Squatter sovereign., 1855-06-05
BY THORNTON sTRINGFELLoW

LocUsT GRovE, Culpepper Co., Va, 1s41.
Brother SANDS:
Circumstances exist among the inhabit-
ants of these United States, which make
it proper that the Scriptures should be
carefully examined by Christians in refer
ence to the institution of Slavery, which
exists in several of the States, with the ap-
probation of those who profess unlimited
subjection to Gods revealed will.
1t is branded by one portion of people,
who take their rules of moral rectitude
from the Scriptures, as great sin; nay, the
greatest of sins that exist in the nation
And they hold the obligation to extermin-
ate it, to be paramount to all others.
If slavery be thus sinful, it behooves all
Christians who are involved In the sin, to
repent in dust and ashes, and wash their
hands OF it, without consulting with flesh
and blood. Sin in the sight Of God is
something which God in his Work makes
known to be wrong, either by perceptive
prohibition, by principles Of moral fitness,
or examples of inspired men, contained In
the sacred volume. When these furnish
no law to condemn human conduct, there
is no transgression. Christians should
produce ''thus saith the Lord" both for
what they condemn as sinful, and for what
they approve as lawful, in the sight of
Heaven.
1t is to be hoped, that on a question of
such vital importance as this to the peace
and safety of our common country, as well
as to the welfare of the church, we shall
be seen cleaving to the Bible, and taking
all our decisions about this matter, from its
inspired pages. With men from the North,
l have observed for many years a palpa-
bic ignorance of the divine will, in refer
ence to the institution Of slavery. l have
seen but few, who made the Bible their
study, that had obtained knowledge of
what it did reveal on this subject. Oflate,
their denunciation of slavery as sin, is
loud and long.
propose, therefore, to examine the sa-
cred volume briefly, and if | am not great
ly mistaken, shall be able to make it ap-
pear that the institution of slavery has re-
ceived, in the first place,
1st. The sanction of the Almighty in
the Patriarchal age.
Cd. That its legality was recognised, and
its relative duties regulated, by Jesus Christ
in his kingdom; and
4th. That it is full of mercy.
Before proceed further, it is necessary
that the terms used TO designate the thing,
be defined. 1t is not name, but thing,
that is denounced as sinful; because 1t is
to be contrary to, and prohibited
by, the Scriptures.
Our translators have used the term SER
want, to designate state in which persons
We're serving, leaving US to gather the rela-
tion, between the party served and the par
ty rendering the service, from other terms.
The term slave, signifies with us, a definite
state, condition, or relation, which state,
condition or relation, is precisely that one
which is denounced as sinful. This state,
condition, or relation, is that in which one
human being is held without his consent by
another, as property; to be bought sold, and
together with the increase, as
property, forever. Now, this precise thing.
is denounced by portion of the people of
these United States as the greatest indi-
vidual and national sin that is among us,
and is thought to be so hateful in the sight
Of God, as to subject the nation to ruinous
judgments, if it be not removed. Now, I
to show, from the Scriptures, that
his state, condition or relation, did exist In
he patriarchal age. and that the persons
most extensively involved in the sin. if 1t be
i sin, are the very persons who have been
singled out by the Almighty as the objects
Of his special regard rd-whose character and
conduct he has caused to be held up as
models for the future generations. Before
we conclude slavery to be thing hateful
to God, and a great sin in his sight, it is |
proper that we should search the records |
he has given US with care, to see in what /
light he has looked upon il, and find the |
xarrant, for concluding that we shall honor