The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-04-12


then, has God given US grant TO enslavo
the unoifending Africans? | know not
by what logic this can be made out, -
There is no more connection between The
premises and the conclusion, than if we
should say the tower of Babel was an
$50 feet high therefore, the repose of
Europe depends on Bonaparte being con-
fined in the Island of st. Helena. Sup
pose company OF Americans and an
equal number Of Africans should meet,
both of them in quest of the same object,
namely, human beings whom they might
carry oil 10 enslave; aud the Americana
should thus address he Africans: 1--WE
are in quest ofpeople to enslave. and we
have divine warrant for taking you, be-
cause God gave grant to Israel to en-
slave the Healhen round ab ut them, but
il you resist we have not sufficient power
to acc mplish our purpose by force" Ii
this address be true the Africans ought
TO submit. But suppose they should re-
ply, ave are out ON the same errand
and you are the very people that we ex-
pected TO seize, for the purpose Of max
ing bond men aud bond women, aud we
have a divine warrant for taking you and
enslaving you and your descendants for
ever; for you were the Heathen at the
time God gave the command TO Israel,
aud they were commanded not 10 abhor
the Egyptians, the descendants of Ham"
Ded %. T. Now which of them has tho
best claim? The truth is, none Of them
has any warrant for their nefarious pur-
pose. Who does not see that every ma
ton may plead this apology for the
practice OF enslaying all that they have
power to enslave? The Algerines may
plead it, for capturing and enslsyiug the
Americans, just with as much proprioty
as we do Tor retaining the Africans in
bondage generation after generation.
But again it is plead as the last re-
fuge. / the Bible condemns slavery, it
would not command servants TO obey
their masters, not with eye service as
men pleasers but with fear and trem.
bling, in singleness of heart, as unto
Christ. With good will doing servico as
TO the Lord, and not TO mcn.
This is reasoning from n disertion
| given for the purpose of regulating the
conduct of the slave, 20 the right or pro-
| perty of the master in him. If this is
good logic it viii hold good in other
cases. Let us try It. God has com
manded those who rule over men, to be
just, and rule in the fear of God; and
according 10 the statutes and ordinances
of his word; And if they do not obey,
they incur, the dispeasure of Heaven.
Yet God commanded, at a Time when un-
Just, ambitious, and idolairous men adj
miuistered the government which in
many respects were inequitable, iyranni-
cal, aud corrupt; his people 10 be Sub
iect 20 every ordinance Of man for the
Lords sake whether it be TO the king as
supreme, or unto governors" Let
every soul be subject unto the higher
powers. Whosoever resisteth The powers
resisteth the ordinances OF God" Would
it be good logic TO reason from these pre-
cepts, that tyrannical, oppressive, and
corrupt governments, administered bJ
ambitious, ungodly men, were right and
according to the Divine Oracles. Surely
not
Let US try the soundness of this logic
on plain scripture precept. For wha
glory is il, it when ye be bufIeied foi
your faults ye take il patiently But j
when ye do well and suffer for it, yc TAXI
il patiently, this is acceptable with Goo
for even hcreunto were ye eslled."-Pet
2 20 81. .....
Itis plain we are called to sufir pa
tiently, even tor good deeds. Then &C.
cording to the foregoing logic il is righI
to inflict sniferings on those who d'
righleously, because the sufferer mus
bear it patiently What miserable rea
soning. Yet IL ia as sound, as TO reason
: that slavery is right, because the Bihl
commands servants TO obey those VIII
are their masters. The sophistry Of ihi
argument might be further exposed b.
trying il on such precepts as th
following; al say unto you, tina
, ye resist not evil. Bless them tha
/ curse you; do good TO them that hat
you; aud pray for them which despite
fully use you, and persecute you" Mat
8, 80, Al, If evil treatment must not u
resisted, then evil treatment is righ
When you advise son or daughter I
submit TO, and bear with an i'll nature
cApricious father, weuld you think IL
fair inference from your advice, Ia sa
, that you allowed and approved OF i'll ma
ture aud caprice in parents toward thei
children2 This would be constituting you
advice as fairly, as We cOnstrue N
= Bible when we say il allows and Or
proves Of slavery, because it command
70 servants 20 obey their masters IN
truth is, the preccpts TO servants arc n,
founded 20 much on the nature Of Nj
relation between the master aud the sei
! want, as an expedieney, and What is bes
! all ihings considered. II the -laye hI
y. no honest, upright method Of lreeiu
, himself from his unjust bondage, II wi
be best 10 submit 10 il, aud bear patient
ly with its evils, la the case OF hire
= servants tho prectpts to obey are founde
on relation and obligation arising there
= from. Again, slavery is inconsistent wit
!. that impartial regard and good 0lH "hlc
y Gods word enjOlns on man TO e1erci'
toward his fellow man. God hath mad
of ons blood all nations Of men 10 dive
:. on ell The face of the earth. Aud beeaui
u all are equally the creatures Of God al
= descended from one common o igin, the
> arc required, and rtasonab'y too, 10 lo'
each other as they love themselves; an
20 do 20 others, as they would that Othei
: should do 20 them. These precepis nee
10 comment 10 show their foasouablenei
or their hostility 10 slavery; unless 10 ca
- be shewn that the love which hums
creatures bave for themselves Is such
10 lead them 10 be willing TO be At u
= disposal of another not only as Il n
= CARDS incessant aud often rigorous labo
~, bat as IL respects a u the dearest coo
~ forts Of lite. But it our love 10 ourhely
never operates Ia this way, thea our 10
" 10 others ought 70 be such hat we wOu
: ] .--L--.r b. .LL-L-- m unL n- -.L-L-- ~.