Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-01-10

kDiroR RrrURucANs


RDiroR RrrUnucANs
Dear Sir-Somc
nmc during the incipicnt stage Of The
Southern Revolution YOU stated N The
REruDLicAN, that Slavery was "ili'
vine Institution" This declaration
was considered by all the intensely
loyal portion of tho community as
vcrv wicked, as well rs trcasonablc
The majority ofihc Democrats thought
il very imprudent and not warranted
by the Bible. In fact almost every
one condemned the remark, without
ever examining the subject. myself
thought ii very bold doctrine for a
public Journal to advocate, having been
taught to believe that southern slavery
was the "sum of all villainy as John
Wesley termed it. understood by
that declaration that you believed the
Bible sanctions slavery and if not or
daincd by God, that il was at least
recognized and respected by the Proph-
cts as well as by Christ and his Dis
ciplcs. After some examination OF
the subject, ] am almost lead to be-
lieve as you do, and would be very
glad to have some of The loyal Aboli-
tionists give me some explanation of
the quotations | will presently make
from the Bible. ] do not want them
to start out by saying that the over
throw Of the rebellion and the paper
abolishment Of slavery in the South,
is conclusive evidence that it was n
great sin, and that the present party
in power were Gods instrument for its
destruction. This / will admit looks
very plausible; but it remains to be
seen whether the slavery that the ne
gro seems to be emerging from will
not result in system far more severe,
and improbable TO him in spite Of the
Summers and Stevens. But my OBJ
iect is not 10 try to show that slavery
Is not or can not be abolished, but rath-
or to inquire ifthe South had not some
biblical authority for their course with
the Negro. Now ] ask them TO give
candid examination to tho passages
! shall quote. Take down your old
rusty Bible, cnt tle leaves and shake
off the dust, and see if you do moi find find
recorded ia Leviticus 25th, 44 - 46
&c, the following "Both thy bond
men and bondmaids which thou shalt
have, shall be of the heather round
about you; of them shall ye buy bond
men and bondmaids. Moreover, Of
the children Of the strangers that do
soiourn among you, Of them shall ye
buy, and of their families that are with
yon, which they begat in your land ::
and they shall be your possession.
And We shall take them as an inheri-
tance for your children after you, to
inherit them for possession; they
shall be your bondmen for ever: but
orer your brethren the children Of
Israel, ye shall not rule one oUer an
other irith rigour" Then compare
Philemon 10, land II with Gen. XVI,
s to 8, and observe the similarity of
conduct between St. Paul and the An
gel-both advising runaway slaves to
return to their masters, and this too
under the "old' and 'new" dispensa-
ton. Now let some one answer "has
the South violated the law laid down
by Moses" "lIas the North violated
the part italicised." But they will
answer that, that is old and we live
under the new dispensation. Well
this viii suffice for the present. ]
may refer to this again. No wonder
Anson BuHingame demanded an anti
Slavery God, an anti-Slavery Bible
and an anti-Slavery Constitution.
Yours, TRuTR.
January 4, 1866.