Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-11-17
SLAVERY.
Henry Ward Beecher on Running of
Slaves-ServiIe InsurrectiOn-Etc.

I Slaves-ServiIe Insurrecti0n-Etc.
The following extracts from discourseb by Hen
ry Ward Beccher delivered in Plymouth Church
on the 3Oth ult inculcate sentiments of
ative and fratcrnal character. They are, in the
main, timely words, deserving the earnest considc-
ration of the reader:
Because slavery is great sin, because it is ma
tional curse it does not follow hat we have right
to say anything or do ANYTHING that We may hap
pen to please. We certainly have no right to at
tack it in any manner that will crafty mems fanccs
for PSI sions. Its computed there are four millions
OF colored slaves in our nation. These dwell in
fifteen different Southern States with population
of ten millions whites These sovereign States are
united to not only by federal ligaments, cut by
vital interests, by common rational life. And the
question of duty is not simply what is duty toward
the blacks, not what is duty to~ard the whites, but
what is duty to each, and TO both united. | am
bound by the great law of love to consider nv du-
ties toward the slave, and am bound by the great
law of love also to consider my duties toward the
white man, who j. his master. Both are to be
treated with Christian wisdom and forbcarancc.
We must seek TO ber eft the slave rs much as the
white man, and the white man much as the slave.
We must keep in mind the interest of every part
of the slaves themselves of the white population,
and of the whole brotherhood of States federated
nto national life. Aud while the principles of lib
erty and Justice are and the same, always and
everywhere, the wisest method Of comforting upon
m,n the benefi's of liberty and justice. demands
great consideration according to circumstances
How to apply an acknowledged principle in prac
teal life is a task more difficult than the defense
of the principle. 1t is harder to define what would
b just in certain emergencies, than to establish
the duty, claims and authority of justice
l. First, have light TO treat the citizens Of
the South with acrimony and bitterness, because
they are involved in a system of wrong doing
Wrong is to he exposed, But the spirit OF rcbuke
NAV be as wicked before God, the spirit of the
! evil rcbuked. Simplicity and hrmncss in truth are
! more powerful than any velem, mt bitterness
! Speaking the truth in love is the Apostles pre-
j ription. Some men so love that they will not
! speak painful truth, and some utter truth so
bitterly tn destroy love; and both evil doers-
malignant speech OF slavery will net do any good;
| and, mos; of ALL it will not do those any good who
! most excite sympathy--thc children of bond
age five hope to ameliorate the condition of the
slave the first step must not be taken by setting
| the master against him. We may be sure that
| God will not employ mere wssth. for wisdom; and
that he will raise up and send forth, when his day
comes, fearless who shall speak the truth for
Justice, in the spirit of love- Therefore, it is a
matter. not merely of political and secular wisdom,
but Of Christian conscience fiat those that have
heart the welfare of the ascd should maintain
a Christian spirit This can be done without Civ
ing up word of truth. principle Of right
eousness man nay be fearless and plain spo
| ken, and vet give evidence of being sympathetic,
| kind hearted and loving.
| 2. The breeding of discomfort among the bond
men of our land is not the way to help them. =
Whatever gloomy thoughts the slaves mind
may brood, not to carry disquiet to him,
| from without.
| II cou,l have my way. every man on the globe
| should b. free nan. and at once. But they
cannot be- will MT be- for ages is il better that bit
ter discomfort should be inspired in them or
Chris ian quietncss or patient waingl Ifrestlesss
ness would bring freedom, they would never rest.
But firmly believe that moral goodness in the
slave is the harbinger of Liberty. The influence
OF national f.eedom would gradually reach the en-
slavcd, il will hereby inspire that rcstlesSness
which prccedcs development. termination is the
silent, hut most disturbing of all natural pro-
cesses Slaves are bound To feel the universal
summer of civilization. In this way they must
| come to restless yearnings. We cannot help that
! and will not il could. Ii is Gods sign that
spring has come to them. The soul is coming up.
! There must be room for it to grow. But this is
very different thing from sury discomfort. stirred
! up from without, and lett to rankc in their unen
| lightcncd natures. The tine is rapidly coming
when the Southern Christian viii feel new inspi-
ration. We are upt FAR removed from a revival of
the doctrines OF Christian manhood, and the divine
| right of man. When this pentecost comes, the
slaves will be stirred by their own masters. We
l
tented with slavery, and he will speedily take
| Of the rest. Before this time comes, any attempt
to excite discomfort among the slaves will work
mischief to them, and not good And my expert
cncc-and rave had some experience in this mat
ter-is that men uAo fan.per wih slauts and incite
them, are NOT hemseices TO be trusted. They not
honsef men, unirss they fanoticai. IT they hare
tIeir reason. they usually haze lost their conscience
nccer trH fr,tst snci ,ciM ntoncy, place
ann onfdencc in them w.a,soerfr. do not know
why it is so but my experience has taught me that
men who do such things are crafty, and come forth
from such tampcring unreliable men. Conspra-
tors, the world ov or are bad men. And il | were
in the Southland think / have the reputation
there of being toierably stout abolitonist--I
should, not from fear OF the master, but from the
most deliberate sense of the injurious effects of it
to the slavc never by word, nor sign, nor act, do
any thing t, excite discomfort among those that
are in slavery The condition of the slave must be
changed, but the change cannot 60 on in one rart
oi the community alone There must be change
in the law, change in the church, change in the up
per classes. change the middle, and in all classes
EmInc patton, when it comes, will come either by
revolution. by change of public opinion in the
'ciole community. No influences, then, arc ado
quatc to the relief OF the slave, which are not of a
proportion and power sufficient to modify the to't
and the feeling of the whole community The evil
is not partial Itcannot be cured by partia! rene
dies Our plans must include universal change
i'm Tolicy, feeling, purpose. theory and practice, In
the nation. The application of simple remedies to
single spots, in this great body ofdiscasc, will serve
to produce useless irrtation; it will merely fes
ter the hand Tut not cure the whole body.
3. No relief will be carried 10 the slaves Of the
South. as body. by any individual o. organized
plans to carry them off, to inctc them to abscond
The more enlightened and liberty y-loving among
the Southern slaves, bear too much Of their mas
ters blood not TO avail themselves of any opening
to escape. II is their right; it will be their prac-
tee. Free locomotion is an incident to slave
properly. which the master must put up with
Nimble legs are much used in providence to tenn
per tho severity of slavery. If, therefore, an en-
slaved man acting from the warnings of his own
heart. desires TO run away, who shall forbid him
IN all the earth. wherever human being is held in
bondage, he has right to slough his burden and
break his yoke il he c,n. II he wishes liberty, |
and is willing to dare and suffer for il, let him. Ifl
by his manly urigc he achieves it. he ought to |
have il. And honor such man.
Nay, if he has escaped and comes 10 me, I owe |
him shelter. succor. defence, and God speed to a
final safety II there were rs mlny laws as there
are lines in the Fugitive Slave law, and as many
officers there were lions in Daniels lions den,
would disregard every law. but Gods, and help
the fugitive. The officers might catch me. but not
him. il could help it. A man whose own heart has
inspired liberty and courage sufficient to enable
him to achieve what he desired, shall never come