The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-02-06

to the flesh, not with eye service as men
pleasers; but in singlcness of heart, fear.
ing God" Col. 8 %. Had slavery, per Sc,
cen sin, would such precepts have been
delivered? If Paul had entertained tn
views Of modern AbQlitionists, he would
have said "christian slave, you arc unright,
eously detained in bondage. Escape, and I
will help you" And to the master, he
would have said, ut is a sin to hold your
fellow men in servitude. Repent Of this
sin, by giving him at once his frecdom."--
Not SO however, was the course of our
Lord or of his Apostles.
Has not the Southern Casuist, then, the
Bible argument! Is not his position in this
respect. strong one? With the Bible in
his favor, you cannot convince him that as
= Shareholder he is a sinner above all sim
ners that dwell in this land. All the argu-
ments and appeals, founded on the cruelty
OF injustice OF the system, go with him for
nought. His reply is: ''hcre, in the Bible,
is my vindication Of the thing itself"
Besides, adds the Southern Christian, the
abuse Of system is no proof of its sinful.
ness. 1t is not sin tO hold slave, but
the wrong is in treating him cru ,lly.-
Slavery has incidental evils; that We not
deny. So have our social relations, and
some men are beastly and tyrannical, North
and South and everywhere. But thou
sands are upright and kind and benevolent,
and discharge faithfully their duties as mas.
ters, as citizens and as christians.
There is another ground taken by the
southern christian which it would be dic.
ficult to overthrow: that in servitu,le, the
negro, moderately worked and well cared
Tor, is really better off than he would be as
a free black ut the North. This is an apol.
ogy for slavery founded on benevolence,
and as things are we cannot but think there
is foundation for thu assertion.
There aIe questions connected with slav-
cry which we. do not think it well here to
discuss. We have considered only the one
Ut right and wrong as tested by the Bible
Some minds need light on this point. -
Hundreds and thousands have allied them
selves to the abolitionists on the ground
that slavery is wrong in itself-wrong every
way. But let them search in the scriptures
Let them not substitute the HIGHER LAW"
As tits inpiuusIy called. There is no higher
law. The Bible is to decide for the right or
the wrong Of an act. Ignoring that, we are
adrift without compass or rudder If the
Bible does not make slaveholdng a sin we
may not. And if it be not sin, then can
we, for any reason Of mere expediency,
pursue course which aliena.es the South
and drives them into measures which tend
strongly to break up this sacred compact !?
We say let slavery alone. Let those who
are implicated bear the responsibility. Let
Us at the North cease our railing accusa
tons. Let vs. mind our own business
Leave slavery to the impedinents and ply
steal causes which Providence interposes.
Cease legislating about it. Adhere to the
Constitution. Carry out all its enactments
faithfully. Bow to the decisions Of the
Supreme Court; and then the bow of pro.
mise will be seen spanning our darkcned
hcavens-the sure presaga that the storm
has broken, and will be followed by a clear
sky. CIvIs.