Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-11-26
Another Victim.
IAMEO DAM AB 7,
Publishing Agent.

- ' ANhihhs
We learn from the Pa. Freeman that Sam
uel d. Burris has lately been convicted in
Dover, Del, of feeding the hungry, clothing
the naked, and sheltering the outcast. For
these deeds of mercy done more than nine
teen hundred years after the founder of Chris
tianity first impressed them as duties upon
his followers, he was arrested by a people
calling themselves christian, and who boast
of their gospel privileges, tried, found gull
ty, and sentenced to Imprisonment and fine (;
and should he refuse, or be unable to pay the
$500 which the court has decided he forfeit
ed by doing the teachings Of Jesus, he is to
be SOH into siarery for fourteen gearS!
These are the privileges Of an American
citizen, this the liberty he is permitted to
enjoy under the laws, the Constitution, and
the religion of the United States. The knowl-
edge that such an atrocious outrage was per-
petrated in a sister State, perpetrated legally
too, aye, and religiously, should quicken the
pulse Of ever lover of freedom, and make
the blood boil within him. 1t seems almost
an insult to common sense that with such
terrible facts before us, we should pause TO
debate constitutional echnicalities, or grave
ly inquire what the fathers did, or did not
mean when they framed a government for
the people of this land. When the fire of a
battery is directed against us, when its iron
storm is hurting death and destruction into
our ranks and comrades are falling wounded
and dying all around, we should care but lit
tie to ask whether the battery was built by
friends or foes, whether the guns were de-
signed to be used for or against US it would
be enough for us to know it was in possess
sion of the enemy, and that its cannon play
ed upon us with Tremendous effect.
We wish with all our heart that there ex-
listed no necessity for examining the charac-
ter of the U. S. Constitution, and there
would not be, if men would act with buthalf
the Spirit that freemen should manifest
Their question would not he, what is the
Constitutions, but tchere is it! and if it was
found upon the side of the oppressor, if it
was in the hands of the STAKEHOLDER and used
by him 10 serve his own cruel and selfish
purposes, they would renounce it, and have
nothing to do with it except TO refuse to pro-
mise it their allegiance and denounce it as a
blood-stained document. What consolation
would it be 10 Samuel ID. Buris TO be. told
that his sentence was unconstitutional L.
ven though he were fully persuaded of it, il
would not remit the fine nor unbar his prison
door. OF what avail then to him would be
the establishment of such a fact! He knows
; that "the powers that be" in the authority Of
u their God.claimed ordination have decided
> otherwise, and he knows that their decision
is the law of the land, and we might add, the
j gospel too. And if he should be sold into
. slavery for ii years, either because of his
> poverty or his refusal to comply with the un.
. just acquisitions of the tribunal that sentenced
. him, he would receive but little comfort from
= being told that his slavery was not legal he
would probably be more interested in its re.
Z ally than its legality, and while he felt the
lash and wore the fetter he could not doubI
. the former, nor would he be apt TO max,
= Spooner's Unconstitutionality of Slavery hi,
pocket companion.
With such startling facts staring us in thu
face, with such outrages upon the rights o
freemen coming continually before us cloth
, ed with all the formality Of legal decision
and invested with the zeal of constitutions
a authority, we ought to have but little desir
to investigate the technicalities of our form
. of government, or the letter of the parchment
compromise. We know Uhere it is, and tina
: should be enough-we know that it is nun
r bered with whips, and paddles, and gags
: and thumb-screws and other slaveholding il
- struments of torture. There let it remain
and receive the condemnation that its pos
- lion, and the uses to which it is applied Iicl
Il ly merit.
>, Why don't the people speak as if they ha
souls, why don't they manifest some feeling
raise the standard of moral revolution, an
cry Down with the Constitution "Dow