The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-01-10
Liberty.

/ NV ,ss~os~'ss " s1ssN~o tsOcstyJ =
a0ortA a lifetime Of bondage. Caro-.
| Liberty! What is it? How shall
it be taught? Shall common newspa
pers advocate higher morality thar
the Bible? Must vice always pres
into its service the .livery of Heayel
to serve the Devil in?' Must tn
sacred Book which sustains liberty
purity and truth. be used by blasphe
mers to bolster them up in wickedness'
We have Doctors of Medicine, II
teach the laws of life and health
We have Doctors of Law to teacl
the statutes of legislation and th'
common law of nations. We hav,
Doctors of Divinity to teach us on
relations to the Deity, and how t.
perform the ceremonies of the churcl
acceptably. Politics, it seems, rum
at large without a doctor. 1t is fo
this reason, perhaps. that it has be
come SO corrupt and arrogant. Sew
eral ministers of the Gospel have at
tempted to reform politics by preach
ing against drunkenness, slavery, ly
ing and other vices praetieed by poll
ticians. The consequence is, th'
whole brood of demagogues hav,
opened a fire on them to drive then
back again into the circle of their du
ties. Most of them have gone, leav.
ing the politicians to founder along
as best they may in the filth and dark
ness of their own choosing.
The above explains the following
"WAsHINGTos, Dec. 10, 1856.
"Mr. Giddings said-Mr. Stephens
of Georgia, had endeavored to show
that Abraham was a STAKEHOLDER and
dealer. Brigham Young, also, with
his sixty wives, referred to Abraham.
Have we not Abraham to our Faith.
er?' say they"
AS Slavery is a forbidden subject
in the pulpit, and popular ministers
dare not preach upon it, unless they
preach in its favor, We will give oul
views in the opposition for the benefit
of those who may otherwise never hear
the opposite side.
The principal evidence of Abra-
hams being STAKEHOLDER, is found in
this passage -
"And Abraham took Sarai his
wife, and Lot, his brothers son, and
all their substance that they had gath
cred, and the souls that they had got
ten in Haran; and they went forth to
go into the land of Canaan, and into
the land of Canaan they came
Tie understanding of this by the
Shareholders and those who justify
slavery by the Bible, is, that Abraham
was a Spectator; that 'the had focks
and herds and very much cattle;" and
that the "souls which he had gotten
in Haran'' were slaves. Because, say
they, he was soai driUer.
The explanation of this is, that
Abraham was preacher of righteous
ness, and the "souls which he had
gotten in Haran" were his converts
from the heather idolaters who sur
rounded him, to the true religion
This was the opinion of all the COM
mentators who wrote in the carly part
of the christian era. 1t is evident,
too, from the fact that in the enumer-
alton of Abraham's property, nothing
was said of slaves. His property
consisted in CLOCKS and herds and
very much CATTLE He could not
have held slaves, because there was
no police force to aid him. He
lived in the midst of a people who
hated him for his religion, and who
were always seeking opportunities to
injure him.
At one time when they had robbed
his brother, he armed three hundred
and eighteen Of his young men and
marched after the robbers and re-took
the property they had plundered. If
these young men were slaves and held
in involuntary servitude, what hinder
ed them from running away? What
means could be taken to re-take fu-
gitive If he left his masters service?
Did Abraham keep pack of blood
hounds to hunt him down? Were
there slave hunters in those days?
The simple statement of the ques-
ton is refutation of the whole as
sumption that Abraham held men in
involuntary servitude. It is very
probable that he had servants born
in his house." But all of them were
free. and members OF his church and
followed him from religious motives
rather than compassion.
Politicians have suddenly become
very pioas, quoting the Bible IS au-
.hority fer all their vile practices. By
It they justify slavery. war. drunken
ness. polygamy, monopoly of lsnd,
md every manner of outrage upon the
ives, persons and property Of indi-
fiduals.
g The Doniphan Constitutional
st, speaking of Judge Lccompse's re-
novsi. says,
.sThe southern party 10 Kansas hare |
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