things which may be in
geniously accommodated to our system
but it is no small task to answer these
plain questions on Christ's golden law OF
love. Nay more, it can not be DONE We
may encompass ourselves with Saul's coat
of mail, or combine the wisdom of the
world. to drag-net Gods Holy Word, to
sift from it some shadow of argument to
sustain US in doing to others as we would
not have them do to US. but we canno,
escape the clear conviction, which flashes
itself down through every fibre of our
moral house. e.
The great law of love carries with it 3
clear and deep consciousness which nc
ingenuity can divert, no marshaling o
argument can overturn.
The principle which enslayes one man
equally enslaves every man. If yor
have the right TO enslaye an African to
day, yoa have the right to enslaye al
American tomorrow. If you can taxi
these physical powers which God ha
given me, if you can substitute your vii
for mine, and use me and my posterit,
at your discretion; If you can strip me o
allthese rights which are so valuable q
you, and form the basis of your glory. AM
vet be- ssconsistent Christian" then
boldly aver that there is NO such q thin:
AS aChristianity." Christianity is
system, and system which clearly rec
oenizes the relation we sustain TO Go,
aud man as the 6asis Of that system.-
Christ. referring to this fact. declare
ssthat on these two hang all the law ant
the Prophets" Christianity is q system
composed of numerous revelations from
God, referring to right and wrong action
rs connected with these two grand rela
fions of life. The Bible does not max
truth, but truth makes the Bible. Or
mother words. the Bible is Revelation
Of God, extending to theseEt two grand re
lations. The relation we sustain 70 Coz
and man, evolve the Revelation of, God
and not the Revelation the relations.
Now it isan obvious fact that one mai
cannot enslave another while he reeog
nizes this natural lrelatien which man sus
tains 70 his fellow-man. The relation