Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-11-13

its NONRESIDENT members, and in n manner
not required by its constitution. Although
it has been accused of being a Woman's
Rights Society, its claim 10 that title rests
solely upon the decision it made, that by its
constitution a female member had the same
rights as a male.
Though lis duty required it to oppose po-
litical parties, it never became a parlizan /;
though obliged TO contend against religious
sects, it never became sectarian itself. Its
sole duty is to reform public sentiment, not
to build up secis or parties, nor to oppose
them except SO far as they are pro-slavery.-
With this one idea enstamped upon its be-
ing, it welcomes all abolitionists 10 its plat
form, taking no cognizance of their sex or
color, asking nothing of their birth, their po-
l%itical, or their religious preferences. This
is the only basis upon which such an organi-
cation can act with any efficiency, the only
foundation upon which the friends can truly
unite in mutual effort. Introduce The Shib-
boleth of party, sect, or religion, and it is
transformed in lis character; it measures a
mans abolitionisin, not by his anti-slavery
qualities alone, but by his opinion upon sub
iects which are not in themselves connected
with the question of slavery. This, much to
our surprise, the Indiana State A.. S. Society
saw fit to do at its last Annual Meeting, as
will be seen by the following resolution,
which was adopted as the last of a series:
"Resolved, That we yield to none in our
devotion TO the Bible and interrupted Reli-
gion; that it is our chief solace in life and
most blessed prospect after death that by
patient continuance in well doing, we shall
inherit eternal life"
This society, like the American, was form
ed for the single purpose of abolishing slave
ry, and the introduction of such a resolution
was an insult to its members which should
nave been promptly rebuked. 1t invited all,
even the disciples of Moses, the followers of
Mahommed, the Bramins Of India, and the
Fire-worshippers of Persia, to unite under Its
banner for the accomplishment of its one great
object. 1t matters not whether the invitation
were generally accepted, the principle is the
same. We see that after having used the la
Dor, the influence, and the means of those
who did join it, it has arrayed itself in open
hostility to the opinions of the religionists
we have named, has set up its standard of
orthodoxy, and declared as the est ,blished
faith of its members, that they were devoted
to a book in which none of these believe, and
to a religion which they all repudiate. 1t
has no right as an anti-slavery society, to do
this, or to establish any other than an anti
slavery test. 1t will, of course, be under
stood that we are not Directing to tie charac-
ter of the resolution, but to its adoption by
such a body. Although we are as much in
favor of temperance and peace as any one can
be, yet we would utterly refuse to Join an
anti-SIarery society that would declare its de-
votion to the principles of either, for we cam
not consent to make the question of peace or
temperance a test of anti-slavery character.
If the subject matter of the resolution is le-
Ultimate anti-slavery ground, then must the
society continue its existence and labors long
after chattel slavery is abolished, and as an
anti-slavery organization labor to produce the
conviction that the Bible is the Word of God
and christianity the true faith, and that it is
by works that eternal life is to be won. We
can hardly believe that a single supporter of
the resolution dreamed of such a thipp; vet
this is the only rational conclusion that can
be drawn from the declaration therein made,
for every thing which is a proper subiec ct for
resolution, is no less proper for society ac-
ton.
If the object of the movers and the adopt
ers OF 1t, was to narrow the platform of the
society, and make it a semi-euangeiiea. anti
slavery sect, they have certainly effected it,
and 1t has a right henceforth to be regarded
with almost as much Difference and respect
as the London Broad st. Committee, with its
British and Foreign A~nti-Slavery Society
and we are almost tempted to suspect that
the recent visit to Indiana of some of the sup
porters Of that Committee, had something to
do with the adoption of the resolution we
have quoted. That Committee we know are
opposed to the anti-slavery reform as it is car
ried on in America; it would have it less
Catholic in spirit, more guarded in action,
and more evangelical in character. The Indi-
ana Society has done what it could to meet
the wishes of the Committee, although per-
haps its action is wholly attributable to one
of those remarkable condolences with which
we sometimes meet.
We hope that ere long it will perceive the
mistake it has made, retrace its steps, and
hold up a standard under which all who love
the cause of the slave may rally, without re-
ference to evangelical, or ~un-evangelical opin-
ions.
THE SLAVE GEORGE is freed, freed at least
from the grasp of those who strove illegally