Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-02-16
d NOVEL AReUMENT-BuT a GOOD ONE.

Colonel Chambers, the kidnapping lawyer in he
Cincinnati slave case, seems to regard Mr.. J9ll.he',
argument in the case as a singular one. And So
it is. The gist Of it is, that slaye-eatcLing is anti.
Christian, and therefore unconstitutional But
though dceming it a novel argument, he evidently
considered it an important one, and therefore
joined issue on the question Of the Christianity Of
kidnapping, very appropriately introducing as his
champion the Rev. Dir. Lord, a president Of Il New
England College, who has OF late devoted his ener-
gies to proving the divinity of slaveholding; thus
anew asserting the fact that abolitionists have so
long been endeayoring to impress upon the public
mind, that the churches are the bulwarks Of
slavery" and the Doctors OF Divinity its main and
its last hope. These lawyers are right in their
reference Of the whole slave question to the issue
of its morality. In this age of the world, slavery
must stand or fall, according as The demonstration
shall be, that it is Divine or Internal. DR.. Lord
and hiS Revern'd associates must demonstrate, be-.
yond all doubt and cavil, that man stealing, slave
holding and slave catching are divinely authorised
vacations. the highest possible evidence Of Christian
character and genuine godliness, or the system will
come into disreputo and Tie practice into con.
tempt.
However, it is highly gratifying to us to sec the
legal assailants and defenders of the system, stop.
ping in the mids, of their citation Of conflicting
legal authorities and decisions, making the ulti-
mate appeal to justice. on the naked question Of
the right or wrong Of slavery.
Certainly there nro very few lawyers, and very
few men of any profession, who, like Mr., Joliife.
would have vcnturcd to risk all on the most i'm
probable Of all human suppositions, viz: that n
Fugitive Slave Law COMMISSIONS had any yestige
of Conscience, which the greatest conceivable
moral power could reach. And yet the result so
far seems to have justified the hazardous expert
ment. For though Commissioner Pendcry did not
at the moment pronounce them free, yet he did dis
regard the mandate OK the act to make a summary
decision, and resolved to take a week to make up
his mind on the question. We sincerely hope that
all future defenders Of fugitive slaves, whether be-
fore United States Commissioners or Federal udges
will follow Mr., J%ollifFe's example, and ever take for
granted the improbable superstition that Commits
sioners, and even judges, have some remaining
sh reds Of conscience AMI stoutly main
tain, as they may beyond all contradiction, that
no law Of slavery has any moral or legal force up
IN them. If the results shall prove that the Com.
missMners anI judges have no vcsiige Of moral
virtue 10 responr. to the appeal, this course is still
desirable. 1t will serve rapidly to educate the
people into the conviction that Ike principle is
righI,-that Il is good law and sound theology. and
they will demand a Judiciary, State and National,
which shall declare it law and defend it as such
anu under the influence of such n judiciary slavery
Will fade away, and carry with it to contempt and
its theological advocates, the Reverend
Of logic and morals. In behalf Of free
dom. Of law, of morality, We thank Mr.. Julife for
his excellent, though novel argument, however it
may eventuatc with his unfortunate clients.