to their circumstances or
conditions? I mean particularly those who have never travelled
in the South, and scarcely seen a negro in all their life. How
any community can ever be excited with the chatter of such persons—boys
and others who are too indolent to obtain their living by honest industry,
and are inca[p]able of pursuing any occupation of a professional nature,
is unaccountable to me. And when I see persons in the free states signing
documents against slavery, it is no less, in my mind, than an array of
influence, and a declaration of hostilities against the people of the
South! What can divide our Union sooner, God only knows!
After having expressed myself so freely upon this subject,
I do not doubt but those who have been forward in raising their
voice against the South, will cry out against me as being uncharitable,
unfeeling and unkind—wholly unacquainted with the gospel of
Christ. It is my privilege then, to name certain passages from the
bible, and examine the teachings of the ancients upon this matter,
as the fact is uncontrovertable, that the first mention we have
of slavery is found in the holy bible, pronounced by a man who was
perfect in his generation and walked with God. And so far from that
prediction’s being averse from the mind of God it remains as a lasting monument
of the decree of Jehovah, to the shame and confusion of all who have
cried out against the South, in consequence of their holding the sons
of Ham in servitude!
“And he said cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall
he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem;
and Canaan shall be his serva[n]t.—God shall enlarge Japheth, and he
shall dwell in the tents of Shem: and Canaan shall be his servant.”—Gen,
8: 25,26,27.
Trace the history of the world from this notable event down
to this day, and you will find the fulfilment of this singular
prophecy. What could have been the design of the Almighty in this
wonderful occurrence is not for me to say; but I can say, that the curse
is not yet taken off the sons of Canaan, neither will be until it is
affected by as great power as caused it to come; and the people who interfere the least
with the decrees and purposes of God in this matter, will come under the
least condemnation before him; and those who are determined to pursue
a course which shows an opposition and a feverish restlessness against the
designs of the Lord, will learn, when perhaps it is too late for their own
good, that God can do his own work without the aid of those who are not
dictated by his counsel.
I must not pass over a notice of the history of Abraham,
of whom so much is spoken in the scriptures. If we can credit
the account, God conversed with him from time to time, and directed
him in the way he should walk, saying, “I am the Almighty God: walk
before me and be thou perfect.” Paul says that the gospel was preached
to this man. And it is further said, that he had sheep and oxen, men-servants
and maid-servants, &c.
From this I conclude, that if the principle had been an evil
one, in the midst of the communications made to this holy man,
he would have been instructed differently. And if he was instructed against
holding men-servants and maid-servants, he never ceased to do it;
consequently must have incurred the displeasure of the Lord and thereby
lost his blessings—which was not the fact.
Some may urge, that the names man-servant and maid-servant,
only mean hired persons who were at liberty to leave their masters
or employers at any time. But we can easily settle this point
by turning to the history of Abraham’s descendants, when governed
by a law given from the mouth of the Lord himself. I know that when
an Israelite had been brought into servitude in consequence of debt,
or otherwise, at the seventh year he went from the task of his
former master or employer; but to no other people or nation
was this granted in the law to Israel. And if, after a man had served
six years, he did not wish to be free, then the master was to bring
him unto the judges, boar his ear with an awl, and that man
was “to serve him forever.” The conclusion I draw from this,
is that this people were led and governed by revelation and if such
a law was wrong God only is to be blamed, and abolitionists are not responsible.
Now, before proceeding any farther, I wish to ask one or
two questions:—Were the apostles
A title indicating one sent forth to preach; later designated as a specific ecclesiastical office. By 1830, JS and Oliver Cowdery were designated as apostles. The articles and covenants of the church explained that an “apostle is an elder” and, as such, had...
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...
3 Oct. 1806–3 Mar. 1850. Clerk, teacher, justice of the peace, lawyer, newspaper editor. Born at Wells, Rutland Co., Vermont. Son of William Cowdery and Rebecca Fuller. Raised Congregationalist. Moved to western New York and clerked at a store, ca. 1825–1828...
Located ten miles south of Lake Erie. Settled by 1811. Organized by 1818. Population in 1830 about 55 Latter-day Saints and 1,000 others; in 1838 about 2,000 Saints and 1,200 others; in 1839 about 100 Saints and 1,500 others. Mormon missionaries visited township...