UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

"
that
"
as
208 KEY TO UNCLE TOM S CABIN.
not,and do not desireto be,abolitionists. * * *
We cannot see how we can be regardedas aboli-
they shall enjoy the ordinances of the gospel;
tionists, whether they shall performthe duties and cherish
without the ministers of the Methodist
EpiscopalChurch South beingconsidered in the and children, neighborsand friends ; whether they
same light. * # * # # shall preserve their chastity and purity, or
Wishingyou all heavenlybenedictions, we are, the dictates of justiceand humanity.Such are
dear brethren,yours, in Christ Jesus,
some of the consequences
J. P. DURBIN,
J. Kennaday,
X
"
of slavery, consequences
not imaginary, but which connect themselves
with its very existence. The evils to which
Ignatius T. Cooper, V Comm the slave is alwaysexposedoften take placein
William H. Gilder,
fact,and in their very worst degree and form : and
Joseph Castle, J
where allof them do not take place,
These factssufficiently
to say that in many instances, through the influence
definethe position of the principles of humanity and religion
the
of the Methodist Church. The history
minds of masters, they do stillthe slaveis
not,"
melancholy, but instructive. The history of deprived of his natural right, degradedas a human
being,
the Presbyterian Church isalsoof interest.
and exposed to the dangerof passinginto
the hands of a master who may inflict upon him
In 1793,the following note to the eighthall the hardships and injuries which
commandment was insertedin the Book of and avarice may suggest.
Discipline, as expressing the doctrineof the
This languagewas
church upon slave-holding
:
was
1 Tim. 1 : 10. The law ismade for man-stealers.
and non-slaveholders. Certainly one
This crime among the Jews exposed the perpetrators
think the time of redemption was
of it to capitalpunishment,Exodus 21 : 15 ;
nigh. The declaration
and the apostlehere classes them with sinners of
goes on to say :
the firstrank. The word he uses, in itsoriginal It is manifestly the dutyof all Christians who
import,comprehendsall who are concerned in
enjoy
bringing the light of the presentday,when the incon-
any of the human race into slavery, or in
of slaveryboth with the dictatesof hu-
retainingthem in it. Hominum fures,qui servos
and religion has been demonstrated and
vel liberos abducunt,retinent, vendunt,vel emunt. isgenerally seen and acknowledged, to use
Stealersof men are all those who bringoffslaves earnest, unwearied endeavors to correct the errors
or freemen,and keep, sell, or buy them. To steala of former times,and as speedily as possibleto
free man, says Grotius,isthe highestkind of theft. efface this blot on our holyreligion, and to obtain
In other instances, we only steal human property;
but when we steal or retain men in slavery, we
seize those who, in common with ourselves, are
constitutedby the original grantlordsofthe earth. Here we have the Presbyterian
No rules of church
slave-holding and non-slaveholding,
discipline were enforced,
formed into one
and members whom this
great passage declared
abolition society, as
guilty of this crime remained undisturbed
in its communion,as ministersand
elders. This inconsistency was obviated in
1816
free,
by expungingthe passage from
theytenderly sympathize
the
with
Book of Discipline. In 1818 it the portionof the church and countrythat
adoptedan
expression of itsviews has had this evil entailed on slavery Ṭhis
upon them,where
document is a longone, conceived and written
as theysay " a great and the most virtuous
in a
very Christian spirit. The
partof the communityabhor slavery and
Assembly's
wish its extermination." But theyexhort
Digest says,p. 341,thatit was unanimously
them to commence
adopted.The following is
immediately the work
itstestimony as
to the nature of
ofinstructing slaves, with a
slavery :
them forfreedom ; and to letno
We consider the voluntary enslaving of one part take place than "a regardto publicwelfare
of the human race by another as a gross violation indispensably
of the most precious and sacred rights of human
nature ; as utterlyinconsistent with the law of by no other considerationsthan an honest
God, which requiresus to love our neighbor as
ourselves ; and as totallyirreconcilablewith the of the injuredparty,uninfluencedby tlie
spirit and principles of the gospelof Christ,which
expense and inconvenience which such regard
enjointhat "all thingswhatsoever ye would that
men should do to you, do even
ye
so to them." may involve." Itwarns against
" unduly
Slavery creates a paradox in the moral system"
it exhibits rational,accountable,and immortal against making it a cover for the love and
beings in such circumstances as scarcely to leave
practiceof slavery.It ends by recommending
them the power of moral action. Itexhibitsthem
that
as dependenton the will of others,whether any one who shallsell a fellowthey
shall receive religious instruction ; whether
Christianwithout his consent
they
shall know and worship the true God ; whether
the endearments of husbands and wives,parents
regard
we rejoice
inhumanity
surelydecided, and it
unanimouslyadoptedby slave-holders
might
drawing
sistency
manity
honest,
the complete abolition of slaverythroughout
Christendom and throughout the world.
Church,
virtually
we have seen the Methodist was.
The assemblythen goes on to state that
the slaves are not at presentpreparedto be
view to preparing
greaterdelay
demands." " To be governed
and impartialregard to the happiness
extending this plea of necessity"
be immediately
disciplined and suspended.