Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-03-09

! saw The Constitution violated, by a prosti-
nllon OF our national influence TO support a
ualilc detested by men and cursed of Heaven;
q traffic abholrent to every feeling of our ma
.lgfe, and at war with every principle of Chris
uanlly L had sworn at your altar faith
ihlly to support that Constitution. saw no
way but to express my views, humble and
unpretendlng as they were. | did so in a Sc
Iles OF resolutions, denying the right of this
government thus 10 involve the people of the
nee States in the expense, disgrace, and
crimes OF the slave trade. The effect of that
movement upon myself was unimportant-of
that do not speak but the effect which it
exerted upon the Government should be
known and understood by all. Itcalled pub
iic attention TO the subject. The press of the
North spoke forth the sentiments of the North.
Leading men and statesmen denounced the
practice OF involving the people of the free
States in the support Of crimes at the contem-
platlon of which humanity shudders. In view
OF these demonstrations, a slaveholding Ex-
ecutlve hesitated in his course, doubted, and
ceased to follow a practice which for ten
years had disgraced the nation. l speak from
contemporaneous history. | refer to the first
volume of Z" Wheeler's Political and Bio
graphical History" a work compiled with
great labor and ability, and which may be
consulted even by statesmen with profit
The author, speaking of the effect Of that
movement, says that he "hds been unable 10
The loss Of SlaUes tUas euer reneWed." have
other evidence, satisfactory to myself, that
the demand was never pressed afterwards.
Thus, sir, the Executive has been driven
from a position at war with our national hon.
or, with justice, with humanity, and with the
Constitution.
When asked what we have effected by our
efforts, | answer, that in Congress we have
regained the right Of petition and the freedom
Of debate. We have relieved the Govern
ment from the ostensible support of the coast
wise slave trade. We have called the atten-
ton of statesmen and %jurists to the investiga.
tion of those rights which northern freemen
hold under the Federal compact. We have
rendered northern servility unpopular. Where
now are those timid, ~faltering statesmen o
the North who filled these seats ten year
since? During the short period of my ser
vice in this body, | have seen whole genera
tions, as it were, appear here, avow their az
~teslation of those who maintained the right
t of our people and of humanity, meekly BIO
, TO the dictates Of the slave power, and the
: depart to that political "bourn from which
traveller returns" Where are now tho
J .A@.e.6 members who, only seven yea
3 since, voted to censure me for merely asser
T ing the rights of my constituents to be eXemI
from the crimes attendant upon the coastwii
slave trade? Why, sir, three or four of the
yet remain, the "spared monuments " of I'll
peoples mercy; but | believe not one of thel
has been reelected to meet me here in De
cember next. A few days will separate u
probably forever. Towards them | feel n
u~nkindness and | now refer to the fact a
showing the progress Of that revolution whic
is going forward. Look to the other end Q
the Capitol, and you will find unmistakabl
evidences of the change now going on in tn
popular mind. Read the proceedings of on
State Legislatures. In Ohio, at one vote
they have erased from our statutes the Who'll
code of black laws which have disgraced tn
} State for nearly half a century. In Pennsy
vauia, they have gone even further in tn
cause of Justice and freedom: they have yer
I properly rendered it penal for the citizens
I officers of that State to aid or assist the slave
| catcher in seiZing upon the victims OF his vi
righteous oppression, as they fly from BOZ
dape. New York, too, the Empire State,
: is assuming a position on this subject worth
of herself. Of other States ! need not speaI
T The effects of our labors are seen and felt
: every free State-in every county, town, ar
school district of the free States. They al
t visible in our social circles, in our pulpits,
0 our literary publications, our newspapers, Of
debating clubs, our political discussions, an
r in all departments Of society. The found
lions of the mighty deep of popular sentimel
e are broken up. Political parties are disc
g%anized, and party attachments are disregar'
ed.