Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1845-09-05

- ny NaA " w W. Nthhhhth " ChN 49,
ment believe. We believe him to be inca
pahle Of baseness, and in all manly qualities
far TO exceed some who are most busy in de
nouncing him. But while we give credit I,
Mr.. Clay by imputing to him no imprope
motives, we know that the conduct of thu
slaves in Fayette is said to have changed
since the publication of the True American
We heard, while at Lexington, that the
slaves in the factories and on the farms haC
~refrains to words, which they were singing
daily to the praise of Cassius M. Clay, boast
ing that he was about to break the chains O
their bondage, and would, by the force ofhi:
character and influence, elevate them to ar
equality with their masters. 1t was said that.
under this feeling, the slaves had lately be-
come idle and %insolent, and, in some instan-
ces, had refused to labor. The people were
alarmed for their security. The mother fear.
ed for the lives of her children, and the safe
ty of her own person from negro violence
Such zoe kno,U to have been the general feel
ing pervading the community of Fayette,
excusing in their opinion an Immediate in
reference with the business of Mr.. Clay, and
the suppression of a publication which they
considered the source of the evil, the effects
Of which they so much dreaded. The peo-
pie were led to believe that the continuance
of the True American would involve the COM
munity in perils which, though unforeseen,
could not be avoided.
We are disposed to believe that the meet
Ing passed their resolutions and acted under
the sense Of great and imminent Danger
The leaders were cool, determined and de-
liberate in the formation and execution of
their purposes. There was no resistance Of
fered TO them, and therefore no wanton mis-
chief was perpetrated. The people acted
through a committee, who entered the office,
packed up the press and materials and ship
ped the property to Cincinnati. That no
blood was shed in the execution of the will
of this meeting was, without doubt, owing
to the illness of Mr.. Clay, who was confined
to his bed by a fever, and pronounced by his
physicians in danger of losing his life. Had
he been in health, we have no idea he would
INCREASINGLY suffered his property to be re-
moved without his consent, and his attempt
to protect it would probably have cost the
lives of many. Thus, by the interposition
Of Providence only, is our State saved from
the disgrace of having blood split by the
hands of a popular assembly! Rfecting
men will disapprove of the temper of Mrs
CLAY and the tone of the American, but they
will say that his concessions and promise of
a better temper and spirit should have dis
armed the committee, and especially, When
it was asserted that, if the meeting would
permit the property TO remalu untouched, the
publication should cease.
This meeting set a precedent which we hope
we nay not live to see initiated here or else
where. TO exhibit the error committed, let
us look for a moment to the effect. In the
free States, Interested demagogues, will sieze
upon this transaction to infame the minds of
the multitude against Shareholders. Politi-
cal abolition will make capital from this &C.
Dcurrence to swell the number of its %infatua-
ted supporters We shall hear the right of
discussion proclaimed, and this affair held up
as an evidence Of its suppression in kentuc-
ky. We are at no loss to determine the eff
feet of the disturbance at Lexington upon the
feeling in Kentucky. Few will go farther
than to d%isapprove- as we do, a few will o.
penly and violently denopnee the Fayette
people under all the circumstances ofthe case;
and a few will approve of all that was done.
But the rational and temperate discussion of
ultimate emancipation will not be checked
even bv this popular outbreak. Many of the
the best minds of the State are engaged with
the question, and they UiU express freely
their opinions, and act freely upon them
We must make up our minds to meet thai
question, for no human poser can StopH. We
hope earnestly that the discussion will be
conducted every where temperately, that ev-
cry plan to rid Kentucky of slavery will be
examined cautiously and with judgement,
that public opinion will be fairly ELECTED so
as best to promote the public good. We do
not believe that Kentucky can have reached
that point at which men should be afraid to
speak, write, and publish touching the dis
position of onr slave population. We have
ever looked forward to aday when Kentucky
should hold within her boundary no bondman,
and we hopeito live to see thelight ofsuch a day,
If we have fallen upon times when the free
dom of speech and of the press should be
shackled lest servile war ensue, the sooner
we adopt measures to remove an evil which
disturbs our peace, destroys confidence in our
security, and awakens a whole community
toarms, the better for ourselves, our children, g.
our Commonwealth. In this particular com
munity we know that there is considerable
feeling on the subject of gradual emancipation
and a desire to bring it prominently before
the State among the political questions de-
serving attention. We expect to discuss it
and to admit to our columns well written
communications upon it on both sides. We
deprecate all incendiarisn ~demagogueism and
radicalism, and we hope the Legislature will
provide some remedy to guard against wanton
incendiary publications, designed to stir our
slaves to mutiny; but we favor now and shall
always favor every attempt to ameliorate our
social condition, to add to the prosperity of
the State. and TO knit the bonds of the Ma
tional Union more ciosley, when such attempts
are made with dignity and moderation.
Rrom fbe Mem YnrL Ttrjbune