Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-04-23
[REPLY.l
DEAR ERIENp

DEAR FRIEND:
You will excuse my seeming neglect fol
the reason assigned in my note to the EditoI
Of the Duglc. You will also excuse me
from referring 10 anything merely personal
from the fact that | think, nothing Of a per
sonal character merely would be interesting
to the readers of the columns through which
| address you.
! thank you Tor the deep interest you seem
TO take in the Welfare Of those whom YOU
look upon as erring brethren. You think
have been deceived and led TO embrace error
dangerous, soul killing error. That have
split upon a rock, upon which yourself well
nigh made shipwreck. If | by my action
have become thus involved, then of course
ALL who have done the same, ore in the same
danger. Let us look at this matter for a mo-
ment. What have we done! what fearful
sentiments have we embraced ! lltarken
and give heed. We have received a matter
of fact, as true! That the Constitution Of
tho L. S. is a pro-slavery document. In do
ing this we have done, what the Executive,
Judicial and Legislative departments Of the
government Of the country have done from
the first hour of their existence, ill the pres
ent: as also the whole body of the people, if
we except a few who deny a plain matter of
fact, for party purposes. And which seems
TO US the only safe and consistent course Of
conduct. 'No UNION WITH sLAvEnoLDERs.
This is the whole matter. Now for the life
Of me, | cannot see what there is in all this
so alarming, that fills so many with agoni-
zing fear, that would lead them to suffer am-
pu,ation or martyrdom rather than believe.
But the difficulty is not here, The people
are not thus alarmed at receiving what they
all know to be true. 1t lies in a number of
other matters, that have no more possible
connection with the American Anti-Slavery
Society, than the parties who originate and
circulate them have with decency and truth
You are not the only one who while hearing
the agents of the A. A. S. were convinced
of duty, and neglected to ''add to their faith,
courage"
You shave become convinced that what
morality, virtue, and good principle there is
in the world, is in the church, as a general
thing" If you meant in the church Of Je-
sus Christ, l should have 10 cause to differ
with you. But this is not your meaning
You mean in the organizations, called church
e -Ssnnot sgRSSS1se that YOU are Of opin-
ion that the Wesleyan Church embraces all
the virtue, &C., but that the other churches
have their share. l will not undertake to
say what you mean by the above properties,
"virtue," &c. But what true virtue there
can be in churches who sell females for pros
t%itution, who are constantly engaged in raj
sing victims for Southern Seraglios, who for
bid marriage TO one-sixth of the whole peo-
pie, and legalize wholesale adultery, | can
not tell. What morality there can be in
churches who fellowship and endorse the
christian character Of the most black hearted
thieves and pirates in the universe is a mys-
terry, greater than "the mystery Of GodIi-
ness" And as to ''good principle" il must
be a plentiful article, when we consider the
men who compose the churches, the means
they employ for their support, the gross and
bitter calumnies they are constantly fabrica-
ting against every species of reform, and every
class of reformers. If it be a fact that the
virtue, &C., is in the churches, then the grea.
test churches have the most virtue, &C., and
you in leaving the NJ. E. Church left one
of the most virtuous, moral, and well princi.
pied churches in the world. You must see
that in leaving so heavenly a society, YOU
made a sad mistake, and should with humble
penitence, seek once more admission 10 her
fold. wish to call your attention especial.
ly to a part Of your letter, which | deem the
most important, because it contains the most
wide spread sentiments, al the same TIM
the most unfounded ISLANDERS. You say YOU
shave examined this matter closely and pray.
eriully." You shave read their publication:
and heard the lecturers repeatedly" 'Thei
t chief object is not the abolition of slavery
, but to spread the awful desolating, mora
pesiilence of infdeliiy far and wide" Now
my friend, ask you, are you sure of tn,
a above! | also ask you for the evidence thro
: the columns Of this paper. Ideny the tchOI
r an the most pain, p%ositire and unequiroca
manner. | call upon you or any other, VIII,
= is in the habit of stating The above, to adduc,
the resolution. address, or statement Of tn,
Society in which christianity is assailed, o
inhd, lily taught or advocated. | also cal
upon you to bring forward any article in an,
OF the organs of the Society, or any sentenc
l. In any of the publications of the Society, tina
e IN any form teaches the desolating doctrine c
e Observation-Disclosures, | challenge you t
f; prove that the agents of such Societies bay
ever on the anti-slavery platform advocate
'e other than anti-slaveTy doctrines.
l. You ask shave we not evidence IN +,
e. fact that their combined efforts arc levelle
$, against every organization, both civil and r
y ligiohs." Are YOU sure tho So,;o,;.,