Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-02-11

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AS, however, she looks upon. it differently our
fears of discussion are not such as to induce us
to deny her wish for the publication.
Mr.. Editor-Dr. BAIRD, in his very gen.
tlemanly way in his lecture on Sunday eve,
ming last, solicited our aid to help Southern
churches so as 'to elevate both master and
slave" as well as the free whites. +" In
Judging from the past, how can we expect
any aid which we could give, could in any
wise elevate the slave, or ''do away sIav-
cry" or open the eyes of the master to the
enormity of the sin of slavery for the
South has as much religion as we ourselves.
Most of their states, counties, and towns,
can boast Of a goodly number Of churches
and clergymen, supported by wealthy plant
ers and the unpaid toll of four millions of
slaves. We build our churches and sup
port our clergy "by the sweat of our brow"
and why should we give to the South, with
her ample resources, our aid in building up
her waste places But there are other, and
far more lceightier reasons than these
In the first place, does the religion of
the South make the condition of the slave
even more comfortable, say nothing of ele-
waiting him have seen and conversed
with a large number of fugitive slaves from
nearly every State in the South, aud their
united testimony is that they "are general
ly worse treated in families protesting chris
tianity, than in those who do not, and that
these religious masters often preface their
branding and whipping, &c, by telling them
they are fulfilling their Christian dutV.-
Not long ago | had letter written by a
Methodist saveholding minister in Alaba-
ma, wherein he wrote that "he gave all his
slaves a good dressing down once in two
months, whether they deserved it or not,
as discipline, and he believed it a good
practice as he got more work ont of them,
and they were under better subjection than
the slaves on the surrounding plantations"
| never yet saw a slave (and | have seen
very many who ever had the least conf
dence in their masters piety-they must
appear to have, while with them-but when
fairly out of the den. of slavery they are
free to confess that they do not believe the
religion which is from God admits of rob
berry, or bears whips and chains. Not ma
ny months since | copyersed with man of
no ordinary ability, who for 25 years had
been "a chattel," some of the time on
Presbyterian Deacon's plantation. "Ah."
said be. there is "A great deal Of religion
down South, but mighty Litie Christianity." 7"
why" continued he, "ef a man gets
caught stealing pair of boots they turns
him right out of the church, but efhe steals
man, boots, and all, he's in good and reg'lar
standing" What testimony | Is this
the religion we are solicited to aid !
DR.. Baird says che has travelled all over
the South, and talked TO both master and
slave" How doaslaves talk to those who
visit them? ls.it possible to find out their
true feelings in relation to their condition,
or Of their religious belief2 | tell you nay
They dare not speak otherwise than 70
please the ear of their master. No minis
Ter from the North or. in the South eau, or
dare preach the soAole gospel to either mas
ter or slave Why was the Rev, John g.
Fee driven from Kentucky? When order
ed to leave the State, he was told by the
officers "that lac had broken no law and
more honest upright christian man does
not exist Why then is he driven from
his native State while on visit TO his
parentsl Simply because he has no reli-
gous telescope which cdn see heathens in
foreign land, while four millions are in his
own, who are not only deaied the BI 5le,
but Of themselves, their wives, and Their
children. Lgtrsg se,t,t. tf .14,
DR., Baird said that "the slaves who could
not read were instructed orplly out Of the
Bible" How are they instructed Where
can you 6ud a slave who cannot repeat that
verse, Servants obey yonr master, &e. ~
Moreover, the horrors Of bell, and the ter