Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1846-12-11
COMMUNICATIONS.
PRovIpENcE, r. l., Nov. 1916.

49, ''N J1'' wv hiAlhA AiiNtNiha ~
the Rhode Island Anti-Slavery Society. 1t
was thronged and was one of the most en-
thusiastic ever held in the state.
One of the most striking incidents in the
character of this society, is, that it still
clings most tenaciously to organization af-
ter having avowed itself, as converted, bap-
tized, confirmed, even 10 extreme JUNCTION
sacrament, 10 the doctrines Of no organization,
as lately advocated by our lamented friend,
Nathaniel p. Rogers. This is most remark
able, inasmuch as organization vas, in the
last resort, the main point of dispute in. the
controversy between him and the abolition
lists Of the country, during the latter years of
his life.
The Rhode Island society has all the ma
chinery of any voluntary association in the
land-and it is in active operation. The
the Committees make reports-the Treas
urers receive and disburse the funds-ihe
Board of Managers manage and direct-eve-
ry wheel in the machine plays to perfection.
hNSSiuAivho VI NuioSJ anu phh1G1ilN h1lC
passed on Mr.. Rogers. l am glad Of every
remembrance Of his virtues. Many virtues
he had but it seemed to me, while the soci-
ETY. was thus all marshalled and harnessed
under officers, and forms Of parliament, that
if Rogers could have spoken from the spirit
land, he would have addressed it in the Ian
guage of another-"Why call ye me master
and Lord, and do not the things which ]
say Z" To obey, is better than to burn in
cense.
If, in the controversy on organization, its
foes are in the right, why do not their views
obtain why has not the Rhode Island socie-
ty, especially, given the world a practical
demonstration Of the superior advantages of
the "more excellent way 7" There is not a
particle less machinery, or more freedom of
thought, and speech, here, than in Massa-
chusetts. Could our departed friend Rog-
ers deem his admirers sincere, while they
were taking doxologies to his praise on their
lips, and still, with their hands, were doing
the very things he wore out his life in de-
nouncing as the worst obstacles in the path
way of human freedom?
But we had a meeting not soon TO be for
gotten. The society processes to abjure the
motto-'No union with slaveholders.'-
Still in its action, it has long carried it out.
Political action, it repudiated long ago. SO
too, in separating from all ecclesiastical con-
aa-;o.- - hoe etooI r,r ,ro,r- ciJo byr cilo
with the American and Massachusetts anti
slavery societies. It's testimony, therefore,
is, after all, in favor of the motto.
The presence, and cooperation in discus
sion, of a South Carolina STAKEHOLDER, con-
tributed much to the interest of the meeting.
He was a fine specimen Of the ''chivalry"-
a lawyer Legislator-a Planter-a Poll
tician-a Slave-trader, and the owner of a
hundred slaves and report said he had on
the laurels won in six encounters on the bat,
tle-feld of single combat.
have never seen a more courteous anC
honorable disputant. And he was, through
out, consistent and above-hoard. He sal,
ne wouldn't mince the matter, and with mea
ly mouth, talk about the ''pecuLar instita
ton" 1t is slavery, said he, and call
slavery.
And again he said, he would not, like ma
ny %clergymen, talk about the sin of slavery
its opposition to the bible, and then CLOS
over the conduct of the STAKEHOLDER, and fel
lowship him as a christian. Convince me
said he, that slavery is a sin, or against tn
bible, and | will fellowship no Shareholders as
a christian. | will emancipate my slaves
and help you overthrow the system. o
convince me, he added, that slavery is a civ
il, social, or political evil, and | will do til,
same.
The Foreign Slave Trade, he said, was a
bad as the Domestic, ami no worse. If
man ought to be hung, Che added with grea
force,) for trading in slaves in Africa,
ought to be, for doing the same thing
Carolina. 1t was a marvellous, though iu
confession. Had President Polk lone tn
on the African coast, which he has long bee
doing in Tennessee, he would have bee
HuHRs ny VIC . 40 "a lAeNNs H"N y
his slaye-holding and trading, (mOre horrib
than the Afican,) was all the rocommedt
lion, or real eligibility he could boast, f'
his office. 1t makes the difference of Iii
and death, on which side of a fence, or
line without a fence, certain acts are con
mitted. So does slavery shape the govern
ment. Shareholders see it, but the govern
ment does not.
Our Carolina friend made another avowa
20 which the abettors Of slavery at the Mort
would. do well to listen. He said they wer
by no means particular at the South, abou
hs sOl0r Of their ;iares. White ones, h