Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-05-05
DR.. Lord, Canaan. and Abolitionlsm

{ ment to advance the success OF the pro-slaVet!
Democracy. DR.. Lord has recently explained
that this production, thus circulated, was written
originally for, and appeared anonymously in the
Boston Courier and it was without his
knowledge that it was employed as an agency to
advance the political fortunes Of any party. lie,
however, confesses to a sensation Of pleasure in
finding that his views we're thought worthy, by
the Seymourites, Of a republication as an cleo
tioneering tract, and so, substantially approves
the use Of them.
The letter in the Cower-thus re-publHhed--
appeared last November and was an assault, in
Dr. Lords peculiar style Of authoritative asSer-
ton, upon the Emancipation policy Of the Admin
i'Taton, then foreshadowod by President Lin
coins September proclamation and upon the
Abolitionsts," who he affirmed were now es'
tabli'hed in supreme authority at Washington
and upon AboIitionism," by which term he was
pleased to characterize the policy in relation to
Emancipation which has now become the settled
rule of action in the White House, the Cabinet
and the field. lie denied that Slavery was the
cause Of the war any more than travellers money
Is the cause OF highway robbery. lie affirmed
on the contrary, to use his own language, " that
sbotonism is the causative anteoedent Of the war,
and will be fatal to the Government If its destruc-
tive policy be carried on" We have read, some
what carefully, Dr. Lords argument n support Of
this proposition, and think ito three columns may
Il be condensed into this Slavery is consequence
. Of the curse Of Canaan, and is therefore prov
dental order" is right, ard must remain until
=, the Millennium. 1t is a question OF morals, and
= should never have been introduced into politics
at But abcliGonsm, not respecting this "proyden-
I tial order" insisted upon making it a political
+, question, and hence our troubles.
1t will readily be seen that this is not difficult
style Of argument. 1t rests, from first to last, on
the opinions Of its author and comes back finally,
as to an ultimate and unanswerabe reason, to Dr.
Lords Interpretation Of the curse Of Canaan. But
to our mine, and not being learned in theology
by cal questions we shall make no attempt to inter
be pref the curse Of Clnaan--the reasoning Of the
tn letter is quite nconclusive. And, as an illustra-
ty ton Of inability to see the logical connection
The between the premise, the curse OF Canaan, aud
ara the conclusion that abolitionism is the cause o.
ess the war, and will be fatal to the Government i
our its destructive policy be carried on" we sugges
ent the following difficulties:
ar' Gunting-for the sake Of the argument tina
me the curse Of Canaan is not to be fully lifted from
use him and hs ponerty until the day of the Grea
ith' Jubilee the millennium, are all the descendants
q Canaan included n the curse Must all the de
men scendanS Of Canaan be slaves in order that reve
e's' ation may be proved true Have all who hav
their descent from cursed Canaan" been slave
'n- in time past Z? If not, has The proydentia
9Th order been invaded in the exceptional instance
low andhas the verify ofreyeaon,in these exceptions
s". been assailed Are the slaves in the Unite
ute States descendants Of Canaan Are not the fire.
no persons Of color ia this Country just as lneall
The descended from canaan as the savss7 ESQ., hoy
iof does ii appear that part suffer yet under tn
o'h curse while a part have escaped from it ? Doe
Inc the State Of Maryland violate Gods" proyideT
Aeu' tal order by not reducing to Slavery the 5000
nese free blacks 10 that State II not by what dyir
us test, or by what Interpretation o! revelation, or
c'er what right hay. SO,O 900 descendant, of Canaan
ora MARYLAND tho r.s If their frsodnm Will. a. n,
'o"' ny Of their brethren are tolng in bondage !?
NJ Has the curse any territorial limits If so,
"e'e what DEGREES were its boundaries established
o'eu not, why must it be tolerated 10 the United Stat
; V"e and not under the flag Of England Did t
'''' British people violate this "prOydential Orde
'n0 when they abol,hsd Slavery iu their domnons
''"' If so, what national punishment followed their
u 10 tiousl sin If not, why is it wrong for this matt
''' to accomplish similar work Have those sla
'"' holders, who in their lifetime or by testament.
'"' act, have manumitted their slaves, done violence
revelation II nol, why may not Commun
''''0' work TO the same end ? And sta sin in a
,pdy TO work for the enfranchisment of slaves
w" We not, in what way may We work Is abolition
70 ~ wrong in the end il seeks, or, only wrong in
"'i methods TO reach that end p-Are the white
"e habinnt, Of the United States descendants OF
e'", pheth lfso, do they comprise the rhole or o
"Ou' part Of his descendants ? II part only,
"'' what Interpretation of scripture must this part
w VI lar part be blessed in the curse Of Canaan, wi
"''' the remainder are under the necessity Of hir
f'' and paying their servants BY what law of ethr
ogy, or by what Interpretation Of prophecy
''"'u made 10 appear that tee must hold slaves, VI
''u W the race across the waters, who have conn
'''"'' PERCENTAGE with u.s. are under no such necess
revise -,
When these questions are satisfactorily
,wered there are still other, thatwe should
to prepound. |, the curse of Canaan any n
mock proUdential order than the curse of,,Ada
lsc is Must not Sin remain on the earth until the ii
rWard of restitution But are We therefore wrong
-gnia striving against sin, and in doing what we
to be- to proven, hp Are We forbidden by reveal
icered from legsla,ing against such sins as drunken
u the bearing false witness, adultery theft, murder
an sx. we could would it be wrong to Danish Il
As well crimes from the State Aud il il is right fo
been to labor, as well in the halls Of legislation al
menI' tue pulpit, TO tighten curse pronounced U
or the the whole race Why is. II wrong TO work by
aud is same instrumenialities, TO tighten a curse
'nsnm- nounced upon only part Of the race
Yat l. 3,