The writers of the New Testament seem to
have recognized slavery as an existing fact;
and they provided for the regulation of the
mutual relations of master and servant, but
what are those regulations? and what is their
influence? They are such, that slavery ex-
isting under their influence is no longer
slavery, but honest labor and honest and just
reward! "Servants be obedient to your
masters." "Masters give unto your servants
that which is just and equal." What if just
and equal? Is it anything less than exact re-
muneration to the full value of the service
rendered? There I leave that part of the
question.
In short, all persons in every relation of
society, social, civil or otherwise, are brought
by Christianity under the influence of the
golden rule: ''Thou shalt love thy neighbor
as thyself," and "Whatsoever ye would that
men should do unto you, do ye even so to
them." Who is my neighbor? asked the
Jews. The answer given in the parable of
the good Samaritan, was every man, even the
despised Samaritan, whom you have reviled,
and spit upon, and trampled under foot, and
to whom you have denied any of the privi-
leges of the covenant of grace sworn to by
the Almighty to Abraham and to his de-
scendants.
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's, I will ask
the gentleman whether the kind offices of the
good Samaritan were not exerted upon the
man who was going down from Jerusalem to
Jericho and fell among thieves and robbers?
Mr. TODD. Certainly it was; I admit the
truthfulness of that statement. I believe
that whenever a man exerts a kindly office,
whether he be a Jew or a Samaritan, a Euro-
pean or African, wherever be may have been
born under the broad canopy of the sunshine
of heaven, he is acting upon the same general
principle taught in the Scriptures—"Love
thy neighbor as thyself," and that every man
is my neighbor. But is it from motives of
love to my African neighbor that I claim a
right to his flesh and blood, his life and his
labor ?
Is it from motives of this sort that I give
my sanction to a system that deprives him of
liberty; of just reward for labor; of the
sweets of home; of the society of wife and
children; which justifies the master in his
caprice at any moment, though it be to break
forever the strongest ties that bind him to
this world ?
Is it doing as I would he done by when I
voluntarily hold a being God intended for a
moral agent—the heir of a glorious destiny—
in servile chains? 0, no, no, no ! Christian
love and justice plead with burning tongue
and eloquent tears, for the disenthallment of
this long enslaved and persecuted race !
I would like, Mr. President, to have dis-
cussed emancipation in its national relations,
but I have not time, and can safely entrust |
this theme, and indeed every point involved
in this issue to other gentlemen, who are
fully prepared, by every consideration aris-
ing out of morals, intellect or patriotism, to
meet them. I have preferred to confine my-
self mostly to its social and moral aspects,
and to leave the consideration of the question
in connection with political and national
matters to other gentlemen, who I admit
are better prepared to meet and dispose of
those points than I can claim to be.
I will say, however, that every State which
adopts emancipation; every measure adopted
looking to the subversion of the system of
slavery throughout the country; every sable
fugitive to the lines of the Union army, tends
to the downfall of the already tottering
throne of Jeff. Davis, and to the restoration
of the unity, peace and prosperity of our
land. [Applause.] When the chief, pre-
cious corner-stone, extolled by Alexander
Stephens, as the foundation of the secession
empire, shall be ground to dust by the victo-
rious tread of the hosts of liberty now mar-
shalling and marching, then will Providence
paint with his/own pure sunlight, the beau-
teous bow of promise and peace on the dark
bosom of the passing storm-cloud, a pledge
that this sad, gory deluge of blood is over,
and shall never return ! Then shall he speak
with that same voice whose utterance alarmed
the waves of the Gallilean sea into instant
silence, " Peace, be still !" and there shall be
"a great calm."
"Happy is that nation whose God is the
Lord." The hand of Providence can be
traced in all our past history; our highest
hopes for the future centre in his power and
protection. He has marked out for us a des-
tiny. That destiny I have been wont to be-
lieve from the days of my childhood, will be
a glorious destiny. That destiny, I believe,
is to exert such an evangelical and civilizing
and liberty-loving influence upon the world,
as shall eventuate in bringing the ends of the
earth to the acknowledgment of the funda-
mental principles of Christianity and liberty,
and I have confidence that He who plants His
footsteps on the seas and rides upon the
stormy sky, will take good care that that
destiny shall be fulfilled.
Tendering my thanks to the Convention
for the patience with which they have listened
to my remarks, I now take my seat.
Mr. MACE moved that the Convention do
now adjourn,
The question being taken, the motion to
adjourn was not agreed to, upon a division,
ayes 36, nays 37.
Mr. RIDGELY. I move that when the Con-
vention adjourns to-day, it stand adjourned
to Monday next, at 12 M.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. I hope that motion will.
not prevail. We have just commenced the
discussion of one of the most important sub-
jects that have come before us, or that will |
