Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-06-28


the just and devout Simeon, but because he be-
lieves that, during his personal reign on earth,
slaves will be perfectly submissive and faithful
to their masters. With less reason, perhaps
than the antetored Indian, he expects that du-
ring this period of a thousand years.
ellis faithful" slave "shahb bear him company"
and that a system Of Slavery will then be estab-
lishcd by Christ, for the qualification Of the
Christian Stakeholder.
In no age have Shareholders made the inquiry,
whether their slaves descended from Ham Shem
or Japhet. Like the bighwayman, the robbers
of human liberty have never made such prelm-
mary inquiries. 1t is, however, a reproach to
Christianity that some Northern Presbyters-
"some mongrei Christians Of our tmes
That expiatc less with greater crimcs,'
appeal to the curse of Canaan in justification Of
Slavery.
q But what has been the influence of Chris
tianity in relation to Slavery in differeat
Constantine, the first Christian emperor, soft
ened the rigor of pnuishments and abolished
many of tho evils and much of the duration of
Slavery valentlnean, in the fourth century,
established u custom Of releasing prisoners on
the annual celebration of Easter, which was i'm
itated by succeeding emperors. Private per-
sons embraced this occasion to eyince their be-
nefcence and charity by granting manumissions
to slaves, as proper expression OF that mercy
commemorated by this festival, which brought
freedom to the captive, and happiness to all
mankind" In the fifth century. Diogratias,
bishop of Carthage, disposed Of the costly plate
of the Church for the ramson of Slaves. Nor
was this a solitary instance Of Christian virtue
in that age. Acacius, bishop of Amida, ran
somed seven thou and Persian captivcs The
Northern prcsbyter would undoubtedly charge
Diogratias with the double crime of heresy and
sacrilcge, and Acacius with short sighted sym
pathy and " athcistical PHILOSOPHERS" DR.. Paley
says, that by the light and influence of Chris
tianity, the Greek and Roman Slavery, and since
then, the feudal tyranny, has declined before
it." 1t is said by faithful historian, that
g the spirit of the laws adopted by Justinean, in
the sixth century, promoted the extinction of
domestic scryitude" He also says, that " the
hardships of the slave were continually dimin-
ished by the influence of government and relig-
ion" Pope Alexander ILL.,, III the twelfth GEN.
fury, publicly condemned Slavery. In the thir-
tenth century, the Waldcnscs, an oppressed
religious acct, abandoned their country, and
sought security in the cold and wild rccesses of
the Alps. By incessant toll, these barren wilds
were converted into fruitful fields. They had
no ambitious politicians, no hireling priests, no
established forms of religious worship, no courts
of justice, no civil or religious alteration, and
no Slavery and oppression. They acknowledged
the sacred right of equality, and obcycd the
precepts of Christ The sublime Isaiah in his
prophetic description of the Millennium, has
painted no higher enjoyments than were realized
by this Christian community. More than two
centuries during the dark ages, they were the
only shining light Of Christianity. In the six
teenth century, Paul ILL., and Leo X denounced
Slavery. AT an earlier period, the Christian
Slave-markcts at Crystal and at Hamburg, at
Lyons and at Rome, were discontinued by the
influence ofthe clergy. This opposition to Slave
ry, by Christians, was prior to the " atheisticdl
PHILOSOPHERS" Or that system of more active phi
Ilanthropy which seems SO fepuguaut to the
cold and morbid feelings of the Northern Pres
byter. Clarkson, Wilberforce, Cowper, Pitt,
Paley, Wesley, the Society of Friends, the sign.
ers Of our national declaration of human rights,
the British Parliament, and all of our states,
men and clergy who demonstrate against Slavery,
or its unlimited extension, are included in the
broad and sweeping denunciation of the North
ern Presbyter.
No person worthy of the name of christian,
has in any period appealed to the curse of Gu
nam in Justification of Slavery. Had no people
except the posterity of Canaan, been subjected
to Slavery, such appeal might have been made
with sincerity. But as nations have been ensla
we'd without regard to their descent, no such
appeal could have been made We have no au.
shentic record of the African, or Negro, Slave
trade, till about the eleventh century there
fore the curse of Canaan could not have been an.
pealed to in its defense, in all ii es," BY
Christians. Since the establishment of the
Christian religion, it has been impossible to dis
tinguish the descendants of Ham from those oil
Shcm and Japheth The Jews, and tie wan.
dering Arabs, are, perhaps, the only people
whose origin is not involved in obscurity 1t i.
Justly said by an eloquent writer, that " the ma.
tions ofmen resemble the perpetually rolling and
conflicting ocean," Like ocean waves, that rise
: and dash against each other, that commingle
and change their form, and disappear, 80 nations
rise and fall in perpetual succession. Where
are the Assyrians, the Medic Persians, and Other
, powerful and oppressive nations! They are lost
perhaps to rise no more as a distinct people
, Such have been the conflicts, the amalgamatont
and the changes of the various nations since the
general dispersion of mankind in the days OIL
Nimrod, that we might as well attempt to sepa-
rate the waters Of the Mississippi from tls waves
of the Atlantic, as to distinguish the descend
ants of Ham in the vast ocean Of humanity
8. 1t is said that valen put to death all such
of his subjects whose name began with 1heod
) Another tyrant of antiquity, first punished and
then judged the accused. The Presbytcr, i,
seems, would have all of certain race subjected
to nterminabe Slavery without even the legal
formalities Of a trial. In order to exhibit q
mere show and mockery of legal justice, the pro.
slavery clergy Of the United States, and of Spain,
should summon the colored inhabitants of Afri.
ca, to appear before grand clerical council
and mo Ia ansrar 1, tLo d.