Squatter sovereign., 1855-06-19

exempiIfcation OF these two principles:
consequently, the existence of a precept
In the law, utterly irreconcilable with these
principles, would destroy AL claims upon
us for an acknowledgment of its divine
original. Jesus Christ himself has put his
finger upon these two principles of human
conduct, (Deut. Vi. 5-Levit, xix. 49, re-
vealed in the law of Moses, and decided,
that on them hang all the Law and the pro-
phets.
The Apostle Paul decides in reference
to the relative duties of men, that whether
written out In perceptive form in the law
or not, they are all comprehended in this
saying, viz: "thou shalt love thy neighbor
as thyself.'' With these views to guide
us, as to the acknowledged design OF the
law, viz: that of revealing the eternalprin-
ciples Of moral rectitude, by which human
conduct is to be measured, SO that sin may
abound, or be made apparent, and right
eousness be ascertained or known, we may
safely conclude, that the institution of slave
ry. which legalizes the holding one person
In bondage as property forever by another,
if it be morally wrong, or at war with the
principle which requires US to love God
supremely, and our neighbor as ourself,
will, if noticed at all in the law, be no.
ticed. for the purpose of being condemned
as sinful. And if the modern views of
| abolitionists be correct, we may expect to
find the institution marked with such tokens
OF divine displeasure, as will throw all
| other sins into the shade, as comparatively
small, when laid by the side of this mon
ster. What, then, is true? has God in
grated hereditary slavery upon the consti-
tuition of government he condescended to
give his chosen people-that people, among
whom he promised to dwell, and that he
required to be holy2 l answer, he has
1t is clear and explicit He enacts, first
that his chosen people may take their mo-
ney, go into the slave markets of the sur
rounding nations, (the seven devoted ma
tions excepted, and purchase men-ser-
wants and women servants, and give them
and their increase, to their children and
their children's children, forever; and worse
still for the refined humanity of our age
he guarantees to the foreign STAKEHOLDER
perfect protection, while he comes in among
the Israehtes, for the purpose of dwelling,
and raising and selling slases, who should
be acclimated and accustomed to the hab-
its and institutions of the country. And
worse still for the sublimated humanity of
the present age, God passes with the right
10 buy and possess, the right to govern, by
a severity which knows no bounds but the
| masters discretion. And fworse can be.
for the morbid humanity We censure, he
enacts that his own people may sell them
selves and their families for limited periods,
with the privilege of extending the time at
the end of the 9th year to the 50th year or
jubilee. if they prefer bondage TO freedom.
Such is the precise character of two insti-
tutions, found in the constitution of the
Jewish commonwealth, emanating directly
from Almighty God. For the 500 years,
during which these laws were in force,
God raised up succession of prophets to
reprove that people for the various sins in
to which they fell; yet there is not re-
proof uttered against the institution of in
voluntary slavery, for any species of abuse
that ever grew out of It, A severe iudg-
ment is pronounced by jeremiah, (chapter
xxxiv. see from the Sth to the 22d verse;
for an abuse or violation of the law, con-
cerning the voluntary servitude of He
brews; but the prophet pens it with caution,
as if to show that it had no reference to any
abuse that had taken place under the sys--
tenn of involuntary slavery, which existed
| by law among that people; the sin consisted
in making hereditary bond-men and bond
women of Hebrews which was positively
forbidden by the law. and not for buying
and holding one of another nation in her.
editary bondage, which was as positively
allowed by the law. And really, in view
of what is passing in our country, and else
where, among men who profess to rever-
ence the Bible. it would seem that these
must be dreams of distempered bfain.
and not the solemn truths Of that sacred
book.
Well, | will now proceed TO make them
good to the letter, see Lev. XIV. Al, As, 46:
Thy bond-men and thy bond-maids which
thou shalt have, shall be of the hea.
then that are round about you: of them
shall ye buy bond-men and bond-maids
Moreover, of the children of the strangers
that do sojourn among you. of them shall
We buy, and of their families that are with
you, which they begat In your land. And