Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-04-06
Virginia on the WIlmOt PrOyiSO.

She begins with becoming ~solemnity: "The
moment 10 dissolve The URion) is one Of The
highest mportance,and may involve the gres-
test Consequences"
That is just our opinion-it will involve
the greatest consequences. the least Of which
will be the final loss of all her slaves. For
no1c she can reclaim them, by law, when
they escape into the bordering free States,
and all The citizens of those States, except a
few fanatics, feel bound by the Constitution
10 let them alone. But break up the Union
and that Constitution, and the momen her
slave sets his foot upon the soil of Ohio or
Pennsylvania, he is irrec!aimabiy free. The
slaves will learn this, aud where a desire of
liberty now impels hundreds TO make their
long and difficult way TO Canada, ii will then
Induce thousands 10 make the short and easy
leap OF her northern frontier. Besides, the
people Of Pennsylvania and Ohio, no longer
restrained by what she is pleased 10 call the
- compact" between the States, would then
yield to their natural impulses to invite her
negroes 10 their liberty. And should that en-
bToli her in a war with those Herculean
powers, it might be set down as one of the
- greatest consequences" which the present
movement may involve, without any refer
ence TO an insidlous and horrible domestic
foe that it would probably excite TO rise up,
from her hearths,une, TO stab and fire in the
dark.
This wi,hered old grand-dame thus goes
on to cut the ridiculous figure Of a supersn-
uated belle, who, unmindful that her beauty
and power is gone, still thrusls herself for
ward TO be deferred to and followed by her
younger and fairer neighbors:
"Th eyes Of every slave.holding State
are upon us. BY common consent, our sis
ter States look 10 Virginia to take the lead in
the present momentous crisis"
Yes, madam, the eyes Of every slave-hold-
ing State are upon you, the eyes of kentuc-
ky, at least, thank God, are upon you; and
that is just the apology she has TO offer for
declining 10 follow your lead. Did she not
see that the end of the course which YOU
have run is a permanent dotage, and the loss
of all the elements Of your ancient supreme
cy, except your arrogance, possibly, she
might not now BEG leave 70 lake some other.
II Is because she perceives, in your down
Ward progfess and wTetched imbecility. the
fatal error of that g principle" for whose sake
you ell her to rebellion, that she scorns your
summons.
The above article from the "Puducah
Kentuckian," is, in The main so truthful and
sensible, that it would be well for all who
hate slavery, but oppose Disunion, to consid-
er well its positions, and 10 re-examine The
ground upon which they themselves stand.
The Kentuckian," is opposed to The pro-
position of Virginia to Dissolve tho Union in
a certain contingency, and why! Because
slaves who now take refuge in the free States
may be reclaimed by the law and by the
Constitution 4; but if the Union were dissol-
we'd, the moment their feet press the soil of
Pennsylvania or Ohio, they would be free
" irrechimaJly" free-a contamination de-
voutly 10 be wished, and cheaply purchased
by incessant and wearisome toll. Think Of
this, voters Of Ohio, ye who are yearly CIV
ing strength 10 the Union, and swearing f.
deity to the Constitution. Learn of the
4" Kentuckian," and be wise and just, Dc
that which slavery breads to have you d.
Repudia,e the sinfu! compact by which yon
have bound yourselves to hold slaves for the
South to p~lunder, and which chains down
your " naturat impulses to inp'te the negroes
10 their liberty"