THE SACREDNESS OF SLAVERY.
MANY things are esteemed sacred. In America the most sacred thing is slavery. The constitution is held sacred, but not so sacred as slavery. When the two come in contact it is the constitution that has to give way. When the constitution is found to be against slavery it is the constitution that is to be "amended." Law is held sacred, but not so sacred as slavery. When slavery says the word, all the laws protecting free citizens, freedom of locomotion, of speech, of the press, and personal security, give way. When it is proposed to make slavery the defendant in court, the court cannot be held. The counsel to be employed against her (Hubbard or Hoare) are graciously permitted to save their lives by leaving the State. Law, unless it be slave law, quails everywhere before the majesty of slavery. Liberty is held sacred; but not so sacred as slavery. Where slavery appears, liberty hides her head and vanishes, of course. Party ties and political compacts are held sacred; but not so sacred as slavery. When her interests are deemed in peril, party ties and political compacts are dissolved in an instant. "State rights" are held sacred; but not so sacred as slavery. They are held inviolable whenever they are invoked in favor of slavery; but of no validity at all when interposed against slavery. The authority of the federal government is held sacred, but not so sacred as slavery. When that authority is wielded in favor of slavery it is held to be without limitations or conditions. When it is but suspected that it is to be thus wielded no longer, or not to the extent of slavery's demands, the authority of the federal government disappears, and no right or power of "coercion" remains to it. Every citizen and every State may then cut the cords of allegiance with impunity. Federal authority may coerce the State of South Carolina when she rebels against a Tariff, but not when she rebels against the inauguration of a president not nominated and elected by slavery. The ballot box is held sacred, but not so sacred as slavery. When the ballot box fails to elect the candidates of slavery, the appeal is from the ballot box to the sword. "Compromises" are held sacred but not so sacred as slavery. "Compromises" adopted at the dictation of slavery, are, at its dictation annulled, and at its dictation its opponents hasten to adopt them again. The laws of nature and of nations are held sacred; but not so sacred as slavery. At her bidding those laws become "glittering generalities," "metaphysical abstractions," "fan-faronade of nonsense." The Bible is held sacred; but not so sacred as slavery. Its decalogue, its golden rule, its law, its gospel, are all revised and set aside by the code of slavery. It annuls marriage, withholds the Bible, enforces labor without wages, and sells the temple of the Holy Ghost as a chattel, and remains a Bible institution still! Religion is held sacred; but not so sacred as slavery. So long as religion can be perverted to the support of slavery, so long its divine claims are recognized. But no sooner does religion condemn slavery than its very name is changed to "fanaticism," "heresy," "infidelity," "treason," "rebellion," and all the forces of a pro-slavery church and a pro-slavery State, are let loose, howling on its track. Nationality is held sacred; but not so sacred as slavery. When slavery calls for secession, nationality is cast off as an abhorred thing. Oaths of allegiance, of office, are held sacred; but not so sacred as slavery. When slavery lifts its finger oaths of allegiance and office are no longer held binding. The citizen and the office-holder are thus absolved from the oath. The ties of kindred, of consanguinity, of marriage, of parental and filial affection, the precious instincts, affections, and claims of our common humanity, are held sacred, but not so sacred as slavery. At her bidding, nay, in her presence, these ties are all severed, these claims trampled under foot. The blood of the Redeemer, the influences of the Holy Spirit, the love of the great Father of spirits, are held sacred; but not so sacred as slavery. At her bidding the purchase of that blood is placed on the auction block. The temples of that Spirit are made the inmates of the slaveholder's harem, the dear children of the heavenly Father's love are transformed to "goods and chattels personal," and herded with the beasts that perish. The family altar, the nursery, the Sabbath-school, the house of prayer, the Christian ministry, the church, the assembly of the saints are held sacred, but not so sacred as slavery. Slavery breaks down the family altar, plunders the nursery, outlaws the Sabbath-school, defiles the house of prayer, claims brotherhood in the church, bribes the ministry, and whenever convenient, chains church members and ministers as chattels, sells them at auction, chains them in coffle gangs, deposits the price in bank, and draws checks on the cashier for fresh investments in human merchandise, or for the American board of foreign missions. All this is sober fact, and not fiction. Men—brethren—Christians—fellow citizens—freemen! How much longer shall the abomination be endured?—The Principia.