Reformed Presbyterian view of Slavery: "1. The effects of slavery on domestic relations. The system of American Slavery confers upon slaveholders an absolute right of property in their slaves. This sets aside the husband’s interest in his wife, and the wife’s interest in her husband. Although slave-laws do not recognize the relation of marriage between slaves, it is recognized of God — and in his sight the slave is equally entitled with his master to enter into the relation, — and has the same right of protection in its enjoyment. But slavery, in its practical working, steps in between the slave and the enjoyment of his right. This evil is not merely an abuse of the system; it necessarily flows from it. The right of property claimed by the master, and secured by law, gives him the power of disposing of the slave in anyway, and at any time, that may suit his inclination or his interest; a power which is so commonly used as to approximate very nearly to universality. The husband is torn from his wife; and the wife from her husband. We refer not to the anguish of heart caused by such involuntary separations; nor to the inability thus induced to perform mutually the obligations belonging to the relation. These have already been presented as direct arguments against slavery. At present we refer only to the violation of right which unavoidably follows the system. To secure the right of the slave would affect the master’s claim, therefore his right, however sacred, is cancelled to gratify the avarice of the slaveholder, and to maintain the system of iniquity. By the law of God, as well as of reason, the husband is bound to protect and support his wife, but slavery denies him the right of doing either, farther than may suit the inclination of his master. His wife may, without crime, or the charge of crime, be flogged most cruelly before his eyes, and slavery does not even permit him to complain; the most wanton outrages may be committed on her person, and he dare not lift his hand to rescue her; nor even open his lips to remonstrate. The law provides no remedy; it does not even admit his right to seek redress; one thing, and only one, the law contemplates:— The absolute right of the master, to the entire exclusion of all right on the part of the slave. Slavery thus, in its practical working, violates rights, which are admitted by reason and guaranteed by the authority of God. [Moses Roney], ‘The holding of human beings in a state of slavery sinful’ in Reformed Presbyterian, i, no. 9 (Jan. 1838), pp 335-6." reformedcovenanter.wordpress/2013/08/03/reformed-presbyterian-on-the-effects-of-chattel-slavery-upon-marital-relations/
Posted on: Sat, 03 Aug 2013 21:32:38 +0000
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