Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-08-22
From the Religious Spectator.
Frederick Douglass--Horrors of Sla-
TeTV.

We had a book put into our hands the other day,
purporting to be the autobiography Of a slave, who
had escaped from bondage, by the name of Frederick
Douglass, and we frankly acknowledge, that had it
not been for our confidence in the good judgment Of
the friend from whom the book came, WIN we knew
had little sympathy with the class of technical aboli-
tionists, we might possibly have laid it aside, without
reading IT, from perceiving that 1t was published under
The patronage Of several individuals, whose course on
the subject Of slavery we have never regarded as
either polite or right.
On looking into the book, however, we have found
It to contain one of the most remarkable and thrilling
narratives that have ever fallen under our eve; and
though there are sumo things in it which we regret,
partIcularIy the strong expressions against protesting
Christians at the South, yet we see nothing to cast
even a shade OF doubt over the authenticity of the
narrative, even in respect to its minutest details. We
should indeed, have made a single exception to this
remark-lhat is, we should have doubted the practi.
cablllty of such a book being produced by a poor
ruDaway slave, had ii not been that we are assured
that his efforts as a public speaker are quite equal TO
what he has here shown himself to be as a writer;
and we have it upon good authority, that his lectures
are characterized by as able reasoning, as genuine
wit, and as bold and stirring appeals, as we almost
ever find IN connection with the highest intellectual
culture.
Unless we greatly mistake, this small work 10 which
we are referring is destined to exert a mighty influ-
ence in favor of the great cause Of Emancipation
We acknowledge for ourselves, that we might have
heard the system of Slavery reasoned against alb
sractly, no matter how ably, and 40 matter how
long, and yet we could not have been so deeply Im
pressed with it as an outrage against humanity, as we
have been by reading this simple story. 1t is espe-
cially fitted tn correct a too prevalent error that Sla-
very in itself is not deserving of any severe reproba
ton--that it is only the abuses Of the system with
which we have q right to find fault.
And we acknowledge ourselves to be among those
who look for liz removal at 10 distant day. 1t seems
to US as clear as The shining of the sun, that there
are signs of the times which betoken a speedy and
mighty revolution on this subject. The march OF
public opinion is evidently in favor Of emancipation
and opposition can no more arrest it than it can arrest
The motion of the planets. There is a spirit awake
throughout all the North, that cries out for universal
Freedom, and all the agitation and opposition that we
witness at the South is but the heavIng OF the game
spirit under different circumstances. 1t tells of q
terrible conflict between selfishDess and conscience,
which will certainly lerminate at last in favor Of the
better principle.
What particular mode of abolIshing slavery from
our land, Providence may ofdain-whether 1t shall
beby bringing the South 10 bow to the high dictate
of conscience and OF duty, or by suffering the slaves
themselves 10 become ministers of Vengeance toward
their oppressors, or bv some other means, of which
we know nothing we pretend not to say but the
event oi ultimate emancipation, in some way, we con-
slider as absolutely certain; and while we would have
all labor TO bring it about, we would have all take
counsel Of the spirit of prudence, as we'll as philan-
~throphy, in respect to the channel ia which their la
bors shall be directed.