Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-04-18


Nh. Eplros:-I said the other day that the
only way for an enlightened Christian to
justify Southern Slavery was to adopt the
convenient theory that negroes have no
souls" This cuts the gordian knot and
leaves the conscience frea Now, there 10 no
wrong in taking and transporting the poor
African from parents, wife and children,
Just as the Indian catch and subdue the wild
horses of the prairie. The auctioneer's block,
and chain-gang excite no sympathy, because
We know they arc but dumb beasts. But.
to be serious; can slavery be justified from
the Biblei We are always met with the oft,
repeated injunction to servants or slaves to
be obedient to their masters. To argue from
these texts that the apostles justified and ap-
proved Of, human bondage is just as fair
reasoning as to say because Christ taught us
s.render unto Caesar the things that are Ceas-
ar's," that he justified and approved of the
Roman Government with all its injustice,
cruelty and idolatry; or because he said to
Peter put up thy sword" that he justified
the Jews in crucifying tho Lord of Glory
"My kingdom Is not of this world" was a
hard lesson for his disciples to learn. Their
business WAS to disciple oil nations" as the
surest and most speedy way to ameliorate
human governments. And think you, fellow
Christian, whea I'll nations shall become dis.
ciples of Christ, that Southern slavery will ex
ists know you shudder At the bare though
~ sacrilsge. The magnitude Of the evil ant
the intrinsic difficulty of setting 80 large {
number Of ignorant men free has always beef
the apology of good men at the South. w
could well extend our charity to these blind
ed men heretofore, when we remembe
that the eminently pious rnan, Rev. Johl
Newton, was for years captainof . SLAYER d
tor he became serious. and rather boosted Q
his pious sacrifice in abstaining from high
seasoned food lest he might be ,tempted t
do what Davis, Of Kentucky, spoke Of IN th
Senate. To Newton, to the South an
the North, those were. times of ignoranc
that God winked ct, but now commanded
Ill mon everywhere to repent. He is no,
throwing the responsibility on the NORTH
If we succeed in conquering the rebel State
,, we will be bound to give them just govern
, ment; not what they call just, but what v
! believe and know to be such. But, say ha
: dozen or more, anti-slavery in theory, b,
. pro-slavery in practice, Union in profession
but rebelin sympathy, democrats, the negro'
will rise and destroy the whites if set free.-
> Now, my dear fellow-democratic Christian
, (for such We believe some of you to be thong
= like brother Newton, little befogged)
r there more danger in treating four million
. of human beings kindly and giving the
J. their long.prayed-for freedom, than in tres
,, ing them ~ brutes? To what man and
!. what nation would you be willing to sell yo
children and their posterity into perpetu
:, bondageg Do you feel insultedp Rememb
= Chrisfs words: "Whatever ye would, &c
: These down-trodden Africans are now 20
children. Join with the President in payi1
It tho loyal masters and set the negroes of re
: els free. Feel the luxury of doing. rigl
4 leaving conveniences to God. Iowa.