Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-25
DErARTunEs,
A Letter on Siavery-st IN vindicatcd
by the Bibie-A Remarkable Docu.


ment.
The following letter, published in the Nd-
tiondi hteliigencer, from Amos Kendall, a man
of learning and ability, who has filed rs large
a space in our political history as any living
man, will be read with interest.
Origin Of Bible Slarery-Noah, Abraham
Lars Of Noses Christianity and SldUery-
Christ, Paul, Peter, Philemon dndhiS Church.
10 AbroAna Lincoln, President Of TIE United STATES:
RESPECTED SIR:-In my preceding letters
/ have endeavored to show that, whether
slavery be right or wrong, nobody Is respon-
sible for its existence, or has a right to inter-
ferc with it under our political institutions,
except the people of State in which II eX-
lists. My object in this letter is not to show
that slavery is a useful or desirable institution
for our age or country, but that whatever
may be the abuses to which it is liable, there
is nothing in the institution itself which makes
ii the duty of Christian to seek its abolition
otherwise than by admonishing the slaves to
be obedient to their masters, and the masters
10 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 rebuking it, but by
giving it his direct authority.
The irst we learn of slavery in the Bible
is the curse of Ham or Canaan by Noah
Genesis, 9th chapter, 25th verse: And he
said cursed be Canaan, servant of servants
shall he be unto his brethren" Now, Noah
was selected by God to perpetuate the human
race. and he was not punished or cenSured
by his Maker tor thus booming a portion of
his posterity to perpetual bondage.
In the 9TH chapter of Genesis verses -,
IS, 23 and 27, the fact that Abraham bought
men with his money is four times recognized.
Verse ? is represented to be the language OF
God himself speaking TO Abraham, and is in
the following words, viz:
And he that is eight DAYS old shall be cir
cumcised among you, every man child in your
generations, he that is born in the house, or
bought with money of any stranger, which is
not OF thy seed"
Here is a direct recognition of the fact that
Abraham held slaves: and God, instead OF
commanding him to set them free, directed
him to incorporate them into his own family
by the right of circumcision.
In the 2ith chapter, verse 35, men-servan;s
and maid-seryants are named among the
blessings" which God had bestowed upon
Abraham. The speaker, who was himself a
servant. said:
And the Lord hath blessed my master
greatly, and he is become great; and he bas
given him flocks. and herds, and silver and
, gold, and men-SerrdRtS, and maid-SerUantS, and
camelS and asses"
BY the l4th chapter. l4th verse, it appears
that Abraham had three hundred and eighteer
|. trained servants. born In his house. and how
many bought with his money" is not stated.
Now, If buying men with money, and hold
IL. 1. L.. -.
in his age one of the greatest sinners; We
: God instead of rebuking him and requiring
him to put away his sin, not only prospereC
him, but. on account of his special faith anC
holiness, selected him TO be the father of hi
: chosen people. and an example for all gener
! atoms. Could this have happened If slaver,
had been a sin in the sight of God?
Ii does not appear that the Hebrews helC
any slaves when they fed out of Egypt, o
j.. that they acquired any while wandering il
the wilderness. FLYING from slavery them
selves, they were a new nation without con
stitution or laws, and all their Institution
were prescribed by God himself, througl
L Moses. Does any Christian believe that Go,
!, could or would prescribe TO his chosen peopl
& a sinfid institution? Yet God himself estah
- lished. or expressly recognized slavery as Al
n institution of the Hebrew nation. Ii any en-
: doubts it, let him read the 2lst chapter c
Exodus, the 25th chapter of Leyiticus. an
the 18th chapter of Deuteronomy.
% The first SIX verses of the first. and tn
verses from the twelfth TO the eighteenth {
the last, recognized the riyht of Hebrew {
: buy his own eountrynaen and hold them i
bondage six years, and prescribe a mode b
!. which, with their own consent, they may b
made bondmen forever" But the establish
n ment or recognition of perpetual slavery a
'e an institution of the Hebrew Commonwealt
Is found in the 25th chapter OF Leviticrs-