Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-02-25

~ ~ Ia'a fS'S -
Such is the amount of action, permission,
and sanction, for which we at the North are
accountable. To this degree are we slave
holders and slaYe-dealers. We are not IN
deed directly responsible for slavery within
the borders Of the several States. That 10
their concern. But for every act or recognl-
ton on the part OF the Federal Governm' mt
we are accountable,-that is, W. the people.
not our representatives or rulers, who are our
agents, but we individually. whenever we
have voted for a man, who was likely to cast
a pro.slavery vote in Congress, whenever
We have learned with Indifference, that our
agent had cast such a vote, whenever we
have voted a second time for a man, who had
once cast such a vote. The acts of our rep
resentatives, which we let go by unTebuked,
are our acts. When Northern men have
thus voted, it has heen because their constlt-
uents were either Indifferent to the whole
matter, or strongly ,inged with Southern
principles. A late member OF Congress-
who never failed, when the opportunity Of
tvred, to vote in behalf Of slavery. not long
ago made the following expose of his politi-
cal creed " While in public life. it has ey-
er been, and will ever continue to be-, my eE-
fort, first to learn. and then to DO the will Of
'"I NN''ollN~NAtN'' ~ Allu lAl ~
years represented a State where the general
tone of public feeling then was either abso-
lutte Indifference, or a leaning towards the
pro.slavery side Of all these questions. The
use OF the representatives. own conscience
seems to have grown obsolete, and %instruc-
lions and pledges have so far supplied its
place, that, on all matters of importance, the
alternative is obedience or the resignation OF
pua', pfGra fJh,,s tba I,r,b,r r,r,, ,,,.,,
the cousciences of the citizens at large.
In answering the question what shall we
and what can we do to benefit the slaves, he
says]
In the first place, we can and should pray
for the slave and his master, in public and in
private, not in mere form, but heartily, fer
ventIy. And this we say, not professional
ly, but because we believe ia the efficacy Of
prayer. The evil is one Of appalling magni-
Jude. The stone is very great. We cannot
roll it away unless God strengthen us and
teach us low. But if all Christian people
at the North would unite in earnest suppl
cation to God for their unhappy brethren. he
would open their eyes to modes of influence
and effort now hidden. And on a subject so
exciting, the calm and gentle spirit OF prayer
is especially needed to purge philanthropy
from all base admiXture of earthly passion,
to temper it with justice and candor, and to
prevent sympathy with the oppressed from
degenerating into hatred and vindictive feel
ings towards the oppressor. We fear that
on this subject there has been too much
preaching compared with the praying.
But We ought to preach as well as pray.
and to write as well as preach. The subject
is an open one, and demands discussion /;
nor by its discussion can wrong be done to
any, SO long as the laws of truth and of broth
erly love are kept inviolate, and all bitterness
and wrath are put away. 1t is often said,
that slavery is not a subject for the pulpit
But why not? \ just moral perspective will
not indeed ensure it the broad and engross-
ing place in pulpit services, which some as
sign to it. But we regard it as a fit subject
for discussion in the stated services Of the
sanctuary, because slavery is a moral rather
than a physical evil. and presents its most
alarming and revolving aspects in a Christian
point of view because the evil is so despe-
rate, that no power short of the omnipolence
Of Christian truth and love can reach it; be-
cause the slaves and the Shareholders are ouI
brethren, children of our Father, bound to us
Nv INIlElgho iCE anu ~ 4 hCAtiOl W
that we should bear them on our minds and
hearts in our Fathers house; because, if WI
have any duties towards them, they are reli
gious duties, and therefore within the legiti
mate scope OF the pulpit; and, finally, be
cause the subject is encompassed with ST
many difficulties, and needs for the solution
of them so much Of the wisdom that is from
above, and for its discussion without offence
o.. a.,.l - ,l,t ,,l,,.,a- ~-j n,Anlyanrn
which shonld characterize the pulpit NOR
universally than it does, that We may wei
apply to it the language and initiate the eX
ample Of the Psalmist, with regard to per
p~leXitles of a different class; ''lf | say,
will speak thus, behold, | should oflenl
against the generation Of thy children.-
When | thought to know this, it was to
painful for me, until | went into the sanctr
airy of God" Let then a firm and stron
disproval of the whole system breathe froI
the pulpit and the press, throughout the nor
slayehoIding States. Let no man be ash,
med, or afraid TO utter or to write what h
believes and feels. Let this state Of publ
sentiment be cherished at the North, will
out any aggressive movement towards tn
South and it cannot but make itst'f fe
there. 1t has there even now many hear
ready, yearning to respond to 1t. And thoS
, at the South, who cling to slavery, Deepen
for their support to a very great degree upo
popular feeling at the North, and felt fortli
, ed by the strong pro-slavery ground taken b
the Northern press and pulpit, more than b
I any or all things else. While slavery hi
, its friends at the North, its hold upon tn
. South cannot be relaxed. But right feelir
here will work its way there. Our liter
ture tinged with it will be read and felt ther
Our great political orators once imbued wi
1 it will send the truth home to Southern hear
o in breathing thoughts and burning words.
+. Our ecclesiastical bodies are more or less i
timately connected with the Southern churc
and their unanimous, decided, and stroI
sentiment will soon find a response from e
q ry devout and intelligent Christian at I
South, and will awaken to sincere peniten
and a better mind those portions of the Sc