Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-08-01
DIR. CuEEvER ON AMERICAN SLAVERY.


1t strange and melancholy thing that in the
commercial CAPITAL of the freest and proudest re-
public in the world the city of New York; should
have required something like heroic effort to en-
able the Rev. DIR Cheever to preach series OF ser
mons against the horrible crime OF slavery Yet
such is the fact. 1t is striklngiy SHOWN IN Mrs
Beecber Stoves last tale Dred that the pulpit and
the press of the saveStates i'll rs perfect bondage
under tyrant mob rs they are in any OF the most
despotic States of the world. But it is not so well
understood that this bondage is not confined to the
slave States of America. The pulpit, even more
than tho press throughout large part OF the free
States is in actual thraldOm on this subject There
exists everywhere political party, the Democrat
ic. which sympathises strongly with the slavehold-
ors of the South, who belong universally to that
party. Unhappiy there are members OF this party
in every religious congregation and belonging to
every religious society in the United States and
the sad consequence is, that an immense propor-
ton of the Ministers of religion even IN the free
States are under an influence to which they weakly
md disgracefully yield. so rs to MAINTAIN silence
on the stupendous national sin OF their country
Especially is this the case in New York, where
many of the merchants are commercially connect
ed with the planters Of the South, and where
many capitalists have mortgages on plantations
and gangs of slaves. making them the virtual pro,
prietors In New York, therefore, the puplts and
religious societies are nearly much gagged on
the question OF slavery rs they are IN onariestoh
or New Orleans. The testimony OF CHRISTIAN MIN
listers is withheld on the most crying ana damnlnE
sin of the land. The great Tract Society and sun
dav School Union of the United Stases-societies
commanding splendid revenues, aud doubtless ell
fecting immense good-are likewise brlbed or CO.
creed into sinful silence on the same SUBJECT lhe
day-schools and Sunday schools never teach that
slaveholdirg, slave-selling, siaye-oFeedlng, ana 4
sIayo-panrlng are opposed to the very spirit OF
the Gospei. And thus Christianity itself is as 1t
were parayzed in the United States 1t stands up
indeed, giant form, but with one side numb ana
dead its mouth drawn awry, ana ms great voice
unintelligible. 1t is glorious orb IN 9erpetua
half-ecpse. The consequences are fearful N9'
only the blessed influences of Divine Truth curtal
ed by this mighty and notorious SlPPe$S'0 '@t,
hut Christianity itself is dscredted, and honest
humane men are tempted to become lnhue'; we
believe inGdeity has been seriously extended III
America by ths cause. 1t everywhere Iho i''c1ir
and n triumph to unbelievers (who overlook the
evidences of the divine perfection OF Christianity
and only reagr the faults of unworthy professors
what must be the effect where nearly all the Christ
ian Ministers are silent at profitable and reign,
ing sin, against which human nature, reason anu
the whole civilized world cry out In Indignation!
Yet there are few Ministers even in New YORK
who have not bowed the knee to the Baal OF Slave
ry; among whom two of the ablcst and best known
nre Henry Ward Beecher (broher OF Mrs; Stowe)
and George b. .Cheever The noble-spirited Christ
ian ministers have denounced Slavery with the
thunder of apostolic Boanerger. None can tell
through what deserons, oppositons threateninEs
and caumnies they have pursued their heroic
course But the very first sentence IN the preface
of Dr. Cheevers discourses entitled God against
Slavery" speaks volumes as to the amazing extent
of the pro-slaoe,y feeling in New York. lie says :;
"Eor the prictlege Of having been permitted to
deliver these discourses WITHOUT INTERRUPTION,
and with a cordial answering sympathy on the
part of the public, thank God and take courage"
That is, DR.. Cheever accomplished his high
purpose without being nlOLGed or actually stoPpcd
in the delivery Of his eloquent sermons and this
he acknowledges as matter OF special MdhhJHtneSS
in the Empire State of the great modern Republic!
1t is however subject of congratulation, as
things go, that like Dr. Cheever, OF brilliant
talents, fervid spirit, and strong attachment to
evangelical truth, has preached and printed such
discourses as these in New York. Nothing can be
more uniinching than his denunciations, or more
convincing than his appeals to Scripture lilo V'n'
dicates the right and duty of Christian Ministers
to preach on the subject of Slavery, in spite of the
hypocritical objection that they became political
preachers. lie exposes the malignity of unright-
eous and oppressive Jaws in State, and shows thar
is is duty to do everything possible for their alb
rogaton. lie replies to the apology for slavery,
30 often published that it is sanctioned both In
she Old and New Testament showing that nothing
resembling the slavery of the United States existed
amongst the Hebrews-that the crime of man-steal-
ing was punishable with death under the Mosaic
law, that the bondage ESQ called) under which lie
brews might be held by their brethren was of the
nature of voluntary contract for service" between
master and q servant, which could never endure
longer than six years-that the bondage under
Whlch heathens were sometimes held by Hebrew
masters was also a contract for service on the one
side and support on the other, terminable at the
year of Jubilee, and the price paid to the bondman
himself, not to another-that no man could be
forced into servitude or retained in it against his
will much less sold as property-that the children
Of bondmen were not the property of tho master
that the restoration Of runaway servants was for
bidden-and that every provision was made in the
Hebrew law for just human dealing with tho sorv-
ant. He comes to the conclusion chat there is no
such thina property IN man permitted or sanction
cd in tho scriptures" lie then shows the terrible
judgements denounced by tho prophet Jeremiah
agans the mobiles and tho rich men of Judca for
bringing their brethren into species Of slavery;