Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-11-10
AbOlitiOnists and the Government.
MEANWHILE. Sept. goth. ls4e.

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MEANWHILE, Sept. goth, lS49.
Mn Enron: The subject on which l have a
few words to say is this: Can a man be a true
Abolitionist and support the government of the
United Statcss In order to answer this, we on
ly have to ascertain what kind of a government
this is. If it is one founded on justice, then
support it; If not, put it down. But how stands
the mattera Does the government regard one
man equal to another ; Arc all permitted to en-
joy "lifc, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
Ask the Stare. And finally, what kind of a go
vernmcnt is 1t: 1t is one scarcely to be equal
led in tyranny and oppression. 1t permits one
man to lay his fcndish hands upon another, and
claim him as his property. 1t sanctions five of
the greatest crimes in the catalogue of human
alterations, viz: Theft, Adultery, Man-stcal-
ing, Piracy and Murder. 1t ~justifes men in
bartcring the image of God, and selling their
own sons for gold, and their daughters for pur-
poses most vile. 1t is a government that crush
es over three millions Of human beings into the
lowest state of degradation. But notwithstand-
ing all this, people here at the North, those
who pretend to be friends to the poor slave, will
cling to this infamous compact as if dearcr than
life. They support the very thing which they
desire to abolish. Is not this the case. It is,
and it is a contradiction in terms to say that one
can be a true abolitionist and still support this
~slave-making government. Yet what q " glori-
Gus land of liberty" is this called; eulogizcd as
an earthly paradise, q place where each "can
sit down under his own vine and fig tree, and
worship God according to the dictates of his
own conscience" But what proclamation arc
such expressions The slave scarcely knows
there is a God. Of the true Gospel he knows
but little, but has a false one palmed upon him
which is not "love God and serve him. but
love your drirers and serve your masters. The
clergy, that body whose duty it is to preach the
Gospel, are either supporters or apologists of
this bloody system. The church and govern
ment have conspircd to cnslave onc-sixth part
of your fellow-beings, therefore you that wish
to be the true friends of the slave, come out
from your connection with this iniquitous gov
ernment, and help us put it down and loosen
the shackles of the slave.
But before l close, 1 must give you a short
sketch of things in this vicinity. To mention
the term "No union with shareholders" like an
elcctic shock runs through the listeners, inspi-
ring them with the utmost Indignation. A spir-
it of persecution exists in them which is the
sure cause of curses and imprecations upon all
who adopt this glorious standard. The clergy
arc silent IN regard to slavery. So great a sin
seems to be beyond their power to discuss, or
too trivial to merit their attention, and which is
the case I cannot tell. But there are some
things I can tell, and these arc, that the heart
ruding walls of the down-troddcn slave are dis
regarded by them, that they are apologists for
the slavcholding miscrcants of the South, nay
supporters of the n~cfarious system. "He that
is not with me" saith the Savior, ais against
me-" According to this, then, as they are not
for the abolition of slavery, they are against it.
Last Sunday evening I listened to a discourse
by a Methodist minister, and what was the sub
jcct but the sin of attending caravans, concerts,
the exhibitions of Tom Thumb, &c. His pro-
fessed object was to expose all sin, but do you
suppose slavery was mentioneds Not q word
of it; he was as silent on the subject as a mar
bic statue. o when will the p~rofessed minister
of Christ do his dutyi Not as long as he
breaches with q design to please the people, and
refuses to advocate the rights of man.
Yours, in the cause of Universal Liberty,
A. J. BROWN.