Testimony of Dr. Capers, Methodist.

Dr. Capers in his speech, in mentioning various reasons why Methodists, after a certain date, became less odious to the people of the southern states, said "at length people began to consider that many of them were slaveholders-why should they be insurrectionists?"

Again-the southern section of the Methodist church is now murmuring because slaveholding ministers are excluded from the highest offices in the churches-nay more - disunion is seriously, openly hinted at by prominent preachers in the South, if hereafter, the fact of a minister being a slaveholder, is considered valid reason for withholding from him the office of BISHOP.

Testimony of Prof. Hodge, Presbyterian.

It is acknowledged, that, at the time of the Advent of Jesus Christ, slavery in its worst forms, prevailed over the world. The Saviour found it around him in Judea; the Apostles met with it in Asia, Greece, and Italy. How did they treat it? Not by the denunciation of slaveholding as necessarily sinful. The assumption that slaveholding is, in itself, a crime, is not only an error, but it is an error fraught with evil consequences. Bib. Rep. April, 1836.

Testimony of W. B. Seabrook, of S. C.

In the judgment of my fellow citizens, slavery is not inconsistent with the laws of nature, and of God. The Bible informs us, that it was ESTABLISHED and SANCTIONED by DIVINE AUTHORITY even among the elect of Heaven.-Essay, read before the Agricultural Society of St. Johns' Collection, 1836.

Testimony of Edward Brown, of S. Carolina.

Slavery has ever been the step-ladder by which civilized countries have passed from barbarism to civilization. It appears, indeed, to be the only state, capable of bringing the love of independence and of ease, inherent in

man, to the discipline necessary to the supply of food, raiment, and shelter, necessary to his physical'wants.Notes on the origin and necessity of Slavery, 1826.

Testimony of Dr. Dalcho, of S. Carolina, Episcopalian.

Slavery is not forbidden by the Divine Law, so it is left to our own judgment whether we hold slaves or not. Practical Considerations, &c. 1823.

Charleston Courier.

We confidently pronounce, that he must wilfullyshut his eyes against the broad and palpable light of truth, who will not acknowledge that the Old Testament conclusively shows, that slavery was not only not condemned, but received the express sanction of the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.-1835.

Testimony of W. A. Duer, LL. D., Episcopalian.

We deny that it is a crime to retain [in slavery] those ignorant and helpless beings, who have been cast upon [our] protection, as well as thrown into [our] power by no act of their own.-3d An. Rep. N. Y. City Col. Society. Testimony of the Quarterly Christian Spectator, Presbyterian.

The Bible contains no explicit prohibition of slavery, it recognizes both in the Old Testament and in the New, such a constitution of society, and it lends its authority to enforce the mutual obligations resulting from that constitution.-1833.

Testimony of Dr. R. Furman, Baptist.

The right of holding slaves is clearly established in the Holy Scriptures, both by precept and example.-Exposi tion of the views of the Baptists, addressed to the Governor of S. Carolina, 1833.

Testimony of T. R. Dew, Prof. of History, Metaphysics and Political Law, in William and Mary

College, Episcopalian.

Slavery was established and SANCTIONED, by Divine authority, among even the elect of Heaven-the favored

children of Israel.-Review of the Debate in the Virginia Legislature of 1831 and 1832.

Testimony of Rev. E. D. Simms, Prof. of Lang. Randolph, Macon College, Methodist.

These extracts from HOLY WRIT UNEQUIVOCALLY ASSERT THE RIGHT OF PROPERTY IN SLAVES, together with the usual incidents of that right; such as the power of acquisition and disposition in various ways according to municipal regulations. The right to buy and sell, and to transmit to children by way of inheritance, is clearly stated. The only restriction on the subject, is in reference to the market, in which slaves or bondmen were to be purchased.

Upon the whole then, whether we consult the Jewish polity instituted by God himself; or the uniform opinion and practice of mankind in all ages of the world; or the injunctions of the New Testament and the Moral Law; we are brought to the conclusion, that Slavery is not immoral.

Having established the point, that the first African slaves were legally brought into bondage, the right to detain their children in bondage follows as an indispensable consequence.

Thus we see, that the Slavery which exists in America, was founded in right.

: Testimony of Rev. E. Hedding, D. D., Methodist. The right to hold a slave is founded on this rule, 'Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would, that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.'- Ch. Ad. and Journal, Oct. 20th, 1837.

Testimony of Rev. G. W. Freeman, Episcopalian. No man nor set of men in our day are entitled to pronounce it WRONG-and we may add that slavery, as it exists at the present day, IS AGREEABLE TO THE ORDER OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE.-Sermon, Nov. 1836.

The "Counter Appeal," Methodist.

The general rule of Christianity not only permits, but in supposable circumstances, enjoins a continuance of the master's authority.

We say then, that this text in Col. iii. 22-25, proves to a demonstration, that in the primitive Christian church at Colosse, under the Apostolic eye, and with the Apostolic sanction, the relation of master and slave was permitted to subsist.

1 Cor. vii. 20-23.

This text seems mainly to enjoin and sanction the fitting continuance of their present social relations; the freeman was to remain free, and the slave, unless emancipation should offer, was to remain a slave.

The New Testament, enjoins obedience upon the slave as an obligation due to a present rightful authority.

W. Fisk, John Lindsey, Bartholomew Otheman, Hezekiah S. Ramsdell, Edward T. Taylor, Jacob Sanborn, H. H. White.-March 27, 1835.

Testimony of Prof. Whedon, Methodist.

There were Christian or believing slaveholders in the [primitive] Christian church. Now whatever δουλος means, here (1 Tim. vi. 2) despotai are unequivocally slaveholders, who are brethren, faithful and beloved partakers of the [gospel] benefit.-Zion's Herald of March 30, 1836.

Testimony of the Rev. W. Fisk, D. D., Methodist.

The relation of master and slave, may and does, in many cases, exist, under such circumstances, as free the master from the just charge and guilt of immorality.Letter to Rev. T. Merritt.

Testimony of Rev. N. Bangs, D. D., Methodist.

It appears evident, that however much the apostle might have deprecated SLAVERY as it then existed throughout the Roman empire, he did not feel it his duty, as an ambassador of Christ, to disturb those relations which subsisted between masters and servants by denouncing slavery as such a mortal sin that they could not be servants of Christ in such a relation.-Christ. Ad. and Journal, No. 431.

The foregoing extracts are not quoted here to prove that each of the authors of them designed to justify or defend slavery as a system. But we think

they do prove beyond a doubt, that the sentiment prevails very extensively throughout this nation, among professors of religion, ministers of the Gospel, presidents of colleges, &c. &c., that, the act of slaveholding is, not in itself, sinful; and consequently it follows, that a great change must take place in the views of this nation before slavery will ever be abolished.

CHAPTER XI.

PRACTICAL SLAVERY.

What is slavery in practice? Many suppose that it often exists under some peculiar "circumstances" which, some how or other, "free the slaveholder from the just charge and guilt of immorality." What those "peculiar circumstances" are, however, we are not told.

We have had many fine spun theories on "slavery in the abstract;" but it matters but little to the poor slave what slavery is in the abstract, its practice, however, is every thing to him. Hence, we think it proper to give a few facts like the following, as a work of this kind might be justly considered incomplete without them. In reading the following items, let it be remembered, that they describe such cases, precisely, as are occurring in the midst of slavery, every day; slavery never did, and never will exist in any country, without perpetrating crimes like the following. We do not mean by this, that there are no enslavers who do not inflict corporeal cruelties upon the persons of their slaves, but we mean to say, that slavery cannot and never did exist without its evils, such as are here described.