The voice of freedom. [volume], December 07, 1839, Image 2

About The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848

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fco luy a restraining, blighting hand on ihe mor
nl energies of one, set to waich for the spiritual
interests of society. From that hour, it is prob
able, half Ilia power and usefulness are destroyed.
His hope and cotifidencu are gone never to re
turn, it may be feared. When his people begin
to loolf with coldness and suspicion upon him, in
consequence of firm adherence to his convictions
of duty, a conflict within commences, which, when
consummated, will either exalt him far above the
ordinary condition of humanity or sink him into n
depth it is paiuful to contemplate. Judging from
the frailty we feci and observe, there can be little
doubt what fn many cases will be the result.
The blood of heroism has been poured into the
hearts of few. Not many arc capable of ascen
ding to the sublimcist heights of virtue. We
therefore beseech you, brethren, by the love of
Christ and the worth ofsonls, instead of check
ing, encourage your ministers to speak with bold
ness, to quit themselves like men, whose dilty it
is to declare the whole truth, and thus to present
you spotless before the throne of God and of the
Lamb.
From the N. Y. Evangelist.
Correspondence on Slavery
Irr t4e month of December, 1939, a letter was
addressed by the General Conference of churches
in Ma me,, through a committee appointed lor the
purpose, to Kev. Hnry lteed, of Columbus, Mis-
siusippi,- with the request that he would communi
cate it to the Presbyery of lombechec. 1 hi
was accordingly done by Mr. Reed, and an an
swer returned by the Presbytery, entering brief
ly into the scriptural argument in behalf of the in
etitutioD, and requesting that it should be pub
lHhed. The General Conference, in their meet'
ing, Juno, 1S39, voted to publish the saint, togeth
er with an examination of it. The committee pre
pared a document which enters kindly and fully
into, the whole subject, and the whole correspon
deuce is now published in tbo Christian Mirror,
and occupies nearly eighteen columns of that na
per. We should li! iQ to republish it all, were it
not lor its great length. I he letter from the Tom
becheo Presbytery we shall publish next week, as
our readers will undoubtedly have some curiosity
to sea whac a southern presbytery at this day
have to say upon this important torie. The fol
lowing are the concluding remarks of the com
mittee, in reply to the letter of the Presbytery.
CONCLUSION.
Dear brethren, we must close. We again thank
vou sincerely for having declared to us your opin
roils in regard to this momentous subject so fully
and for having requested us to publish them, to
gether with the reasons which in your own view
should bring othes to embrace them. We have
done it, and hops you will deal as fairly with us
We, as in duty bound, have answered you, on ev
cry point plainly ; but, eve trust in the exercise o
entirely good feelings. On the fundamental ours
tion, whether American slaveholding is morally
right, and warranted by divine authority, we have
been directly at variance ; nor-is there any room
lor compromise.. We cannot, however, but hope
that jpn a candid consideration of our arguments
find others, which on the sarm side may suggest
themselves to your minds, you will see that 1 ruth
i on our part ; and henceforth unite your influ
ence with ours in behalf of all who are groaning
under unrighteous oppression. At all events, our
arguments on both side being now before the
public, we must leave others to form their own
opinions of the accuracy and conclusiveness with
which we have reasoned. JNor is the question
inr debaie one of meracpeculativa interest; n ques
tion which may be deeded either way without
affecting human rights and happiness; but one on
whose determination, by the general voice of man
kind, the most valued interests of i.iillions of otir
raeo must, not only now, but in every coining
nge depend. Most of the questions of right, and
honor which have been contested among the na
tions, and been settled on fields of battls drench
ed in bloodi have been trivial indeed in comparis
on with this.
If you have reasoned rightly, slaveholders, not
only in this country, but everywhere on earth,
may still hold fast their human chattels ; and by
their unrequited ftnl, their natural increase, and a
gainful trado in their living bodies ami souls, con
tinue to enrich themselves. The system may
rightfully bo extended, as fast and as far as the
stronger nations and tribes of the earth slia:l deem
it for their interest lo subdue and break under the
yoke of bondage, the weaker ; for it was by con
quest and violence that the great system of Ro
man and American slavery, which you hove so
strenuously advocated, were introduced. Nay,
more: if ever, in the revolutions of coming ages,
this Union should be dissolved., and the aiiialTa
mated race in the slaveholding states, being more
numerous and strong than their matters, and nan
ting for liberty, should not only assert their right
lo independence ; and, believing the doctrine,
which has Tecently been advocated in Congress
witn so mucn applause, to be sound, that both ra
ces cannot be free, that one must be enslaved ;
should think it right to love their own be.-1, as the
distinguished advocate of that doctrinv does his;
ana consequently should transfer the yoke ofsla
very from their own to the necks of the other race;
in such an exigency, which may Heaven avert,
evfcry argument which you have adduced in de
fence of your slaveholding, might be used by them
with equal propriety, in delence of theirs : they
might declare that.havinsrstaves.thev were authori
zed not only by the laws of thn country ,then chang
ed, but by the holy scriptures nlso, to hold them ;
and reter your broken-hearted, cjushed. croaninf,
and shamed posterity, to this very communication
of yours, on which we have been nuimndvprtiny.
. .i . .i r.i i . P
to esiaonsn me irutn oi mo declaration ! Nor df
we see how your posterity would be oblo to re
fute the arroganey of their pretensions but in thn
use of some such arenments as we have cmnlov-
r:d against vours. 6, sirs, the doctrines of slave
holders are fearfully dangerous doctrines. If it
be true that one part of mankind have a right tr.
enslave another, for no other cause than that they
have power and choose to use it, there never cat.
he any general and ft'tled peace among the na
'.ons; the kingdom of Christ, as foreLbld by tin
i rophels, can never come; but luitrrd, wrath, se
is ions, wars, and cruel oppression?, must forev
er .'i'nte, distress, and curse mankind.
TCut if, on the other hand, the prineij !-s which
v.'. have advocated are right, and if they should
n orally no receivea ana reduce to practiced, no
only must slavery with all its multiplied nhnmin
aliens cease, but all sorts of oppression and injus
tice, now prevalent on earth, le succeeded by
such imparthl equity, Christian benevolence, and
fratctna! kirrdnem sndsrcmftJcnrp, that this will
no longer be n world lying in wickedness, butn
world, in goodness, neace. and general hnppiness
refleclino- i.nnn the universe the very imajre of
heaven.
With very affectionate regard for yourselves
and the churches with which you are connected,
we subscribe ourselves, in behalf of the General
Conference of Maine, your brethren in the faith,
labors, and hopes of the gospel.
Silas M'Keen, for thi Committee.
To the Rev. Thomas C. Stuart, Pontococ, Mis
sissippi, Stated Cleric of the Presbytery of Tom
becheu.
From Zions Watchman
A Bight of Slavery.
Dear lirothc kunderla?id, It is well known
by many in the Genesee, Black River, and One
dia Conferences, both among the ministry and
.membership, that I spent most of the last year in
the South and South-west. From the time of my
leaving nome on tne lirst ot October, IsJS, to mv
return ir. July, 1339, I travelled more than eight
thousand miles, full six thousand of which was in
slave countries, and from the peculiar times in
which wa live, I took no small pains to become
acquainted with the system of American slavery in
all its parts, in the church and out of it. I saw it
in its mildest type in those parts of Virginia and
Kentucky situated in the neighborhood of the non
slaveholding suites. As I v?nt South, through
Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee, its shades
grew deeper and darker, and when I reached Mis
sissippi and Louisiana, I was overwhelmed in the
blackness and rottenness of the core.
I design, as health, and the duties of my charge
will permit, to give extracts from my journal to
the public through the faithful Watchman, if
they meet your approval. I will now give an ex
tract concerning New Orleans.
AT A A ' 1 . I I , 1,
ioo. 'i. Arrived in tne lar lamea ana ousy
city of New Orleans. Stopped at the French Ex
change, the Astor House of this southern mart of
the United States. Here you may look on faces
from nlmost every part of the world, avid see al
most every shade of character developed which is
found nmong the human race. Obtained some
refreshment, prepared for church, (it being the
morning ol the Lord s clay,) when the hour for
sabbath school came, I repaired to the basement of
the church, and .ound the school in session. The
superintendent seemed anxious for ils prosperity.
There were twenty-nine scholars, and five teach
ers; apparently little or no interest nmong the
teachers or children. After the dismission of tfce
school, I went to the body of the house, a splendid
and very extravagant building, having costGO.000
dollars, where a congregation of about one hun
dred and fifty persons were assembled, apparently
from the ordinary walks of life, to hear the erosnel.
We were favored with a g. id, plain and searching
sermon, irotn tne stationed minister, br. Hamilton,
who came here a few years since from the N.
England Conference. After the close of service,
I made myself known to him, was cordially receiv
ed, and very kindly treated by him, and in the
family of br. Hoard for several d.iys while I re
mained in the city. At 4 o'clock P. M., I ac
companied him to a slave congregation, where
we found about eight hundred convened, of all
ages, and ot all colors Irotn the jet Mack to the al
most snowy white. Many of them seemed very
intelligent in ibeir appearance. Their decorum
in the church, and attention to dir. sermon, were
worthy ol imitation on the part of the whites
They sang devotiormlly and enchantingly. Thei
piety the preacher informed me was, generally
uniform and consistent, with the exception of pro
miscuous tnterconne between Vie sexes, which
their formidable sin, and of which llify are guilty
to nn alarming extent, and which they are 1aukt
and encovragnd in by the whites ! What ! I ox
laimed! Members of ihe Lhtirch, of tiurM. E
Linritcil, guilty of adultcm nnd allowed in dip
huivli, nnj the church in possession of the knowl-
dgc of a ? " Yes," he answered ' it is COMMON
iHbroug.i this country and unavoidable."
After the sermon tlic minister proceeded to bap
Use two slave cuildren, whicii ho did without any
cureuiony, ami exnorieu mo mothers, (1 saw no
fi: tiicrs,) " to bring them up in the nurture and ad
inomuou oi uie ijoru, occ. ni mis point my
r. l : l . l l . j . .i
leeiiiiir? aireauy long suppressed, got I tie nscen-
lency, and flowed in a copious shower of tears
was asked to close by prayer, which I wanted to
an. ii y tuiM iiiiit'u uj uiiuu.'-oiii liseil 10 Uv
, nil r ""..I c... -i
.! TIT .! 1 1 . if . i
greiu v-rm.. i pwiyi-n lor grace upon i;ie pour a-
bused slave, to bear with patience and submission
his wrongs, when a deep and universal groan was
heard through the house. I then changed the
prayer to thanksgiving, that there was a heaven
where the poor crushed slave's siuTerings would
end, and where, perhops, the poor man or woman
of color would be nearer the throne of light and
glory, lihin the master or mistress, when there
was u shout seemingly as deep as the Alleluiahs
fjctore tne lMemul miotic. iUcy t.-jc up a col
lection oj some thirty dollars for the sujrport of
oj tie ministers. 1 he preacher remarked to me,
subsequently, that, but for the colored congrega
tion, he should have svfftred for the comforts of
UJe.
At one o'clock, on every Sn'bath, there
regular parade of the city militia. On Snbhath
evening all the theatres (three in number) were
illuminated, open, and glutted, ball -alleys, coffee
houses, cotillion parties, and their nameless asso
ciate retreats all open, and in full operation. No
religious service in the evening! I was informed
the next day, by one ot the first lawyers in the
city, that there was a city ordinance of twenty years
standing iu lull force, that the bells of the churches
-1 II., i riii i
siiowiu noi be rung on tne sabbath evenings, as
they disturbed the amusements of the citizens
The Christian religion has only a nominal exist
ence here. Ihe preacher informed incthat there
were hundreds of apostates from the M. E. Church
in the city, among whom were private members,
class-leaders, stewards, exhnrters, local preachers,
and travelling ministers, from the northern slave-
noiumg states, whoso influence was decidedly a
gainst religion, manifested in entirely absenting
.u-.nstnv iroiiian mo ordinances of God's house.
He pointed out to rne several of these backslidden
ministers in the streets, who had gone into the
slavery, cotton, nnd sugar business. Br. Hamil
ton nlso informed me, without hesitancy, that the
members and ministers generally were slaveholders
nnd slave buyers and sellers. The following is
one conversation among many, whicji I had with
the poor slaves at the South. One Sabbath even
ing I called to see nn aged and afflicted colored
woman, who had iust received a letter from her
husband in Maryland, in the handwriting of his
nosier, ami wmcn i read to tl okl lady, which
led to the following conversation :
THE VOICE OF FREEDOM
Aunty, how long since you left Maryland ?
" Twelve years ago, my master sold me to a plan
ter in Alabama." Were you married then ?
" Yes, and had five children." Where are they?
" They weje sold into different parts of the South."
Was your master a professor of religion ? " Yes,
he was n Methodist." -Wa3 your master in Ala
bama a Christian ? " No, he was a wicked man."
Her master in Alabama sold her to a man in
New-Orleans, there she married another man and
had five children, and her husband and all- her
children were sold to a planter in Mississippi. I
asked her, if sho was a professor of religion ?
"Yes," sho said, "she was a Methodist in
Maryland, Alabama, and now in New-Orleans."
I asked her if she did not know that it was wicked
to live so. Her reply was " yes, but massa makes
us do so." Indeed, I was at a loss, for a time, to
know whether I was in christian America or infi
del France.
Since my return several of my friends have
asked me whether my views concerning slavery
were not changed for the better ? I have uniform
ly replied that the one half of the abominations of
slavery had never been told nie, and I now wish to
say, publicly and unqualifiedly, that I found no cir
cumstances, neither do I believe that any existto jus
tify in the church or out of it. And I am more than
ever astonished, that any minister of the northern
church should for a moment apologize for this
'most hateful of all practices in this poor, sin-marred
earth. Yours, for the whole truth,
S. HOES.
Utica, Oct. 31, 1S39.
Aristocratic Insolence.
The Editor of the Herald of Freedom speaks in
the following terms of the insolent demand of the
rum-loving, pro-slavery majority of pew-holders
in Hollis street church, that Mr. Pierpoint should
give them his ' undivided attention' !
A little extravagant in their demand these
pew-holders, to claim 'undivided altention' of
any man, andi7cj an attention as Pieupoint's,
for whose boundless scope, the little globe they
live on, is nil to narrow and the starry scope a
bove it! There is a strong developenient in this
unwary expression ol Hollis street, of the insolent
despotism of wealth. It thinks every thing pur
chasable with money. In their estimation, it would
' make the mare go' not only, but the man go.
But they have here mistaken their man, we think,
if they don't mistake in their doctrine. These
overgrown folks demand the personal indepen
dence of every one they employ. Their physi
cian they will pay hjm fatly, but they must have
his liberty in return. He must beJftow on their
turtle fed corpnscs his whr! lime and his 'undi
vided attention.' He must not sleep, or wink, if
hitrh livinir visit upon '.heir opulent toes a rctnbu
tive twinge of the gout and least of nil may he
divide his attention, between them and ihe poor
patient. They jxay him, and it is 'with the under
standinrr that they are to receive his undivided at
leutioi! This, 'till he grows rich himself, and
cau dine and give dinners. Then he maydivide
his attention between them, and his own belly
and his abundant nienn3 ol tilling it. And so
with the lawyer. While he is poor, his attention
must not be severed. It must be vlwm nnd devo
ted to his patror.. They nay him and he must
keep his ' u'ttention' concentrated, But ns soon
is he can mount his name on ono of the mahoga
ny doors ot L-ommon Direct, or wherever 'proper
ty and standing' sets up its haunts, he becomes
lord of his own ' attention,' and may distribute it
with his portly peers, among the pompous noth
ings, whereon they wind up their wasted proba
tion.
And they must keep their minister too. Him
they pay with unusual salary, and in requita
he must le thcir, ' and theirs t-j keep.' He must
bestow his entire and ' undivided attention' upon
the broadcloth and cashmere they can lend,-" a
Sitiday's forenoon, to occupy their cushioned en
closures in the house of worship (?) Of week days
he must dine with them at iheir pleasure nnd cap
rice. This keeps him m remembrance of his ob
ligation and it is safe as well as highly patrician
to have a chaplain at the board, to Hve sanction
to the wine bottle and dispensation to the appetite
by his brief-said grace, and Ins presence, lhu
during the week, and on Sabbath, he must enter
tain their elastic spirits with sounding periods
i r.i.i "i 1 1
and tuu latest reading oi tne tneaire, laKingneeu
not to stumble on to any thine, that might dis
turb their spiritual tranquility.
And all this Hollis Street demands of such n
nature as Piervoint s. Why, they mistake as il
they had 'bound the Unicorn with
the furrow to harrow their valleys
or to abide by their crib' !
his band, iu
after them
Definition. Modern Reformer : one who has
an exalted opinion of his own superiority, and t
corresponding contempt for all others. Or an
other ; a restless, uneasy agitator, who under pre
ence of constant employment for the public good,
i -gets the care of his own soul tfresbyterian
We do not pretend to sny that there is no occa
sion for the satire contained in the above, ivten
must first reform themselves before they can re
form others. And for this reason, we have but
little confidence in those ' modern reformers' who
expect to reform the world by preaching the truth
in the abstract, while they excuse themselves from
carrying it out m practice. 1 his class of persons
are certainly remarkable for their exhalted ' opin
ion of their own superior wisdom ' and contempt
for all others.' 1 hey devise many projects, os
tensibly ' lor the vubac eood, winch are inconsis
tent with God's law, and consequently, with the
proper care of the soul. Some ol these restless,
uneasy agitators are for thrusting one sixth part
of the American people from their native land,
under pretence of the public good, and the regen
eration of a continent! l'rom such ' modern re
formers,' we say, in all humility, ' Good Lord de
liver us.'
But the above definition reminds tis-of another.
thnt ourrht to stand bv the sideol it, by way of
check-mate and counterpoise.
Definition. Modern ?aint ; one, who under
pretence of attending to the salvation ol rns own
soul, casts the law of God behind his back, tram-
pics his Saiviour's poor under Ins feet, or when
he sees them fallpn among theives, passes by,
with the Priest and thcLevite, on the other side.
A saint, in modern parlance, not unfrequently
means one who makes a merit of his solicitude to
provide for his own soul and body, in tho way
that shall give him the least trouble about others !
The first and second table of the law, with such
an one is, 'Thou shall in any wise take care of
thy mv dear self Friend of Man.
TllE VOICE OF F11EED01.
MONTPELIER SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1839.
Winter Operations.
,The Executive Committee of the State Anti
Slavery Society, counting on the prompt co-operation
of the friends of humanity, have made a
liberal outlay in the purchase of books, suitable
for town and district libraries the prices of the
different libraries ranging from five to thirty dol
lars. A number of book agents are already in
the field, busily employed in scattering these treas
ures among the hardy yeomanry of the State.
We take occasion to suggest to societies not al
ready provided with libraries, the importance of
taking early measures for a supply. In almost
any of our towns, an active young man will only
need to devote a few hours lo procuring the re
quisite sum, We confess that we have been sur
prised to learn with what alacrity our agents have
been met, in many places where little or nothing
had been before attempted. Special attention
should be given to the circulation of the Almanac
for 1810, Weld's " Slavery as it is," and Jay's
View. Let us not be forgetful of the admonition,
Be not weary in well doing.
" Our army swore terribly in Flanders."
The back-stair editor of the " Vermont Mecu
ry" the same person, who, like McFingal's pa
triot, " left his country for his country's good," to
sojourn in the British dominions, and who, " by
some unaccountable oversight," was not elected
to the secretaryship of the state, A. L. 5S36, has
thought proper to put forth the following waspish
article, which we take t be the commencement
of an open war upon our "shoestrings." If our
hero should prosecute the engagement for a while,
in the spirit and temper developed in the onset,
there is no telling what may happen to our slen
der appurtenances aforesaid. That the reader
may have a glimpse of this doughty champion,
who does battle, very naturally, with masked face,
we copy his paragraph entire adding a few brief
notes, as in duty bound, in defence of our "shoe
strings."
A Voice of Fueedom. Chauncey L. Knapp
the hero of abolitionism in Vermont, and the man
whom Elliot Cresson, Esq. met at a lecture
Montpelier two years since, and used all up, as
we are credibly informed by a man present, but
his shoe strings, is still alive.(l) By some unac
countable oversight, this worthy has been suffjr
ed to creep into the secretary-ship of this stale
what there was left of him, (2) and even allowed
in the hurry business, a little brief authority
which this pattern of benevolence and philanthro
py nas turned to his private account, in venting
a little of his cherished spleen upon the Vermont
Mercury, this paper having dared to oppose some
ol his visionary abolition schemes, and advocated
the colonization cause. (3) Now conies the lasl
The Legislature directed the secretary of the state
to caus- to be published, as soon ns may be, in all
the newspapers in the state, not to exceed two in
each county, such of the laws contained in the
Revised Statutes which which take e fleet before
tne first of July next, with one or two exceptions
and to the letter of this direction wc piesume he
has adhered. lie has done up this County on
the iuff-handle principle, all on one side, and di
rected the publication in the Vermont Chronicle,
a religious paper, and the Windsor Statesman,
boih published in the village of Windsor, at the
outside of the County, to the exclusion of the Ver
mont Mercury, published at Woodstock, in the
centre, and circulating generally through the
County. This may be consistent with the secre
tary s notions of discretion under lus directions,(4)
but ignorance he cannot plead in this case, as the
frequent mention he has made of us in his " Voice
of Freedom," will plainly indicate. If this drop
of gall can add unction to his soul, or solace his
sympathizing feelings for the cause of suffering
humanity in bondage, he has our hearty welcome
We still have the right to publish, and shall pub
lish such of the laws as think are of importance
to be known lo our readers, on our own hook, and
no thanks to secretary Knapn.(5)
(1) An "unaccountable oversight." In proof
of the way in which we were "used up" by El
Hot Cresson, it may be noted, that a subscription
of rising five hundred dollars was made to the
anti-slavery society by the citizens of Montpe'ier,
on the heel of Cresson's lecture above referred to
a sum far exceeding the aggregate of collec
tions for colonization, in the entire state, for the
same year ! .
(2) "But when Ilaman saw Mordecai in the
king's gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for
him, he was full of indignation against Morde-
ran
(3) "Most lame and impotent conclusion."
Does the ex-secretary suppose his readers so stu
pid as not to know, that the Chronicle and the
Slatcmen are equally hostile to the anti-slavery
movement ?
(4) It is so anil we doubt not every person
who will restrain his temper long enough for a
moments reflection, will see the 4fitness of pro
mulgating ihe laws through such channels, as
that all classes and parties in the state may have
equal opportunities to become acquainted with
them.
(5) So you may, Mr. Mercury. Said a petu-
ent child, "Mother, if I enn't have my way, 1 II
certainly feit on the bars ull night and catch the
consumption :
The reader will find, on the first puge, an inter
esting account of further proceedings in ihe case
of the African Captives, from the editor of the
Emancipator. There is too much reason to ap
prehend that these unfornate strangers will yet
be surrendered to the Spanish authorities.
Congress commenced its session on Monday
last. At the lime of our going to press we aro
without intelligent of the organization of the
House. The strength of parties is supposed to be
nearly balanced, and various speculations are afloat
as to the result. Of one thing all may be assured
the speaker will he a slaveholder. No nor
thern man can stand any chance for such a dis
tinction, while humanity, justice and patriotism,
are at a discount, tfnd adherence to party through
thick and thin, is accounted the crowning virtue
of freemen.
Lyndon Academy. A neatly-printed catalogue
of this institution, for Nov. 1839, has been recei
ved. The number of students, 8S. The school,,
since the withdrawal of Mr. Adams, the former
popular instructor, is under the instruction of Mr
D. C. Scoby, and bids fair to maintain its high
standing among kindred institutions in this state.
Instruction is given in the Frenah and German,
languages if required.
Abolition Votes. In Boston the Abolition
candidate received about 100 votes. A correspon
dent of the Liberator thinks the party might throw
three times that number. In New York we be
lieve the number of abolition votes was still less,,
although we have not seen an exact statement of'
them.
So says the Vt. Chronicle, that dignified " spec
tator" of the greatest moral enterprise of the age..
Did the editor ever hear how mustard seeds some
times grow up to be great trees?
A Convention in Monroe County, N. Y. num
bering about 100 persons, has taken the bold step
of nominating Mr. Birney of New York for Pres
ident, and Dr. Le Moyne, of Pennsylvania, for
Vice President. This movement, we are persua
ded, will he regarded by abolitionists generally aa
ill-advised and untimely.
Question, lias God ever authorized one man to eicr
cis authority over others ?
Anawer. Before man apostatized from God, dominion
was given to him over the fish, fowls, and beasts, but not
over any of his own species. See Gen. 1: 26, 28. After
the Full , it was otherwise. Sin had entered the world.
God's authority had been rejected ; and man waa placed
under a new constitution. 'Unto the woman he aid,.
I will greatly multiply thy sorrow, and thy conception; in
sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire
shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.' Gen.
3,16. Here is the root of human government, the first
delegation of authority to man to rule over any of his ipe
cies. And this was in accordance with the great law of
love. 'Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also
loved the church. Let every one of you in particular so
love his wife even as himself; aDd the wife see that che
reverence her husband.' Eph.5: 25, 83. Could such
power be tyrannical? or submission to it, a yoke of bon
dage? The next delegation of power was to parents, and con
stituted the parental, or patriarchial government. We
have indeed no particular account of the original grant of
this power; but it id often recognized in the Bible, and ev
idently implied in the grant of dominion over the woman.
For the man was constituted head of the woman, he must
much more be head, or ruler over her children, and all
the inferior members of the family. But here was no grant
of tyrannical power. The whole was founded on the
great law of Love, and was designed to secure the happi
ness of the children and domestics, as well as the parents.
Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be
long upon the land Which the Lord thy God giveth thee."
Exo. 20, 12. " Children, obey your parents in the Lord :
for this is right. Honor thy father and mother (which ia
the first commandment, with promise.) That il may be
well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but
bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters accor
ding lo the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of
heart as Onto Christ: not as unto devils, Not with eye
service, as men pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, do
ing the will of God from theheait: With good will doing
service, as unto the Lord, and not to men. Knowing that
whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he
receive from the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And
ye masters, do the same thing unto them, forbearing
threatning: knowing that your Master also is in heaven,
neither ia there respect of persons with'Him." Eph. 6, 1-9.
Hera the authority of parents over their children, and of
masters over their servants is expressly recognized; the
duty of children and servants is clearly stated; and all are
required to seek each other's best good, and to conduct as
those that must give an account to one common Lord and
Master.
As men multiplied, and separate families were formed,
their natural peace and happiness required that they should
unite under one leader, or ruler, whose authority shot Id
be superior to, but in accordance with, thejauthority of pa
rents and masters. Accordingly we find, that such regal
power was early exercised . And most likely this power
was delegated, " When the Most High divided to the na
tions their inheritance, when he seperated the sans of
Adam, and set the bounds of the people according to the.
number of the children of Israel." Deut. 32, 8, Acta 17.
26. This division of the earth, and separation of the peo
ple into nations was made in the days of Pelcg about two
hundred and fifty years after the flood. Gen. 60, 25. Anil
then such power must have been delegated to those, who
led off the different nations lo take possession of the territo
ries allotted to them, as their new situation and circumstan
ces required. Accordingly we find, soon after this, that
kings are expressly mentioned. So that regal power must
have been delegated about the time of Peleg. But this
power, as delegated by God, was to be exercised for the
good of the people,and in accordance wilh the command, -"Thou
shall love thy neighbor as thyself "
And any ruler, who wilfully violated this great com
mand in his adininistraliou, forfeited the power to him
guaranteed. He then became a usurper, and not a lawful
ruior. And God, the Supremo Ruler, might depose him
by his own immediate act, or by gome other hand. Thus
Saul was ohosen by the God of Israel, and then rejected.
Other rulers were chosen by the people. "Judges and of
ficers 'shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the
Lord thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and Ihey
shall judge the people with just judgment. Thou shalt
not wrest judgment, thou shall not respect perons.