Apples of Gold
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Prov. 25: 11).
By the time of the American Revolution, 7 of the original 13 colonies had abolished slavery through the efforts of Quakers, Methodists, and other Christian denominations.
The practice of slavery clearly ran counter to the principle of liberty, but slavery as an institution was not viewed as unconstitutional prior to the Civil War.
Abraham Lincoln respected the Constitution, but recognized this inherent contradiction.
As Lincoln knew, the Constitution does not exist merely for its own sake, as though it were only a set of procedural rules. It is intended to preserve the principle of liberty for all [1].
“Without the Constitution and the Union, we could not have attained…our great prosperity,” Lincoln acknowledged [2]. But “there is something back of these, entwining more closely about the human heart,” he added. “That something is the principle of ‘Liberty to all’ ” enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, the principle that all men are created equal.
“The assertion of that principle” Lincoln said “…was the word, ‘fitly spoken’ which has proved an ‘apple of gold’ to us. The Union, and the Constitution, are the picture of silver, subsequently framed around it. The picture was made, not to conceal, or destroy the apple; but to adorn, and preserve it. The picture was made for the apple – not the apple for the picture.”
Lincoln fought a war to prove that the Constitution was meant to be permanent. But he, also, issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
Both those again tossing around the idea of secession, and those protesting that legislation must be free of moral content would do well to recall that [3].
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[1] The Cupola – Scholarship at Gettysburg College, “Apple of Gold in a Picture of Silver: The Constitution and Liberty” by Allan Guelzo, 2001, https://cupola.gettysburg.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1040&context=cwfac.
[2] Teaching American History, “Fragment on the Constitution and Union” by Abraham Lincoln, January 1,1861, https://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/fragment-on-the-constitution-and-union/.
[3] Politico, “What All the Secession Talk Really Means” by Michael Casey, 12/21/20, https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/12/21/secession-donald-trump-449348.
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Learning US history and re-learning the basics of the Word and our world. Thanks, Anna.
My pleasure, Erroll.
“Liberty for all” was also a theme of the French Revolution. But that one ended in the disastrous Purge because it was not rooted in the Rule of Law, but of anarchy. Lessons of which the USA needs to be mindful. Thanx for a great blog!
So glad you like the blog! I wholeheartedly agree that liberty w/o regard to law is disastrous. But the major distinction between the French and American Revolutions is that the French were determined to eliminate religion, while the Americans relied on it. The French massacre of civilians in Vendee is an illustration. By contrast, many of America’s Founding Fathers were actually Christian ministers (a fact no longer taught in American schools).
May “We the People” keep asserting that principle! Thanks Anna.
That is my earnest hope, Gary.
A wonderful post Anna.
Glad you liked it, Nicodemas. These are deeply troubling times.
Yes, for sure. We need to trust in God each day. Peace my friend.
Fascinating about the 7 states abolishing slavery.
Great, informative post.
Happy Valentine’s Day
And to you. ❤
Reblogged this on idahodimple and commented:
Do read the linked sources!
Thank you, Anna, especially for the excellent sources. Taken together, they paint a very clear picture.
Thank you, Louise. Am pleased you liked the post and sources.