Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-09-01
The Free Soil Movement.

we think no one appreciates more justly
than we, the Importance of the Free Soil
movement. We hail it, not only as the cheer
ing evidence Of the beginning of a political re-
generation, but receive it as an assurance that
the moral principle of the North was not
dead, but sleeping.
The aim Of the new horn party is a good
one, and we shall do nothing to hinder or OPP
pose it except so far as the faithful preaching
of the duty OF secession from the United
States government, and the moral obligation
of all consistent abolitionists to refuse to be
supporters of the American Union, may re-
tard its progress. To those who looked mere
" upon the surface of society, the sponta-
I neous uprising of the North has been a source
Of wonder and surprise, an almost miTacu-
lous event; and those among them who have
moveme nt, desiring rather TO be Of the hun
! dreds of thousands than Of the scarcely noti-
ced hundreds, greatly magnify its importance
and see in it a realization of all the abolition
lists have hoped for, the %fruiiion of the anti
slavery enterprise. 1t is as foolish to over
estimate as to under-rate its importance
The minds and hearts of the people have for
many years been gradually prepared for the
state of things we now behold-the advocates
of anti-slavery truth have been giving line
upon line, and precept upon precept, the con-
,inual dropping of their doctrine has worn for
itself channel which has gradually grown
broader and deeper. The under current thus
created-once invisible to the superficial OBJ
server-now bursts forth in its strength car
rying before it party barriers and destroying
party animosities. Yet this Development Of
progress as manifested in the Free Soil move
ment is mol abolitionism, and they greatly en
who thus misname it.
1t is true, we are assured by the friends o
the former Liberty party, that the platform
adopted by the 9th of August convention il
a Liberty party platform. This may be, anc
yet it by no means proves the Free Sol
movement Identical with abolitionism. The
Free Soil convention at Buffalo not only con
structed as broad a platform as did Libert,
: party at a previous convention there, but
: far broader one-incorporaiing into its con
fession Of faith, principles which the latte
: rejected as incompatible with their doctrin
of one idea. And yet the resolutions of tn
new party do not embody the leading prime
d plies of abolitionism, nor is it necessary fC
its success that they should for it is ne
aiming TO abolish slavery. but to restrict it
y doubtless Shareholders in the South who ca
. stand upon the platform of the Free Soil pa
ty, embrace every doctrine set forth in tn
y resolutions Of its convention, and yet contil
ne their slavehoiding practices. And why
Because the distinguishing principles of ger
~ uine anti-slavery are not there.
. In the early days of abolitionism it W;
n found that many at the South as we'll as at Il
Sc North were ready to condem slavery as a p
!! l~ilical and moral evil, or as Jefferson EXPIRE
s! ses it. 'a curse to the master, a grievo
e, wrong to the slave )" but they contended tn
at under existing circumstance it was a nee,
- sary evil, and therefore its continuance
do sin. The position taken by the Americ
is, A. S. Society at the time of its organizatiO
and ever since maintained by it, is this:
th Slaveholding is sinful, always sinful, and
FRS possible contingency can make it right al
- immediate emancipation is the duty of t
~ master, and the right of the slave. Stran
* TO say, there were some who admitted t
sinfulness of slaveholdlng, but denied t
duty of immediate repentance. Such W
the state of public opinion, such the feelin
to Of the people that that Society found it !
cessary to expend the best part of its energi
Jus for a long time, in enforcing the doctrine
l." the inherent sinfulness of slaveholding, a
the duty of immediate emancipation. T