Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-12-06

kucos anu tFOiu aRe W aSc ueau Al pVhuaBo W
the posterity of Shem aud Japhet. They main
tain that, on the ground of the old curse, it is
right to seize them, especially the negro race,
and subject them to slavery But these assump-
tions we cannot admit without better proef than
has yet been furnished 1t is difficult, perhaps
impossible, to trace accurately the origin and
progress of the tribes and nations which have
descended from the several sons of Noah, yet
some interesting facts may be gathered from his
tory.
With the posterity of Ham we are now espe-
cially concerned He had four sons. Ca'h was
the father of Nimrod, a mighty hunter, who
founded On empire in Babylonia, built the city
of Babylon; which afterward became SO magnif-
cent, and, not satisfied with this, invaded Assy
ria, built Ninevah, and became powerful in the
earth. His posterity, instead of being servants
OF the Hebrews. who claim descent from Shem,
repeatedly made war upon them, and carried
them away into bondage. Some of the descend
ants of Cush inhabited the country on the Per-
sian gulf called Chuzistan, whence they spread
over the vast territories of Arabia and India,
and became so numerous that the whole region
from the Gauges to the borders of Egypt was
called the land of Cush. These early inhabi-
tants of Arabia, were, in after ages, to great
extent driven out by the Ishmaeltes and Mid
ianites, descendants Of Abraham, from whom
the present race of Arabs is believed to have
come. Still in the times of the prophets tho in
habitants of that country were spoken of as
mingled people, Cushites, Midianites and Ish-
maelites. all dwelling together there. These of
the CushitesEbo -dwelt on, the eastern coast Of.
the Red Sea, are said to have extended over it,
and reached indefinitely into the interior Of AT
RIGA.
The enterprising people whom the king of
Babylon planted in Samaria in the place of the
Hebrews, whom he had slain, or carried into
captivity, were Cushites, originally from Cutha,
east of Persia, on the river Araxes, which flows
into the CasEsan Sea. Some of the descendants
of this northern portion of the family of Cush,
as history informs u.s. were called, in succession,
Getae, G4ths and Goths; another portion
scuiths, Seats and Scots; another still, Sacas,
Sacacenas and Sdrons* If the Cloths, who
came down, like an Irresistible tempest, upon
Italy, if the Scots and Sarons are indeed among
the posterty of Ham, it is high time for some
who have maintained that it is their right, in
virtue of their descent from Japhet to enslave
their cousins, to consider how they will like to
have the curse of Noah come down upon them
selues, even in consequence of their boasted
Saxon blood
The second son Of Ham was Mizraim, whose
posterity settled in Egypt, and were called by
his NAME That whole country 10 repeatedly de-
nominated the land of Ham. The Egyptians
were anciently great and powerful nation,
distinguished for their superior learning, prof.
cheney in useful arts and prowess in war. Stu
pendous monuments of their wealth, pride and
power remain to this days From the time of
Jacobs settlement with his numerous family in
Egypt, his posterity remained there in state of
dependence, and ultimately of hard bondage, for
at least two hundred years. ~
The posterity OF Phut. another son Of Ham,
seems to have been mingled with that of his
brother Cush. about the Persian gulf and u
portion Of them to have immigrated, with their
brethren, into Africa. jerome notices dis
trict Of Lybia, called Regio1 Pbutensis. or the
Hand Of Phut. <'Ihoy are believed to have ex-
tended along on thenortbern coast of Africa,
west Of Egypt, even to the Straits Of Gibralter,
including Morocco; and were powerful peo-
pie, with whom the strong nations on the other
side of the Mediterranean always found it diff
cult to contend. For many ages they were in
the practice Of enslaving such Of the people of
Europe as fell into their hands and it is but a
few years since some of our own countrymen,
unfortunately cast on their coast, were thus
subjected to cruel bondage. OF this branch of
the family of Ham, particularly in regard to
the extent of their dispersion, our knowledge is
very limited. There can, however, be no doubt
but they, jointly with the races of Cush and
Mizram contributed largely to the peopling of
Africa as well as Of q vast region of Asia. But
that these nations, so extensive and mighty, were
any more liable to be enslaved, than they were
able and accustomed to ensave others, does
not appear.
Nor is there the least evidence that the pos
terity of these three sons of Ham-Cush, Miz-
rain and Phut -whereincluded at all in Noah q
curse, even allowing that 1T carried with it any
force. That curse had no respect whatever to
any Of his sons but Canaan, the youngest
Those who would extend it further, SO as to
include the African races, it without the
least warrant, and in fragrant disregard Of the
letter and obvioussense of the passage on which
their whole fabric Of Africanslaveryis founded
for there is no evidence that the poeterity Of
Canaan had anything to do with the peoplng Of
Africa. Let this beremembered.
The posterity of Canaan settled in the region
about the eastern shores of the Mediterranean
sea, especially in Palestine; which, in memory
Of the father Of its people, was called the land
of Canaan The Hitises, Amorites, Invites and
other kindred tribes inhabiting there, were hi
descendants; the PhDnicians, also, and the en-
terprising people Of Tyre and Sidon. That thess
people bore any more resemblance to the presen
African races than the Hebrews themselves did
we have no reason to believe They excelled no
only in agriculture, but in curious and usefu
arts in navigation, foreign trade, and grea
wealth. They were powerful in war, and main
tanned high standing among the nations; bu
in consequence of their wealth, pride, luxur!
and manifold vices, incurred the divine displea
sure; and by a series Of wasting Judgement