efense.... Or should a different verdict be found, and you be
condemned to die as a murderer, your ignominious death shall be
luminous with the halo of a martyr, and your sacrifice shall be for
the deliverance of your people."

Such are the _religious_ principles, and such is the _religious_
advice of these _religious_ ministers!

I am sorry to see this. _I never read more wicked and abominable
principles!_ They deserve not only the reprehension of every
Christian, but the entire indignation of _all civilized mankind_!
They advise private arming with bloody weapons--they advise violent
resistance and murder--the murder of officers of civil Law engaged
in the discharge of the duty which they have sworn to perform! I
have no words to express my abhorrence of these wicked and
outrageous sentiments, so directly contrary to the whole nature of
all civilized society, to the precepts of the Bible, and the whole
spirit of Christianity! I speak not of the _men_. Good men may err.
But these principles, which these ministers have published as
religious ones, are horribly and outrageously wicked!

There are other things in this religious paper, which we think are
calculated to do immense mischief. This editorial article "would
utter its remonstrance against all violent resistance to the
execution of the Law." Indeed! Very quiet and peaceful, after having
talked about being "fully prepared for defense"--about death "on the
wayside, at the threshold and on the gallows"--about "murder," and
about "martyrdom." Away with such morality! aiming at one thing and
professing another!--"If one sees a fellow man struggling with his
captors,... he may lawfully interpose his own person between the
parties and separate them." Away with such morality! encouraging
people to "act a lie," by opposing Law while professing to obey it!
And this species of morality is virtually commended to the jury-box;
and its inmates are furnished in advance with a verdict here
prepared for their use--"justifiable homicide in self-defense"! Away
with such morality! encouraging a juror to violate his oath, by
disregarding the Law, which he has just sworn to his country and to
his God, shall govern his verdict! and encouraging a fugitive to
expect him to do so!--We may yet see whether the jurymen of our
country will regard their oath, or will follow the religious counsel
of this religious paper.

I am not justifying slavery. I am pleading obedience to the texts
be