Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-19
A PARALLEL.

In sermon on slavery, announced in
theipamphlet before us, as 'Yindication
of the Methodist Church, South, deliv-
cred in Knoxville, August 9th, 1861 to
the delegates and others in attendance at
the Southern Commercial Convention, by
William q. BrOwnlow, we find the para
graph below quoted The tenor of the
argument preceding, is that African
slavery in the Southern States, was of di-
vine origin and institution Not content
with this position in regard to the African
race, it assumes and endeavors to prove
that slavery is the normal condition of
a majority of the human race without
distinction of color. 1t declares that a
majority of mankind were born slaves,
and that the laacs Of aoar, the state Of
property, the .feebleness Of governments,
the thirst for bargain and sale, the in.
crease Of crime, and the consent and ap-
probation Of the Deity" have perpetu-
ated and fixed it irreversibly. 1t proceeds
from these premises to argue, that the Sa-
ViOr, when on earth, and his chosen disci-
Piles after his ascension, cOuaselled sub
mission to the slave codes Of the nations
then existing, and scrupulously upheld
those governments. OF this, however
and Of the consistency Of this self styled
"Moses of the African race on these
points, more anon and abundantly, for the
field is rich
On the 7th page of the pamphlet, Gov
BrOwnlow says:
But allow us to present the case of the
Apostle Paul, as proof more palpable and
overwhelming on this very point. He had
been falsely accused, cruelty imprisoned
and tyrannically arraigned; and that, too,
before a licentious governor an unjust and
dissipated ruler, and an unprincipled in
fdel. The Roman law in force at the time
arrested the freedom of speech denied the
rights of conscience and even forbade the
free expression of opinion in all matters
conflicting with the provisions of the laws
of the Roman government. In his defense
before Felix, Paul never so much as speaks
OF Roman law, though well acquainted
with it, but "he reasoned of righteousness,
and Temperance, and the judgment to come"
Here was a suitable occasion to condemn
the regulations and to question the authori-
ty of the villanous statutes of Rome but
instead of this, Paul plead his rights lader
the unjust regulations of the law. He
charged Felix with official delinquency,
with personal crime, and as a man, he held
him up to public scorn, and threatened him
with the vengeance of God He appealed
TO the law and justified himself by the law.
He claimed the rights of A" Roman citizen"
demanded the protection due to Roman
citizen, and he scorned to find fault with |
the law, cruel and unjust as he knew it to
be. And the consequence was, that the |
licentious infdel who ruled, tremJled."
This very Brownlow, who so extOls |
the manliness and heroism of Paul, has |
now become a modern Felix. A licen-
tiOus Governor and an unjust ruler, he |
has wrongfully accused, and seeks to brow
beat and condemn the people of Tennessee.
He has procured the enactment of laws
which bind their handsIagainst peaceful |
to his authority. Like Paul,
they obey the law, bat they plead their
privileges under it. They claim the
rights of American citizens, and protest
against arbitrary abuse of the registra>
ton act and against the quartering upon
Them Of armed scldiery-a Pretorian
2ohOrt to intimidate and force them.
Unjust and unconstitutional as they know
The laws to be, they abide by them, but
hey charge him with official usurpation,
md with personal objects in the course he
$ pursuing They hold him up to public
'eprobation, and threaten him with their
vengeance. In this, they appeal to the con-
titution and Justify themselves by it
md the consequence will be that the
Unjust Governor will, like his pro-
otype, "tremble," and fall beneath the
Indignant rebuke ana curses Of the peo-
lie over whom he tyrannizes. The