Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-08-01
From the Ant. SLarery Standard.
Political Aspect of the United States
respecting Slavery.

those who look upon the dashing Of The political bill
lows, without properly approaching the healtbiulness
of the moral agitation which has raised The raging
tempest, vet, 10 lnose who, like the members and
friends Of the American Auii Slavery Society, have
long been ldboring TO break the pestilenllal calm OF
sixry years, the present hour seems full Of promise
nnG of cheer.
Apathy can no longer exist. Ignorance begins TO
be dispelled. States are beginning 10 feel and to
dread The pro slavery currents that have been so long
bearing hem silently onward towards political sub
iugalion. Legislatures have been convulsed by the
first da awnings of n conjecture, that no compromises,
however cunning,-no surrender Of rights, however
limited and guarded, can secure TO Freedom any ad'
vantage from the existence of Slavery. And it is a
proof of the degradation to which Slavery had re
duced this nation, hat a truth 80 obvious, a fact so
iudlsputable that to deny it were folly, now gives TO
the Legislatures and statesmen, who begin to per
ceive it, claim for depth and originality. Ideas on
human rights, duties, governments, and constitutions,
which AbolItionists have for years held up 10 the
community, are now blazoncd forth under l.eglsla
tive sanction MS new discoveries. We rejoice that
here and there throughout the country, men called
wise are coming more or less rapidly to The same
conclueions, for the adoption Of which the American
Society has been branded us incendiaiy y, fanatical, and
dangerous; and that too at no distant period ot The
past. Tho wise and prudent,-'the right sort OF
men"-are now cropping blindly for the way, as one
of political e%pediency, which, because guided by
the moral ight-the principle of treedom0 the way
iaring Aboitionists, though accounted fools, did not
err in.
The Annexation Of Texas, The admission Of Flori'
,da, the expulsion Of the officials Of free States from
the territory Of slave States, the disgrace of The ma
ton in foreign courts BY a new display Of The slavery.
tainted character Of her diplomacy, the i%mprison,
ment, land in one instance the ca pital trial, sentence
and conviction,0 of citizens of the free States in the
iails of slave States for acts wkich, 10 any other
land on earth. would entitle them to reward and
honor;-aIl these things have given the people a
shock of awakening. We do not fear that they will
ever again recover their guilty rest.
We owe much TO the cooperation and s~ympathy OF
British Abolilionists, in the direction which they have
labored to give the public mind ia the cases Of John
l.. Brown, Jonathan Walker, and others. Without
political interference, without individual oficiousness,
without a deed, of which the law Of nations could
take coGuizance, or one which the law of love could
condemn, the prompt expression OF feeling on the
part of British Aboktioniss in the case of John l.
Brown, was of avail to nullify the bloody sentence o
the South Carolina Judge, and sci the victim of the
slave law free. This is The eficacy of well-directec
opinion. God bless The Abolltionists of Great Bri
tain, and make hem strong to utter the words of truth
in behalf of Freedom, 10 The hearing OF every Amer
ican State and every American citizen! May NJ
temptation of worldly interest, though clothed in tht
livery of heaven, ever prevail with them, (as in TIT
case of DR.. Burns, Cunningham, &c. of the Scotch
Free Church, 10 keep silence when it concerns TIT
cause of human freedom that they should speak.
The near approach of Texas 10 our political union
fixes all eyes upon The subject of Slavery. Tha
movement is seen of all TO be the last hope Of thu
South for the perpe,ualion of her system. Notwi,h
standing The constitutional limitations on the power
granted for the admission of new States, to The terri
tories belonging to the United States; not withstandin
that the power TO admit it among the reserved righl
Of the several States; Notwithstanding that the prov
ince proposed for admission is one justly claimed b.
a foreign and a friendly power, (though its proclama
ton of unconditional emancipation in 1920, make
the slave power account it a foe Notwithstanding
thatils own consent and ac9uiescence have never beeI
thought Of; notwithstanding the destruction of al
uniformity in the United States naturalization law
which would ensue; Notwithstanding that Annexation
might bring a war with Mexico and England, and tn
Indian tribes in its train; Notwithstanding The equa
want of a constitutional right or actual precedent, tn
slave power has demanded, and has obtained the ad
mission 10 the United States Of upwards Of 300,00(
square miles Of foreign territory, equal to ~forty.thre
such States as Massachusetts, or seven of the sz
of Pennsylvania.
The American Anti Slavery Society has no parti
ian purposes. Ii Is neither the defender Of the Con
siltution with one party, nor the fatterer o. the pee
pie with the other. It notices these unconstitutona
proceedings as proofs Of the folly of the idea that
lawless, merciless, tyrnnnical system, such as Slave
ry, can be restrained by compacts, codes, or compro
misses. "Canst thou draw out Leviathau with a hook
Will he make a covenant with thee! Wilt thou tax
him for a servant forever! do 30 no more! behold IN
hope Of him is in vain." If the slave system be no
paramount, ii is p~aralysed. Hence The energy of it