Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-02-06
COMMUNICATIONS.
INSTITUTIONS AND MEN.

IL was a remark OF Madame de Stael, that,
"lnstitutions, in the course Of time, adapt
men to themselves with much more facility
than men can rid themselves of institutions"
And that remark, although calculated for the
people and institutions of France, looses none
of its truthfulness when applied to the peo-
pie and Institutions Of the United States.-
For we here see an institution, the acknowl-
edged influence of which is to corrupt socie-
ty, and to hinder its moral and intellectual adj
vancement, adapting, not only the people, but
the government to itself, with a remarkable
degree of facility.
The science of Government is old enough
TO be better understood than it is; and in this
country, where it is every ones business, we
naturally expect that its course will be pro-
gressiye, instead of retrograde. True, we
read of " Progressive Democracy" and we
also read of Gulliver's Travels. The altern-
ate supremacy of opposing political parties,
seems to prevent that consolidation of power
which characterizes older Governments
Each party is going to do better than its pre-
N>NNSSO'5 uhu ulu to ihiouSihSS
pecial benefit of the people, whose gullibilf-
ty is a stepping-stone to power. The failure
of the Wings is the Democrats triumph; and
according to Democratic philosophy, the sal
walton of the country. The detection of the
Democrats is the Wings boast; and accord
ing to Wing philosophy, the release of the
country from oppression and misrule. The
Liberty party renders itself obnoxious to both
parties, partly on account OF it's distinctive
features, and partly by refusing to act with
either; although it contributed, indirectly, to
the success of the present dominant party
The American Anti-Slavery party stands a.
loot from all others, boldly charges them with
corruption, and seems to say, as Timothy
Pickering once said, (by changing the singu-
lar to the plural pronoun) ''we stand upon a
rock from which all Democracy-not all De-
mocracy-and hell to boot cannot move us
the rock of integrity and truth" Wings,
Democrats, and Liberty men writhe beneath
its an%athemas; and while they acknowledge
the moral pre-eminence of its principles, they
dare not embrace them lest they should for
felt their political reputation. Yet there is
occasionally one who has the moral courage
to sacrifice his political reputation upon the
altar of humanity, and to cast his lot among
those who dare to robuke the oppressor and
befriend the oppressed. He may be con-
temned by those who see no beauty in moral
excellence; but he will possess the confidence
of the truly good, and will be sustained by
them in his integrity. To think and act as
others think and act, without reference to
right or wrong, seems to be one of the infirm-
tiles Of mans nature-an ~infirmity which the
unprincipled and designing never wish to see
Observation-Disclosures it is the main prop of
their popularity. That an active few can ac-
complish measures before an inactive many
can be made to understand that there is any,
thing at stake, has often been demonstrated
to the disgrace of the many. And even in
this Government instances are by no means
rare in which measures have been accom-
plished by intrigue and chicanery, which
would never have received the sanction of o.
pen and honorable legislation. 1t has been
said, that, sail stratagems are honorable in
war;" and the trickery-the covert manGuv-
ering-the mining and counter-mining which
are constantly being developed, give strength
to the supposition that all stratagems are con-
sidered honorable in legislation. The peo-
pie of the United States are ostensibly their
own legislators; but in reality the dupes of
designing Demagogues; and they will emain
such until they are made to see that their
rights are ~trampled %upon-their confidence
betrayed-and their interest disregarded by
those in whom they trust. Is it not this SUI
pineness, this indifference of the mass Of the
people to those things which do not pertain
to their personal convenience, or their pecu-
MARY interest, which enabled the institution
of slavery to adapt themselves and their Gov
eminent to itself with such a remarkable de-
gree of %facilityl 1t is not enough to depre-
cate the existence of slavery-to say that it
is a curse to the country-a foul blot on our
national history which ought tobe expunged;
for it can be expunged; and the power to do
it rests with the people. Let them arouse,
and rally to the rescue Of their own rights,