[9] The passage in Ex. 21: 20, 21, applies, as all admit, mainly, if not exclusively, to native Hebrew servants, and as no one finds in the limited voluntary servitude of the native Hebrews a warrant for hereditary slavery, I have not thought it necessary to dwell upon it. It may be observed, however, that the word “punished,” is rendered in the marginal reading, “avenged;” and the meaning of the law is that the interest the master had in the life of the servant should be taken as presumptive evidence that he did not intend to kill him, unless the case was very clear, and hence that he should not be avenged summarily, by a relative of the servant, but be regularly tried and punished by the appointed authorities.
[10] See Barnes’ Inquiry.
[11] See Smith.
[12] Tract of the American Reform Book and Tract Society.
[13] Bible Servitude.
[14] These facts are drawn by Jay from Blair’s Inquiry into the state of slavery among the Romans.
[15] Note. One little circumstance, which occurred in the General Assembly of 1853, indicates a remarkably conservative spirit in that body. Dr. Judd, in writing the history of the division of the Old and New-Schools, put in one chapter on slavery. This chapter made the book offensive to the south. To reconcile all parties, it was agreed that two editions of the work be printed, one for northern, the other for southern circulation—the latter to be minus the chapter on slavery!
[16] The “American Missionary Association,” which has no fellowship with slaveholding, and the American Reform Book and Tract Society, which is doing much for the dissemination of Christian anti-slavery doctrines, are sustained mainly by Congregationalists. The main body of the Congregationalists, however, adhere to the old Boards.
[17] Can any one conceive of any virtuous reason which prompted the passage of such a rule? Is there not a deep and dark iniquity among slaveholders which makes it not only necessary that slaves should be excluded from civil, but also from ecclesiastical tribunals?
[18] Amongst these, and at the head of them stands Mr. Hosmer, Editor of the Northern C. Advocate, author of “Slavery and the Church,” and a number of other excellent books.