Morning Star

BIBLE FOR SLAVES.

A correspondent in the St. Louis Observer, uses the following language on this subject.

The heathen are in the midst of us, and we regard them not. While our philanthropic brethren are raising thousands upon thousands to supply the destitute places of the earth with the Bible, they overlook the destitution of their own land. They forget the benighted heathen who are in the midst of our households. Suppose a project should be started to supply every destitute slave in the U. S. above the age of twenty with the "word of life." And why not?—have they not as good a right to the Bible as the Indians and Negroes of the Eastern Continent and the South Sea Islands?

To what are we to attribute it, that such a large portion of the human race are destitute of that Book which contains the news of salvation? Why is it that the Christian master cannot teach the members of his own household to read with safety to himself? Whose fault is it that Christians come under the condemnation of the Bible, "If any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel?"

Why is it that benevolent people must go abroad for objects to assist, when thousands are perishing at home? I answer, slavery, the withering effects of the system of domestic slavery, is the cause and the fault.

Oh! get rid of this curse! It would be better to stop sending Bibles abroad, to quit sending missionaries to the outskirts of the world, until we have done something for ourselves. Let all our efforts be turned into one channel. Let us "first cleanse the inside of the cup and platter, that the outside may be clean also."

Z.