" And if the servant shall plainly say, I
love my master, my wife, and my children; I
will not go out free:
"Then his master shall bring him unto
the judges; he shall also bring him to the
door, or unto the door post; and his master
shall bore his ear through with an awl; and
be shall serve him forever."
This goes further; this recognizes the sepa-
ration of man and wife. It gives the option
to the husband. If he determines that he
loves his master, his wife, and his children,
then the fact is set forth before the judges,
and from that time he becomes a slave for
life to his master, and all his children after
him.
Mr. SCOTT. Does the gentleman read "a
slave for life," or for what term?
Mr. BERRY, of Prince George's. " For-
ever." The reverend gentleman from Car-
oline (Mr. Todd) said that under the Mo-
saic dispensation all slaves went out free
at the great day of jubilee. Now, although
he is a minister of the Gospel, he has read
Scripture to very little purpose if he says he
finds that in the Bible. It was only the
Hebrew servant that went out free. None of
the servants bought from strangers, not be-
longing to the Israelites, went out free; but
they and their seed forever remained to their
master and his posterity. I am afraid that
the reverend gentleman from Caroline (Mr.
Todd) is in the condition of a great many
who lived during that period, when its dawn
was trumpeted forth in tones so loud that it
could be heard by the whole nation. The
Bible says of them: "Blessed are they who
know the joyful sound, for theirs shall be the
great reward." The gentleman may have
heard the joyful sound, but I greatly fear he
does not know it—there is a marked distinc-
tion between hearing and knowing it. I am
afraid he does not know the joyful sound; for
his arguments why slavery should be abol-
ished in this State, and the manner he pro-
poses to accomplish it, show an inconsistency
with the Christian religion, with the profes-
sion of Christianity, which can only be ac-
counted for by considering the age of immo-
rality and demoralization in which we are
now living. What, to take my property from
me without just compensation? Is that
Christian? Is it honest? And when I say
is it honest, I mean to ask the question; Is
it honest? Is it doing unto all men as you
would that they should do unto you? And
yet, at this time, we have men, not only pro-
fessors of religion, but ministers of the Gos-
pel, holding forth these views contrary to all
justice and religious teachings, and contrary
to all principles of government.
Now let us refer fur a moment to the New
Testament upon this question of slavery. The
subject is not mentioned by our Saviour. He
lived when the whole of Judea was a slave- |
holding country. He lived when there were
some 60,000,000 of slaves in the Roman empire
Yet through all his teachings he did not once
upbraid those who held slaves. He recog-
nized slavery as a domestic institution under
the law; and that it was wise and proper
that slaves should be so held. He came not
to destroy either the law or the prophets but
he came upon a higher mission. Those in-
fluences, however, I do not see prevailing to
a great extent in this Hall. I now refer to
the teachings of the New Testament upon the
subject of slavery. In Ephesians, 6th chap.,
Paul says:
"Servants, be obedient to them that are
your mailers according to the flesh, with fear
and trembling, insingleness of your heart, as
unto Christ:
"Not with eye-service, as men-pleasers;
but as the servants of Christ, doing the will
of God from the heart;
"With good will doing service, as to the
Lord, and not to men ;
"Knowing that whatsoever good thing
any man doeth, the same shall he receive of
the Lord, whether be be bond or free."
And then I will read two or three verses
from Colossians, 3d chapter :
"Servants, obey in all things your masters
according to the flesh; not with eye-service,
as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart,
fearing God;
" And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as
to the Lord, and not unto men :
" Knowing that of the Lord ye shall re-
ceive the reward of the inheritance; for ye
serve the Lord Christ."
And in 1st Timothy, 6th chapter, com-
mencing with the first verse:
" Let as many servants as are under the
yoke count their own masters worthy of all
honor, that the name of God and his doctrine
be not blasphemed;
" And they that have believing masters, let
them not despise them, because they are
brethren; but rather do them service, because
they are faithful and beloved partakers of the
benefit. These things teach and exhort.
" If any man teach otherwise, and consent
not to wholesome words, even the words of
our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine
which is according to godliness;
"He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting
about questions and strifes of words, whereof
cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmis-
ings," &c.
And then there is the first chapter of Phile-
mon, which was referred to the other day;
where it is not only shown that at that day
slavery was recognized, but Onesimus, a con-
verted slave, was sent home by Paul to his
master, and Paul stated that he would pay
any charges against the servant, any loss
which the master may have sustained by loss |
