Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-09-29
For The a. S. Buge.
Mrs. SWiSShelm and the B~arnburnerS.

TUT 'He ~ u DuSV'
Mrs. SWiSShelm and the Barnburners.
a talented woman is that Mrs. Swisshelm
OF the "Putsburg Saturday Visiter." Sell
dom rivaIled at repartee, and somewhat era
lie withal-just enough so to give an agreea-
BILE variety TO the productions of her pen.-
With her political views ] have not the least
particle of sympathy. And it has always
seemed strange TO me, how a woman of her
spirit and Intellectual power could become
associated with a political party which de-
niles to women the right to participate, equal
~ with men, in all laudable schemes for
urging forward the grand reformatory move
ments of the age. Perhaps she thinks, with
Frederick Douglass, "that, so far from pre-
Jpo'ce and false views Of our equality being
a valid reason for not acting with a party, it
IS sometimes the most valid reason which
can be given for such action" She tells us
that she entered the Liberty party without
an invitation, and brought her W stool =
and 1t she had continued to occupy il herself
steadily and firmly resisting the encroach-
ments of the 50 lords of Creation,"-T should
not feel half so much inclined to find fault
with her present position. 1t was two-thirds
OF a grief to learn that she had merged her
individual self in Liberty party and it was
almost an unbearable calamity 10 be COM
PEELED TO believe that she had consented 10
make room for others upon her stool, and had
thus relinquished a portion of her preroga-
lives. When she assumed the editorial SUI
provision of the "Visi,or," many of her ad.
mirers supposed that she would devote a
large portion of her talents to the dissemina.
tion of her peculiar views in regard to the
duties, as well as the rights of her W sex
and that, as far as she carried her arms, she
would prove invincible. But she has proba.
bly, reserved her right TO say what she plea.
ses-sometimes. And her Barnburning as.
s~ociates will have to endure her scalding as
patiently as they can, making a practicable
application Of their own principle 10 cir.
cumscrlbe, where they cannot eliminate
constitutional prerogatives. Do hear hel
talk TO 'em "However odd the notion may
appear, we should be sorry if you Barnbur
ners should succeed in your first campaign
Your organs of destructivenes
are not sufficiently excited, and a victory
now would ruin you, by throwing you of
your guard, whilst it would arouse the ut
most vigilance of the enemy. You have go
far enough TO know that ultimate victory, o.
endless slavery, must be yours, SO there il
no danger of your surrendering; and mos
heartily do we wish you a proiracted siege
until, like Titus at the siege Of Jerusalem
you may be forced, by obstinate resistance
to raze The temple to the ground, leaving no
a stone upon one another" Why, what
woman! Every hour lie an age Of misery I
millions of our e~nslaved countrymen. An
shall that misery be prolonged that the Barr
burners may endure the "tug of war" be
fore they win the ultimate victory ; If tn
election of Mr.. Van Buren, is going to prov
the open sesame to the slaves, in the nan
of humanity, crushed and bleeding, spare 7
pains, neglect no duty, and leave no stor
unturned, until his election is made doubl
sure.
That the election Of Mr.. Van Buren, wi
prevent the extension OF the institution
| slavery over territory now free, | do not b
= lieve. The time for efficient political aclic
may be drawing near-when the North wi
|, cut loose from the South, and the South wi
= have a fair chance to try the experiment
3 taking care of itself, which proceeding wi
be in accordance with my ideas of eficiel
: political action, under the present Constit'
: lion. The South has never yet submitted
the dictalion of the North and if it ev
d does, it will be for the sake of involving Il
North in its own destruction. Like a feI
!, courser when first bilted, it will be all
o reckless of its own safety or that Of others.
! HARRIET n. TORREY.
Parkman, Ohio, Sept, llh, ls4e.