UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

200 KEY TO UNCLE TOM S CABIN.
was one who, in company with the Rev. The Bornean who neglects to kill his father,
and to eat him with his
John L. Montgomery, was appointed by the
dates,when he has become
synod of
old,is sorelytorturedby
Mississippi, in 1839,to write the wringings of a guilty
or
conscience,when his filialtenderness and sympathy
compile a catechism for the instructionof have gained the ascendencyover his apprehended
the negroes.
duty of killinghis parent. In like manner,
of the many
a slave-holder, whose conscience is
The former
clergyman is characterized as
"
father." His
an "aged and indefatigable
success in enlightening
very great. A largeproportion
the negroes has been
of the
negroes in his old church can recite both
Williston'sand the Westminster Catechism
wishes
Mr. Jones says, in his "History
Religious Instruction of the guided,
Negroes "
(p.
not by .theword of God, but by the doctrines
of men, is often suffering the lashes of a
83): " The Rev. James Smylieand the
when he guiltyconscience,even renders to his
Rev. C. Blair are engagedin this good slave " that which is just and equal,"according
work (ofenlightening the
to the
negroes)systematically
Scriptures, simplybecause he does not
and constantly in
emancipate
Mississippi."
his slave,irrespective of the benefit
or injury done by such an act.
very accurately." The writerreally scrupulous and conscientious slave-holder,
from the word of
that it were in her power to make
God, the glad tidings that slavery
copious
extracts from Mr. Smylie'spamphlet. A itself is not sinful. Released now from an
incubus that paralyzed his energies in discharge
greatdeal could be learnedfrom it as to what of duty towards his slaves, he goes forth cheerfully
style of mind, and habits of thought, and
to energetic action. It is not now as formerly,
when he viewed
modes of slaveryas in itselfsinful.
viewingreligious subjects, are
likely to grow up under such He can now an institution.
pray, with the hope of beingheard,
The man is undoubtedly and heartily sincere
that God will bless his exertionsto train up his
slaves "in the nurture and admonition of* the
in his opinions, and appears
to maintain
Lord :" whereas,before,he was retarded by this
them with a most abounding and triumphant
"
consideration, "If I regardiniquity my
heart,the Lord will not hear me." Instead of
joyfulness, as the very latest
improvement in theological knowledge Ẉe hanging down his head,moping and brooding over
his condition,as formerly, without action,he
of his Introduction,
raises his head, and moves on cheerfully, in the
plainpath on
of duty.
He
which is to be found
is no more temptedto look askance at the
word of God, and saying, " Hast thou found me,
on our south-westernwaters :
0 mine enemy," come to "filch from me" my
In presenting the following review to the slaves,which,
public,
"while not enriching" them, "leaves
the author was not entirely or mainlyinfluenced
me poor indeed?" Instead of viewingthe word of
by a desireor hope to correct the views of God, as formerly, come with whips and scorpions
the ChillicothePresbytery. He hoped the to chastise him into
publication
paradise, he feels that its
"
would be of essential service to ways
are ways of pleasantness,
and its paths
others,as
well as to the
peace." Distinguishing now between the real
presbytery.
word of God and what are
From his intercourse with religious societiesof
onlythe doctrines and
commandments of
all denominations,in Mississippi and Louisiana, he
men, the mystery is solved,
which was before
was aware that the abolition maxim,
insolvable,namely,
namely,that
" The statutes
slaveryis in itselfsinful, had of the Lord are
gained on and entwined
right, rejoicing the heart."
itself among the religious and conscientious
scruples of many
in the community so far If you should undertake to answer such
as not only to render them unhappy, but to draw
off the attention from the great and a man by saying that his argument proves
important
duty of a householder to his household. The too that neither Christ nor his
much,"
eye
of the mind,restingon slaveryitselfas a corrupt apostles bore any explicit testimonyagainst
fountain,from which, of necessity,nothingbut the gladiatorial shows and the sportsof the
corrupt streams could flow, was incessantly employed
in search of some plan by which, with arena, and,therefore, it would be righ to
safety, the fountain could, in some future time,be
seems to be that he would
entirelydried up ; never reflecting, or dreaming,
heartily assent to
that slavery, in itself considered,was an innoxious
it,and think,on the whole țhat itmight be a
relation,and that the whole error rested in
goodspeculation. As a further specimen of
the neglect of the relativeduties of the relation.
the
If there be a
free-and-easy facetiousness which seems
consciousness of guiltrestingon
to
the mind, it is all the same, as to the effect,
be a traitin this production, see, on p. 58.
whether the conscience is or is not right. Although
where the Latin motto Factlis descensiis
the word of God alone oughtto be the Averni sed revocare, "c, receives the following
guideof conscience, yetit is not alwaysthe case.
quitefreeand trulyWestern translation,
Hence, conscientiousscruple sometimes exist for
neglecting to do that which the word of*God
which,he good-naturedly says, is
condemns.
are tempted to present a part
simply for the light it gives us
the style of thinking
" How beautiful upon
the mountains,"in the
apprehension would be the feet
of him that would bring" to the Bornean "
the
gladtidings" that his conduct, in sparing the life
of his tender and affectionateparent, was no sin !
* * * *
Equallybeautiful and delightful,
does the reviewer trust,will it be,to an honest,
to learn,
get them up in America," the probability
given for the benefit of those who do not