Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-03-13
pEsasinT matter ON First Page

The Bonner expresses the belief that, 'sto ques-
ton the moral right, or to moot the economic pro-
prety of species of property sensitive as that
of slavery, IN the bosom Of community, amsjority
of the members of which do not possess an imme-
diae personal interest in it. is greatly to impair its
security-tO depreciate its valueand to initiate the
means for its destruction
Wherein we should be pleased to know, exists
the danger Is the moral basis upon which the in
stitution Of slavery stands insecureG Is it feared
that good men viii recoil when confronted boldly
with the question Of its morality For ourselves
we have no such fear. We do affirm that slavery is
right of itself We leave out of view for the pres
ent, its existing status To any argument that may
be brought against it. we shall offer such plea in
bar, that il has been imposed upon us by circun
stances over which we have no control We do not
merely excuse. jusyit, not because il is ALREADY
established among rs, but because 1t Is Tgt O atSeg
Right because it ordained by God, and sanction
ed by Christ and his apostles Right because IL is
in harmony with the interest of the master ana the
slave, morally, physically socially and politically.
Slavery has existed in all ages from the earliest
periods of which we have any authentic history,
since the organization of regular government 1t ex-
listed among the Jews by express command Of God.
II existed throughout the Roman Empire in the
DAYS of CHRIST, and In q form far more absolute
than the modified form in which it exists among US.
With us the has property only in the Service
of the slave ard for this be bound to render food
and clothing and all needful kindness IN childhood
and in old age in sickness and in health He is his
guardian as well as master, and is smenabe to the
law if he neglect to discharge his duty as such
under prescribed rules. He may punish him only
for good and sufficient cause, but only so far may
be in accordance with principles of humanity. That
this power is sometimes abused is true, as is the
power of the husband over the wife or the parent
over the child. wide discretion is wisely left to
the master in order to secure necessary and proper
obedience on the part of the slave.
The Roman master had absolute property in the
slave. He might take his life with IMMUNITY, and
feed his body to the dogs or to his fishes. CHRIST
feared not to condemn SIM His mission was to
teach man his duty to his feIlow-man in every rela-
tien of life. Yet in no single word that He ever
uttered is there any condemnation even Of the rela
ton which existed at that day between the master
and the slave. 1t the abuse only of that rela-
ton whether on the one side or the other which he
condemned Kindness on the part Of the master
and obedience on the part of the slave, compre
Our differences as to Divine approval are not drawn
from negative testimony alone, not from mere 81
lence. There is positive recognition of the relation
and injunction of the duties which that relation de
Folved upon each.
But for the scriptural view of this subject bes
to refer readers to extracts from the able ant
truly Christian exposition of which the Rev. HENRY
J. VANDYKE, of New York, the publication which we
commence to-day, and viii continue until it is finish
ed. We hope that none of our readers will pass i
over because they are already satisfied of the NOR
atty of slavery. We must not only be right our
selves upon this important branch of the question
but we must be able to give a reason for the faitl
that is in 1t is for this purpose briefly that WI
address ourselves at all to the subject. We know
that our readers, like ourselves, would not changf
the relations which exist in the South between
the white and black races.