The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-03-09
For the Perrysburg Journall
SIAVEnNs IRIS MORAL EFrFf'

In cur first article, We proved that the servitudc
srokcn of in the Old Testament Scripture was
ucthiug like American Slavery but on the con-
traty, ell scrSiiude was voluutary-the sctyaut
Sold himself and when he saw fit to leave his mas
ter, the Law Forbade his return to him. We viii
now examine the New Testament argument. on
which SO much stress is laid by the CoppcrheOds-
for no others attempt to defend the system. They
say the whole of the Epstle to Philemon is an ar
gument in favor Of slavery hence the New Tcsta-
ment is appealed TO. II needs no critical argument
to convince reasonable men that there is nothing
tolerant Of slavery in the Gospel. How snail and
few are the passages quoted on that point. How
different from the law of love, and the statement
that Christ came to save sinners. They run through
and through the Holy Scriptures. from the begun
ming Of the Book of Genesis to the end of Rcvela-
tions they primitive rocks in the globe OF rev
cialion, underliciug its crust and overtopiug its
summit, and cropping out on all its mountains,
that you can stand no where on all this globe with
out being in sight of them
Not SO with those passages that look slaveryward.
Did slavery not exist they could scarcely be seen
even with microscope. IL the gospel was intend
ed to be tolerant of slavery the Apostles musthave
been moral homcopathists, for they have given the
doctrine in the deciilion diluton. BG. we are told
there is whole cpistle in favor of slavery. Do
you believe oncsimus was slave? IL Sc, how
did the Apostle get him back? 4 little girl hav-
ing been asked how God made the world. answer
ed, =" He just said t?" But Apostles have not the
same power. If Paul had been a Supreme Judge,
with marshals to execute his decree, and secret SER
vice money with which To hire assistant marshals hc
might have sent Oncsimus back from Rome to Col
losse having but to just say him back him to
go back. Who, that knows human nature, can be-
lieve it? Bring a fugitive before Bishop, and let
the Bishop say to him, ego back would the
Bishop venture to send letter by him to his
master?
There are general principles in the Gospel to
which all minor passages must yield. One Of these
principles is this: God hath made of one blood
all nations to dwell on all the face of the earth" "
All men then are brothers. Let slavery be viewed
in the light of this statement. Suppose you buy q
| ragged, miserable man from the execution block
and after having attained possession of him. asccr.
tain that he is your own brother, from the same
womb, the same loins, the same breasts as yourself
would you hold him as your slave? If you did
what would your father say?
Another general principle is this Thou shalt
/ love thy ncghbor as thysclf. All things whatso.
ever yc would that men should do unto you, do yC
even SO them" This is the golden rule bv which
man may, under any circumstances, measure on his
obligations TO his fellow man.
Another general principle is this "God so loved
the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosocver believed on him. SC. Can we traffic
in, or hold as property that which has been re-
deemed by the blood of Christ? To attempt, not
withstanding these principles, to prove that the
Gospel tocratcs slavery, is like attempting to prove
that Niagara goes upward instead of downward ;
because, although the great mass of water dcccnds
there are some upward movements on its bosom.
Slavery is admitted, even at the South. to be an
evl-morally, socially and politically. Morally, it
works adultery Look at the five hundred thousand
mulatocs according to the last census that are the
result of concubnage. That it is a social evil, the
drunkenness, dcbauchery, duellmg, disregard of mar
riagc vows selling their own children into slavery.
making concubincs of theiro daughters, is proof
litical evil, it is at war with our government, in
order 10 blot out this sun of freedom from the
firmament of nations. Slavery is trying to wreck
this republic into atoms, and thereby wreck every
hope Of freedom in every breast. 1t is hurling
itself against the bu,treSses of the Constitution to
clear it out of its way to conquest and power. 1t
has sent State dashing State. The tread of
armed hosts shake the earth the laundering Of
the cannon fill the air; the Lool ot the stain stains
the ground the shreks of the dying ill the ear of
night, while the wailing of the bcreaved come up
from the countless inhabitants Of our land--aH oc-
casioned by slavery. Slavery, in the language of
Mr.. Wesley is - the sum of all villanias - 1t is
condemned in the revelation of nature curse
has followed it everywhcrcit has cursed the slave
owner; it is curse to the poor white population
of the South AMI the ground is accursed by IT,
And docs the Gospel tolerate it? Most assurcdly
not. ID. PHILO.
Jackson, Feb. 10th 1854.