Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-03-10

ping other generations in the race OF freedom,
they copied the very language of a statute of
Edward III, and Mary l.. We agree with
our correspondent that the united wisdom Of
the fathers is manifested in the Constitution
they framed but il was a wisdom that came
not from on high, but one which sought to form
a compromise between Truth and Error, an
alliance between Freedom and Oppression;
a wisdom which has cherished and protected
slavery, has retarded the growth OF our coun-
ty's happiness and prosperity, and made
her
"T'he Christians scorn, the Heathen's
mirlh,
Content to live the lingering jest
And by-word OF a hooking earth"
But If, as our correspondent AYERS, the Con-
stitution be noble in its nature, beautiful in
its structure, requiring nothing Of its support
ers which ia the least conflicts with their
duty to God or man il a christian may with
out offence fulfill every provision of that in
strument, then God forbid that We or any one
should say ought in its disparagement. But
is the beautiful picture which J. l.. has drawn,
d tue representation Of the original, or a mere
fancy skelchl Let US see.
There is a clause in the Constitution which
says,
"No person held to service or labor in one
State, under the laws thereof, escaping into
another, shall, in consequence Of any law or
regulation therein, be discharged from such
service or labor; but shall be delivered up on
claim Of the party 10 whom such service or
labor may be due"
Is the slave of Virginia a person! None
but the most ultra advocates of the peculiar
institution will deny it. Is he held TO sell
vice or labor under the laws of Virginia =
not under the laws Of morality and justice,
but under the laws Of Firginia! All but le-
gal quibblers will admit IL; for the slave being
held as property in every slaveholding State
of the Union, he is held by the laws thereof,
bound to yield his service, his labor, his tai
ents, his everything to the master who claims
him IS his. Suppose this Virginia slave seeks
a refuge in Ohio, can he be discharged from
such service or labor as he owes his master
under the laws Of Virginia! Does not the
clause in question declare that if Ohio should
pass a law to free the escaping slave from
The bondage imposed upon him by Virginia
laws, she shall not be discharged from such
service or labor!' And then we inquire,
what is the final disposition the Constitution
makes Of him, is it not that 'he shall be
deRreTed up 10 the party TO whom such
service or labor as has been described sis
duct Does this provision of the Constitu-
ton look like an agreement on the part Of the
free people Of the T.. S. to do to the fugitive
slave as they would be done by! Can a man
who loves his brother and desires TO follow
Christ swear TO stand by it and execute it
We say, No! Our correspondent afirms
they can, that this, in common with other
parts of the document, is "beauliful in its
nature, noble in its structure"
There is also a provision in the Constitu-
ton which pledges the power of the Union
to protect each state against domestic vio-
lence. Any iorcible resistance 10 State laws
is domestic violence, and The Constitution
makes no discrimination between domestic
violence in slave-claiming and in non.slaye-
claiming States. 1t cares not whether the vi
olence is perPetrated by white men in Ohio
while endeavoring 10 establish slavery con-
irary to law, or by black men in Virginia
" lille striving to break of their own letters
CONTRARY 10 law; it brushes both, asking no
questions for conscience sake" Can Chris
tlans fulfill to the letter this requirement of
the Constitution can true lovers of Freedom
promise TO sustain such a provision, We
differ from J. l.. and think they cannot.
This is not the place to discuss whether
the war principle is in itself right or wrong,
or whether tho doctrines of the League of T.
niversal brotherhood are right or wrong but
lnasmuch as our correspondent believes the
League to be a christian association. we wish
to call his attention to his inconsistency in
declaring that a christian may sustain every
provision Of a Constitution whose authority
and power is based on the sword, and which
provides for the assembling of a Congress
which 1t Invests with unlimited power $40
declare War :" tissue letters of marque and
reprisal," build and equip %navies, and orrap-
ize armies. The very existence of the u.
D. Constitution is a violation of the princi.
pies Of that League.
The idea that in this country men have a
Constitutions right to worship God accord
ing to the dictates Of their own conscience is
not a true one. For if their worship consists
IN deeds OF benevolence, and acts of mercy,
they are punished by laws framed under The