The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-03-10
KANSAS T., Feb. 81, 1856.

I11-AAtOL1t
Fort LEAvESwoRTH, Feb. 10, 1856.
KANSAS T., Feb. 81, 1856.
ED. HERALD OF FaEEDoN DEAR SIR:
I'm the Leavenworth Herald, of the 18th
ult., notice some FIVE questions from
the pen of the Rev. L. Ker, of Fort Leav-
enworth. They merit place in the ar
chiyes Of the nation; and should be
carefully preserved, to show the world in
all coming time how far down the mental
and moral stream we have been. When
man can robe himself with the mantle
of Gods high priest, and come from the
recitation-room of that great teacher who
said, call ''no man MASTER" and tell the
world that Christ meant that we should
call a man MASTER" that we should do
unto others just as We acould not have
them do unto US; that we should have re-
ligion, but not thatkind of religion which
recognized the natural relation which man
sustained to his fellow-man, as one of Its
pillars then, indeed, is it time to put up
stone, have some memorial. Our
childfen's children should know that
there was day when religion consisted
in robes and gowns, in hymns and psalms,
in organs and quoirs /; that once it be-
came as thin as air. The generations to
come should know justhow far the preach
ing of some men has been from that foun-
dation which says, ''Love the Lord thy
God with all thy soul, mind, and strength,
and thy neighbor as thyself"
We are asked, Did God establish a
great moral and political evil when He
established slavery by law in Israel, in
His own church, and among His own
people % This question derives its
value from two assumptions which form
its basis. 1t is assumed that God did
establish slavery in Israel, and that, there
fore, it is right for as to hold SlaUes.
Fol. the present, we shall waive the dis
cussion of the first assumption, and grant
that God did establish slavery iii Israel.
What then? Does it follow that there
fore we have a commission to easloue
others? The Israelites were commits
stoned to destroy whole tribes in Canaan
Does that authorize us to do the same
in this land? They had a commission
TO stone the blasphemer and Sabbath
breaker, and put to death the adulterer,
and the wicked child who should curse
his parents. Does that authorize us to
do the same? Certainly not; and why
not? For the best reason in the world
the Uam Of commission. The commits
sion was given to, and ended pith, the
Jews.
Human and Divine commissions are
grants of power conferred on specific
agents, for definite object. When the
veil of the Jewish temple parted in twain
then, if not long before, the last fiber O.
a Jewish commission gave way.
We are not discussing the question
whether God had the right to com
mission the Jews, but whether zoe have Q
commission. If the Jews had commits
sion, it was morally right for them to hole
slaves and if we can shoe commission
then it will be right for US TO do just wha
that commission allows us to do. Oul
friend tells us, in published work of his
that God commissioned the Jews. Why
commission them If slavery is moral
ly right, did they need a commission
The fact that commission was necessary
is positive evidence that slavery was no
naturally right. 1t was right for the
Jews, because they were authorized spe
officially; but have We the same author
Iity? The Jew, though led by pillar o
cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night
could not hold slave until he was com
nlissioned is not commission as nee
cssary to US?
And now, friend Ker, "before you lay
| off your harness." will you please tel
the squatters of Kansas just where the,
can put their finger on this commission
We want no lodging, no old, far-fetchet
inference, no theological twists we wan
a straight up and down thus :. saith tn
Lord" to hare and to hold colored men
women, and babies as our property, ou
things, our slaves, and our children afte
J us. We must have the sign manual 0
the King of saints; we must have a DEF
mite commission and unless you ca
show the chapter and verse where thi
commission can be found, yoa shoul
seal your lips Theoretically and forever o
this subject.
In your published lectures you tell us
page II, "that the New Testamer
alone is the law rule of our conduct. -
If so, why do you 60 to the Old Tests
, ment to sustain your dying cause On
year you tell US "that the New Testa
mentalone is the law rule of our rconduct,
and the next year refer us to the Old Tes
lament. Can you not sustain your eaus
without falling back ona ''law rule whic
YOU tell us is not our rule of action 90
Your second and third questions res
on one and the same assumption, viz
: that the Prophets and Apostles did sane
ton slavery, when they placed it unds
the obligations of the Gospel. You TT
.umphantly ask, "Did the Apostles SAM
} ton great moral and political evil in Il
; Christian church. when they placed Il
, institution of slavery, with all the otht
institutions of society, under the obiig'
tons of the the Gospels ?"
Grant, for the sake of argument, tn
! the Apostolic churches did hold slaves
that they did legislate for it; what then