The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1862-02-06


drh church at Providence, Il. L., before Il
society OF st. Vincent dc Paul. His subo,
"" " The Catholic Church and Slavery" II
remarked -
That slavery had become subject attractin
ine public attention probably nors strongl
inAn any other. The present rebellion, grow
ING out OF the institution, contributed to thi
end. Nearly a million Of armed msn ar
collected, ready TO engage in deadly strife
and ere long the tremendous shock Uf ba,tl
may hl the arches Of heaven and send through
me land this wall Of WOO. God only can fore
t,ll the end. In our own country, slavery WA
plan'ed when we were in our infarcy, IL soor
sprcai over the laud and involved every colony
IN Us black thidow. Its dangers and evil
had been gradually developing than .olv voa M
the problem bad become a dificult one 10 solve
one which should Induce all TO exercise ths
largest charity and gospel forbearanos. To
| nShtiy appreciate AMI understand tho subject,
| u would be well TO review the history OF Tho
world and examine its records. As We do 90
We pnd slavery always existing in somo form,
lS origin We shall strive In vai1 70 trace In
the days Of Noah II had an sxistercc ami had
spread over the world. Abraham had his ser
NSntei 20 had lsaao, Jacob, Job, and resily all
OF those who are mentioned in patrinchal
unos; slavery would, therefore, seem to hayo
kind oi divine sanction or permis ion. Nature
does no; make a slave. Neither doas sho OF I,r
socisl distinctions which prevail Bit they ex
lst dmo,t necessarily as aocisty grows up.
,lhey are Developments ~hich God permits and
leaves to the operation Of Ills pTOvldsnce, TO be
smclorated and romONei in due time by the
Slent and powerful iniluonc, Of roligio
but slavtty wa not condned to Judos, tho
laud Of the Phtriarchs. Plato in his R,pnblic
lays down rules 10, the system. Slaves must
bo taken ON diflefeit countries ard sp0sk dif.
tereLt languages, that they NAV not copspre
and oNofthfUw tho state. Ia Attica, 3l7 years
before CHRIS, thorc weIo twon,y thousand lrce.
mon and four hundred th usand layes A little
later, in Aihots, thore were one hundred AID
NJ thousand frsemeu and four hundred thou
sand dawes. la Sparta the disparity WAS
grsster. In Rome tho slaves were numcrous
Tbs lumber cannot be accurately Determined.
ior census OF the laVeg was noyar permitted.
lost they should know their SttonptL and at
tempt TO FREQ themselves. some idea of the
number may he jldsed from IN, fact thi, in tho
time OF Augustus thoro wsfc only two thousand
irsoholders in = population Of two mill ,ns. BE-
yond the limits Of the city the slaves were a.
eleven 10 ohe. Esowherc IN tho Pagan world
things were not much better.
The question may DO askod how came hi,
Iyst to have such io s7rosi existence
lho pagan heart wAl dostituts of kndnsas
charity, and all thoss virtues which soften and
harmoni2e. Hence tho svi anil the mode, by
winch II p'oCuted its victims. Captiyt8 taken |
IN var were su III sctod TO tho oxtrome penalty
OF death, but tho cAptors cana in tho course Of /.
time to save them for sltyos, No. b.ciuso they .
were governed by tbs principles Of humanity, |
but thai they might co vert tho unfortunate I
wro'ches into instruments Of personal service.
La Rome, tho law permitted inf,nticiie or ir .
'' c1Ild MAS suffered tO live, H. might thon 10
s, SOD to pcrsl in tho rol T. Tlcr. wore
90 who made 1t their bu,,ies' to yattar these
'al'' ron and roar them for slaves Cfinin,ls
rs AVID the p'0r could be rcdlccl to soryi.
tude. Too sp.fit 81 tho laws W., thn Vi sht OF
lhS strong r. Sv pA,hy wa clllel a
N" AK tiuat tho Stts From these sources
" .' 10 slaves ltUvi-td, aud vi tho mbr.'s
l''t a. fl, :. 'hn '' Gocn tl:' ha seville cllg.
must Lave boon numOf1I'. Tn, trcl'mont too
Mae most hAghuous Too l'ln of d,,,h or tho
1--we wis at tho caprice e 'hc m,9er l. wns
.ui urc iminon for the Kon,n Enpsrus to sa-
'ihco N various WAYS thou stul, o. aa,Aina
lay, Trojan IN the space Of three mon hs. ia
various ways, murdered ton thousand, sad I'll
no rights ami was tohuso" - go -
brute. t.
At such an era our Divine Savior made his
advent. Could ho change this sia'o oi things
Dourt,,,s he could. But no would entirely have
do troyed the lrss will Of man. II wouli have |
been necessary TO work miracle 70 |
accomnl!Ih such a 5'upondOui Wurk' ITO |
chose TO leave it to tho inuJ o
the prniplcs Of the Gospel, the mas1,
Nv winch tho world is TO ba rc'ofmi III
lilo found slavery exisiug with prescription.
of two thousand yoars, part OF tho poiiIy OF
eyoTy nstiOn Of tho pagan world bAt no Iu
not preach emancipation al Onta anu ungoAul,
tOnt lv. Such A measure would have created
a rcyuI,iop a. orce and decreased with tenfoh
yiolence the oppo1tion TO tho Christian system.
IL would not have beon prudent, therefore, TO
have waired upon tho system. SLAVERY
Waether We consider 1t IA an evil or a sln, IA 10
be cured by removing the cause and eradici'inY
the evil passions which have made slaves ana
slayeholiers. When tho centurion spoke oi ms
servants there was not u Sord OF roproach. ne
was left 10 the influence Of the faith which had
snIuug IN in his soul. The Apostles furnish
us with several examples. 10 ono case the ser
van, was sent back with an opis,le TO his mas
ter. Servants are directed 10 DO obedient, anu
masters arc also directed to be kind, just and
equitable. The teachings Of the Apostles are
for both master ard servant. The relation Is
recouni, ed the needed AL vice IL given, and the
rest left to the teachings Of the Master. These,
In their very nature, are calculated TO anchor
ate, for they distinctly declare all men brothers,
| childIen of common parent, inheritors OF
common destiny. They are pervadod by an
enlarged charity, which Gays, Love one another.
| A slaye cannot long be held by one who listens
| 10 these truths and believes.
| Emancipation early began as soon as the
new truths began 70 affect the hesfti enans
| began to drop and slaves rose 10 tho dignity
| OF Christian brothers. Emancipation was not
the result of direct law. The church clnons
struck at the ciuoltiCs and abuses which had
prown IN, ard gradually changed the treat
ment snd status Of the slave. The churches be-
cane osylums whore the slaves could il'c FROM
tho cruelty Of the master ard fni protection
| So,ietiCs wsro formed in the II a,d jlh con-
turcs whose members in addition 20 their usu
al religious vovP, added one to devote them
Ives to ths slavos
When negro slavery sprung up, this Catholic
ChuI,h boro a iaithul ttsiimoay tgsiLst lh'
| slave trade. The So,eToiRu Pouiih has fio
guen ly i sued a 'Cscript on the subj ct. AMI at
,emp'td 10 check the spread OF the owl TIT
church has always been true TO its mission, an,
TODAY counsels charity and mutual sacrifices
such as may be necessary to heal the nation
and give tile people a wisdom which shall ye
, enroGle man and gorify God.
War Intelligence.