Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-01-26
SPEECH OF REV. DR.. ROSS.
OF HUNTSVILLE. ALA.
ON THE SLAVERY Qa RN TON.
In the Presbyterian Central assembly ~ 81
May %. ls56.

May %. le56
D,. Wi.ner having said he would argue The
question on the Bible at following tune, -"nth
he took his seat Dr. Ross rose ana taxing ms
nos;,ion ON the platform near the Moderator $
Chair, said ~.
accep, the challenge given by DR.. Wisner
20 ,rgpe the question of slavery from tho Scrip
lures
DIR. Wisner.-Does the brother propose TO 60
into il berei
DIR. Rnss-Yes sir
DIR. Wisner.-Well, | do not propose to go IN
to it here.
Dr. Ross.-You gave the challenge and &c
oept it.
DR.. Wisner-I said | would argue il at prop
or time but il is matter. 90 ahead.
DR.. Ross proceeded.
am not a stakeholder. Nay, | have shown
some self denial in that matter. | emancpated
slaves whose money value would now he SlO,UW.
In the providence of God, my riches have entire
" passed from me. ] do not mean that, like the
widow, gave oil the living had. My estate
was, then. greater than that slave property. |
merely wish 10 show | have no selfish motive in
giving. as | shall the true Southern defence of
slavery. (Appause.l speak from Huntsville,
Alsbama nv present home. That gem OF tho
South, that beautiful city, whore the mountain
sof,ens into the vale-where the water gushes, II
great fountain, from the rock where around that
living stream there streets of roses,and hous-
es Of intelligence and graoelulness, aud gentlest
hospitality and with all, where 50 high Lonor l.
ever given Ia tho ministers of God.
speaking. then. froui that region where Got.
ton is hing.a AFFIRM contrary as my opinion IS
TO that most common in the South, that, the
slavery agitation has accomplished. and Will do
great good. ] said 50 10 ministerial aud politl.
cal friends, twenty five years ago. have III
ways favored the agitation just ~ have always
! - III nh.
felt that the slavery question needed examination.
| believed il was MT understood in its relations
to the Bible aud human liberty Sir. the light Is
spreading North and South. lis said, ! know,
this agitation has increased the severity of slave
ry. True: but for a moment only, in the days et
the wears Of the life OF this noble problem, Far.
tell as, that deep plouehing IN poor =, ma,
will, for year or two, give you worse eioi
than before you went 50 deep. But, that deep
ploughipg will turn up the under soil, and sun.
and air, and raiu will give You harvests iner'ns.
ingly rich. So, this moral soil. North aud south,
was unproductive. Ii needed deep p'ongling -
For time the harvest worse Now it's be.
coming more and more abundant The political
controversy, however fierce and threatening. :
only for power. But tho moral agitation ls for
the harmony of the Northern aud Southern mind
in the right interpretations of Scripture or this
great subject, and, of course. for tie ultimate u
Gods intention-to bless the white mnn and the
black man in America ain sure Of this.
take wide view Of the progress of the dos
tiny of this vast empire. ! see God in Ann
Gu. l see Him in the North and in the So9ih.-
see Him more honored in the South, 30 day.
than he twenty five yefrs ego; and 1. =.
higher regard is due aoju'y |" the e4i'e
ton Of tho slavery question. ID you a.h si I
Why, sir. this is the how. Twenty tYr A.uls
Ia md, 4 ia ,.#l
ed, by wrong Northern training, on Ii" =, t
point of the right and wrong ei slavery. Mean
while, powerful iniellects in tie South, following
the mere light of healthy good seuse, guild, 4
by the common gfnce of tod reached the WY
truth OF this great matter namely, that the -
lation of the master and slave is not IA sin. Aud
that notwithstanding its admitted owls. II Is a
connection between the highest aud the lowest
races of man, revealing Influences which may
be, and will be. most benevolent, for the ult-
mate good of the master aud the slavc,--cunser
vative Of the Union, by preserving the South
from all forms Of Northern fanuticlsn,-and
thereby being a great balance wheel in the work
ing Of the tremendous machinery q cur expert
ment Of sclf-g government This seen result 81
slavery was foun to be in absolute harmony
with the Word of God.
These men, then. of higher grade of thoughts,
who had turned in scorn trnm Northern n@tlon-
now see in the Bible that these notions falls,
and silly. They read the Bible, neNer eN
amined before, with growing respect. God L
honored. and his glory viii DO more and nlore ii
their salvation. These nre Ok the mora
consummations of this agitation III the South. -
The development has been two fold IN the North
On the one hand, anti slavery men have
left the light of the Bible, and wandered into the
darkness until they have reached the blaekness
of the darkness of infdelty. Other some nre
following hard after, aud are throwing the Bible
into the furnace melting it into iron and
forging it, and welding it, aud twisting Il, aud
growing it into the shape, and significance, and
gospel of Sharp's rifles. Sir, yea not afraid
that some Of your. once, best men will soon have
no better Bible than that
But on the other hand. many Of your iightc 81
minds are looking intensely at the subject. in
the some light in which il is studied by the high
est Southern reason. Ave, Sir, mother Eng
land. old fogey as she is.begins to open her eyes
What. then, is our gain! Sir, Uncle Tom',
Cabin. in many fits conceptions, could not hav,
been written twenty five years ago. I hat book
OF genius-over which and hundreds in thu
world have freely wept-tfue in all its faots--
false in all its impress sions-yea as false in III,
prejudice it creates to Southern social life as il
Webster. the murderer Of Parkman NAV be be
leved to be personihcatinn of The elite of hono
in Cambridge, Boston. and New England New
ertheless. Uncle TOMS Cabin could not hay,
been written twenty five years ago DR.. Nehe
miah Adams South Side View" could not bav
been written twenty five years ago, nor Dr. Ma
than Lords Letter of Enquiry '-nor Miss Mar
rays book. ner Cotton j, King" nor Bled>oe'
Liberty and Slavery" These books, write
in the midst of this agitation.are all of high, sum
the highest reach of talent. and noblest piety.-
all give: with increasing confidence. the preser
Southern Bible reading on Slavery May til
agitation then, go on. know the New Sohoc