The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-10-07
SLAVERY AND RELIGION.

/ On the 18th December, 1860, Judge
Woodward, the present Democratic Cop
perhead candidate for Governor, delivered
a speech in Philadelphia in which arguing
that the world cannot and will not live
without cotton and that cotton can be rails
ed only by negroes in a state of siavery,he
vent so far as to say:
"And thus it happens that the provi-
dcnce of that Good Being W no has watched
over US from the beginning, and saved Us
from external foes, has so ordered our in
ternal relations as to make Negro Slavery
an incalculable blessing to us and to the
people of Great Britain. esq
"It will be said that Slavery is sin
against God, and therefore, that all rea.
sons drawn from our material interests,
for favoring or abetting it, must 60 for
nothing. If it be sin, agree there is
an end to my argument. But what right
has the Abolltionist to pronounce 1t a sin !?
| say Abolitloni>t, because the pastor of
the First Presbyterian Church Of Brook.
lyn, in a sermon preached withina week,
defined an Aboiitionist to be one who
holds that Slavery is sin. accept the
definition, aud according to it, mauy of
our best Christian people must be ac-
) counted Abolitionists for it is astonish-
ing how extensively the religious mind
of the North has admitted into itself that
suspicion, not to say convection, that
slaveholding is sin. If a sin, then it is
a violation of some Divine law for sin is
the traGsgression of the Law. Now deny
that any such law has ever been revealed.
"The burden Of showing it is on him
who alleges it; and when it is shown, |
agree it Shall rule out all that has been
said or can be said for a Union founded
on slavery. bind myself never to raise
my voice again in favor of such Uuion.
But SO far firm any such law being found
plainly written for our instruction, acao-
eUer acW study the PatriarchoL and Le-
Uit,cat institutions qoW see the principle
Iof human bondage and ct property IN
man di0ineiy sanctioned, J"ot di0inely
ordained; aud in all the sayings of our
Saviour we hear DO injunction for the
} suppression of slavery which existed
under His eyes, whilst He delivered many
maxims and principles which, like the
golden rule, enter right into and regulate
the relation. So dc the writings of Paul
abound with regulations of the relation,
but net with ipjunctions for its suppress
sion.
"If we 90 to the most accredited COM
mentators, or consult divines really wise
and good in our own midst,-or, what is
better, study and search the Scriptures
for ourselves, s,-we shall fail to find e. law
which, fairly interpreted aud applied, JUS
titles any man in asserting, il or out OF
the pulpit, that the negro slavery of the
United States is sinful What right then,
[ ask again, has the Abolitionist to cheat
tender conScieDces into hostility to an
Institution OIL which our Union is founded
in party Good people say, we do not
wish to disturb slavery where it exists
| by local law. but Believing it to be sinful
and inexpedient, we will not submit to
its extension, nor assist to restore the fu-
gitive to his master. Such people soon
come TO conceive that the more untriendly
they can feel towards slavery, the more
harsh speeches they can ma ke about slave
holders, the more they help on the ire
pressible confict, the better they will
recommend themselves to Goo"
1t appears that Judge Woodward's
teaching has not been without effect
His present supporters maintain his false
doctrines and proclaim these Infamous
notions without reserve. The following
letter on this subject from Mr., Stroud,
well known by his valuable work on "Thc
Law of Slavery" appears in the Phifa-
detphia. North american & .. s. Ga
zette, and will "enable every one to judge
for himself concerning this new issue in
party politics:
"From several pamphlets recently pub.
lished and extensively circulated, 1t has
become evident that new issue in Penn
sylyania party politics has been inaugur-
ated, viz Whether negro slavery, as it
is maintained 10 the Southern States now
in rebellion against the national govern
meEt, Is consistent with the Christian
reigionI
II deem it proper, therefore, in order
that every one may be enabled to judge
for himself on this Important subject, to
give very brief summary of the legal
incidents of Southern slavery. Every
part and parcel of this summary may be
authenticated by the statutes of une or
other Of those States, and the reported
decisions of their highest courts of judi