Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-09-08
Kentucky.

Luldnclpatlonls mas Oeen elected 10 the Con-
siitu,ional Convention Of Kentucky [! The
Democratic party went en- masse for Slavery,
while the Wings were divided, most of them
running neck and neck with the Democracy
in the race of despotism and servility, and
others paltering between Freedom and Slave
ry, endeavoring with a blind pertinacity,
which makes experience void,' 10 eat their
cake and keep it at the same time. The
Emancipationists, instead Of planting them.
selves upon the rock Of Principle, took up
The 0west issue which it was possible 10
make with The friends Of perpetual Slavery.
Instead of demanding Justice, according to
the Law Of the Living Cod for the Slave,
they only asked that the Constitution Of the
State might be so amended as 10 prohibit the
importation Of Slaves from other States, and
to permit the people, at some future day, 10
adopt a system Of prospective emancipation,
(like that proposed by Henry Ciay,) upon
the unalterable condition of expelling the
slaves from the State! Observe, the ques-
ton was not whether even such a system OF
emancipation should be noi0 adopted, but
whether the Constitution should be so
changed as 10 allow the people Of the State
to adopt it at SOM period in the indefinite
future! On this low issue the party is defeated.
What then have the so-callled friends Of
Emancipation gained by their temporizing
policy Nothing-absolutely nothing, un-
less it be some advantage to the world to fur
nish it with a fresh illustration of the impos-
sibilily Of catching the devil by putting salt
on his tail; in other words, of tanning the
'leyiathan' Of Slavery with the 'mouldy corn
of compromise! With due respect 10 the
Emancipation party of Kentucky, we think
they should have aimed higher. To concili-
ale the Shareholders, they acknowledged
their right of property in human flesh, and
even proposed, in the language of DR.. Breck-
enridge, 10 "concede in the new Constitution
the principle of slavery, and let it exist upon
certain reasonable concessions and comprom-
ises." 1T would be an act of ROBBERY
continues the same writer, "to take the
slaves, or any Of them, form their masters,
without paying for them )" and he adds
1.-The party with which ] act 1.-The Emanci-
pationists] are for securing as absolutely as
under the present Constitution, every mas
ier's title to his Slaves" By yielding thus
The grea, principles of Justice and Humanity,
they hoped 10 secure votes for their party
and 10 escape being denounced as abolition
ISIS and fanatics That they have obtain
ed votes by their policy we think very like
ly, but they did not escape the denunciations
which the friends Of tyranny are always sure
to pour on, upon the heads Of those who
NEEDLE, however delicaiely, with their vices
and their crimes. The men who have taken
the lead in the agitation are scarcely less obi
Gus than they would have been, if, planting
themselves upon the eternal principles OF
Justice, they had spurned all idea Of ComPTo'
mise, and demanded for the slave the uncon'
ditional restoration Of his rights; while i
they had taken this sublime position, they
would have commanded the respect even o.
their worst opponents and challenged the ad'
miraiion Of the world. The ignorant and
the limid would indeed have been repelled
but in the conflict with Wrong, principle
should never be weighed against numbers.
We think, moreover, that the formation o
a political party was an unfortunate measure
If the opponents Of Slavery had confined
themselves 10 the work Of moral agitation
the cause, in our judgment. would have beef
much stronger than it is now, while the oil
parties would have b EN- less hostile, and ia
more likely to take a step toward Freedom
The public opinion of the State must,b
changed by appeals 10 the conscience an
the heart, and all experience shows that
political party is not the best ~instrumentalit
for such a work. Political organizations d
not constitute a favorable nucleus for a MOI
al agitation.
W. will not, however, break the bruise
reed, nor quench the smoking flax Th
!. anti-slavery party may have acted accOrdin
TO its best light. 1t would be unreasonab
TO expect that men who have been born ar
reared under the corrupting influence Of 81
yery should, on first awaking from a drea
of wears, see the truth with perfect c%learnes
and come at once to the high position of u
compromising adherence 10 the Right, again
= the seductive influence Of interest and st
. fshness, and the almost omnipotent power
= habit and custom. The anti-slavery sen
>, ment of Kentucky will increase in purity a
: power, and finally embody itself in a gen
: inc Abolition form, when it will become
. yincible TO all assaults and go on from &C
quering to conquer. The right OF dlscussi
is already asserted, if not fully establish'
=" and that 10 naturally the first, as II surely