Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-05-17
For the Green Mountain Freeman
A NORTHERN PRESBYTER.--NO.3 3.

NORTHERN PRESBYTER.--NO. 8.
And there are" Priests with shameless front have sa
That Nature formed the Negros for disgrace;
That on their limbs subsection is dlspiayed
The doom Of slavery stamp'd upon their face"
1t was in the 18th century, in dark and de-
generate age, that Pope Alexander ILL.,, who as
su,ncd and exercised the power of dethroning
monarchs, imposing penance, and granting in.
dulgences, declared, that Z" Nature having made
no s'ares; all men hare an equal right to H5er-
IT," The Northern Presbyter, in this enlight-
ened age, descendant of the Pilgrims.--edu-
Gated in the free North taught that religion
which was designed to make all men free-so
EMMY pledged to preach the Gospel of Christ,
that proclaims liberty to the captives, peace on
earth, and good will to men, seriously inquiries,
whether, to enslave and make merchandise of
human beings, d" is not according to Natural,
and Revealed Religion!"
He inquiries, "whether Christians in all peri
DDS, except some in times of peculiar bewilder-
ing errors and excitements, and those mostly
since the outbreaks of the modern illuminated
atheistical philosophers, have not justified the
curse and stigma of the guilty Ham, Whether
they have not confidently appealed to the histo-
rical execution of this curse upon bis degraded
race, in all times, as remarkable proof of the
justice, goodness, and vcracity of God, and the
credibility of his word "
/. Ham was not cursed by his insulted father.
His language was, i" Cursed be Canaan a ser
cant of servants shall he be unto his brethren /"
Now according to Josephus, this curse did not
extend to the entire posterity of Canaan. But
the Presbyter. who assumes to be mise above ,ohat
is wr,tten, would not only extend this curse to
Ham and oil his posterity, but to the colored
inhabitants Of Africa. II would seem that he
"Who never unused on sorrows but his own,n
had rather amplify curses, than extend bIes.
sings.
2. tits evidently absurd to suppose that Noah
while under the influence of wine, and perhaps
of indignation, was authorized to curse Canaan
and his unborn posterity. Nor can we suppose
that his just Indignation was assuaged by the
mere prediction of the awful destiny of some Of
his descendants. The supposition that he wa.
then favored with the gift of prophesy, is ga
reflection upon the character of God, land would
not seem to establish ''the credibility of Eli,
word" We read of Cratiuus, and of otbe,
wine-inspred poets, but the sacred writer's bav,
recognized no wine-inspired prophets. But til,
; Presbyter would base the justice of Negro slav
cry on loose Interpretation of curse uttered
by person on recovering from state of insep
sible ntoxication.
8. 1t cannot be admitted that the descendant
Of Ham, werejustly chargable with his guilt, an
should, therefore, be subjected to perpetual ser
yitude. The Almighty has declared by tn
prophet Ezekiel, that Z" the son shall bear the in
: iqnities Of the father; ~ therefore, to iustif
slavery by an appeal to the curse of Canaan, !
discredit to the word of God. This declaration
was made to correct an error of tho Jews, whic
!, the Presbyter seems TO have adopted, and pei
d haps on the authority of Ralphs, who says,
= " Justice gives sentence many times
: On one man for another's crimes"
Noah was good man, and preacher Of right