Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-10-06
A Vision.

Some weeks ago l read in one of the Bos-
ton papers an account of an aggravated and
most soul chilling murder, committed, as the
paper stated by a detested wretch long a bur-
then TO himself and society. read also con-
corning his execution, which account was
accompanied by a few remarks upon the pun
ishment he would probably receive in anoth-
er world. The relation Of this horrible &C.
currence weighed my spirit down. The
position from which | viewed and contem-
plated the deed, was identical with that oc-
cupied by almost every political, legal, and
clerical teacher in the land. l viewed it as
to its external aspect, and was driven to the
unreasonable conclusion that man is, in real
ity, a depraved creature at heart. Oh, how
| trembled at this "But no man, :" rea-
soned |, I" could do such thing to his fell
low man, without being evil in the very ele-
ments Of his being i; and if this is an individ-
ual truth, it must be a universal one." Yes,
only twenty days ago | was filled with sor-
row concerning this demonstration of innate
sin, OF perverted and evil affection, of a vol
untary love for, and doing of evil-voluntary
because growing out of, and being allied to
the Souls Life. 1 prayed, constantly, to
know the truth, and to view the occurrence,
and its causes, from an interior and spiritual
position. AT length, one day, l felt moved
to visit the village graveyard, that | might
be free from outer disturbances. obeyed
the internal impulse. / sought a retired spot,
folded my head in my, garments shut my
self from sense and outer impressions, and
meditated on the subject of my thoughts
Instantly my understanding was opened, and
the birth, and life, and character, and the
various circumstances which constituted the
murderer's experience, were manifested to
me in their regular ord er of succession.
In a small, u~nclean, unfinished room, in
a cradle, l saw a child. 1t was physically
deformed, especially in the cerebral region.
! saw the cause of this malformation was
referrable to the ignorance of its parents
they had violated The laws of reproduction
and uterogestaiion. 1t was plain to be seen
that this infringement and disobedience
was faithfully recorded on the person of the
child.
In FIVE years more, that child manifested
in its plays and conversations the angular
and impulsive promptings Of love unguided
by wisdom, which latter it had not, because
Of youth and incapacity, and which lis pa
rents could not have communicated because
of their ignorance from birth.
In five years more, / saw that child the
companion Of those of equal growth and like
here ditary misdirection,-of those who were
born foes 10 the interests of society,-those
who were the piciimS of circumstances, such
as surround and influence all persons and
families forming thelower strata of ciyiiiza-
ton.
In five years more, that child was a per-
verse and wicked youth-was the leader OF
card-playing and gambling tricks without
the city-and was the chief of mobs and ri
OTIS within was chewing tobacco and smo.
king cigars, drinking liquor. His parents
were poor. At first they could not send him
TO school, at last he would not go. He stood
as a representative Of inferior situations and
circumstances.
In five years more, ! saw that youth a
man in stature, but not in development o
body nor elevation of mind. And in an old
dilspidated dwelling, like the Brewery il
our city, containing about twenty families,
saw his wife-for he was married.
Two years more, and saw his child
That mothers child was left in care of
sympathising but no better situated neighbor
while she, worn out and emaciated, vas ped
ding strawberries in the streets Of Boston
| saw her return at night with food for her
self and her little one, and money TO procure
bread for breakfast but that cruel man, in
toxicated husband, and misdirected father
abruptly demanding her little saving, anC
appropriated it 10 his own use-to buy ram
whereby to drown the rising feelings o
goodness and sympathy within, that his OBJ
scured and misdirected soul might not per
ceive the body's corruption and depravity.
In six month more l saw him when alone
weeping but, when 8 cen by others, he wa
gtess, u%nclean, and disgusting. Feeling tha