Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-01-23


branded with the stigma Of proslavery, who
should have voted for C.. NJ. Clay for the
Ky. Legislature, the day before he emanci-
pated his slaves, though his competitor were
a pledged advocate Of perpetual slavery! |
introduce these comparisons to show the posi-
ton Of J. &. to be untenable.
In my last | endeavored to place in a prop
er light the case of the disownment Of |. Il.
Hopper &c. My friend in answering the
10Th query, says Friends enjoin upon their
members the violation Of principles Of moral
right! The disownment Of those Friends are
cited as progf. My idea Of his los;v would
have induced me TO expect better reasoning
from him than that by which he has come to
this conclusion. ]. Barnaby's disownment
of the society and his answer to this inter-
rogatory, imply that he cannot remain a mem
Der Of Salem monthly meeting Of Friends,
without being compelled to violate a princi-
pie of moral right. He either does or does
not believe this to be true; if he does not be-
lieve it, how can he take the course he has,
and advise others to adopt the same; if he be-
lieses it to be true, does it not behooye him
10 point out The act q immOraiiy which |, as
q member, am compelled to perpetuate by
virtue Of my connection with the society!
In any remarks ] have made endeavoring
to show the i~mpolicy Of comeou.er.sm, | have
not, nor is it consistent with my idea of duty
TO condemn such a course or impugn the mo-
tives of those whose errors | am endeavoring
10 expose. ! admit it to be their duty to en-
dcavor to convince me of error as much as it
Is mine to try to convince them. | DO not be-
lieve we have a moral right to denounce any
instrumentality of good, whether it appear
to us to subserve that purpose or not; it is
enough TO know that good was the object OF
its formation and the design of its c%ontinu-
rnce-when we descend to do so, we by that
very act invite the same kind of opposition a.
gainst ourselves.
Comeouterisn, it appears to me, is Of all
others the most feeble inslrumentality for the
promotion of moral reform. 1t is nothing less
than finging aside the hrsr because the Sec
tartan uses it, and taking hold with the hand,
10 hsnvc a ponderous rock.
If members Of a society believe it incom,
petent to effect any good, and clnnot see that
they have a great duty to perform in that
body, why not recognize the truth of the mot,
- "in the multitude of counsel there is safe.
~" and call a convention to consider the sub.
ject OF recognition, or r2',rm
The conclusion Grricsi at by a few iali
-iduals, that because men in organized bolie:
have done wrong, all organic ltions are there
fore in themselves wrong, needs no notice til
one rc1,JA at least, can be produced in favot
of it.
The proposition Of my friend az. H." ir
your last No. but one, meets my appreciation
] shall assist in getting up such a '%'convcn,
ton of Friends and had suggested it before
] do not agree as to the time. -Four month:
from this time would, in my opinion, be a.
elrly as would be advisable. Time shoul,
he given for general notice and correspon
dence among those interested. Let a consul
tation be held among Friends of every fAitI
upon this important subject. Such a conven
ton can do no harm, and | trust the propo
.ition Of my friend will meet with a genera
response. And if | may be permitted to wan
der a little further from the mna question,
would suggest whether "E. H. has not beef
unfortunate in the selection of his terms
when he speaks of the general concession
that Friends are a pro-slavery body &c.
b. B. DAVIS.