violence for their liberties of the Southern slaves; since, if resisting evil by violence, ever can be right, it unquestionably must be eminently so, when slaves rise for their unforfeited liberties.
But no; Granville Sharp, was a friend of peace. He had studied his Bible too much, and loved it too well, to be ignorant of the injunctions, "love worketh no ill to its neighbor;" "resist not evil;" "recompense no man evil for evil;" "avenge not yourselves;" "be not overcome of evil—but overcome evil with good;" "love your enemies—bless them that curse you—do good to them that hate you—and pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you." Rom. xiii. 10 ; Matt. v. 39; Rom. xii. 17; 19; 21 ; Matt. v. 44.[1]
No; opposite, eternally and totally opposite as are war and peace, so opposite were the well known and ruling principles of Granville Sharp's mind, to the whole colonization spirit. Do we need an evidence. Look at Massachusetts Bay! "Who stand shivering there? Voluntary exiles, preferring the rights of conscience, the rights of lawful liberty in all things, to friends, country, fortune, ease. The world has never seen a nobler band of colonists. If armed colonies of civilized people, could ever be a blessing
- ↑ Some time before the legal abolition of the African slave trade, a Jamaica planter purchased a fine young African, took him into his house, and made him his confidential slave. The young man felt his master's kindness and gave him his generous heart in return—some years had elapsed—a new cargo had just arrived, when his master falling in want of twenty additional hands, resorted with him to the slave market and committed the choice to him. The young African knowing no better, and wishing to please his master, immediately busied himself about the work, and had chosen several to his master's satisfaction, when suddenly he paused and stood transfixed before a poor old emaciated stranger that was groaning on the ground—"Go on," said his master, "that man won't do, you see he is old and sick." "Massa," cried the young African, "you must buy me dat man." "He wont do, I tell you," said his master impatienly, "go on immediately and choose the rest." "Massa," repeated the slave, "you must buy me dat man." And this was the only answer the master could get. The slave dealer hearing the angry words which followed, came up and said contemptuously, "Oh you need not make such a fuss about that old man—he is good for nothing—go along and please your master, and if we can agree about the rest, you shall have him into the bargain." The young African, immediately sprang forward—did his best—pleased his master—the bargain was made, and
