NEGRO SLAVERY IN AMERICA.*

THE following texts of Scripture may serve to prove and illustrate, 1. The unity of the human family; or that all men are descended from Adam and Eve. 2. The diversity of character and condition actually existing among men in different ages and countries—including civilized and savage, black and white, bond and free, etc. 3. That all, or that some of all nations, however ignorant and degraded, are to be converted to the Christian faith.-The negro among the rest.

Genesis, i. 27. "So God created man in his own image,

The present article, like the two preceding ones, is a mere fragment or collection of separate heads and themes of thought, to be used for subsequent discussion. It is evidently too brief and imperfect to be taken as a fair exponent of the author's opinions on the subject of which it treats. Some of the expressions here used, as the arguments or mottoes of different parties, he would probably have combated as being in conflict with his own convictions; for, as abundantly shown in all his writings, he was a warm friend of the African race, and a decided emancipationist, provided only that some safe and feasible method could be found. The article should be read in connection with the one on page 663 of the present volume, where the author has expressed himself in very strong and unequivocal terms on the whole subject. Lest any one should think there is an incongruity between the views here and there presented, it is due to Dr. Lindsley to state that this fragment was written at New Albany after a residence of twenty-six years in Tennessee; while the extract on page 663 originally formed part of a sermon which he preached and published in Princeton, N.J., just before removing to Tennessee.

in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

Gen. vii. 21, 22. "And all flesh died that moveth upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died.” (Of course, all men now living, or who have since lived, are or were descended from Noah.)

Gen. ix. 18, 19, 25, 26, 27. "And the sons of Noah that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan. 19. These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread. 25. And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. 26. And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. 27. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant." (In the last three verses, we should probably read, "Ham, the father of Canaan.")

Acts, xvii. 26. "And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation."

Ps. lxviii. 31. "Princes shall come out of Egypt: Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God."

Ps. ii. 8. "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession."

Ps. cii. 15. "So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord: and all the kings of the earth thy glory."

Galatians, iii. 8. "And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed."

Luke, xxiv. 47. "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

Matt. xxviii. 19. "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.'

Rev. xiv. 6, 7. "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation and kindred, and tongue, and people."

Mark, xvi. 15. "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Exod. xx. 5, 6. "For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments."

1. Consider the scriptural view of the divine government and various dispensations. Why the diversities of race? How accounted for? Parental sins visited upon children. Noachian prediction and malediction.

2. Slavery countenanced and regulated by law among the Hebrews. By Moses, etc. By Paul, etc.

3. The African at home and in America. Actual con

dition of the negroes in Africa at the period when first transported as slaves to America. Their condition since, and at present,—not worse certainly than before, and in their native land. Sufferings and deaths, even by the horrid middle passage, far less than would have been endured at home. Where every species of cruel bondage, bloody sacrifice, prolonged torture, unmitigated, hopeless wretchedness-prevailed. War, death, slavery, -ever in prospect-at home. Without the slightest chance of improvement, amelioration, or eventual enlightenment. Are the negroes, at this moment, anywhere in the United States, as badly off as are their heathen kindred in Africa? Let the comparison be instituted and fairly conducted, etc.

.

4. The great design of Providence in causing or permitting their removal to America. History. Prophecy. How great changes or events are usually brought about. The negro had so far degenerated, had become so extremely debased, that a long course of discipline and apprenticeship was necessary to restore him to his primeval dignity and manhood. A schooling of some two hundred years, among the Anglo-Americans, has wrought marvels in their behalf. They have already become a renovated and superior race. Superior, I mean, when compared with the wild native of Africa. They have improved physically, morally, intellectually. They have advanced in civilization-in morals, religion, intelligence, industrial arts, political wisdom (or habit of imitation or experience or something which enables them to go ahead,)—as no barbarous or savage tribe had ever done

VOL. III.-37

when left to themselves. Their case is unique-without a parallel. They have been increasing in numbers, and improving, like children at school, steadily and rapidly, while the native Indians have as rapidly disappeareddied out!

5. Without uttering a word, by way of apology or excuse or defence for the manner in which negroes have been treated and regarded by the whites, it may be justly said, in reference to the divine government and providence, that their violent deportation to America. has proved to them and their race a great and permanent blessing. Even the rights of marriage-of husband and wife of parent and child-are scarcely recognized in Africa. In these respects, therefore, they have lost nothing-at the very worst. Family ties, without the sanction of law, are respected by both master and slave far beyond the capacity of a pagan negro to comprehend. On this subject, our legislation is abominable. It must be abolished. The Christian code must be adopted and enforced. Still, the philanthropist, in comparing the lot of the American negro with that of the untutored African, will hardly hesitate to award the palm to the former. Especially when looking to—

6. Colonization. To Liberia. To the great African Republic. The counterpart of the United States. The model of civilization, Christianity and democratic selfgovernment for a whole continent. Its actual state and progress and influence. Its probable results. Has the world ever seen the like? What modern enterprise to be compared with it in grandeur of conception or boldness