30

ADDRESS.

w h i c h t h e y i m a g i n e m i g h t be r e a l i z e d , a n d o u r d u t y m i g h t b e different f r o m w h a t it n o w i s . A t present, a n e m a n c i p a t e d b l a c k a m o n g us is p l a c e d i n p e c u l i a r l y unpropitious circumstances. H i s s i t u a t i o n is s u r r o u n d e d b y difficulties a n d t emptations, a n d no p r o v i s i o n is m a d e to s e c u r e h i m a g a i n s t t h e m , o r to promote e i t h e r his o w n i n t e l l e c t u a l a n d m o r a l c u l t u r e , o r that o f his o f f s p r i n g . W e cannot, t h e n , p lace o u r s l a v e u n d e r the restraint a n d protection o f p e c u l i a r l a w s , w h i c h w o u l d , as f a r as m i g h t be p r a c t i c a b l e , g u a r a n t y his safety and a d v a n c e m e n t . W e have n o l e g a l s y s t e m w h i c h m i g h t be a k i n d o f M o s a i c d i s p e n s a t i o n t o o u r s l a v e s , p r e p a r i n g t h e m for the c l e a r e r l i g h t and higher privileges of a more glorious economy, where t h e y w o u l d be a d m i t t e d to that f u l l l i b e r t y w h e r e w i t h G o d , i n h is p r o v i d e n c e , h a s m a d e us free. W e , as i n d i v i d u a l s , a r e shut up to the a l t e r n a t i v e o f g i v i n g o u r s l a v e s u n r e s t r a i n e d s e l f - c o n t r o l , o r r e t a i n i n g , for a t i m e , o u r l e g a l authority over them. T h e fact that o u r p o w e r is g r e a t e r t h a n s h o u l d h a v e e v e r been i n t r u s t e d to m a s t e r s , is n o s ufficient r e a s o n for a c o n s c i e n t i o u s m a n ' s i m m e d i a t e r e l i n q u i s h m e n t o f his o n l y t itle t o e x e r c i s e that p o r t i o n o f a u t h o r i t y w h i c h , he is f u l l y p e r s u a d e d , is n e c e s s a r y to be c o n t i n u e d , for a t i m e , for the g o o d o f those o v e r w h o m it extends.* ' T h e p l a n , t h e n , w h i c h w e propose, is, for the m a s t e r to r e t a i n , d u r i n g a l i m i t e d p e r i o d , a n d w i t h a r e g a r d to the r e a l w e l f a r e o f the s l a v e , that a u t h o r i t y w h i c h w e b efore h e l d , i n p e r p e t u i t y , a n d s o l e l y for his o w n interest. Let
* O ur brethren of the K e n t u c k y Synod cannot long stand where they are. T h e y claim now only to hold s laves temporarily, for the slaves' otcn good. They s ay, " T h e fact that our power is greater than'should have ever been intrusted t o masters,"   tc. W e l l , what is the power " greater than should have ever b een intrusted to m asters ?" T h o power to cperce labor with the raw-hide? T h e power to sell ? W e s uppose s o. A n d what is " that portion of a u t h o r i t y " w hich the slaves' g ood m akes it nocessary to retain? It m ust be the authority o f moral power, wo s uppose ; t he authority w h i c h a hencvolent man can exercise by presenting worthy motives. S u c h g ood r easoners as our brethren of t he K e n t u c k y Synod w i l l not long maintain that it is right for them to restrain t heir f e l l o w - m m by the fear o f penalties wliich thoy ought never to have had t he power to inflict. T h e y w i l l , therefore, ere long, immediately r enounce to t heir s laves t he powor of inflicting such penalties, and they w i l l distinctly s tate to litem, that they retain no power at all over them, e xcept t he power to s how t hem that it w i h be for their o w n g ood t o continue in their service for f air c ompensation. W h e n this is done, there w i l l be little c ause o f contention b etween u s and our K e n t u c k y brethren. Surely they w i l l not continue to exercise, or permit others to s uppose t hey w i l l exercise, that.portion of their l egal power which, by Iheir own confession, I hey o ught never to have been I ntrusted w i l h .     E m a n c i p a t o r .