Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-11-24
GfItttuns.
From the Anti Slavery Standard.
The Hartford Convention and DiSuniOn.

The Democratic papers in various parts of
the Country, but especially in the South, have
been of late trying to evoke the shade of the
Hartford Convention for the purpose of fright
ening into good behavior all who manifest
any disposition 10 make Slavery uncomiorta-
BILE. The syllogism seems to run, or rather
to halt, on this wise. The object of the
Hartford Convention was Disunion; the agi-
tation of the Slavery question now tends to
Disunion therefore, all who agitate it are in
the same condemnation with the Conven-
tionists at Hartford. This is one of those
logical propositions of which it has been said
that if the premises had the small pox the
conclusion would be in no danger of catch
ing it; but the reason is quite consecutive
enough for the purposes for which it is used.
Its object is to hold M the fate of the Hart
ford COnventionists an terrorem to all such as,
for public or private ends, feel or profess a
repugnonce to the wider spread or the con-
tinued domination of Slavery, and to threaten
them with the political death, and their move
ments with the evil name of that Conven-
ton and its members. To lead all sucking
politicians in the way they should go so that
they shall not depart from their faith and al
legiance TO "the Union however Bounded"
and however used.
The Hartford Convention is an instance of
the truth of the proverb that it is enough to
give q dog an i'll pame. To make his. destrpc-
tion sure. But SIS a httfe curious fhat d hts
been condemned for attempting the very
thing which it prevented, or materially helped
to prevent. We think, with the aligners
of the Convention, that it is deserving OF
strong censure,-not for its endeavors to dis
solve the Union, bur for its successful efforts
10 preserve it. The Constituents of the Con-
-. ox.l tba:r oli1Iron have n inst rinltt
to condemn its action, but not the demagogues
who make the Union their political "cry."-
And if the political annihilation which await
ed its members when they returned home
from Hartford, was the reward of their hav-
ing failed to do the work TO which they were
called, we are by no means disposed 10 ques-
ton its justice. The golden opportunity, that
Opportunity which comes to man or 10 Nation
but once in q generation or a century, came
to them and they let it pass. They allowed
the fleet angel to escape and it fled with the
blessing it carried on its wings. The oppor-
tunity of making New England a Free Ma
ton, of d~isencumbering her energies of the
subtle web of the Constitution which Slavery
had spun around them, of freeing the souls
of her sons from the benumbing and BELT
Ting influences of its mean and cowardly
compromises, was g%rievcd away from their
assembly, perhaps never to return.
The Hartford Convention was indeed the
greatest event, indeed the only one, previous
to the inception of the Anti-Slavery Move
ment which its failure made necessary, in the
history of New Egland and the North, since
the Revolution. But it was great in it:
causes, not in itself or in its consequences
1t was the last spark of the fires which hat
blaZed out in Seventy-SiX, but which haC
been effectually raked in and covered up il
Eiglty-Nine. The People of New England
reused to the point of resistance by TIN
wrongs which the policy of the South hat
worked to their material interests, were al
ready TO declare their Independence anev
and to claim again the right of arranging
their political relations according to thei
pleasure. AS is usually the case, the masse
were in advance of the leaders. Most of tn
leading men slrlnk from the responsible
which approached them in this shape
They were for putting off the evil day an
waiting the course of time and of events
The Hartford Convention was intended I
embody the popular Idea and TO carry it out
but it was so conducted as TO defeat and dis
appoint it. 1t was q Tub to the Whale, wit
which the Leviathan might be amused Will
the hook was fastened in his jaws. w
have no doubt that the great men who WEI
up TO Hartford verify thought that they WEI
doing better for the people than they aske
or thought; but they did not the work Thu
was expected of them, and for this they d.
serve reproach and condemnation.
The People turned their eyes to Hartfor
and looked for deeds. They received word
They expected the proclamation of a ne
Exodus and they were met with a string
resolutions. Their hearts were nerved 4
TO face another Revolution, and long-winde
debates and wordy reports were all they hi
70 encounter. A gentleman of Boston, pr
minent in the politics of that time, but oil
who was thought unfit to be trusted by II
prudent sages who culled the delegates, W
asked at that time of earnest expectation al
anxious hope what he thought the result
the Convention would be !" "a GRE