Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1857-06-04

huu Iu0 OOubllIuJlUu III 1ol0-h ne-
surrection.
the Philadelphia Bulletin of May 9th,
says:
The Hon. Roger B. Taney, Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of the United States,
has, in this year of grace 1857, delivered
judicial decision affirming divers things
and, among them, that slaves are property
according to the Constitution of the United
States; that the language ofthe Declaration
of Independence about all being created
free and equal was not meant to apply to
colored people; and that in old times every
body believed these doctrines.
In the year 1919, the Rev. Jacob Gruber,
Minister of the Baltimore Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, was tried
in the Frederick county Court, Maryland
for attempting to excite insubordination
and insurrection among slaves" by preach
ing sermon in which he set forth the evils
of slavery and the duties of masters. Mr..
Roger B. fancy was one of the counsel for
for the defense; and in a pamphlet account
of the trial, published in 1919, at Freder-
icktown, Nd, by David Martin, and now
lying before us, we fiud Mr.. Taney's views
of slavery, Of the rights of man, and of the
Declaration of Independence, at that tune.
For the benefit Of Mr.. Taney's good name,
and for the purpose of letting every. one
compare his former opinions with his recent
decision, we offer few extracts from his
opening speech for the defense.
Mr.. TANEY SHOWS THE RELATION OF METH
oDIsM TO SLAVERY.
"You have already been told that Mr..
Gruber is Minister of the Methodist E.
piscopal Church, and it is not necessary to
tell you, that the religious society TO which
he belongs, is nearly as numerous as any
other society of Christians in the State; and
the equal of any other; in the general order
and decorum Of their behavior, in their NOR
al department, and in their habits of obedi-
ence 10 the laws, 1t was, at very early
period of his life, that Mr.. Gruber became
member Of this society, and took upon
himself the duties of Minister of the Cos
pei. In this vocation he has faithfully la
bored for more than twenty years; and he
now fills post of high rank and great con-
fidence in his church, the reward of his
fervent piety and unweared zeal. We
shall also prove to you by most respecta-
BILE witness, Minister of the same Church,
whose duty it has often been, according to
the discipline Of that society, to examine
into the conduct and character of the ac-
cused, that during the whole course of his
ministry, the Reverend gentleman who is
now on his trial has sustained character of
spotless integrity.
at is well known that the gradual and
peaoeable abolition of slavery in these States,
is one of the objects which the Methodist
Society have steadily in view, No slave
holder is allowed 10 be. Minister OF the
Church. Their Preachers are accustomed,
in their sermons, to speak Of the injustice
and expressions. of slavery. The opinion
of Mr.. Gruber on this subject, nobody
could doubt. And if any STAKEHOLDER be-
lieved it dangerous to himself, his family,
or the community, to suffer his slaves to
learn that all slavery.is unjust and oppres-
sive; and persuade himself that they would
not of themselves be able to make the dis
covery, it was in his power TO prevent them
from attending the assemblies, where such
doctrines were likely to be preached. Mr..
Gruber did not go to the slaves;they came 10
him. They could not have come, If their
masters had chosen 10 prevent them.
HE vINpICATEs FREE SPEECH.
"Mr. Gruber feels that it is due TO his
own character; to the station he fills; 10 the
respectable society Of Christians 10 which
he is Minister of the Gospel, not only to
defend himself from this prosecution, but
also TO avow, and 10 vindicate here, the
principles he maintained in his sermon
There is no law that forbids us to speak of
slavery as we think OF it. Any man hiss a
right TO publish his opinions on that subject
whenever he pleasess 1t is a subject of
national concern, and may at all times be
freely discussed"
MR.. TANEY SPEAKS OF sLAvERY-NoT AS A
LAWYER, BUT IN HIS OWN NAME.
"Mr, Gruber did quote the language Of
our great act of National Independence, and
insisted on the principles contained IN that
venerated instrument. He did rebuke
those masters, who, in the exercise of pow
er, are deaf TO the calls of humanity and he
warned them Of the evils they might bring
upon themselves. lie did speak with ab.
horrence ofthose reptiles, loho lice by trading
in human flesh, and enrich Themselves by tear