Delivered on the eve of the American Civil War, this speech offers a unique perspective on the issue of slavery from a Jewish theological standpoint. Raphall argues that the Bible does not condemn slavery outright and that it can be a humane institution when properly regulated. While his arguments are controversial today, this speech offers a fascinating glimpse into the moral and religious debates that consumed America in the years leading up to the war. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.