Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-02-09

BY SAMUEL JOHNSON.


Adopting the principle Of refusing to act
politically under the present slavehoiding
Constitution of the Union it is said, what
practical good can you do? You have cast
away what seem The only practicable mea.
sures, and fall back upon a barren principle
| answer, even could you do nothing imme-
diately for the slave, it is much 10 escape do
ing wrong-to be placed where you cannot
err in judgment, nor waste an effort. All
moves must be more or less false, until you
act IN tho consciousness that you are trading
away no jot Of moral consistency for the sake
Of immediate results. II, then, you would
do something, strive to concentrate thought
and action on this exalted aim OF moral con-
sIstency in the service Of humanity. We
never can have full assurance Of the triumph
of a cause until we find it in this. Here we
do find 1t, and such assurance gives that in
spiralion which acts in the world with the
power OF God. No principle is barren,
which thus confidently puts forth in the life.
1t is the only fertile thing-fettile in ways
and energies. 1t is the only motive which
does not fag-'he only power no man can
tame. 1t is ailoat on the current Of the Di-
vine will. Therefore we may call it the lu-
stGument OF Destiny, and so trust it. But il
has no guidance Tor you while you stand eli
20 bargain with it for The special securities
none I'LL you have thrown yourself into its
arms.
In our republican ethics, the man is post
poned TO the politician. In our anxiety 10
cast our votes we constantly fail Of an anx-
lety which ought to have taken precedence
OF that, namely, TO preserve our mental and
moral integrity. We are not here primarily
10 cast votes, nor 10 exert political Influence
in any specific and predetermined manner
but IL gire 10 lie tUora Illustrations If pracli-
cal .JfdeHty 10 tie Eternal Laws. If our poll
ticdl organizations ignore this primal duty,
then we must, unwillingly perhaps, but with
decision, plant ourselves on ground whence
we may consistently admonish them 10 res
Pect its claims. Ii compromise Parchments
and beggarIy political drill have thrust II
aside, then The aim which will be most prac-
IlcalIy efficient because it is That which can
not tor an instant be put by-is 10 T~elnstate
1t on the throne Of conscience. Aud this as
serIIon Of the great duty of Man is not rem.
deTed less, but mare necessary, when the in
PRODUCTION Of generous purposes into the po-
lllical movements Of the time strongly temptS
US 10 abandon one consistent attitude fol the
sake Of aiding politically the better cause
That cause is best aided by keeping before
its eyes, aims more thoroughly loyal 10 the
Right, than its own.
And there never was a time when such as
sertIon could be made with more practical
effect than now. Thought, freely uttered,
goes like lightning through society. The
little one to-day is a thousand Tomorrow
Our great reforms, speeding 10 the borders,
attracting and absorbing political and theolo-
gicai issues, began but yesterday, in little
atlirs or the like, in the strong faith aud urion
of five or six. Tab!etalk and shop-talk, day
dream and iron fact go out upon ten lhous-
and tongues. Every one has audience and
speedy reply. We hasten freely 10 our ma
tural level and natural afinities. Conslitu-
lions and Senates come round the boys Uto-
plan prophecy before he is q man. Drop
then your little seed of truth. There is no
death 10 thought; and in this age a day may
be as a thousand years.
And by thus maintaining the Anti Slavery
principle in its whole spinr, ue shall egeciu-
ally aid the Stare. The Constitution Is The
great obstacle in the way of the abolition Of
Slavery. By refusing to support lis compro-
misses, we proclaim the rights of those mil
lions whom it is not content 10 leave in hope
less bondage, but ever binds the more se-
curely, by its legal guarantees to the Slave
system. We firmly suggest 10 the forgetful
nation that 1t is repudialing a duty. Through
u.s. us lofgotten captive hnds a voice. we
forbid II TO rest content with checking the
spread OF Slavery, and Indignantly demand
that his outraged and crushed soul be redeem
ed. And 10 this end we call attention to in
huences OF the Constitution which ale too lit
tie recognised. We say, 2 wicked untruth,
like this legitimation of Slavery, nesting in
a nations heart, does not lie inefficient. Il
Is as a drop of poison in the blood, a break
ing link in The chain which binds a system to
the preserving, sustaining hand of God. A
shallow evasion, like that Of throwing all re-
sponsiblIily on the State governments, will
hardly save you from the consequences which
How from the presence of so vicious an ele-
ment. For sixty years it has been working
into the national character that thirst for gain,
that contempt for human rights, which have
been the ruin of older States; for, while such
influences last, will your better laws for the
distribution Of knowledge and wealth, nor all
The checks and balances of your Stale and
Central governments save you from the curse
of aTisIocracy, from military despotism, from
prOfigacy and irreligion. There is no safety
but In putting away the cause of all this dan
ger, though we should first have to sunder
the most cherished political ties,