Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-11-06
5f(is&tllaneous,
A.Lcttcr on SInVcry--It is vindi-
Gated by the Bibie--A Remark
able Document.

The following letter, published in the
National MtelHgencer, from Amos Ken.
dali, man of learning and ability, who
has filled as large space in our political
history az any living man, will be read
viii much interest:
Origin Of Bible Siayery--Nooh, Abra,
ham, THE LawS Of Noses Tile Prac-
ice oftAe Jews- Christianity anu .Slave-
ry- Christ. Paul, Peter, Philemon and
lis Church.
To ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the
United States:
REsrEcrED Srn; In my preceding letters
j have cudeavOrcd to show that whether
slavery be right or wrong, nobody is re-
sponsible for its existence, or has right
to interfere with it under our political in
stituitons except the people in the State
in which it exists. My object in this let
ter is not to show that slavery is an use
ful or desirable Institution for our age or
country, but that, whatever may be the
abuse to which it is liable, there is moth
ing in the institution itself which make,
it the duty of Christian to seek its abo-
lition otherwise than by admonishing the
slaves to be obcdicut and faithful to their
masters, and the masters to be kind and
indulgent to their slaves.
To this end shall attempt to prove
that slavery is not in itself sinful, by
showing from the bible that it has been
sanctioned by God himself, not only by
not lcbuking it but by giving it his direct
authority.
The first wo learn Of slavery in the B-
bio is in the curse of Ham or Canaan by
Noah-Gcnosis. 9th chapter, 25th verse:
"And he said, Cursed be Canaan, ser
want of servants shall he be unto his
brethren" Now, Noah was the man Sc.
lccted by God to perpctuate the human
race, and he was no; punished or censur-
ci by his Maker for thus booming por-
ton of his postcrity to perpetual bond
age.
In the l7th chapter Of Genesis, verses
l2, l3, % and 27. the fact that Abraham
bought men with his money is four times
recognized. Verse IL is represented to be
the language of God himself speaking to
Abraham, and is in the following words :
"And he that is eight days old shall
be circumcised among you, every man
child in our generations, he that is born
in the house, or bought with money Of
anJ stranger. which is not of thy seed"
Here is direct recognition of the fact
that Abraham held slaves and God in
stead of commanding him to set them
free. directed him to incorporate them in
to his own family by the right of circum-
cision.
In the oath chapter, verso 35th. men
servants and maid servants are named
among tho BLESSINGS" which God had
bestowed upon Abraham. The speaker.
who was himself servant, said
"And the Lord hath blessed my mas
ter greately, and he hath become great
and he hath given him ilocks and herds.
and silver and gold, aud men servants
and maid servants, and mules and asses. "
by the 18th chapter. 18th verse. it ap-
pears that Abraham had three hundred
and eighteen "traincd servants. born in
his own house." and how many bought
with his money" is not stated.
Now, If buying men with money, and
holding them in slavery. be sin, Abra-
ham was in his age one OF tho greatest OF
sinners yet God instead Of rebuking him
and requiring him to put away his sin,
not only prospered him. but on account OF
his especial faith and holiness selected him
to be tho father of his chosen people, and
an example for all generations. Could
this have happened if slavery had been
sin in the sight of God
1t does not appear that the Hebrews
held any slaves when they fled out OF
Egypt, or that they acquired any while
wandering in the wilderness. Flying
from slavery themselves they were new
nation without const tuition or laws, and
all their institutions were prescribed by