Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-03-09
From the A. S Standard,
The Moral Movement against Slavery

A week or two ago the editorship of the
Boston Republican passed into new hands,
The new editor signalizes his advent by dis
claiming for his party any responsibility for
the opinions of Disunionists. But in repudi-
a,ing the doctrine Of dissolution as if it were
something odious and shameful, we think he
acts unwisely. Men may honestly entertain
opinions in favor Of a division Of the Union,
with no reference whatever to the question OF
Slavery. If any person who has got enough
knowledge of the externals of history to be-
lieve that the Roman Empire fell asunder be-
cause of its vast extent, should publish a
tract tomorrow recommending a peaceable
dissolution in order to avoid the catastrophe
necessarily incident 10 territories of our size,
no editor would columniate about parricidal
hands, and no orator would allude to Caesar
and Brutus. 1t is for the simple reason that
the American Anti-Slavery Society advocates
disunion on Anii-Sla very grounds, that it
draws up 10 itself odium and denunciation.
The Quaker still continues to entertain a ira
ditional and entirely respectable aversion
for a church and a hireling priesthood, with
out exciting any animadversion. Bnt let
Parker Pillsbury or Abby Foster do the same,
and they may reckon with tolerable security
on being pelted. The reason is plain enough.
The Quaker appeals TO dead George Fox, the
Abolitionist to the living heart of man. 1t is
because the American Anti-Slavery Society
touches Church and State in a rotten place
that it is hated and feared. Men call il a lit
tie knot of fanatics. But a little knot of ia
natics is a great force. Indeed, the men who
do anything great must be fanatics. Poets
prophesy what is right, philosophers see il,
fanatics accomplish it.
Whatever opinion the editor Of an Anti.
Slavery paper may entertain as to the evils oil
benefits which would result from a dissolu'
ton of the Union, he should never himself
(nor let his readers) lose sight of the fac
shat those who urge the measure do so from
an intense appreciation of the horrors of Sla
very. They are men and women who keel
the popular mind alive TO an example oil self
devotion in behalf of a purely moral object
and charge it with a portion of the magnet
ism of their self-sacrifice, who attack fearless
ly and without question of odds every instl
tuition, however venerable with time, or hal
lowed with associations, which affords shel
ter or underground TO the forces of the evi
principle they are at war with. Who, tina
has a heart capable of the kindred thrill O
heroism, who, that in a world slippery wit
compromises and conventionalities, loves tn
firm feel of earnestness, but must honor thes
faithful few? Short-sighted men may nc
appreciate the importance of their victories
The result may not yet be ~palpable on tn
Exchange. But it is no small triumph tina
they have achieved for themselves an exist
ence and maintained it. And courage, devc
ton, loyalty to conscience, are not these ir
defeasible successes
The Disunionists can afford to do withou
the Free Soil party, but can these do will
out the Disunionis,s! Wisdom may brea
down a bridge behind, but not a bridge bt
fore. We were among those who were n
ioiced at the Buffalo Convention and the TO
nation of a new party. Opposition to the e'
tension Of Slavery opened a door by whiC
men could escape from the two iIretrievabl
corrupt parties to higher ground (for any Al
ti-slavery ground was higher,) and the Bu
falo platform offered common footing. whe
all who hoped to achieve the defeat Of Slav