Delaware gazette. (Wilmington, Del.) 1837-1883, 1863-10-23

| We know that the doctrine Of the primitive
church was In harmony with this, for polygamT
was never permitted,nor divorce for tr1ng causes,
while slavery was allowed as being perfectly law
full, 80 long az the savs was treated with justice
and kindnesr. The ancient canons sometimes ad-
vert to the mode In which slaves might be correct
ed. Bishops and clergy held slaves. In later times
bondmen and bondmRids were in tho service Of
converts and monasteries. And no seruple was en-
tertainsd upon the subject until the close of the
last century, whom the new lgit burst forth which
now daEKles the eyes of SO many worthy people,
and blinds them not only To tho plain statement Of
scriptures, butte the interests Of national unity
and peace.
Thus then, have examined the various topics
! embraced In your inquiry, and the conclusion
which have been compelled to adopt must be
sufficiently manifest. The slavery of the negro
race, as maintained 10 the Southern States appears
to me fully authorized both in the Old and New
Testament, which, as the written Word Of God,
afford the only infallible standard Of moral rights
and obligations. That very slavery, 10 IN humble
Judgment,has raised the negro incomparAbly high
or in the scale Of humanity, and seos, in fact, TO
b5 the only fundamentally through whinh the
heather posterlIy Of Ham have been raised at all.
Out OF that slavery has arisen the interesting col
ony OF Liberia, planted by slave holders, to be q
place OF refuge for their eman0ipated bnndmen,
and destined, as hope, to DO rich benefit in Its
future growth aud Influence, to Africa and to the
world. do not forget, aud trust that do not
underValue, the missionary work Of England and
our own land, 10 that benighled continent. Butt
believe that the number Of negroes Christianized
and civilized at the South, through tho system of
slavery, exceeds the products of those missionary
labors, In proportion Of thousands 10 One. And
thus the wisdom and goddess Of q cd are vindicat-
cd In the sanction which Ills word has given, and
the sentence originally pronounced GU Canaan as
curse has been ted into blessing.
have nov gone over tue whUle ground covered
by your application, and would Gully here repeat
that on the question If slavery, which lies as The
root OF all our present difficulties, have oheyod
the rulo of conscience and Of duty, 10 opposition
TO my habits, my prejudices, and my sympathies,
all Of which would toud strongly tho other side.
! need hardly say that am no politician. More
than forty yenrs have elapsed since ceased oven
to attend tho polls. But as Christian, am
bound to sustain the Constitution Of the United
States, and defend those principles Of law aud or
der, and friendly county, which every State should
faithfully regard In It's relations to the rest Nor
is this the first time that have expressed my opin-
ions In lecture at Buffalo, published in 1850,
and again III volume entitled The american Oh
hscn, printed by Pudney Russell. in 1857, sot
iofth the same views on the suhjsot OF slavery
adding, however, a plan Tor it's gradual aboli.
ton, whenever tho South should consent, und
the whole strength Of the Government could aid in
its accomplishment. Sooner or later, believe
that soma measure OF THAT character must be adopt
cd. But ii belongs to the slave States themselves
to take the lead in such movement. And mean
while, their legal rights and their natural feelings
must he respected, II we would hope for unity aud
place.
10 conclusion, would only say, that am rer-
feclly aware how distasteful my sentiments must
be- On thia very serious question, to the great ma
jOrity Of my respected ielow-citizens, 10 tho re-
giun where Divine Providence has cast my lot. II
would assuredly be far more agreeable ii could
conscentously cOufnrm to tho opinions of my
friends, to whose ebiitY, sincerity, and zeal am
ready to give all just atiun. But it would
DO mere moral cOwarlice in me 10 suppress what
helieye to be the TRUTH for tho sake of popularity
II cannot be long before shall stand ut the tri-
bunul Of that Almighty and unerring Judge, who
has given US the inspired Scriptures to DO our SUI
prone directory 10 every neral and religious duty.
My gray hoirs admOnsh na that may soon be
called to give an account Of my stewardship. And
have no fear of the sentence which He will pro-
noanoe upon an honest though humble effort to
sustain this authority Of HIS WORD, 10 just alliance
with the Constitution, the peace, and public vel
fare Of my country.
With the fergent prayer that the Spirit of Wis
dom, unity, and fratornal kiudnoss may guide our
National Congress, the Legislatures of the several
States, and the sovereign will Of our whole people,
10 happy accommodation to every existing DIFF
6euly,
remain, with great regard,
Your faithful servant In Christ,
JOHN II. HOPKINS,
Bishop OF the Diocese Of Vermont.