The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1861-02-22
BEDFORD, Pa FRIDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY %, 1861

after 1900, and that tax be levied on impor
ted slaves. But IN the Convention, the fre
States OF Massachusetts,, New Hampshire anC
Connecticut voted to extend the t.ade eigh
years, and 1t was accordingly done, by means
OF which it is estimated there are now al leas
three hundred thousand more slaves in the coun
try than there would otherwise have been.
If our eonScIences trouble { US IN this thing
we can favor subscription TO red eem ouI
proportion Of these bond people. But We
could moss accepably and suitably discharge
our responsibility, if We united 10 an address lC
the Christians of the Presbyterian, Episcopal
Baptist, Methodist, and other Churches in The
SOD and committing the subject to them, and
pray lag that if al any time we, in their judg-
nett, can aid them, they will command our
services. Such proposition, whatever might
be thought of it at the South, would, even a
mong US, IN some quarters, as you very we'll
know, be received with dersive laughter and
would be likened to proposition to refer the
subject Of burglary to the burglars Of Boston,
But the day is breaking. God is preparing us
to look at this subject dspassionately. No man
will b. required to approve of wrong and op-
preston nor TO prefer slave labor to free nor
TO vote to prefer slave labor to free nor 10 vote
Tor the extension OF the system but we shall
come to the conclusion that the best way OF
being friends TO the coloIed people is to be
friends TO their masters, and TO enlarge
that charity little which seems to US so kind
| ly 10 admit that there are, no doubt, good peo-
pIr who own slaves. We shall, perhaps, ere
long be Wiling to say that the great body of
Southern Christians no more approve OF practi-
cal injustice and cruelty than We, aud that If
cruel things ale perpetrated, those Christians
can best deal with them, without our help
There are pictures of loving kindness in the
daily history OF those masters and mstresses,
the contemplation of which will, by and by
change our tone of feeling toward them, and
make US inqurers and learners, anu not dicta-
tors on this subject. To illustrate my remark :
A Northern lady in the South called upon a
/ Southern lady, and found her nursing black
infant. 1t was the infant of one ber servants.
The child was sick, and il died upon the lap Of
| the mistress; the slave mother could not nurse
the child ; her mistress did it for her. That
mistress was a sister Of Vice President OF the
! United STATES. That IS osavefY y yes, it is as
truly "savsgyis' ae sanction blocks" are sslave-
ry. Yes, o4e may look for The Time, not far off
when Christians at the South will come TO b.
regarded by our people to be'as humane and be-
nevolent as they.
He is ignorant of human nature, however,
who supposes that men, WHEN convinced OF
their erroneous opinions, or ot their Ill effects,
will at once resclnd tthem by resolutions and
votes. Some public acts may cal for such
summary procedure, and magnanmous people
always do themselves honor by proving, at GER
tain junclures, thai they can afford to O- just
But a magnanimous disputant or adversary al
so shows his good sense by literally interpret
ing an act or word to the credit ofgood feeling
and IN trusting TO the sense of justice in the
other PARTY. Reconciliation may be said to be-
as the wise man says council is, Gin the heart
OF man, like deep water and a man of under
standing will draw it," Our Free States are
not to lose one right, one principle, one priv
lege, moral, political, or religious, 10 consenting
| to an amcable adjustment OF this great contro-
versy we are to stand just where VIZ Jld when
we entered into the Coniederacy and who of
Us desires more
! There is an alternative Issue which is posi-
! bic : | mean the division of this country into
two great parts, slaveholding and non-sIave-
/ holding confederacy, 1t may be that God in-
! tends some great benefit to the African race,
and to the world through them, by making
} them contribute, under Southern masters, to the
/ progress of wealth, while their own elevation
and salvation is efected-tor there are more of
this race who are hopefully converted to God.
in this country, in proportion to their numbers
than OF the whites. The Mos; High may have
still further reference here to the civilization
and chrstianization OF AttIca. The South, be-
ing freed from interference on the part of the
! North, and associating with herself some of the
/ nj ba n n
some great problem connected with Africa, and
| perhaps Mexico. No one supPoses that sin
gle State could endure long as a separate Com
monweah, nor that the slave states will all OF
them fail to make common cause, unless their
constitutional rights are guaranteed. There
fore it may be that in the fulfillment of mighty
plans whose circumference no mortal wisdom
has a radius To measure, God intends to make
two nations here out of one.
The contemplation lot this possible design,
perhaps 10 be effected, ii at all, Peaceably,
should quiet our hearts and make us willing TO
give up ven the Union to His al-wiSe pur-
poSeS~ We could all survive such develop
ment of divine providence and be happy
But alas our passions, and more especially,
our conscience, might not allow the separation
10 continue peaceful. God may suffer US TO
break asunder, as even his own peculiar people,
Israel, were broken into two parts and misera-
oily persisted. What wars ragged between these
two parts of once happy nation "And
there was war between Rehoboam and Jer-
oboamla' the days of his life" and the same is
said oil other kings Of Israel and Judah. The
histories of rival republics on the continent OF
Europe are beacon lights. II the North is so
conscientiously opposed to the Southern Insitu-
ton, what can be expected but perpetual ag-
gressIon and retaliation? Not only so, but