The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1857-10-03

ty resting upon the preacher, in the pulpit,
and the expositor of Scripture--whether his
exposition be monographs or general
when writing for the press, is very solemn
responsibility. His duty is clearly set forth
in the words---"Son of man, | have made
thee watehman unto the house of Israel:
therefore near the word at my month, and
give them warning from me, Eek. iii: II.
The mixture of human opinions with Gods
truth, has been one grand source of the
evil which the church has suffered in con-
nection with this very matter:-of this, |
shall take occasion to speak more fully in
my last letter.
Your testimony-"On this point Il. e.
emancipation he is less explicit and full
than we could desire. Indeed, his cautious
language in one paragraph indicates til
midity and uncertainty entirely uncalled for I;
and some might even suppose that his views
were either Indifferent to emancipation, or
even opposed to it. This we do not be-
lieye; but the paragraph reminds rs of thc
doctrine of the Puseyites, who at times prac-
tice reserve in the communication of reli-
gious knowledge"--I was glad to receive:
And / can well afford to pardon the lack of
holiday dress in which the messenger pre-
sents himself, for the sake of the tidings
which he brings.
In concluding this letter, let me say-Do
not confound the cause Of Liberian Coloni-
zation, with the question respecting the
O.o,o.ol ,,lt;,ooto OK, n +;0n Of tho slovac
in our Southern States. The ground upon
which our ablest Christian philanthropists
and statesmen have advocated that cause
would remain, even if it were determined
that a general emancipation would never
take place.
On this point, Bishop Hopkins has well
written-"That portion of the slaves will
always be found worthy to be emancipated,
as being possessed of more industry and
talent than the average, is doubtless true,
and such cases may safely be trusted to
their masters iberality, or to the interest
which they rarely fail to excite amongst
others. That there is another portion like
ly to be dissatisfied and refractory is also
true, and the number of slaves who run
away affords the evidence. But there are
exceptions to the general rule, about as
numerous, perhaps, as the cases amongst
the free laborers of other countries, where
few, possessed of extraordinary energy,
are seen to rise up from very low begin
ing, and another few prove worthy of the
penitentiary; while the vast majority con-
tinue where they were, through the stace'y
of circumstances, which proves to be about
as strong as any other kind of bondage,
amongt the masses of mankind. For that
portion who desire and are qualified for
freedom, our Southern Philanthropists have
provided, of their own accord, the noble
colony of Liberia, now advanced so far as
to be an object of great interest among the
nations" american Citizen, PIP. 1874, 1859
Here is ground upon which the Christian
philanthropist who believes that the general
emancipation of the slaves in our Southern
States will never take place, may yet con-
sistently advocate the cause of Liberia.
And let me add--if we believe the testimony
of such men DIR. j. l.. Wilson, (see his
"Western Africa, '' and other judicious pi-
Gus men who have been in Liberia---that
colony is likely to receive accessions from
this source alone, as large as she will be
able to receive with safety to herself, for
years to come And no more disastrous
event could occur to her, at the present
time, than the landing upon her shore, not
fifty but even FIVE thousand emancipated
slaves per annum, as has been proposed in
some Of the schemes of emancipation which
find favor with good men, especially in the
Northern States. Il. d. A.