Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-03-20

as ready 10 declare that membership in a pro-
slavery church blinds a mans auti-slavery
judgment, and chills his anti-slavery sympa-
pro-slavery political organization. When
Liberty party presents a candidate to its
members and asks for their support, they
have al undoubted right, and it becomes their
duty to enquire into the anti-slavery stand-
ing Of that man. 1t is not enough, as some
contend, that the candidate shall be willing
to do the work Of the party, to act as a ma
chine for the organization, he should be a fir
specimen Of abolitionism. If this be not
true, then is a mercenary political hack as
good a candidate for the party, SO lar as prin-
ciple is concerned, as the best man in its
ranks. The members Of the Liberty party
act upon the principle that they have as much
right to question a mans religious aud So
cia', as his political standing and opinions it
is true they do not carry out their views very
far in any but the last named, but in the 9TH
crs they go as far as will answer their pres
ent purpose.
Suppose that Samuel Lewis at the time of
the Columbus convention was the possessor
in his wife's right Of a slave plantation in
Cuba, or owned a slavc-trading vessel, or be-
lieved it was no violation of Christianity 10
hold slaves, yet upon the whole declared his
desire to see the principles of Liberty party
established in this land, inasmuch as they
would be a pecuniary benefit to himself and
country would he have received the nomina-
ton! All Will reply in the negative. But
why? He avowed his willingness to do Lib
erty party work, and you know the party has
no right to NEEDLE with a mans religious
opinions although slavery is a part of his
creed il has nothing to do with his DINNER
ciaJ concerns although he may be engaged in
the foreign slave trade; it has no business to
ask what are his social relations although he
has married a plantation of Cuba negroes. -
Now we are not aware that Samuel Lewis
has given support TO slavery in either of these
ways, but he has done, and is doing that
which does quite as much to sustain it. We
shy this, without intending to impugn his
motives, or question his anti-slavery feelings,
for we know SO little Of either that we will
not venture to speak Of them here our re.
marks are based upon what we know of his
ecclesiastical position. BY that position, he
endorses not only the christian character o
every Methodist STAKEHOLDER, but declares
that slavery is not opposed to christianity Thai
it is no hinderance to the progress of the gos-
pei, for the church with which he is connect
ed not only as a member but a minister has
disavowed all riyhi, Wish Or intention TO de-
stroy it. The language Of his actions is,
"The Bishops Of Christ's church are Sc
corrupt and pro-slavery that no abolitionisI
ought to give them his vote for the meanest
office yet will | reverence them as Bishops
ordained of God"
If Liberty party voters may not inquire
into the ecclesiastical character Of the candi.
date they are called upon to support, so fal
as his relation TO slavery is concerned; i
they dare not ask whether the practical ell
dorsement of slavery as christian does moi
} disqualify a man from becoming a Liberty
party nominee, we must change our estlmat,
= of the character of that party, and regard i
as blindly despotic as any other in the land
If a church is organized to put down man
stealing, is it not bound to inquire wiIethe
I the preacher 10 whom 1t is about TO extend
call is one who legalizes man-theft, and
, SO, to refuse to receive him Some woul
perhaps say that this was meddling with
d political affair, a concern with which tn
church has no business. So, on the otht
e hand, if a political party is organized to pr
r down man stealing, is it not bound to inquiI
is whether the man it is about TO present as i
N candidate for office is one who endorses Il
n christian character of the man theft Thi
the Spiri. of Liberty regards as "a decepti'
ISSUE" but it is an issue which the hone
If men OF the party will sooner or later maxi
is for it is impossible to prevent the true frien'
g OF the slave from looking at a mans emit
in character. They will not be satisfied wi
Mt the political page, but will turn the leaf
70 know if his religious, is as good as his P
= ~liiical life.
> REORGANIZATION OF LIBERTY