The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-03-09
The Theological Defence of slavery.

doctors OF divinity and Others high in eccleslas-
teal influence multiply upon u.s. Rev. DR.. F.
A. Ross of Huntsville, Alabama. has issued
book on the subject, in which he is confident he
proves slavery to be one of Gods ordinances
for the government of the human race, as legiti-
mate and proper in its sphere as tina: of the
chief magistrate, the civil and military authori
ties, the parent, the husband, etc. Rev. DR.. j.
H. Thornwel of South Carolina maintains the
same doctrine in pamphlet on the state of the
country, in which he also defends secession, but
does not lug in Moses and the prophets to help
that part of his argument. An anonymous N.
Carolinian also publishes in New York tract
on Southern Slavery considered on general prin-
ciples These are only few of the recent eff
the great institution. We saw in Boston pa
per, the other day, the bold declaration that
''none but a monomaniac can beliege that either
the Old or New Testament Scriptures teach that
the holding OF slaves is SIM" As the great ma
jority Of Christians and clergymen of the North
profess precisely this belief either the assertion
is rather loosely made, or our Insane Asylams
contain but small proportion of she lunatics
in New England.
We suppose that it is generally granted that
Moses allowed slavery, not of go absolute and
hopeless sort as that prevailing in our South.
ern States, but still actual and bona fide slavery
" hcehSi hS was uiSiAciy dutuOIlZcu 10 20 LnlS
is still an open question among those accepting
the Scriptures most fully, and we see no way in
which the question can he definitely settled
without special revelation on that point 1t
is also generally held that Christ did not de.
nounce slavery as sin in so manv words, but
the common belief of Christendom outside of
our slave region, is that the general principles
of life he declared are at war with the ipstitu.
ton, and are constantly becoming more and more
so as Christianity is more fully unfolded and
comprehended. 1t was Paul's advice to slaves
to be submissive and obedient, and he showed a
pretty decided opinion against the institution
when he advised them to use opportunities to
become free. But we take it that the usage of
Paul and the other apostles WAS not intended to
limit the application of Christianity in all ages,
but that men are required to apply its general
principles to all acts and institutions, whether
they can find special precedents in the Bible to
meet the cases in hand or not If this is not
the true mode ofusing the Scriptures, they must
gradually become obsolete as institutions and
circumstances change. The Bible does not dis
tinctly prohibit the mmolation of widow on
the funeral pyre of her husband, but our mis-
sionaries in India nevertheless consider them.
selves authorized to discountenance that prac-
tice.
But the great argument running through all
e"VSe shSoio6lcdl oc'enseS VI slavery, winch we
have had patience to examine, is, that it ia in.
cluded in the great divine plan of the world, and
is therefore right. Whatever is, is right" seems
to be the theory. DR.. Lord of Hanover, carried
this view SO far as to denounce hostility and re-
sistance to slavery as rebellion against God. To
people OF plain common sense this looks the
hight of absurdity and yet these eminent theo.
logical doctors--we had almost said bruisers-
evidently consider it an impregnable argument,
perfect settler, in fact There is no DENYING
that whatever is exists by the divine will It'll
not quite as clear, however, that because thing
has been done it is therefore right. There are
other acts, generally held to be crimes, more
universal in all ages than slavery. and no theo-
iogicai doctor mas ever yet appeared to argue
that robbery, murder, adultery, or any of the
more common attractions Of the decalogue. are
therefore right The unruly minister's boy who
argued 70 MS father that be ought not to be pun
isned for disobedience because it was one of the
Iolngs ioreordained before the foundation of the
world, was told BY the old gentleman to strip
ana take 1t, for the thrashing was foreordained
100. The logic was equally good for both. and
y IS sufficient reply to these slavery defending
doctors OF divinity, that if their net institution
Is part Of divine economy Of the world. 40 l.
opposition to it and the destruction of Il. These
casnists who can make such subtle distinctiona /
about the double will of the Deity when they ara
peratng the poor sinners who have ponul.r
opinions against them, seem to forget themselye.
when they undertake to discuss Organized inst;.
sutiona They forget that the robbery of their +
hen -roosts Is just ~ truly part Of the divine |
plan OF the universe a. the stealing of : thou.
sand negroes in Africa, and il their argument Il !