Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-09-23

"
! tIves and ours " ould siarve if the negroes lid
not raise cotton. Mannmit them and they
VIII never raise another crop. They need the
authority of a master and the eye OF an over
seer To compel and direct them TO The duties
/ OF the cotton plant which must he rendered at
the right season precisely, or the crop is lost
And thus il happens, that the Providence
of that Good being who has watched over us
from the beginning, and saved US from exter
/ nal foes. has ordered our internal relations
as to make negro slavery an incatculo6ie bies-
sing 10 rs ana to the people of Great Britain.
say to o,uS for do not enter into the ques-
ton whether the institution be evil to the
people of the Southern States. That is their
concern, not ours We have nothing to do
with It And to obtrude our opinions upon
the people OF sovereign States concerning
their domestic institutions, would bs sheer
lmpertnence. But do yon not see and feel
| how good il was for us to hand over our slaves
to our friends of the South-how good il was
tor us that they have employed them in rails
ing staple for our maDufacturers-how wise
II was to SO adjust the Compromises Of the
Constitution that we could live IN union with
them asd reap the signal advantages to which
have adverted We consign them TO
heathcn thralf, but to Christian inen, profess
ing the same faith with ns-speakng the
same language the golden rule, in
no one-sided and distorted shape. but it is
recorded. rule To slaves as we'll masters.
This allusion to he golden rule reminds me
OF an objection which will De urged TO much
that have advanced. II will be said that
slavery IS sin against God. and therefore
that ali reasons drawn from material IN
terests, for fsvoring or abettag il mast go for
nothing.
II it be a SIN, agree there is an end to
my argument. hut what right has the A AboIi-
tionists 10 pronounce it a sin say Aboli-
zionist, because the pastor OF the First Pres
byteran Church Of Brooklyn, in sermon
preached within week. defined an Abolition
ist to be one WHO holds that slavery is sin
| accept the definition, and according to il
many OF our best Christian people must be &C
counted Aboltonists for it is astonishing
how extensively the religious mind of the
North has admitted into itself the suspicion
not to say conviction, that sIaveh ing is a
sin. If a sin, then il is violation of some
Divine law, for sin is the transgression of the
law.
Tow, deny that any such law has ever been
revealed. The burden of showing il is on
him who alleges, and when il is shown, l a.
gree 1t shall rule out all that has been said or
can be said for Union founded slavery.
I bind myself never to raise my voice again
in behalf of such Union. But, SO far from
any sucl. law being found plainly written for
our instruction, whoever will study the PatF-
archal and Levitical institutions, will see the
principle of human bondage. and of property
in man, dirineky sanctioned, If not diriaeiy or
ddtned (; and in all the sayings OF our Saviour, |
we hear of no injunction for the suppression OF |
slavery which existed under his eyes, while |
he delivered many maxims and principles, |
which, like the golden rule, enter right into |
and regulate the relation. So do the writings |
of Paul abound with regulations of the relation, |
but not with injunctions for its suppression ri
we go 10 the most accredited commentators. |
or consult divnes really wise and good in our |
.l-s- =.
The Scriptures for ourselves, We shall fail TO |
find law which, fairly interpreted and appli- |
ed, justIfes any man in asserting, in out OF |
the puip that the negro slavery of the Uni |
ted States is sinful. What right, then. ask |
again, has the Abolitionist TO cheat tend er |
consciences into hostility 70 an institution !
on which our Union is founded in part |
Good people say We do not wish to disturb !
slavery where it exists by local law, but be |
lieving il TO be sinful and inexpedIent, we |
will not submit tO its extension, nor assist TO |
restore the fugitive to his master. Such peo- /
pie soon come to conceive that the more un- |
friendly they can feel towards slavery, the |
more harsh speeches they make about slave |
holders, the more they help on tho irrepressi. |
BILE conflict, the better will they recomme nd |
themselves to God. In some churches anti |
slavery sentiments have become essential 10 |
good standing According to some ecclesias- |
tical councils, il would seem that the great |
duty of the American Christian is to war with |
his neighbor's property and, if opportunity |
presents, 10 help steal and hide 1t.
Alas alas for the time upon which we |
have fallen.
We must arouse oHrseEoes and re-Gssert The |
rights # the shareholder, and add such guaran-
tees 10 our Constitution as will protect his |
property from the spoliatiou OF religious bigo- /
try and persecution, or else IRE must gre up |
our Consultation and Union. Events are pac-
,,,lt-
tutioadi Union and liberty according 10 .aneri |
can iaW else extinction Of Stare property, |
negro freedom, dissolution Of the Uniou, anarchy |
and confusion.
And now, turn back, We friends OF humani-
ty and progress, and look at that picture ,aod
then at this, and see the effects of unhalowed
ambition, and bad company, and unhappy as
socations, upon once ingenious youth, who
began the world with so lofty promise, or
AS Hervey would say-s.grew up like a well
plaHt, shot deep, rose high, and hade
fair for manhood - Alas--but we prefer the
exclamation of Eneas, as he de-
scribes his vision of the dead body of Hector,
after it bad been dragged instlltingly at the
heels of the coursers of the wratbful Achilles
around the walls of Troy, aud lay all over
soiieu anu oeStitheo Win uuet, dno Ditu, duu
gore.
ssHow changed indeed, the democratic
George W. Woodward, who fluids divine bies-
sings and sanction for ssthe principle of hu-
man bondage" and apologies for rebellion, in
the natural right of the STAKEHOLDER to tall
back upon the law of self defence, for the pro-
lection of his property-and that George W.
w oodward who twenty-five years ago. could
scarce find language strong enough, to de-