Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-07-17
GENERAL ARMISTICE.
RAvENNA, July 18th, 1876.

quest, l will give my recollections of Mr..
Lewis remarks, as they differ somewhat from
his account of them
Mr.. Lewis stated " that a fourth political
party was about to be formed that he had,
within the last forty-eight hours, read a letter
written by S. S. Foster, the leader of the Dis
u%nionists in the West, stating that he should
endeavor TO procure the nomination Of candi-
dates to be supported and voted for at the
next election by the " Come-outers," and that
he thought they would give at least 5000 votes
this fall"
The statement l considered well calculated
to deceive, and therefore, after Mr.. Lewis had
left the subject and was commencing another,
l propounded the question as stated by Mr..
Dickinson. Tie statement, unexplained,
would lead persons TO believe that "old Or
ganizationists were about to lay aside their
reliance upon moral means for the abolition of
slavery, and substitute in its stead political
action. knew that this was not Fosters in
tentlon-that his object was only to ascertain
the numerical strength Of tho /" Come-outers -
and | am pleased that this proposition, made
by Mr.. Foster at New Garden, met with no
favor from the Society.
l am more inclined to believe that Mr..
Lewis made this statement with an intention
of deceiving, and to quiet the feelings of some
Liberty men who had scruples about support
ing the Constitution; since having been cor
rected here, he reiterated the same statement
in Akron, as | am informed by Mr.. Wolcott.
Mr.. Lewis said" He thought the non-vo-
ting men occupied a singular position for
by their own acknowled gments they had as
sisted to shut the slave up in prison, and now
refused to use the key to unlock their prison
DOORS" and thereupon related a story.
1t struck me at the time that he was unfor-
tunate in selecting the figure; for if Liberty
Party, Wings and Democrats of the North
would refuse to stand as sentinels and watch
would, without any difficulty, scale the prison
walls, batter down the doors, and make good
their escape to a land of Freedom. Mr.. Lew
is and Liberty Party would say to the slave
swat until we can coax the South to give us
the key, and then we can let you out in a
Constitutional udy for we have adopted a
"EunddmentuI LaW Of Union" with your Jail
or, (which we are unwilling to repudiate,)
and have agreed to tDatch JRil so long as he
chooses to keer you here"
7 believe l am doing no injustice in this to
Mr.. Lewis, as l did not understand him to
claim that the Constitution is Anti Slavery.
Indeed, but few Liberty party men with whom
i have conversed, do and even those cannot
deny, that il they undertake to support the
Constitution at all, they are bound to support
it as construed by the constituted authorities,
unless they adopt Jackson's theory" the
Constitution as / understand it," and then
|dividuals, and none Of them of any force or
effect. As c. M. Clay has well remarked in
his letter to Mr.. Bailey" Upon no other
ground can national existence be maintained !:
there must either be an honorable, fair am
sincere support of the legal action of a Ma
'tion, Or open and manly rebellion"
-MT. Lewis makes some heart-stirring ap-
peals in behalf of the slave, and have no
doubt, through the influence of his moral pow
Ger, does much good. And in every effort of
this kind, / can cheerfa4ly bid him God
speed. inegard to his party, he seemed to
have more confidence in moral than political
means; for he said What if we never elect
one of our candidates. We shall accomplish
our object if we induce others to take correct
ground; we, like salt, can exercise a sa iory
influence upon men,"
am inclined to believe however, from re-
cent developments, that "Me salt has lost its
savvr THAI they are fast sacrificing their
principles TO obtain power and become a pop
ular party and that Mr.. Lewis refuses to cut
his connection with a Pro-Slavery Church
unsil after the election, that he may obtain
more votes for Governor, and thereby swell
the ranks 'Sf Liberty Party.
But I am 1respsssing upon your columns.
Your friend in the cause,
l.. y. BASSETT. g..