Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-05-11


ers, has received universal commentator
from the American people who, in turn,
have individually acted upon the same prin-
ciple, and interfered in every case where
freedom was involved in the struggle, always
excepting those where the oppressor was
white and the oppressed black. Shall slave
~ be abolished by the forcible interference
Of the North Shall a northern army pour
its forces across Mason and Dixon's line, and
do the very opposite of that which the Con-
%stituiion requires at their hands We never
knew of such a proposition to be seriously
made and if made, it would not be enter
tanned for a moment. That is not the mode
by which the people will that slavery shall
be abolished.
A change in public sentiment is the only
mode by which the opponents Of slavery ex-
pect that the system will be destroyed. 1t
matters not whether, like Horace Greeley,
they persuade themselves that the Wing
party will do the work, that the Free Soil or
ganization is the chosen instrument, that the
Liberty League is the proper agent, or that
Disunion is the most efficient form Of action +;
the advocates Of all these various views are
agreed in one thing, that a change in public
sentiment must precede the adoption Of any
Of them, and is necessary TO their success
But how is public sentiment to be changed !
This is a question so readily answered, that
some may think it scarcely worth the asking
here. And yet there are many who find it
dinicult 10 answer when applied 10 a%nti-sla-
very. They can understand how public sem
,iment is 10 be changed in regard to the CEN
trail railroad that is to be run through Ohio /;
they comprehend how the holding Of railroad
meetings, the making Of railroad speeches
embodying statistics and other facts demon
stratiug the advantages of such a work, and
the circulation Of railroad documents will in.
terest the people, and cause them 10 subscribe
for stock, and aid in the building of the road.
This is all very plain 10 them but the hold
ing of anti slavery meetings, the employment
Of anti-slavery lecturers, and the circulation
of anti-slavery publications involves such a
useless expenditure of money, that really,
they cannot contribute for such purposes,
they do not approve Of such a disposition OF
anti-slavery funds. And by thus justifying
themselves in doing nothing, they strive 10
quiet their conscience and save their dimes.
The latter they certainly do, and if the for
mer is lulied by such an opiate, it must pre-.
viously have been much weakened.
II such reject the first two modes Of abol'
ishing slavery, and rely upon the third, why
do they not prove their sinceIi y by their ac'
lions, Whether they hold 10 Wing anti
slavery, Freesoiljsm, Liberty Leagueism, OF
Disunion, they are bound to do something 10
change public sentiment. We love an ear
by its works, whether it agrees with us ii
our views, or differs from us bat those are
to be censnred who make high pfotes'
sions OF anti. slavery and do nothing, whose
conscisnc sleeps over every bargain they
make, bat is conveniently awake and morbid
ly scrnpulous whenever a donation is asked
in aid Of humanity.
That much labor must be performed and
great expenditures made before public sen,l'
ment is Sufficiently changed 10 manifest IT.
self in hcal,hful, efficient action, requires bu,
d small portion Of common sense 10 compte'
bend aud ii is but foolish objection against
anti-slavery reform, TO intimate That 1t has not
vet perfected its work. Anti-slavery reform
is very much like the building of a railroad
You must, in either case, first determine tina
il is needed, and a sufficient number must be
convinced of this fact. Then the ground
must be surveyed, and the read located
Hollows have 10 be filled ard hills cut down
rivers bridged, mountains tunnelled, and rocks
blasted. And when the road is graded, it il
by no means completed, but requires a vas
deal Of labor 10 make it suitable for The car
TO run on, whether they be the Philadelphia
cars, or the cars Of Emancipation. In ont
case. il would be as reasonable to object Il
having funds expended for aught except lay
ing The sltepers and ia slening on the rails
as in the o:her to find fault with the employ
ment of means necessary 10 effectth he desired
change in public sentiment which must evl
dently precede the abolition Of slavery.
A COlOrCd COlOnizatiOniSt.