The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-05-14
Testimony Against Slavery.


Tell me not of rights-talk not OF the
property of the planter in bis slaves,
deny the right-I acknowledge not the
property. The principles, the feelings,
of our common nature, rise ia rebellion
against it. Be the appeal made to the
understanding or TO the heart. the SEN
tence is tie same that rejects it. In vain
you tell me of laws that sanction such
claim There is law above the enact
ments of human coSes--the same through
out the world, the same in all tunes
such as it was before the daring genius
of Columbus pierced the night of ages,
aud opened to one world the sources of
power wealth and knowledge to another,
all unLt,erabe woes such it is at this
dav it is the law written by the finger of
God Ou the heart of man and by that
law, Interchangeable aud eternal, while men
despise f, aud, and loathe rapine, and alb.
hor blood, they shall reject with indignu.
tion the wild and guilty fantasy, that man
eau hold property in man Lord
Brougham.
"Meu-buyers are exactly on a level
with men.stealers Indeed, you say, 4
pay honestly for my goods and am not
concerned to know how they are coms
BY Nay, but you are; YOU are deeply
concerned to know they are honestly come
by; otherwise you are partaker with
the thief, and not a jot honester than he.
But you know they are not honestly come
by, you know they are procured by means
nothing near so innocent as picking pock-
cts, house breaking, or robbery upon the
highway. You know they are procured
by deliberate species of more compli.
Gated villainy, of fraud, robbery and mur-
der, than was ever practised by Mahom-
medans or Pagans in particular BY MUIR
der of all kinds by the blood of the io-
nocent poured upon the ground like
water. Now it is your money that pays
the African butcher. You therefore are
principally guilty of all these frauds, rob-
berries and murders. You are the spring
that puts all the rest in motion. They
would not stir step without you; there:
fore the blood Of all these wretches who
die before their time lies upon your head;
The blood OF thy brother crieth against
thee from the earth O, whatever it
costs, put stop to its cry before it be too
latej Instantly, at any price, were it half
OF your gods, deliver thyself from blood
gniItiness Thy bed, thy hands, thy
furniture, thy house and thy lands are
stained with blood Surely it is enough;
accumulate no more guilt spill no more
the blood of the innocent. Do not hire
another to shed blood do not pay him
for doing it. Whether you are u Christ
ian or not, show yourselfa man Be not
more savage than a lion or bear!
'Perhaps you will .ay: i do not buy
any slaves only use those left by my
father But is that enough to satisfy
you' conscience Had your father, have
you, has any man living right to use
another as his slave? 1t cannot be, even
setting revelation aside. Neither war nor
Contract can give any man such prop:
erty i'll another as he has in his sheep
and oxen. Much less is it possible, that
any child of man should be born slave:
Liberty is the right of every human cres-
ture, as soon as he breathes the vital air;
and DO human law can deprive him "
that right which he derives from the Law
Of nature If, therefore, you have atty
regard to justice, to say nothing of mercy,
or Of the revealed law of God, render
unto all their due. Give liberty to whoiii
liberty is due, to every child of man. to
every partaker of human nature. Let
none serve you but by his own act aud
de- d, by his own voluntary choice. Away
with all whips, all chsins, all compulsionl
Be gentle toward all men, and see thxt
you invariably do unto every one, as yot
would he should do unto you" joint
Wesley.