An Essay on Liberty and Slavery.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1856. Excerpt: ... other, and removes every difficulty. It shows, too, how greatly the abolitionists have deceived themselves in their rash and blind appeal to the divine law in question. The reason of the law, says my Lord Coke, is the law. It is applicable to those cases, and to those cases only, which come within the reason of the law. Hence, if it be a fact, and if our Northern brethren really believe that we are sunk in the darkness of heathen idolatry, while the light of the true religion is with them alone, why, then, we admit that the reason and principle of the divine law in question is in their favor. Then we admit that the return of our fugitive slaves iscontrary to the divine law. But if we are not heathen idolaters, if the G-od of the Hebrews be also the God of Southern masters, then the Northern States do not violate the precept in question--they only discharge a solemn constitutional obligation--in delivering up our fugitives from labor. H. The argument from the New Testament. The New Testament, as Dr. Wayland remarks, was given, not to one people, but to the whole race; not for one period, but for all time. Its lessons are, therefore, of universal and perpetual obligation. If, then, the Almighty had undertaken to enlighten the human race by degrees, with respect to the great sin of slavery, is it not wonderful that, in the very last revelation of his will, he has uttered not a single syllable in disapprobation thereof? Is it not wonderful, that he should have completed the revelation of his will, --that he should have set his seal to the last word he will ever say to man respecting his duties, and yet not one word about the great obligation of the master to emancipate his slaves, nor about the appalling sin of slavery? Such silence must, ...