Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-10-20
its remedy, is the high. mission of the Adolf
From the North star.
An Address 10 the COlOred People of
the United States.

FELLOW ~COUNTRYMEN IL nder a solemn
sense of duty. inspired by our relation TO you
as fellow sufferers under the multiplied and
grievous wrongs TO which we as a people
are universally subjected, we. a portion OF
your brethren, assembled in National Con-
vention, at Cleveland, Ohio, take the liberty
to address you on the subject Of our mutual
improvement and social elevation.
The condition Of our variety Of the human
family, has long been chPerless, it not hope
less, in this country. The doctrine perse-
veringly proclaimed in high places in church
and state, that it is Impossible for colored
men to rise from ignorance end de~basemen',
TO intelligence and responsibility in this
country, has made a deep impression upon
the public mind generally. and is not with
out its effect upon us. Under this gloomy
doctrine, many of us have sunk under the
pail of dependency, and are making no eff
fort to relieve ourselves. and have no heart
to assist others. 1t is from this dependency
that we would deliver you. II is from this
slumber we would rouse you. The present,
is a period Of activity and hope. The hea-
vens above us are bright, and much of the
darkness that overshadowed us has passed
away. We can deal in the language of bril-
liant encouragement, and speak of success
with certainty. That our condition has been
gradually improving, is evident to all, and
that We shall yet stand on a common plat
form with our fellow counlrymen. in respect
to political and social rights, is certain
The spirit Of the age-the voice of lnspira-
tion-the deep longings Of the human soul
the conflict Of right and wrong-the upward
tendency of the oppressed throughout the
world, abound with evidence complete and
ample, of the final triumph of right over
.ra, &c f.nalz-, o..- -l.uo., ,,l a,,alitu
over caste. To doubt this, is to forget the
past, and blind our eyes to the present, as
well as o-deny and oppose the great law OF
progress, written out by the hand of God on
the human soul.
Great changes for the better have taken
place and are still taking place. The last
ten years have witnessed a mighty change
in the estimate in which we as a people are
regarded, both in this and other lands
England has given liberty to nearly one
million, and France has emanejpsied three
hundred thousand Of our brethren, and our
Town country shakes WIN the agitation oI
our rights. Ten or twelve years ago, ar
educated colored man was regarded as a GU
riosity, and the thoggftof a colored man as
an author, editor, lawyer, or doctor. had
scarce been conceived. Such, thank Hea-
ven, is no longer the case. There are now
those among us, whom we are not ashamed
to regard as gentlamen and scholars, and
who are acknowl I'D ged to be such, by many
of the most learned and respectable in on
land. Mountains OF prejudice have been re-
moved, and truth and light are dispelling the
error and darkness Of ages, The time was,
when we trembled in the presence of a white
pan, and dared not assert. or even ask ioT
our rights, but would be guided, directed and
governed, in any way we were demanded
without stopping to inquire whether we were
right or wrong. We were not only slaves,
but our ignorance made US willing slaves
Many of us uttered complaints against the
I faithful Abolitionists, for the broad assertion
of our rights; thought they went too far, anc
were only making our condition worso.-
This sentiment has nearly ceased to reign II
the dark abodes of our hearts; we begin t
, see our wrongs as clearly, and comprehend
our rights as fully and well as our Whit
I counuymen. This is a sign of progress -
' and evidence which cannot be gainsayed.-
J 1t would be easy to present in this conhec
= ton, a glowing comparison Of our past witt
u our present condition, showing that Will
. the former was dark and dreary, the presen
is full of light and hope. 1t would be cas-,
:, TO draw a picture of our present. achievements
y and erect upon 1t a glorious future.
But, fellow countrymen, it is not so inucI
our purpose TO cheer you by the progress W
have already made, as It is TO stimulate yo
to still higher attainments. We have don
much, but there is much more TO be done.-
lie While WE have und oubtedly great cause t
= thank God, and take courage for the hopett
l. changes which have taken place in our col
I. dition, we are not without cause TO mour
over the sad condition which we yet occupy
We are yet the most oppressed people in tn
ie world. In the Southern States of this tnio
x. we are held as slaves. All over that wild
~ region our paths are marked with blood
Our backs are yet SCARED by the lash, an
: our souls are yet dark under the pail Of 81;
nr very. Our sisters are sold for purposes
pollution, and our brethren are sold in ID
Id market with beasts of burden. Shut up
" the prison-house Of bOndsge-denied a
as rights, deprived of all privileges, we al
III blotted from the page of human existence
as and placed beyond the limits of human T
81 gard. DEATH, mo!al DEATH, has palsied OF
y souls in that quarter, and we are a mnrdese
10 people.
g, In the Northern States, we are not siav'
~ TO individuals, not personal slaves, yet,
-, many respects, we are the slaves of the con
n munity. We are, however. far enough 7
If moved from the actual condition of the slav
N to make us largely responsible for their CO.
10 tinued enslavement, or their speedy delive
il ance from chains. For in the proportion
lie which we shall rise in the scale of hunt
lis improvement, in that proportion do we au
as ment the probabilities of a speedy emanC
!, patton of our enslaved fellow coun,rymen.'
It is more than a mere figure Of speech
il. say, that We are as a people chained togeth'
We are one people-one in general compile
rA ion, one in a common degradation. one
popular estimation. As ono rises, all mu