Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-12-11
ANNUAL MEETING
Of the Rhode Island A. S. S0cie.

Of the Rhode Island 4. S. Society.
This society held It's annual meeting in
Providence, commencing Nov. llth, 1916,
The proceedings were re ported for the Liberia
tor from which we make some extracts.
Thomas Davis and others urged, that the
American Constitution is better than that OF
any other government, and is. in the main,
justa and equal that those articles which sane
ton slavery may be amended or repealed
that they are now mlGe null by the popular
will, where anti-slavery opinions prevail; 50
that they are now of very little importance
and that it is more practicable to operat e un-
der the Constitution, and through the gov
eminent, than to attempt to destroy them.
In reply it was said by Mr.. Cheeny and
others, that, however many good things the
Constitution might contain, its patronage to
slavery was none the less a fact, and practi-
cally, that overruled all its principles of free
dom ; that it was condemned, not for its good,
but eyii, and that the fair professions Of its
preamble cannot hide the pro-slavery action
Of its compromises; that the effort to dis
prove these pro-slavery features was like an
argument to prove the soundness of a tree
whose rottenness is visible. Those inLen-
ious arguments might prove the Constitution
ought to have been anti-slavery, but they
did nothing to prove it so; for the testimony
of its trainers, In their debates upon it, the
contemporaneous and successive legislation
under it, the universal construction of the
Courts, and understanding of the people, too
plainly prove that slavery finds shelter under
that political compact. Under its fostering
care, the institution has grown from a COM
paratively feeble one to a monstrous system
IL -.I...I. ,,.t.., F,,l l;.t,t.. - ,,1in,.
and treads down its freedom. The Conslitu-
ton, so for as Shareholders can use il to pro-
tect slavery, is always their shield but the
moment it ceases to serve their object, trle
to that end, they trample the national COM
pact in the dust, aud do Outrage upon the
rights of human nature. Oar rights are not
protected by it; our citizens are shot, or
hung, or enslaved, or branded because there
complexion, or opinions not agreeable to the
South the rights Of the press and speech
have a thousand times been invaded, the IA
TONS honor defLed, and the interests of free
labor Frustrated, and what redress is given
us by the Constitution or government! The
government itself is but the agent of the
slaveholders, doing what they did. Though
in many of their outrages, the sIave-power
violates the Constitution itself, yet 1t has
gained the courage and strength to do 1t
through the protection given 1t by that COM
pact of the States. The law warmed the
viper into life, which now stings and kills
contrary to its prohibitions; but it is its nature,
and the government that gave it the power to
do that evil, is responsible for these violations
of its own laws. In becoming partners in
this slayeholding government, we are aiding
the STAKEHOLDER, and are partners in his guilt.
We could not rightfully give 1t our ailegl-
ance or support for a day, mach less until 1t
could be amended by a vote of threa-lourths
of the States. Nor is it necessary for us to
vote, in order to change the laws and over
throw slavery, for that will be a necessary
result of an anti-slavery public sentiment.
To this end, then, should we address our
selves by truth, argument, and noble and
Mr.. Alcou told US we need not talk of dis
union, for we have no union now-these are
not United States, but diS-united States, and
must be so while slavery was an element
among them. The afternoon meeting ad-
iourned in the midst of this discussion, and
il was continued through a portion OF the
evening. The rest of it was principally oc-
cupied by James n. Bulfum and Parker
Pillsbury, who had just arrived. MIR. Bull
fun gave an amusing and interesting nara
tive of his English tour with Frederick Doug
lass. Some remarks he made on some man
ifestations of Baptist pro-sllYery, brought on
a little discussion relative TO the position OF
that sect. Mr.. Fillmore, a Methodist cler-
gyman, tried to parry the blow he thought
aimed at his rival sect-a very dlsinteresIed
net. The attempt brought forth fresh iIcts
from Mr.. BufIum and Lucien Burleigh.-
The latter told us of an assertion OF the great
revival preacher, Elder Swan, that he would
rather be a member Of a church OF CeVlls-
than of a church Of abolitioniStS. Doubtless
the abolitionisls are quite willing he should
pratify his preference it certainly accordS
with his pro-slavery symPataieS. MI But
fun told of a BAPTIST church IN Marblehead,
where the pews were sold Oh condition tha'
they should be rented to no one bit reputa-
ble white persons" thus excluding sinners
and colored people. The same church, IN
having a Sabbath School Celebration, would
not invite the Unitarians to aid in II, but sent
10 Lynn and invited the artillery company to
Mr.. Wigfall, a STAKEHOLDER Of South Car
olina. AT the invitation Of ONE OF the friends
presept, spoke at much length, giving hl'
views upon slavery, and the slaye-trade' H'
is the disciple Of Calhoun lawyer. H.
stLdied with the great Nulllher; and ne l
thoroughly marked by his masters opinions
He began by telling us he was a StaoeG'l
der a tgaficker in human flesh nc De
lieyed with John Randolph sin calling
gourd handle, a gourd handle" lie neyC
Concealed the character of slavery under tn
name of peculiar institution" lie Gale
il what it ,cas-Slavery. He said, thati If h
admitted the premises of the abolitionisls' h
must come to their conclusions II SLAYER
is a sin, or an evil, either morally, socially {
politically, it ought to be abolished and h
would 90 for abolition, but he msln'a!ne
that it was no evil in any sense. lie aIhrn
ed it was a humane institutional blessln
TO master and slave, and to the country II
denied the Truth of the Virginia aosira'
TONS" that all men were created Jrec an
equal, and endowed with unalienabie rights
No man, said he, is created tree-'he Prope