Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-04-27
A Quaker Oath.

The Dublin correspondent Of the "Anti-
Slavery Standard " asks the editor Of that
paper for information in relation to the fol-
matter
al want you TO read me a riddle, for ! am
sorely puzzled. Whittier has just publish
ed a handsome illustrated ed ition of his po-
ems, and an honest man in Boston, conde-
scending TO my in6rmities-for | love Whit
uer's poetry-has sent me the book. | am
no great critic, and would make but a poor
reviewer, but like many other plain people,
| know what | like, and in pursuance Of this
knowledge, my mind is very comfortably
satisfied that J. G.. w. is not only Quaker
Drum Poetdrum iacile ~prirceps (this is no
great praise) bu: that he is one OF the sweet
est, tenderest, purest, and most spirit-stirring
MINISTRIES in. our language. His Anti Slave
~ muse at least-for | think he has two
muses-is not by nature, but only by con-
v%incement, ga member of our society,"
She loves the braying of the bugle aud the
n~eighing Of the warehouse. She even breaks,
when largely provoked, into a bit Of an oath.
The question | want you TO answer is, can
you tell me why did Whittier or any one in
his behalf leave out as x 10y particular de-
sire Tor ihev could not have dropped out by
acciGept( those glorious " lines written on
the adoption Of Pinckney's Resolutions ~
Can 1t be that The author, being "a Friend in
good esteem " being put on appointments /;
being happily an overseer, and aiming even
at an eldStship, (for ambition takes the odd
est shapes and turks beneath the broadest
brlmS and the most apostolical CONGREGATIONS
of garments,) it does not do for him to re-
publish a poem that begun with an adlufa.
tioh, and therefore he tries TO smother it,
Why, man ! he could not do it-that poem
will never die. All the yearly meetings,
backed by all the Shareholders in America,
could not eXilnghish it. Sterne tells of the
recording angel dropping a tear upon Uncle
Toby's oath, and blOtting it out forever. |
am sure the recording angel himself would
be half sorry TO blot out that grand oath Of
Whitier-"N Now by our fathers ashes -
It came from his hearl-his blood was up
he could not help it. Let him not hang his
head for shame. Every honest man thinks
the better Of him for it. No monthly meet
ing would dare 10 disown him for a pecadillo
that is creditable to his head and his heart.
| love that poem. | heard Garrison read ii
in this room. | think ] see him standing
before me-his dark eyes lighted up-hi.
deep-toned voice full of sympathy as he re
cited The noble stanZas. a hundr red cheer,
for him! As long as time advances ! grow
more fas,idious in the matter of poetry AM
the better | like Whittier. Were ! no
somewhat initiated into the secrets OF III,
American land of bondage | would Offer
have been greatly amazed by the sighting
way he is passed over in Griswold's anC
other selections from your poets. But, 10 b,
sure, his strains are unfit for the southern
market and are by no means suited to inspir,
the children Of the c~hivalfy with pride in III,
peculiar institution. You are a fine people
Tree. independent, high-minded, intelligent
=, and all that sort of thing; but it is true tina
throughout a good half OF the land oveTsha
dowed by the stripes and stars, a stringen
censorship of the press is in full operation
. and that the devil himselfholds the scissors.
The piece is truly a glorious one-it i
full Of spirit-stiuing an,i-slavery poetry an,
the edito! Of the louisville Journal Z" &C
mired it so much despite its sentiments, ths
, he had TO give his readers from the 9Th I
r the llth verses inclusive. As many of on
readers are recent converts TO the anii.slavt
ry cause, and probably have not seen it,
and as it well bears reading over and owe
again, we copy it entire.