Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-03-05
: ours, dear friends, as ever.
PARKER ~PILLSBURY.
Frederick DOUGLASS.

This chattel, who has converted himself
into a man, and become one Of the most eff
fective advocates of human rights, and one
Of the most powerful ~pleaders for the re-
demption of his enslaved brethren, has per-
mitied himself to be purchased, and received
a bill of sale entliling him to the ownership
of his own flesh and blood. What do We
think of it,, Abolitionists? Has he compro-
missed his high position .? Has or will his
influence be lessened by that act1 Will it
have the effect of Delilah's shears upon his
strength? The principle involved in this
proceeding is an important one, worthy the
attention Of all Abolitionists.
Though it has been considered as a settled
question: that purchasing a slave is acknow-
Lodging the right of property in human beings,
Topping of a branch of the evil tree and leov.
ing the means of replacing it with another.
instead Of devoiing our means to blows at IT'S
root, yet the indications are that it will have
to be settled again, when Frederick Dourlass
permits himself to be bought, and William
Lloyd Garrison and other prominent Aboli-
tlonIsts justify the transaction. 1t is true
that the circumstances in which he was
placed were trying, and all admit that cir
cumstances govern the righlfulness of actions
sometimes. memorable necessity may COM
pei us to do things that we otherwise would
not. But what necessity was there for
Douglass being bought! No Southern kid
napper had with quadruped and biped blood
hounds come in pursuit of him. If Thomas
Aud or some other man thief had him in HIS
possession, and was going to carry him to the
South, but offered TO loose his hold upon him
on receiving $50 dollars, there would be some
excuse for paying it; but such was not the
fact. And in what way has his condition
been bettered When he returns to the
United States he will be just as liable to be
kidnapped as before. The only purpose for
which his owner could wish to have him in
his power would be to make an example of
him to terriGy other slaves, and destroy his
influence at the North. And if he is deter
mined to have him, he will 90 up to Boston
and steal him, as some kentuckians came up
and stole Jerry Phinney from the capital of
Ohio.
am not surprised that the English should
purchase Douglass. They are accustomed
to buying slaves. They bought 500, 900 in
the West Indies with 42O,O 900 wrunr from
their laboring classes at home; and | think
it would have been far better to have devoted
the ESQ, with which they ransomed Doug
lass who was already free, TO relieving Ire
lands starving millions. But an surprised
that Frederick should consent to be BOUGHT
Of his former master, when ] remember an
incident that occurred at an anti.~slavery con-
%vention in Mt. Pleasant which he attended
three years ago last October. A coloreJ wo-
man came TO that convention to solicit money
to purchase her son who was vet in slavery.
Elisha Bates made a very pathetic appeal in
her behalf, and the sympathies of the meet
ing were becoming very much excited. But
"hen some one was about TO make a mova
Tor taking up a collection for her. Frede,icL
Douglass stood upon the pulpit steps, and
amld the tears and sobs of that slave motbo,
objected to money being appropriated to such
a purpose. For" said he, ait will be ac-
knowledglng the right of property in human
beings. The money that is paid for that
mothers son will probably be taken 10 pur-
chase some other mothers son, and it will
only tend to extend and strengthen The traffic
IN slaves. Upon this principle we may pur-
chase all the slaves in the South, while The
Shareholders would only procure a fresh sup
ply from Africa, aud the system would still
continue in all It's horrors; whereas, il we ex-
pend our money in making well-directed
blows at the root Of the system, it will soon
be overthrown and abolished forever" How
he has escaped his own reasoning, / am not
aole 10 see j. MCMILLAN.
Salem, February 81, 1879