Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-01-17

Jewish or the Christian revelations, though
he prctcnds to have great knowledge OF both.
But is dstempcred in his mind about lcse
questions and debate of words which afford
no foundation for such doctrine, but are
the source of envy, contention, evil speak
inc, unjust suspicion that the truth is not
sincerely maintained, keen disputings car
ried on contrary to conscience by men Who'll
ly corrupted in their minds and destitute OF
the true doctrine of the gospel, who reckon
whatever produces most money is the best
religion; from all such impious teachers
withdraw thyself, and do not dispute with
them"
The text, as thus expounded by an Ameri-
can abolitionist and Scotch Divine. (whose
testimony need not be confirmed by quota
tions from all the other commentators, is a
prophecy written for these days, and Won
derfully applicable to our present circum-
stances. 1t gives us life-like picture of
aboltionism in its principles, its spirit and
its practice, and furnishes us plain instruc-
tion in regard to our duty in the premises.
Before entering upon the discussion of the
doctrine, let us define the terms employed.
BY abolitionisn we mean the princi pies and
measures of abolitionists. And what is an
abolitionist He is one who believes that
slave holding is sin. and ought therefore
to be abolished This is the fundamental.
the characteristic, the essential principle of
abolitionism-that slave-holding is sin
that holding men in involuntary servitude
is an infringement upon the rights of man,
a heinous crime in the sight of God.
A man may believe on political or COM
mercial grounds that slavery is an undesir-
able system, and that slave labor is not the
most profitable; he may have various views
as to the rights of Shareholders under the
Con stitution Of the country; he may think
this or that law upon the statute books of
Southern States is wrong but this does not
constitute him an abolitionist, unless he be-
lieves that slaveholding is morally wrong.
The alleged sinfulness Of slaveholding, as it
is the characteristic doctrine, so it is the
strength of abolitionism in all its ramiied
and various forms. It is by this doctrine
that it lays hold upon the hearts and con-
sciences of men, that it comes as a disturb
| Jag force into our ecclesiastical and civil in
stitutions. and by exciting religious animosi-
t G.ghici 81 history proves to be the strong
est OF human passlons], 1mparts a pecu1rar
intensity to every contest into which 1t
enters. And you will perceive it is just
here that aboltionism presents proper sub
ject for discussion in the pulpit-for it is
one great purpose of the Bible, and there
! fore one great duty of Gods ministers in its
exposition, to show what is sin and what is
not. Those who hold the doctrine that
slaveholding is sin, and ought therefore t.
be abolished, differ very much in the extent
to which they reduce their theory to prac-
tice. In some this faith is almost without
works They content themselves with only
voting in such way as in their Judgment
will best promote the ultimate triumph of
their yiaws. Others stand off at " hat they
suppose a safe distance. as Shimei did when
he stood on an opposite hill to curse King
| David, and rehuke the sin and denounce
divine judgments upon the sinner. Others
more practical. if not more prudent, 60 into
the very midst of the alleged wickedness
and teach servants under the yoke that
they ought not to count their own masters
worthy of all honor-that liberty is their
!. inalenable right-which they should main
tain, if necessary. even by the shedding OF
blood Now, it is not for me to- decide who
Of all these are the truest to their principles.
tit is not for me to decide whether the man
who breaches this doctrine in brave words
amid applauIing multtudes in the city Of
Brook yn. or the one who in the stiffness Of
the night aud in the face Of the laws terrors,
goes to practice the preaching at Harper's
Ferry as the most consistent aboltionist and
the most heroic man. It is not for me tt
decide which is the most important part O.
the tree and if the tree be poisonous, which
is the most injurious, the root, or the branch
es, or the fruit ? But | am here to-nigh
{ iii Gods name, and by His help, to show
that this tree of aboltionism is evil, anc
, only evil, root and branch, flower, and leaf
and fruit; that It springs from and is nour
ished by an utter rejection of the Scriptures
that it produces no real benefit to the en-
slaved, and is the fruitful source Of division
and strife, and infdelity in both Church an,
] State. [ have four distinct propositions OF
the subject to mantain-four theses to mai
up and defend:
/. Abolitionism has no foundation in tn,
Scriptures.
4 IL. It's principles have been promulgated
chiefly by misrepresentation and abuse
LII. 1t leads. in multitudes of cases, ant
! by a logical process, to utter infidelity.
". It is the chief cause of the strife tha
agitatcs and the danger that threatens GU
, country.
: I-ABoLITIoNIsM HAS NO FoUDATIoN IN SCRIP
7 |TURE.
Il Passing by the records of the patriarcha
age, and waiving the question as to thos'
I servants in Abraham's family, who. in tn,
r simple but expressive language of Scripture
, were bought with his money let us com,
: at once to the tribunal Of that law which
$ God promulgated amid the solemnities o
= Sinai. What said the law and the testi
mony to that peculiar people over whom
2 God ruled and for whose institutions He has
the responsibility The answer il
7A-.5e 9TH chapter of Leviticus, in thess
Il ~