Smyrna times., 1863-07-09
Written for the "Smyrna Times"
To AYERS STOCKLY, ESQ,


| presented you with two OF three good Union
documents, and in return, you gave me "A
Letter from an Elder in an Old School Presby-
teran Church, to his son at College,"
To show the deep erudition of this apologst
for African Slavery, he gives a quotation in
Greek, from Romans III ch., 3, 4-and one in
Hebrew, from Psalms CXVIII, $. This
Letter" as you informed me, had the high
sanction Of George w. Cummins, Esq, who
had pronounced it to be the ablest argument
he had seen on the subject, and in his opinion,
unanswcrable. With this high and discrimina-
with a certain degree finterest--but found
it to be only . the labour Of the mountain
whose production was-'a mouse"
Able and unanswerablc, as the Honorable
George W. Cummins regards this apology for
human slavery; propose with great Difference
to his ripcncd judgement, to answer, or review
this piece of impicty and blasphemy against
God, against humanity and the rights Of man.
I should, probably, have attempted this answer
sooner, but that had loaned this letter to
two or three of my friends, who, on perusal,
regard it as | do, as a Burlesque upon the
great principles of Christianity.
The author of this letter ''profeSses to ex-
hibit himself to a christian community as an
advocate for the enslavement Of the whole Af-
rican race, nay, more. Of every person who has
black skin. lie has undertaken this task too,
with the prOfessed benevolent object of giving
sage, Parental instruction to a Son, that be
may be trained up Kin the way he should 90.
And to add to the weight of a pretended chris
tian authority, this Letter writer avouches
himself to be "-ln Elder aye in an OLD
SCHOOL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH" And yet
further to give greater sanction to this assum-
ed authority he quotes a passage from
st. Paurs Epistle to the Romans in the
original Greek, and a passage from the llSth
Psalm, in the original Hebrew. When trans
lated the Sd and 18th of the Sd chapter Of Re-
mans, ,rcad-"3 3. For what if some did not be-
lieve? shall their unbelicfm make the faith ofGod
without effect. 4. God forbid; yea, let God be
true. but every man iar''--thc learned FL
der" omitted the concluding part of the 18th
verse, cas- it is written, that thou mightest be
justified in thy sayings, and mightc,t over
come when thou art judged" The Sth verse Of
the llSth Psalm, reads
ut is better to trust in the Lord than to
put confidence in man"
These passages from Holy writ however
authoritative, and refreshing they may be in
proper connections yet in support Of the theory
of A.ffcan Slar@y, are less in point than if he
had quoted the French Proverb-' H5ni soft.
qui m0' y pense''-"Evil be to him that evil
thinks
In the course of the remarks, I shall make,
in answer to this imposing letter, will endeav-
or to exhibit.
|. What kind Of Slavery which was recogni-
zed in the Holy Scriptures which head
shall expose the Ethnological error into which
this Elder has fallen, in regard to the negro
race.
.. The benign teachings of Christianity, as
contradistinguished frSIa the Jewish Polity in
regard to slavery. I'D
3. The institution of slavery as Political
question: in the United States
4. The Institution of slavery as great ma
tional question of Political economy.
5. The happy influences of Freedom from
slavery in the Free States, upon the property
of those States, and the happiness of the peo-
| pie, in the advancement of education, in the
encouragement of the arts and scienHs. &c,
and in the increase of population and wealth.
6. The unhappy influences of slavery, in the
Slave States-upon society, upols morals of
the people, and upon the prosperity of the
State in which it exists. n
I. Twill then eudeavor to show, @ slavery
is the great moving cause of the present afro
cOus Rebellion of the South against the best
St6 "nd asy, d'' 'S sSa ip9 %th "nH" n due
respect, that it is not only the interest but the
imperative duty ofthe people Of the United
States to crush out slavery from every part of
our beloved country; to devote a free soil to
free labor; so as to insure lasting Peace
You will perceive that l have marked ont a
pretty extensive course Of remark, but | re-
specttully invite your attention to my argument
You and have long acted together in support
of the same great political principles, and al
low me to say, without fattery, that | think
you are too good u man to be led away by the
false and wicked doctrines attempted to be
taught in this letter Of an Elder" or by the
inhuman craft of reckless politicians, in their ef-
forts to engrait slavery upon the policy of our
Government.
In concluding this paper, allow me to say,
that | know not who this Elder of an Old
School Presbyterian Church . may be; but of
this am certain. it cannot be said of him as
Festus said to Paul, much learning doth make
thee mad that the whole of his letter Z"
has the ring, and the car marks of Secession
ist, and of a sympathizer with the wicked Re
bells of the South; and that his great object
seems to have been-not so much 10 enlighten
his son 5 mind-as to inculcate the pernicious
doctrines Of human slavery, and the equally
lperncious doctrines of the modern sham Demo
cracy. g. s. L.
Georgetown, June Goth, 1863
The War Department has issued an order
fixing three hundred dollars as the sum to be
paid by the person exempted from the eonscrip-
ton. The Collector Of Internal Revenue is