That this is American slavery, is shown by the laws of slave states.  Judge Stroud, in his “Sketch of the Laws relating to Slavery,” says, “The cardinal principle of slavery, that the slave is not to be ranked among sentient beings, but among things—­obtains as undoubted law in all of these [the slave] states.”  The law of South Carolina says, “Slaves shall be deemed, held, taken, reputed, and adjudged in law to be chattels personal in the hands of their owners and possessors, and their executors, administrators, and assigns, to ALL INTENTS, CONSTRUCTIONS, AND PURPOSES WHATSOEVER.” Brev.  Dig., 229.  In Louisiana, “A slave is one who is in the power of a master to whom he belongs; the master may sell him, dispose of his person, his industry, and his labor; he can do nothing, possess nothing, nor acquire any thing, but what must belong to his master.”—­Civ.  Code, Art. 35.

This is American slavery.  The eternal distinction between a person and a thing, trampled under foot—­the crowning distinction of all others—­alike the source, the test, and the measure of their value—­the rational, immortal principle, consecrated by God to universal homage in a baptism of glory and honor, by the gift of his Son, his Spirit, his word, his presence, providence, and power; his shield, and staff, and sheltering wing; his opening heavens, and angels ministering, and chariots of fire, and songs of morning stars, and a great voice in heaven proclaiming eternal sanctions, and confirming the word with signs following.

Having stated the principle of American slavery, we ask, DOES THE BIBLE SANCTION SUCH A PRINCIPLE?[A] “To the law and the testimony?”

[Footnote A:  The Bible record of actions is no comment on their moral character.  It vouches for them as facts, not as virtues.  It records without rebuke, Noah’s drunkenness, Lot’s incest, and the lies of Jacob and his mother—­not only single acts, but usages, such as polygamy and concubinage, are entered on the record without censure.  Is that silent entry God’s endorsement? Because the Bible in its catalogue of human actions, does not stamp on every crime its name and number, and write against it, this is a crime—­does that wash out its guilt, and bleach it into a virtue?]

THE MORAL LAW AGAINST SLAVERY.

Just after the Israelites were emancipated from their bondage in Egypt, while they stood before Sinai to receive the law, as the trumpet waxed louder, and the mount quaked and blazed, God spake the ten commandments from the midst of clouds and thunderings.  Two of those commandments deal death to slavery.  “THOU SHALT NOT STEAL,” or, “thou shalt not take from another what belongs to him.”  All man’s powers are God’s gift to HIM.  Each of them is a part of himself, and all of them together constitute himself.  All else that belongs to man, is acquired by the use