Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-08-04

oioh' etdte OF society; ana was much en-
'ouraged, for the people would not only hear,
Tut they would talk-ask questions, and pre-
tent arguments in favor Of their doctrines.--
And think | mistake not when | say that
he great difficulty with them is their reli-
ylon-a disposition to have every thing with
they have any thing to do, bear the
religious aspect as though it was a part
of their religion itself, and 10 have every SER
vice performed by a person strictly orthodox
ly religious. This will appear from some of
the questions asked me by a priest and 9TH
ers at the meetings. DO you believe in
prayerP Are you in favor of the Christian
Sabbath DO you believe there is such a
place as hell = &c. But in view of all the
old things that hold on to the affections Of
that people, there is yet hope in their case I;
many of them were favorably impressed with
the doctrines presented, and some of them
will demonstrate their faith by their works
in future life. Freedom is fastening on
apace there, and just as those who are nomi-
nally free, become free indeed, will Ameri-
can slavery vanish away.
The next meetings were held at Somerz
field. This place is an exception to all the
places that | have visited. The people are
awfully welded to sect and party, and SO far
as | could Judge, unable, with but few ex-
ceplions, to apprehend an important truth, or
to comprehend an important idea. They are
loyal subjects to the priest-willing to be en-
shaved, and to pay for it at that. At this
place a Liberty party Wesleyan priest took
the platform in opposition to me. An after
noon was spent in an interchange of thought
on the competency of moral and political pow
er to remove the cursed system of American
slavery. advocated the omnipotency of moral
power, and its competency TO remove any evil
under which man suffers; and my opponent,
priest-like, put on a heavy blast of wind, and
did the best he could in the advocacy of po-
litical power. What good may result from
the meetings, | cannot tell, but think that all
that was said by the champion of Liberty par
ty went down for Union" with the people
generally. 1t is due to say of my opponent,
that he admitted the pro.slavery character of
the Constitution and further, that he attend
ed all the meetings that l held at Sarahville,
at which l advocated the same views that |
did at Somerfield. He was witness to all
-
the excitement produced, and had opportuni-
ty to present his views, but preferred TO 60
seven miles from home to blow of his blast.
The reason of all this'was perfectly obvious
to my mind, when l became acquainted with
the society at Somerfeld. 1t was coDgenial
to my opponent, and in its best phase only
susceptible of Liberty party sophistry. l
think there is no hope for humanity at Somer-
field. The Juggernaut wheels of Republic
can, Christian, American Slavery may con-
tinue TO dash over bleeding hearts and crush
ed spirits until the universe grows sick at
the sight, and | fear no move will be made
upon the deeply buried sympathies of the re-
ligious people of that place.
We next went to Sunsbury. Here the old
saying, that as iron sharpene,h iron, so doth
the face of a man that of his %friend,' was lit
orally fulfilled in my case. | met with true
spirits-with humanity's friends; and felt
the change come over me, sufficiently at least,
to enable me to say, that old (Somerfeld)
things had passed away, and behold all things
had become new. Here my hands were
strengthened, and | had a mind TO work, be-
lieving that good would follow. / labored
10 show that moral means alone could destroy
slavery, and that all others were unjustifable
in the anti-slavery conflict. l also endeavor-
ed to show that political power was not ne
cessary in this case-that it could not be in
n~ocently used, in view of the Constitution
being pro-slayery and that physical coer.
cion, or the sword, was always wrong
Much good was done at the meetings. Some
that had been wavering in their minds, were
established in The good cause.
At Somerton, | found some true spirits,
but generally speaking, the people there at.
tend to every thing before humanity. They
60 the sect and party with all the devotion
common, and seem to think that all the good
that comes 10 man, must come through Wig.
ism, Methodism, or som other sect or party.
ism that can steal Gods image-imbrutt
Christ's brother, and make merchandise o.
American babes. am sorry to say that ever
many who profess to be the slaves friend;
in this place, are far behind the ,ime-far be
low the true anti-slavery tide, and have bu
little care or concern about the matter. Blu
still there is salt here that has not lost its sa
vor-a leaven that will leaven the whole lumI
of society, and make the desolate waste II
blossom as the rose-cause many glad heart.