"I never had any sympathy for that amiable but weak concern for the
character of God which represents him as finding slavery in existence
and merely legislating about it, and doing the best he can with an
inevitable evil. This view belongs to a system which makes God, as it
seems to me, the most unhappy Being, continually striving to destroy
that which sprung up contrary to his plan. To dwell on this, however,
would lead us too far into theological questions.
"I tremble to think of our responsibility as a nation in being put in
charge of a people with whom God has some terrible controversy for their
own sins and those of their ancestors.
"Through our abuse of power, God may say to us, 'I was a little angry,
and ye helped on the affliction.' God's purposes in having the chastised
nation afflicted, will be accomplished, but He will punish every one who
inflicts the chastisement with a selfish, unchristian spirit.
"Our people generally take it for granted that slavery is like one of
the self-limiting diseases of childhood, to be outgrown, and to cease
forever, in process of time, and before many years have passed away.
"The ground of this conclusion is a doctrinal error, namely, that
slave-holding, the relation of master and servant, ownership, property
in man, or by whatever name slavery may be designated, is in itself
wrong, and that as soon as practicable it will be abjured and no man
will stand to another in the relation of master, or owner.
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