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Show 74 LIBERTY AND SLAVERY. what should or what "'ust be." The poor liebrews, however, when they took slaves by the autbority of a "thou shalt" from the LoTd, never imagined that they were merely fulfilli,~g a prophecy, and committing an abominable sm. This is clear to Dr. Wayland, if we may trust the last e:>:prcssion of his opinion. But it is to be regretted, that either the clearness of his perceptions, or the confidence of his assertions, is so often di.sproportioncd to the evidence before him. Thus, he says with the most admirable modesty, "It see"'s to "'e that the soul is the most important part of a human being;"* and yet he peremptorily and positively dechu-os that the very strongest language of authority ever found in Scripture "is clearly used as prophetic and not mandatory!" He may, however, well reserve the tone of dogmatic authority for such propositions, since, if they may not be carried by assertion, they must be left wholly without the least shadow of support. But one would suppose that strength of assertion in such cases require<l for its unembarrassed utterance no little strength of countenance. "If any one doubts," says Dr. Wayland, "re- * Letters, p. 113. AROUl\lENTS OF ADOLITIONISTS. 75 spccting the bearing of the Scripture precept upon this case, a few plain questions may throw additional light upon the subject."* Now, if we mistake not, the few plain questions which he deems so unanswerable may be answered with the most perfect ease. "Would the master be willing," he asks, "that another person should subject him to slavery, for the same reasons and on the same grounds that be holds his slave in bondage?" We answer, No. If any mn.n should undertake to subject Southern masters to slavery, on the ground that they are intellectually and morally sunk so low as to be unfit for freedom or self-control, we should certainly not like the compliment. It may argue a very great degree of self-complacency in us, but yet the plain fact is, that we really clo believe ourselves competent to govern ourselves, and to manage our atlairs, without the aid of masters. And as we are not willing to be made slaves of, especially on any such humiliating grounds, so we are not willing to see any other nation or race of men, whom we may deem qualified for the glorious condition of freedom, subjected to servitude. * Morl\l Science, Pnrt ii. ebnp. i. ~ 2. |