The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-18
The Duke of Argyle on American
Slavery.
From Tho London Timeu, Jan. a.

From tho London Tmeu, Jan. a..
Al the annual meeting Of the National
Bible Society of Scotland, held at Edin-
burg on Tuesday, the Duke Of Argyle
presided, and made q lengthy speech on
the subject Of Bible circulation and in
depreciation.
The Duke said: The Episcopal Church
in America is an ofIshoot Of the Church
Of England. II is very large organiza-
ton in that country. IL is a very flour
isbing church; il embraces a large pro-
portion Of the population. especially in
the Southern States. That branch of tho
Episcopal Church has had an ecclesias-
teal meeting in relation 10 the religious
questions that are being agitated there
II included all the bishops Of the slave
States, and included in its ecclesiastical
synods, on the Presbyterian principle, a
representation Of the laity. They ad-
dressed themselves 10 the question Of
slavery as il has existed in the Southern
States of America. l am happy TO say,
and am glad to acknowledge, that they
recommend some amelioration in the
condition Of the slave. They have at
last discovered - this great Christian
Church, with its paraphernRlia Of
bishops, priests and deacOns-not, /
think, before the time-that the laws
which have denied to the negro slave re-
ligious instruction and the blessings of
domestic life are not laws which can
be defended out Of the word Of God
| (Applause) They have discovered that,
say, rather slowly as church. II had
been discovered long before by individ-
ual Christians, and perhaps by individual
philanthropists who were not Christians.
am glad, however that they have dis
covered IL at last, although IL is under
suspicious circumstances--of outward
pressure, IL is not that, however, 10
which | wish TO direct your attention.
This great assembly of an important
church goes on 10 declare not that negro
slavery is an evil Of which IL Is difficult
10 get rid--for in that l could heartily
sympathize with them--but that negro
slavery is = system on which they are 10
plant their national life. Nor ia that all.
They 60 on 10 declare that the opinion
which seeks for an ultimate abolition Of
slavery is not only hateful opinion, but
an inddei opinion. Now, that is the de-
liberate verdict Of q great Christian
NuNtCug Win al tio auNhutaSe OF hHuNl-
edge and Of light derived from the Bible,
and of what we should callA liberal or
ganization, upon that which Ia q great
crime, the great curse Of their country and
Of their time, and the efficient cause Of all
the calamities which are now affecting IL.
| (Applause.) ! really believe that il would
be very difficult indeed 10 exaggerato the
evil and the mischief of such enunciations
Of opinion as this coming from any
Christian church We must remember
that the light of Christianity has spread
beyond itself. There are thousands Of
men in the United States who have .
keen sense Of the moral iniquity Of the
slave system, and whose opinions and
views on what they call humanity and
natural justice are views which are real
ly founded, although they know il not,
on the principal which Christianity has
made known, and on the spirit which
Christianity has spread even over the
world that lies beyond il. What opin-
ion are those men likely 20 have Of the
Bible, unless they 90 10 IL for their own
instruction, when they see it's appointed
guardians announcing that 20 doubt the
divine institution Of negro slavery, with
ali social injustice and iniquiiy, 10 an
infidel opinion Ia the view Of a great
Christian church,