Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-02-23
LETTER no SENEx Ne. III.

DEAR Sir: In your communication in the
last weeks Gazette & Citizen, you argue OF
a point that is not at issue between us!
have no controversy whatever concerning
the character OF the Angel Of The Covenant
Our difference Is q ncn.essentirl ], only n
name. Alter reading and understanding your
last letter, ] must again repeat that, u have
often heard this port ion Of the Jewish Scrip.
lures spoken Of as the NJ s1icLaw, but never
before do ! remember to have neardssit called
the law Of Christ, ; or the words Of our Lord
Jesus Christ So | still believe you may
successfully claim to be original in the use
Of these tit les. But admitting that the Mo.
sale Low is ',he Law Of Christ how can il,
release you from the embarrassing positions
shown IN my last letter! If the directions to
buy slaves, be the words Of our Lord Jesus
Christi and have as you affirm all the
authority Of a command, Eye sball,') and are
still binding upon us; how dare you as a
Christian man disobeyl You may not be-
lieve IN the 'higner law while it conflict
with the law Of the land; but why do you
not use your influence TO have our unchrist-
ian laws repealed, SO that the divine institu.
ton Of slavery 'may have free course to run
and be elorifedp Why do you not preach
and pray for the spread Of the Gospel Of
Slavery
will pass fer the present to your New
Testament argument. In alluding to the
time Of Christ and bis apostles, you say,
that slavery existed in the world in that day
in as bad a form as it does at present. and
you 60 on to argue that it received apostolic
sanction. Now one OF the features of the
bad form Of slavery that existed in that day
was, that the slaves were principally whites,
another feature was, that the slaves did not
always belong to an inferior race. A third
feature Of this bad form OF %slavery was, that
the slaves were principally captives. taken
by force. The stronger nations without any
provocation would overrun the weaker, and
those inhabitants that we're not slain, were
reserved for the chains Of slavery. These
three features were oil embraced in that
bad form Of Slavery, which you think re.
ceived apostolic sanction. and which you
must also approve. Therefore you must
believe that it is right to e%nslave whites;-I
that 1t is right TO ensluve our equals and
superiors;-and that it is right for a stronger
nation to make war upon a weaker, for the
purpose Of capturing and enslaving their in
habitants. To bring the subject home to
us-suPpose a neigbboring State should in
wade our town, capture, carry off and e%nslave
our Inhabitants, including you and I. This
case would be parallel to the slavery exist.
ing in the Roman empre.--and according
to your argument it would be all right, you
would address your fellows in bondage, in
the following language. Our masters have
done US no wrong. They have committed no
sin. They have done to us what is just and
right II you remained faithful to your
argument, this would have to be your Ian
guage. But my dear Senex, | know. in such
n trying hour your sense Of right would
triumph over your argument Put you in the |
place Of a slaue, and like a good Christian.
when compelled to 90 a mile you would go
And blessing them that prosecuted
you,' you would obey your maeter' and
count him worthy of all HONOR And pray
ing for them that despitefully used you,'
you wonld ask God to forgive him, because
you knew he has sirned and needs forgive
ness 1t being r ght to 60 two miles when
compelled to 90 one, does not prove that the
compel!er ID doing right, no more than the
turning Of the other cheek proves that the
smiter does right, SO tina. the duty of obey.
ing a master does not prove that the master
is right In demanding obedience.
To bless them that prosecute you do not
prove thu. it is right for you to be per.
secuted; nor to honor those who would en-
slave you, would not imply that they were
worthy Of honor. Promising not to forget
you, ! am my Dear Senex,
Yours, ScRUTAToR.