No. 45.
[Pg 1]If there is one subject which, above all others, may be regarded as ofnational interest at the present time, it is the subject of Slavery.Wherever we go, north or south, east or west, at the fireside, in thefactory, the rail-car or the steamboat, in the state legislatures or thenational Congress, this "ghost that will not down" obtrudes itself. Thestrife has involved press, pulpit, and forum alike, and in spite of allcompromises by political parties, and the desperate attempts atnon-committal by religious bodies, it only grows wider and deeper.
But the distinctive feature of this, as compared with other questions ofnational import, is, that here both parties draw their principalarguments from the Bible as a common armory of weapons for attack anddefense. On the one side, it is claimed that slavery, as it exists inthe United States, is not a moral evil; that it is an innocent andlawful relation, as much as that of parent and child, husband and wife,or any other in society; that the right to buy, sell, and hold men forpurposes of gain, was given by express permission of God, and sanctionedby Christ and his apostles; that this right is founded on the goldenrule; and says Dr. Shannon of Bacon College, Ky., "I hardly know whichis most unaccountable, the profound ignorance of the Bible, or thesublimity of cool impudence and infidelity manifested by those whoprofess to be Christians; and yet dare affirm that the Book of God givesno sanction to slaveholding." All these affirmations are fairly summedup thus: "As slavery was practiced by the patriarchs, received sanctionand legality from God in the Mosaic law, and was not denounced by Christand his apostles, it must have been right. If right then, it is sostill; therefore Southern slavery is right."
On the other hand, it is contended that chattel slavery[Pg 2]is nowhere warranted or sanctioned by the Bible, but is totally opposed both to itsspirit and teachings.
It will be the object of the present discussion to determine which ofthese opinions is correct.
What, then, is chattel slavery as understood in American law?
1. It is not the relation of wife or child. In one sense a man may besaid to "possess" these; but he can not buy or sell them. These arenatural relations; and he who violates them for the sake of gain isbranded by all as barbarous and criminal.
2. Not the relation of apprentice or minor. This is temporary, havingfor its primary object, not the good of the master or guardian, but thatof the apprentice or minor, his education and preparation for acting hispart as a free and independent member of society; but chattelism islife bondage, for the sole good of the master.
3. Not the relation of service by contract. Here a bond or agreement isimplied, and therefore reciprocal rights, and the mutual power ofdissolution on failure of either in the terms of mutual agreement; butchattelism ignores and denies the a