Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-05-28
A Cincinnati Ciergynnan on sIavcry-He
Produces n Sensation.

Produces n sensation.
Rev. Granville Moody, of this city, said in
the New York Anti-Slavcry Convention last
week, that the rrepressble conflict was upon
them. The first gun had been fired. He
was surprised TO hear the brother say that
the question of the moral character of Amer
lean Slavery was not on this floor in connec-
tion with this report. He was in favor of the
majority report. As against the slavery that
existed in the Methodist Episcopal Church
and in the country, he wished TO present
twenty counts [Applause.l
First, slavery reduced man to the con-
dition of thing, and made him the mere
appendage of another mans being. He ur-
ges his brethren to consider the exceeding
sinfulness Of slavery. What right had a
man TO hold in bondage his fellow man, fash
ioned in the same clay, and bearing equally
the image of the Creator2
He held his personal liberty, not for what
his fathers had done, but because he pos
scssed an immortal soul, and all who had
the same attributes as he were entitled to
the same liberty. Strong men might rob
them of IL, but could not destroy their right
to it. Slavery took from a man these rights
and placed him on the footing of bales of
cotton, or horses or oxen. IL sunk immortal
man into merchandise. IL nullifed his right
to himself. If he appropriated his own earn
ings he was thief and If he asserted right
to the possession of himself he was in insur-
rectiOn. He might be sold at auction like
any other chattel. In n word, American
slavery robbed man of his manhood, and,
therefore, was he in favor of the majority
report.
Again, slavery put ssunder what God had
put putt together; A Il separated wives and hus-
fostering care 1t madea home brothel. 1t
offered a premium to licentiousness. 1t had
called into being infamous laws. 1t had set
morals at naught, and had blasphemously
claimed position in the Church, and that It
was founded on the Word of God. 1t was in
utter and absolute antagonism to the golden
rule. No man would be willing himself TO
be slave; therefore was he for the majority
report. Slavery was a violation Of the Divine
law, Thou shalt love thy neighbOr as thy
self" The institution was at direct issue
with the Bible. Wesley had said, what had
become automatic, that slavery was "the
sum of all villainies."
If all that was recognized as morality was
overthrown, American slavery might be de-
clared to be just, but otherwise not. Well
might they say with Jefferson, of Virginia,
VI tremble for my country when | reflect
that God is just" Now, should the Church
encourage this country to continue the land
of the free and the home of the slave2 This
none talk of the right of the STAKEHOLDER to
his slave, and of the laws which sanctioned
such claim. There was law above the
laws Of man, written by the finger of God
which declared slavery a great wrong. He
feared that their forbcarance for the sake Of
peace had been leading them on to an intes.
tine war. The Church should speak out
hold the light up that the darkness might
comprehend the light. Paul had been de
| spised when he asserted the rights of man, bu
his words had lived to cheer many a slave in
his toll. He reioiced that the principles Of
freedom were found in the Bible--the mdgnC
et marina chartd of human rights.
Sir, continued Mr.. Moody we are encouraged
l to prosecute our glorious task in pleading
the cause of the oppressed, and opening oul
mouths for the Church. We have been lonj
in the minority. The history of minoritie
is full of hope to the philanthropist an
Christian. Enoch was in minority all hi
days. Noah had only seven with him whei
he preached Righteousness. Lot was fear
fully in the minority when he left Sodonl
Moses, the divinely-commissioned emanci
pator, was vastly in the minority among th
lordly Shareholders of Egypt when, in tn
name of God Almighty, he demanded tn
immediate emancipation of 2, ,000, 900 of slave
from the brick-yards and fields of that ancien
oppressor, whom God immersed in vengefti
waters whilst he was endeavoring to execut
the Fugitive-slave Law of Egypt Laughter
on the slaves who were fleeing from hi
power to Canada mean Canaan-and VIII
found seasonable and sufficient aid when Go
opened the underground railroad, of whic
the fiery, cloudy pillar was the glorious head
light, in their enterprise to secure their God
given rights of life and liberty.
Behold fear-hurried and heaven-guidet
they pass down and over the untraveled roa
and gain the farther shore; they are all up
all out--old man and all And now rise
the widest, grandest and sublimest SON
which ever burst from human lips-the SON
of the fugitives The headlong, vindictiv
STAKEHOLDER, burning with rage, thirsting 70
revenge, with marshals whom five pieces {
silver would bribe to haste, all hasten to fo
low on the fugitives' track into the sea; wheI
at Jehovah's fiat gravitation reasserts he
ancient law, and the mighty mountains
angry waters roll over, and the ancient slave
holders with Pharaoh at their head, pers
in the midst of miracle