Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-08-13
COMMUNICATIONS.
The Happiness of Man the great end
of Creation.

f sequent happiness Of the mind of man is tht
, great end for which all things else were ere
= ated. The earth, and all things therein arr
5 laboring for the promotion of human hapni
ness. All the infnity OF worlds too. Tht
most minute insect that creeps upon the earth
was designed 10 leave its appropriate impress
! sion upon the mind of man. Man, then, be
= ing the great end of creation, and all things
o else being created only as means to that end
= his happiness and interests can never be sac.
: riiced to any forms or institutions whatever,
, If there are any institutions among men, whe.
Their human or professedIy divine, which are
t not subseTvient 10 this end, they are evident
r ly used contrary to the designs of the Crea-
ator, and will inevitably bring misery, deg
radiation and death upon the human family.
This principle lies at the foundation of all
human liberty. Uponits promulgation hangs
the dearest interests of our race. Yet how
often are mans highest interests, yes, and
man himself, sacrificed to forms and %institu-
tons. How long, oh how long, will men
continue TO consecrate houses, and days, and
themselves also 10 other than the common in
terests and elevation of our race How long
will they spend their substance for that which
Is not bread, and their money for that which
s~atisfieth not? God is infinite in all his at
tributes. He needs no burnt ofrerinps or Of.
fusions OF blood He needs no ecclesiastical
or civil organizations He wants man to con.
form to no laws but those deeply planted in
his nature, and best adapted TO secure his
happiness here and welI-bcing hereafter. In
short, He needs nothing and wants nothing
but that actually beneficial to mankind
When, therefore, laws in church or state be-
come oppressive, do not tend to good, do not
subserve the interests of humanity. it is our
right and bounden duty 10 trample them in
the dust. When, therefore, our revolutiona-
ry fathers, in their memorable Declaration of
Independence, declared that when a govern
ment became oppressive, when it did not SUBJ
serve the end for which it was instituted, it
was the right of its subjects to throw it off,
they proclaimed a truth deep as nature, and
coeval with human liberty. Yes, it was the
voice of God saying to man, freedom is tin
natural element. o, will men ever analyze
this? Will they ever learn that God is not
an oppressor? Will they ever dare to con-
ide in Him and do Justice? When will thew
possess sufficient courage to "stand on the
truth though the heavens fall "? to resist op-
preston though by an omnipotent hand .
U, freedom how | love thee! And how can
remain silent and see, not only the whole
civil, naval and military power of this NIGH
ty nation thy sworn foe, but also the profess
ed church of the living God. True the Con-
s%titution is the great sill upon which the su-
perstructure of human bondage, robbery, ra-
pine and murder is reared, but the church is
the foundation upon which it rests. In this
sense "the American church and clergy are
emphatically the bulwarks of American sla-
very" Though all the elements, and reason
too, whispers lei man be free, yet, with but
few exceptions, every man in this nation is
pledged TO crush to dust three millions or
Gods children, should they adopt the prin-
clples OF our fathers. As often as the sea-
S'NSAA 10 bihC otd- |
sons roll around, almost every man in this
so-called republic swears allegiance to this
slaveholdlng government. Yes, and impu-
IDENTIFY says to the down-trodden slave, al
tempt to regain your God-given rights, and
III crush you to the dust. This is no ic-
ton. Loglcians may bubble, yet the stern
fact remains, that every sixth man, woman
and child in this nation is this moment toll
ing under the most heaven-darinu and damn
ing system of slavery that ever the sun be-
held. Do you deny this. Then 90 visit
yon slave plantations; hear the shrieks and
cries OF insulted and outraged HUMANITY
ask the slave what has wrunp from him his
wages, his intellect, his manhood? He will
tell you the malignant tyranny of this on
presslve government. Then speak to the DO
iillcal masses Of this great national sin, of
the evils of the Constitution, which are hanr-
ing like a milestone about the nations neck
and they will tell you, "you want to DESTROY
our institutions"
1t would seem, for a little false honor. M.
llilclans would sacrifice to government the
end for which all things were created-,bo
happiness of man. Thus are things peryert-
ed in church and state. Doctors of Divioj,v
are yet discussing the technicalities of their
arbitrary slaveholding religion, while thew
bllndly ride over the highest principles Of
mans nature, and trample his dearest INFER
es's in the dust. Priests are yet adherinr
with martyr zeal to their creeds and Jewish
ceremonies, while a priest-ridden world are
starving for lack of knowledge. Oh! when
VIII mere be a different state of things =
Speak to the laily of the sunerings of the
slave. and the rioits 81 -