Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-07-23
From tie Li6erator.
The Liberty Party.


For some time past, there has been some.
thing approXimating to "A very pretty quar-
rel among the Liberty party journals-and
the end is not yet--respecting the very mo-
mentous question, whether a National Cor
vention of the party should be held this fall,
or sometime next year, TO nominate candi-
dates for the Presidency and Vice Presiden-
cy of the United States. The controversy
has been conducted with considerable ]piquan-
cy, the National Era representing the division
for postponement, and the Emancipator that
for an early nomination. The two sides ap-
pear TO be SO nearly balanced, that it makes
it a new matter of disputalion, which has the
prepondeiance. On the whole, The Enamel
pator claims to represent the majority and
in its last number. IT publishes certain letters
received from Alvan Stewert of New York,
Schuyler Hoes Of New Jersey, Titus Hutch
inson of Vermont, Samuel Fessenden of
Maine, +. J. Lemoyne of Pennsylvania, and
Francis Gillette of Connecticut, members of
the : National Committee all of whom coin
eide in the expectancy Of holding the Con-
veniion either in September or October next.
The gravity with which the whole affair is
conducted is exceedingly ludicrous as if tie
Convention were of the slightest consequence,
in a political point Of view, whether it be
held at the earliest or the latest period sur-
gested.
Can any body tell lis where the Liberty
party is, or what it is! Is it governed by
any principle? and if so, what is il? In
Massachusetts, 1t will not vote for any man.
however anti-slavery he may be, who calls
himself a Wing or a Dem crat. John G..
PaIfrey, Daniel p. King, and Charles Sum
ner, are no more acceptable to it than Daniel
Webster, Robert G. Winthrop, and Caleb
Gushing. In New Hampshire, it readily CO.
~alesces uiM " higs and Democrats, and votes
for Wings and Democrats, who are no more
anti-sIavery in spirit and sentiment TO say
the leasi,) than Messrs. Palfrey, King and
Sumner. In the Empire State, a similar
amalgamation took place on the License ques-
ton, though perhaps not so universally
Whether, therefore, this party be flesh, fish
or fowl or a little of each, or all these con-
solidated, We are at a loss to determine.
Again. What are its views of the Consli-
tuition of the United States! Does il, or does
it not, consider that instrument as rendering
slavery unlawful on the American soil! We
do not ask, how it is regarded by individual
members of the party-but, what is the doc
trine, what the verdict of the party itselfl-
All the uno0iciai defamation OF Liberty par
~ men, as TO the antl-slavery character of The
Constitution, must 60 for nothing. What
we want TO know, what the whole country
ought 10 know, is, is it the doctrine of THF,
LIBERTY PARTY, as such, that Congress
may at any time as constitutionally abolish
slavery in any slave State, as in the Distric'
of Columbia? And should that party sue
coed at any time in electing to Congress
majority OF Senators and Representatives, doe,
it mean to pass a law, aud of course to en-
force the law, declaring slavery to be unlaw
full on any portion Of the American soil! Or
this point-and it is a vital one-we believe
no national convention of the party has yeI
v%entured to express any definite opinion
Why is thisl
What are the prospects of this party In
Massachusetts, il has made no progress for
some time in Connecticut il has lost ground;
in other parts of the country, lis growth has
been contemplate. It's journals are dIsap-
pearing. one by one, and those that survive
obtain a meagre patronage, excepting the Ma
tional Era, which may shortly be ostrac'sed
as was Senator Cilley-alias the silly Seaa-
tor-of New Hampshire.
Worse than all, the party is rent by a d.
vision in it's ranks Of a most radical charac-
ter. Even James G. Birney has abandoned
il as worthless, or too contracted in its 'one
idea purpose-to wit, the liberation OF the
grooming millions on the Southern plantations.
Gerrit Smith. Wm Goodell. Beriah Green,
'anes {. J2.ksos, ".,i.a Z. Chaplin, e:.