Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1855-11-14
Slarsry Question.

4 - lie D. o..
The first proposition embraced in the
preceding number, is, that slavery is nc,
cording to Divine appointment; or, in
other words, it Is DNinely appointed
institution. This must be recognized as
the leading proposition, upon which all
the rest are suspended, and must stand
or fall with it. The question, then, win
naturally arise, how are We to reach a
correct knowledge Of the Divine legisla-
ton, or will, OH the subject? And on
this, we know no other. or higher rule of
gaining correct information, than the les:
sons giSen onthe subject in the Bible
Nor is it our province here to enter into
any defence Of the Divine authenticity Of
Of that book; this is rather the work Of
theologians than of the conductors Of q
country newspaper. But, believing in
the infallible teachings of that book, we
avail ourselves Of its testimony; and ex-
ptct the authority thus adduced, to re-
ccive due credit by all who subscribe
to its inspiration. Aud those who would
set aside the authority of the Bible, and
its claims to Divinity, ARE here positively
assured that they arc aQt addressed in
these essays. .a:s. n l..5f.
Its remarkable to what extent cnlight-
ened mon will resist Divine revelation
when It's authority is against their. cher
ished and preconceiyed notions. Mr..
BARNES, in his essays TO establish the
doctrine that slavery and Christianity arc
unreconeilable in their claims and char
,acter, said, "If the Bible teaches slavery.
than the Bible is the greatest curse that
could happen to our race yet we are left
to choose our faith between the authority
Of that book, which does so teach, and the
ficker-lightof human philosophy. There
is not trace of recorded testimony Hgui-
ding us to my point Of the worlds histo-
ry, that slavery did not exist in some
form or other. 1t is true, therefore, that
it was not formally introduced in the leg
islation acts Of Moses; but, was legislated
upon by him rs an institution Of standing
"That slavery had an csis.
tence when Moses undertook the task of
for the Hebrews, there can be
no doubt. We have seen that seryitude
Of some kind prevailed among the patri-
archs; that the traffic Of slaves was car
ried on between the Mechanics and Egyp-
tians, and that it existed among the Egyp-
tians. 1t was undoubtedly practiced by ]
all the surrounding nations, for history
does not point us to time when slavery
did not exist. There is even evidence
that slavery was practiced. by the He
brews themselves, whenin state Of bon
dage; and that though they were as a
nation, "bondmen to Pharoh," yet they
had servants in their families who had
been "bought with money" AT the
very time that the law was given respect
ing the observance Of the passover. and
before the exode from Egypt, this statute
appears among others: This is the Or
dinanee Of the passover: there shall be
no stranger eat thereof: but every man.
servant, Matis bought for money, when
thou hast circumcised him, then shall he
eat thereof" 1t is clear, from this, that
the institution was always in existence,
and that Moses did not originate it."
But the laws enacted by Moses were
according to Divine instructionsgiyen BY
Divine authority, and as slavery was re-
cognized md provided for, it must fol.
low that slavery as originally introduced
and regulated by such Legislation is ae-
cording to Divine appointment. This
conclusion will;appear the more forcible
when it is understood that the object Of
the law was to suppress vice and promote
virtue. Hence, every acknowledged
wrong was prohibited under penalty
corresponding with the nature Of the Of
fence; and in the list Of offences, one was
that Of improper interferences with the
relation Of the slave to his master, OF
owner. And the charge was delivered Id
such on august manner that the people
were overwhelmed with sense of the
Divine authority. "And all the people
saw the thunderings, and the lightnings:I
and the noise Of the trumpet, and the
mountain smoking; and when the people
saw i, they removed, and stood afar of.
And they said unto Moses, Speak thou
with us,.and we viii hear: but let not
God speak with us, lest we die" Such.
were the effects produced and language
immsdiately after the charge
involving unjust interferences with each
others rights in which the man-seryant
and maid servant were embraced. The
incornorafion ~ nm iten into the deealo0ne