Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-07-21
Withdrawal of James Weslfull,

TO The Members Of The Wesiern .qnti-Slarery
Society.
DEAR FR1EYps | feel that justice TO my
self and you demands a short explanation
with reference to the difficulty which arose
between ]. w. Walker, b. Jones and myself
at the last Anniversary. | was urged to make
a donation Of ten dollars 10 the Society; in
addition TO that | was appointed one OF the
Executive Committee. not only refused TO
pay ten dollars, but TO serve on The Commit
ice. | was urged for my reasons: | at length
stated that it was my opinion that the money
Of the Society had not been expended to the
best advantage, therefore was not willing 10
shoulder the debt of the Society. was urg-
ed 10 say in what case. stated that J. ".
Walker and b. Jones had been receiving |
$500 each per year, which, in my opinion,
was too much. | now say that ! have no con.
fdence in any man who processes 10 sympa-
thize with the slave, and will not labor for
his emancipation for less than 800 per year.
] then said | could not see why a man should
have $500 per year fer welding the pen, and
but $3.50 for WELDING the mattock or shovel.
] went in for equality. 1t was Immediately
dragged into the meeting, where, instead OF
using argument 10 convince me | was in er-
Tor, | was insulted and abused. The amount
Of meanness exhibited completely unnamed
me, which Is my only apology for not ma
king a stronger defence. II was not because
my position was not true. Dear friends, ]
have been identified with you in the great
Western movement for the last four years.
| have found in your society many congenial
organizations and worthy friends, the memo
ny Of whom | expect 10 revere but ! can re.
main with you no longer; l must be free-l
will be free. | can no longer submit TO the
dictates Of a tyranous priesthood. | claim a
wt,k. - a.. I,.,;,r ~ ,,. nun rln5ntan.a
and the control Of my own purse. You boast
of the freedom of your platform. 1t is all a
farce. l have seen mearer tyranny exhibited
upon the Western Anti.Slavery platform than
j have ever seen upon any other. Take for
instance the case Of Mr.. Preston at your last
meeting. He was welcomed 10 your stand,
then insulted ana abused, his motives were
impugned. | have known Mr.. Preston from
"a boy. He is a young man Of truihtulness
and integrity, a friend of the slave. In leav-
ing your Society | do not expect to cease la
boring for the oppressed. | can feed the
hungry, clothe the naked, entertain strangers,
and plead for outraged humanity, all without
belonging to any organized faction. There
fore stand aloof from all organizations. They
all have their priesthood.
AUGUSTA, Carroll Co., o.,
July 9th, 1919.
N. B. viii friend Johnson give the above
note a place in the Bug!e, aud oblige
REPLY TO THE ABOVE.
Controversy of the sort which the forego-
ing letter is calculated to provoke is extreme
ly distasieful to us, and if we did not fear
that silence on our part might be misrnder-
stood, we would say not a word. The let
Ter contains some pretty severe accusations
against the Western Anli-Slavery Society and
its prominent friends, to which some reply
seems TO be necessary. We are panied by
the appearance Of such a letter, chiefly or
account of its author, who, we are persuaded
has taken a step which, in his cooler mo-
men,s, and on farther reflection, he will sin
cerely regret. To say nothing Of the temper
he exhibits, just look for a moment al the
unfairness of his statements and the unTea'
sonableness Of his conclusions.
In the discharge Of their duties during the
last year, the Executive Committee incurred
heavy pecuniary liabilities, TO meet which i
was necessary for them TO call upon the So
ciety for contributions. The author of the
foregoing letter was a member OF the Society
and as he was known to be in prosperous cir
cumslances, he was urged to put down hi'
name with others for $50. OF course it wa
his right to give or withhold, as it was that o
Society to ask. If he had simply refused t
subscribe, his associates would have made n
complaint, though they might have though
him ungenerous. But he did more. Whel
called upon by his friends to state the reasoI
of his refusal, he virtually accused them @
misspending the funds committed to lhei
charge. This was a serious accusation, an
as the private statemen of it, under circum
stances precluding reply or explanation, ha
done and was likely to do mischief, Nj
Wes,fall was urged 10 express his sentiment
manfully in open meeting, and thus afford III
accused parties an opportunity TO defend then
selves. Thus aud thus only was the matte
"dragged into the meeting" He now tell
the public that he was treated to insult, abus
and meanness, instead of argument. Tho:
who witnessed wha! took place can judge f
themselves whether or not this statement
true. Those who were not there will hard.
believe, without other testimony. that SUE
men as b. Jones and J. w. Walker we
guilty OF the conduct ascribed 10 them
That they spoke with plainness and severit
we admit; Mr.. Westfall, considering the n
ture of his accusations, could hardly expe
any thing else but we thought their arg
ments much harder than their words. If thu
were not as good-natured as they ought
have been, Mr.. W.. should consider that h
own course was not very well calculated