Letters and Rejoinders to George D. Armstrong, D.D., of Norfolk, Va., on Slaveholding (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1858 Excerpt: ... DR. VAN RENSSELAER'S FIRST REJOINDER. ON THE PROPER STATEMENT OP THE SCRIPTURAL DOCTRINE OP SLAVERY. To The Rev. George D. Armstrong, D.D. An amicable discussion of slavery, instead of suggesting to you 'the dark and bloody ground" of Kentucky, with its scenes of savage warfare, only required our presence on the field of scriptural truth. The appearance of brother Armstrong, with rifle in hand, is not a pleasant clerical sight, introduced by the law of association into the perspective; nor is it a very terrible one, for I have discovered that, even with the aim of so good a marksman as himself a rifle-shot is "not necessarily and in all circumstances" exact. Your allusion to "the shrieks for freedom" is the first political allusion made in our discussion, and this footprint upon the " dark and bloody ground," leading into a trail of the wilderness, I respectfully decline to follow. Your remark that sections and divisions "secure perspicuity" and "guard against misapprehension," is a very good one. SECTION I.--DR. ARMSTRONG ADMITS THE TRUTH OF MY GENERAL PROPOSITION. _ The issue between us is whether my proposition that " slaveholding is not necessarily and in all circumstances sinful," is liable to just exception as an inexact, or inadequate, expression of the scriptural doctrine in the premises; or whether your proposition that slaveholding is not a sin in the sight of God" is more accurate and complete. The characteristic difference in the phraseology of the two propositions is that mine has a special reference to circumstances, whilst you deny the right to admit them. Your own incidental concessions decide that the introduction of circumstances is right and necessary. 1. You expressly declare, among the articles of your faith on this subject, that...