5. Thus saith the LORD, Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings. Jer. xxi, 12.

this point; in reading these facts, the reader will see, perhaps, the reasons why we are so often desired by the proslavery party not to touch this "delicate subject."

"There is one feature of this nefarious traffic, (the Domestic Slave Trade) which no motives of delicacy can induce me to omit mentioning. Shall we conceal the truth, because its revelation will shock the finer sensibilities of the soul, when by such concealment we shut out all hope of remedying an evil which dooms to a dishonored life and to a hopeless death thousands of the females of our country? Is this wise? Is it prudent? Is it right? I allude to the fact that large numbers of female mulattoes are annually brought up, and carried down to our southern cities, and sold at enormous prices for purposes of private prostitution. This is a fact of universal notoriety in the south-western States. It is known to every soul-driver in the nation. And is it so bad that Christians may not know it, and, knowing it, apply the remedy? In the consummation of this nameless abomination, threats and the lash come in, where kind promises and money fail. And will not the mothers of America feel in view of these facts?"-[H. B. Stanton.]

"The law does not recognize marriages among slaves, so as to clothe them with the rights and immunities, which are given to this State, among citizens. The owner of either party may, the next day, or hour, break up the connection in any way he pleases. In fact, these connections have no protection, and are so often broken up by sales, and transfers, and removals, that they are by the slaves often called 'taking up together.' The sense of marriage fidelity must be greatly weakened, if not wholly destroyed by such a state of things. The effect is most disastrous.

"But there are other circumstances which deserve our notice. What effect is likely to be produced on the morals of the whites, from having about them, and under their

6. Thus saith the LORD, Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor; and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place. Jer. xxii, 3.

absolute authority, female slaves who are deprived of the strongest motives to purity, and exposed to peculiar temptations to opposite conduct! The condition of female slaves is such, that promises and threatenings and management can hardly fail to conquer them. They are entirely depend. ent on their master. They have no way to make a shilling to procure any article they need. Like all poor people, they are fond of finery, and wish to imitate those who are above them. What, now, are not presents and kind treatment likely to effect on such persons? And the fact that their children, should they have any through such intercourse, may expect better treatment from so near relations, may have its influence. That the vice prevails to a most shameful extent, is proved from the rapid increase of mulattoes. Oh, how many have fallen before this temptation; so many, that it has almost ceased to be a shame to fall! Oh, how many parents may trace the impiety and licentiousness and shame of their prodigal sons, to the temptations found in the female slaves of their own or their neighbors' households! And many a lovely and excellent woman, confiding in vows of affection and fidelity, trusting to her power over her devoted lover, has, after uniting her fate with his, and giving him all that a woman has to give, found, when too late, how incorrigible are those habits of roving desire formed in youth, and kept alive by the temptations and facilities of the slave system.

"Now, when we read the repeated declarations, that 'fornicators and adulterers shall not inherit the kingdom of God,' and call to mind the teachings of our Lord, that all intercourse between the sexes, except what takes place between one man and one woman in marriage faith, amounts to those crimes; how can we, as believers in Christianity, uphold a system which presents this temptation both to the

7. Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neigbor's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work. Jer. xxii, 13.

bond and free, and yet escape a participation in the guilt?" [Rev., J. D. Paxton.]

Again, slaves, in consequence of the manner in which they are raised, are generally prone to vicious indulgences, and many of them are exceedingly profligate; their master's children often mingle with them, and not only witness their vicious practices, but also listen to their lascivious conversation, and thus from infancy they become familiar with almost every thing wicked and obscene. And this, in connection with easy access, becomes a strong temptation to lewdness. Hence it often happens that the master's children practice the same vices which prevail among his slaves; and even the master himself is liable to be overwhelmed by the floods of temptation. And in some instances the father and his sons are involved in one common ruin; nor do the daughters always escape this impetuous fountain of pollution. Were it necessary, I could refer you to several instances of slaves actually seducing the daughters of their masters! Such seductions sometimes happen, even in the most respectable slaveholding families."-[Rev. John Rankin.]

Other testimonies of a similar kind, and from the most credible persons residing in the slave States, might be given, were it necessary. Perhaps the reader is aware how often we have been told, by the pro-slavery party, that, to abolish the slave system, would lead to an amalgamation of the whites and blacks of this country! The persons who make the above objection, however, against the anti-slavery movements of the present day, do not seem to feel any great repugnance against the "amalgamation" described in the above extracts, which now prevails to such an alarming and disgraceful extent at the south and west.

7. Woe unto him that useth his neighbor's services without wages. And how could there be a more faithful description of the slaveholding which prevails in this country than is

8. But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence to do it. Jer. xxii, 17.

9. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you saith the LORD; and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD. Jer. xxix, 13.

10 Now when all the princes and all the people which had entered into the covenant, heard that every one should let his man-servant, and every one his maid-servant go free, that none should serve themselves of them any more, then they obeyed and let them go. Jer. xxxiv, 10.

11. But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and handmaids. Jer. xxxiv, 11.

12. Therefore thus saith the LORD; ye have not

found in this passage of Scripture? Nor does it invalidate this remark, to say that the prophet did not have this system in his mind when he uttered these words; who knows that he did not? The truth is, there is not one sin of any kind, committed at the present day, which is more directly and explicitly described in the language of the Bible, than the sin of slaveholding is in this text;-not one! Who builds his house by wrong, by the fruits of another's labor? -the enslaver of the human species. Who uses his neighbor's services without giving him wages in return? Who compels his neighbor to toil from day to day, and from year to year, without giving him wages for his work?-the SLAVEHOLDER! And, reader, what does the infinite God say concerning such in this text?

hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbor; behold I proclaim a liberty for you saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine. Jer. xxxiv. 17.

13. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, The children of Israel, and the children of Judah were oppressed together; and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go. Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name; he shall thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land. Jer. 1, 33-34.

CHAPTER IX.

Various features of the slave-system, most aptly described in the language of the Bible.

1. Thus saith the LORD God, Woe to the women that sew pillows to all arm-holes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye pollute me among my people, for handfuls of barley and

A negro hunt is "When negroes

1. Will ye hunt the souls of my people? a common occurrence in the slave States. run away from the happiness which their masters say they enjoy at home, a hunt is immediately set on foot. In the pursuit, with dogs and guns, there appears to be no the least hesitation in shooting the fugitives, or tearing them in pieces. I recollect an extract from a private letter written near Edenton, N. C., two or three years ago, before the Southampton insurrection) which, among other matters of