Smyrna times., 1863-06-25
OiIihSt NCE.
Written for the Smyrna ines"
Ths House of Southern Bishops on the
Treatment of Slavery
Dover, DEL, June 18th, 1863.

Editor Of Smyrna Times,
Dedr Mr.-kno wing your columns to be always
open for the publication Of any matter that may
tend to the p.nAio ion of the " Uuion Cau.e,"
ask leave to introduce to your consideration
el use Of an article which ! copied from the Pas.
tQrHt Letter Of the House of Bishops of the Eoscp.
pal Church of the Southern Conf dcrdcy; convened
for the first time-ast fall.
Ifany enemy of the Government should perchance
stumble over this letter, aud after its persual be can
did enough TO town up" know of nothing that
ought TO have influence for good coming as it
does from a body OF men who are far removed from
the fanattesm Of the not, and capable of looking
dlspassionatcly upon the workings of men. 1t ccr-
tainly recommend itscfto the consideration of every
symPathser of the South The doctrine therein
taught, If adopted, must forever nto the shade
the justice Of this fvoritc institution, As to its
divinity, can see but way in which il can
claim that Paradiscal titlr, and that is, God may
have allowed slavery to be brought into the midst Of
civilized and christian people, for the very purpose
of not DiOineLy e1teHding it; but from the associa
tion would the become, themselves christian
ized and "prcplred for that great work that God
may have in store oF them" uf returning to their
father land and converting the Of Afrc's soil.
1t was the way in which would be pc formed in
few short years what would have taken centuries TO
accomplish.
We are bound TO take this Pastoral Version of the
subject; more especially, as il comes from their own
side of the house Ifit be consistent with the aim,
ot the Conicderacy, then language has lost its mean
lug. That it is directly ant lgonisc to its intention
and framing, is, certainly, undcniable and we need
have no fear for the fin i result of this great civil
struggle when We have springng up in their very
midst such strong moral force. | have seen but
one error they have made; aud It's pardonabe being
they have confessed SO much that hitherto thev
have been hindcred by the pressure of Abolitonism
know not why they should oh cc to that particular
means (Abolitionsm) that God has introduced for
the "cducation of the negro" (Which tutilacc is
nOught but the torcrunner Of frccdom) since they
have had to acknowledge this last vndictlve means
Eesortcd 10 for TO awaken them TO " sense of their
duty" "All in all" this is a most humili ting
cOntssidn, and may it have its course. We com.
mend the following extract to the Car, fu persual of
your "eaders;
Voices of supplicltion come to Us also from the
distant shores of Africa and the l. .St but ONLY their
echn reaches us from the throne nt Grace. The pnl
icy ofman (the Blockade &c.) has shut out thosc
utIerlnces from rs. How can 1t help their cause to
sepctate the chdren OF God from one another? lie.
only knows, hut we can hear them when we knee
in prayer, and commune with their spirits thronql,
the spirit of Christ But God is Derchance iniendino
through these inScrutaJie measures, tn shut us an 10
th9t great tc9rk, rhich he hIs placed at our uery
dOors, Gn Uhtch IS ner 10 their OuR erpInSi0n, tie
churches greqtcSi rrorh in he Confederate States
IIe religious instructions Of the negro has been
thrust upon US in wonderful manner that We must
be blind not To prrcrlvc that not only Spiritual
but cur national lIft is wrapped up in their welfare
With them we stand or fiji, and God will not per.
nit to he separated in interest or fortune The time
has come when the church should press upon her
aity, the Solemn fact that the spes of the Souh ars
f0t merely so much prOp'rty, but sacred trust
committed to us, as people, to be prepared for the
wor< which God may have for them in the future.
While under this tutlage lie freely gives 10 US
their abOur but expects to gre hack TO them that
Religions and moral lnstructions lohich is to elevate
them in the ScGte Of Being. And while nculcati, 2
this truth, the church must offer more freely her
mnstrAtlon for their benefit and mpr ,verncnt Her
laty must sci the example ofreadncss to fulfil tcir
duty towards th people, and her clergy must striI
the~setUeS of pride and faStdousness aud ndoicnce
and rush with tie zeal Of martyrs to this labor Of
lOUp-
The teachings % the church, arc those which best
suit people passing from ignorance TO civilization
because while ii repre>ses all fanaticsm it fastens
upon the memory the great facts OF our religion
and through t] Obcctve worship attracts and en-.
chains them. S. far from relaxing IN their clu.e
the forms OF the church, good will b. permanently
done to them ust in proportion teach them
through their senses and aft .cons, Ii subjected To
The teachings of a bold spirtualism, they will fmd
food for their and their child like fancies in
suPerstitiOus obseassces Of their own, leading too
often TO crime and licentionsness. It is likewise
the duty of the church tn pr upon the masters OF
the country their obligations christian men so 10
arrange this lnstl:ntOn, not to nccessitate the
violation of those sacred relations, which God has
created and which man cannot consistently with
christian duty annul. The systems of labor which
prevail in Europe, and which in many respects
severe than own, arranged to prevent
all necessity for the separation OF Parents and chill
dren, husbands and wives and very little care ON
OuI part would rid the system upon which we are TO
plant National life ofthese unchrstian features
i belongs especially to the L DISCO IA, church to urge
proper telchlng upon this subject for in her folds
and cDngre CATION are found very large proportion
of the shareholders of the cluTiry. We rc ice to BE-
enabl- TO say that the public sentiment is rapidly
becoming sound upon this subject, an that the Leg.
islltures Of the Yera Confederate St ties have. al
rc1dy taken s'cps towards this consurnnati. H.
Hitherto have we on Numbered hv the press ire of
AbnitOnisn: that we have thrown off that hate.
fI and infdel pestIlence, should prove to the
Npfld IN Il ar trI" To trust and the church
should lead the hosts ofthc Lord in this work of
Justice and mfrey.
With love for "nur c1use"
VIZ. 6. A. BoNwILL.