Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1855-11-28
slaI,ry Que,tIen.
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principle universally admitted, that
whenever any law is introduced BY pro-
per Legislative authority, that such law
must remain in full force until II is re.
pealcd or abrogated; and that no subordi-
nate authority has the right to set aside
or nullify the Legislative acts Of a superb
or legal power. And in applying ills
rule to the case in hand, We have seen
that slavery was originally established by
authority of Divine Legislation, and that
authority has never abolished the institu-
ton. And so far from any 'intimation Of
such purpose, il ras Incorporated as a
component part cf Tie tam Comprised in the
tea commandments. This law, as q Nor.
al code, is considered to be Of perpetual
binding force. Indeed the whole Pro-
tcstant world have united in Gems uring
tho Romish Church for changing the ten
commandments. And it may be further
observed, that none Of those contingent
and temporary rites which were ntrodu-
ced into the jewish ritual, are embraced
in the decalogue. -. 49, 4.@+
But lhc law establishing and regulating
the institution Of slavery has been rem
dered obscure By confounding the jew
ish and heather servants together, ipfhe
rights provided for the Hebrew servants
by the laws regulating the Sabbathical
years, and the years Of Jubilee. The dis
tinetions observed in these rights by the
law. gixer are SO clear that it ~ very
doubtful whether teachers on the sub ject
can shield themselves against just cen,
sure for designcdly attempting to rken
counsel. From the best information that
we can gain by Instructions given, we
may reach thcIconclusion that it was g on
trary to the Divine purpose for the He
brews. or descendants Of Abraham, TO be
brought by any means into a state ofper.
Hpetual bondage; hence, Legislative prohi-
billions were accordingly provided for
their benefit; but heather servants were
not embraced in these special enactmcnts.
The twenty chapter Of Exodus, first
and second verses, read as follows: Now
these arc the judgments which thou halt
set before them. If thou buy a Hebrew
servant, six years he shall serve; and in
the seventh he shall 60 out free for no.
thing But even with them, there were
exceptions to the rule and when they
coded away their legal rights,
they were permitted to do so according
to the fifth and sixth verse Of the same
chapter, "And If the servant shall plain
~ say, l. love my master, my wife, and
MY children; | will not 60 out free: Then
his master shall bring him unto the judg-
%; he shall also bring him TO the door, or
unto the door.post; and the master shall
bore his ear through with an awl; aud he
shall serve1him forever. i. II
The rules which were observed and the
object Of their observation, require a pas \
sing notice. In case Of Hebrew cedingl
away his right Of liberty under the promp-
tings Of his own will, fraud was prohib.
tied by the law which required him to be
taken before the judges, to whom he made
q formal declaration Of his purpose; and
then the judicial and sealing act was
performed by boring "his ear through
with an anvil" This served the double
purpose ofhis destiny for life, and the ev-
idence Of hislawful master. By the mark
it would be known every where that he
was slave, and in case he became fu-
gitive, the standard on the door.post would
prove his identity. =, "
Every seventh year was observed un-
der the Jewish economy as year Of rest,
this was aIyear Of rest to the people and
to iceland; and on the return Of the Sab
batical, or seventh year, it was eustoma-
ry to release all the Hebrews from embar-
rassmcnt and bondage; and in the begin
ming Of the fiftieth year, which was the
year Of jubilee, or every seventh Sabbat-
zeal year, the trumpet was caused to be
heard all over the land in proclamation Of
redemption, when bondmen. were libcra.
ted and estates restored. But that this
and restoration was limited to
the Hebrews, the twenty.fifth chapter Of
the book Of Leyiticus clearly. defines
The whole chapter is devoted to instruc-
tons on the subject, and each item Of law
and duty infinitely specified. and the for.
ty.fourth, forty-ffth, and forty.sixth
verses embrace the excepted bondmen, or
servants who are not to Be released, but to-
be retained in servitude as possession
"tortrcr." The exceptions appear to be
presented in that connection, as by spe.
eial providence to prevent any misunder.
standing or nisapplication on the subject.
And Il it is not admitted that this has
been studiously concealed by Abolition
teachers, It viii be difficult for any man