Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-06-25
Testimony against War and Slavery

The following is an exlrac, from a letter
written by one ofthe Missionaries at Mendi,
Africa. After speaking of the war that pre-
walls around them, and of the peaceable and
Christian position occupied by the Mission
with which he is connected, he goes on to
say:
] hope the ad,ocltes Of Peace principles in
America will make a proper use Of The safety
and security of this Mission, at such a time,
in the midst of such a people. Brother Ray
mund will not so much as let them grind
their cutlasses on his premises, and yet hun
dTeds visit US who are armed with them. as
well as swords, guns, and other weapons Of
war. Nor will he buy any thing taken in
war. When ! see the warriors in our homes
loaded with carnal weapons, ] frequently
look back to the days of my boyhood, when
! thought ! should like TO strut a soldier,
mount a finely equipped steed, and WELD the
sword with skill; but, thank God, such feel
ings and desires no more exist in my heart.
! never lived so near the scene of war before,
and ! do say, that ! never felt. more secure
and free from fear in my life. The senti-
ment of the Psalmist is expressive of my
state of mind, when he said-'The Lord Of
Hosts is with us, the God Of Jacob is orr re-
(uge." This ought to he the strong tower
and defence ofall Gods people, at all times,
and in all circumstances.
Those Christians who think that Chris
tian nltions ought to prepare for wal in the
time OF peace, would learn a good lesson by
coming TO this place, and making themselves
acquainted with the principles by which Mr..
Raymond has been guided, and the measures
he has used. to protect himself against his
enemies. He has used no other weapons
than those of Kindness, and good will toward
men. lie has tried TO use no other measu-
res than those sanctioned by The Gospel Of
the Prince of Peace. When his enemies
have come to drice him (as they call il here,)
he has heaped Goals of fire upon their head.
by returning good for evil-in short, he has
killed them with kindness, and they have al
ways gone away without touching a single
thing belonging IN the Mission.
Another thing | wish the friends Of Peace
10 notice. Mr.. r., instead Of losing his in
%flnence or power by acting in this way, has
actually increased it TO such an extent, that
the fear and dread of him at this time among
the head war men, is greater than that OF any
other man In the country. As an example,
only The other day we heard that Kis-si-kum-
mains men Were taking a boy over the river
! 10 NH niUl. btcdust MS IdlNPT was on IUc
side of their enemy, being one of their head
men. They had a few days before killed
both his aunt and his cousin, a Young GIRL
Mr.. Raymond sent some of his men to watch
them as they crossed the river, with %inslruc-
tons to stop them, and bring them all to him
but they did not cross the river at the usual
place, so they passed over in safety. IIav.
ing heard that they intended 10 kill The boy
the following day, (Monday,) Mr.. r., sent
two men with a small present to Kis.si.kum-
NAH, at the same time asking him 10 give up
the boy TO him, (Mr. R..) as it hurt his
heart for them to kill the boy. The fact was,
he (Kis-si-kum -mah) did not himself wish to
kill him, but his head men wanted it. Thus
he was in a straight betwiXt two, wishing on
the one hand to please his head men, and on
the other afraid 10 refuse Mr.. r., lest he
should have all the people around us against
him. After much ~palaver, he finally agreed
that Mr.. r., should have the boy, but only
on the condition that he should be sent out
Of this country until the present war is over.
IL is The prevailing opinion among the people
around us, that not even the chiefs of the
neighboring tribes could have got this boy at
this time. But Mr.. r. is ored as well as
feared by this people. He opposes the ma
ny crimes and vices that are daily practiced
by the great mass of the people here, and vet
they respect, and love, and fear him. ltis
because God is with him. This is the great
secret Of his influence.
And again: look at the manner in which
he acts on the subject OF slavery. Instead of
admitting a STAKEHOLDER into the Church Of
Christ, he will not even allow any one to live
in our little town, who owns a slave. But
the other day, he found out that one of his
boatmen had secretly bought a slave, for his
sweet cart, in a town some miles distant
from this place. A court was Immediately
called, the matter explained by Mr.. r.. and
the other boatmen acted as iury-men. They
brought in their opinion, which was, that
Thcs, johnson should gothic next day, bring