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Show 140 LlBERTY AND SLAVERY. the subjection of the white man, either South or North, to a state of servitude. No one here contends for the subjection to slavery of any portion of the civilized world. We only contend for slavery in certain cases ; in opposition to the thesis of the abolitionist, we assert that 1! is not always and everywhere wrong. For the truth of this assertion we rely upon the express authority of God himself. We affirm that since slavery has been ordained by him, it cannot be always and everywhere wrong. And how docs the abolitionist attempt to meet this reply? Wby, hy a little legerdemain, he converts this reply from an argument against his position, that slavery is always· and everywhere wrong, into an argument in favor of the monstrous dogma that it is always and everywhere right! If we should contend that, in some cases, it is right to take the life of a man, he might just as fairly insist that we arc in favor of having every man on earth put to death! Was any fallacy ever more glaring? was any misrepresentation ever more flagrant? Indeed we should have supposed that Dr. Wayland might have seen that his representation is not a fair one, if he had not assured us of the contrary. We should have supposed ARGUMENT FU.OM THE SCRIPTURES. 141 tha.t he rnight have distinguitihcd between an argument in favor of slavery fo1· the lowest gmcle of the ignorant and debased, and an argument in favor of slavery for all men and all times, if he bad not assm·ed us that he possesses no capacity to make it. For after havinotwisted the plea of the most enlightened state: men of tho South into au argument in favor of the universal subjection of mankind to slavery, he coolly adds, "I believe that in these w01·ds I express the argument correctly. If I do not, it is solely because I do not know how to state it more correctly." Is it possible Dr. Wayland could not distinguish between the principle of slavery for some men and the principle of slavery for all men? between the proposition that the ignorant, the idle, and the debased may be subjected to servitude and the idea that all men, even the most c:lightencd and free, may be reduced to bonda~e 1 If he had not positively declared that be p~ssessed no such capacity, we should most certainly have entertained a different opinion. It will not be denied, we presume, that the very best men, whose lives are recorded in the Old Testament, were the owners and holders of slaves. "I grant at once," says Dr. Way- |