Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-09-01

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tons, and are content to repose indolen,ly up
on their teachings. We are confident that
full half Of those who Mink-anJ the opin-
ions Of such only are worth minding-do not
believe the doctrine which our friend takes
for a starting point
The An'i-Slavery Movement belongs 10 no
party, whether political or religious. 1t &C.
cupies ground common alike 10 Catholic and
Protestant, Orthodox and Unitarian, Quaker
and Covenanter, Mahometan and Jew, to the
intelligent and the unintelligent. 1t has no
right TO vindicate the peculiar doctrines of
any sect, nor to assail them, unless they are
brown across its track, and then only for the
purpose Of removing them out of the way.
5. What does the Free Press mean when
it says that the question Of the Inspiration of
the Scriptures has been already settled T.
Does it mean that som d~ivinely illuminated
and authorized body has put ii forever to rest,
and that individuals have no right TO deter
mine ii for themselves! This interrogatory
is pertinent, because if Abolitionists are
bound TO go into a discussion of the subject,
it is important for them 10 know whether they
are to stand upon their own convictions, or
upon the authority OF others. But we deny
that it is settled, in the sense in which we
understand the assertion Of the Free Press.
In the nature of things, no man can settle it
for another, and it must always be an open
question.
G. The Free Press impules the silence Of
Anti-Slavery Editors on this subject to a want
Of moral courage-a fear of taxing their pop
ularity. They reject the Bible, he thinks,
but do moi dare TO own it. In this ave think
our friend uncharitable. We can see reasons
for their silence which are creditable 10 their
heads and hearts. and therefore do not choose
10 impute to them any base motive. They
may be believers in the inlallible inspiration
of the Bible, and yet deem that good faith
toward such of their associates as differ from
them requires them to refrain from using the
Organs Of the cause in vindicating that doc
trine. Or, they may hold the opposite opin-
ion, and yet, from sincere respect for the feel
ings and sentiments Of their Orthodox friends,
and from a sensitive fidelity to the implied
faith between all the different classes Of ABB
olilionists, may neither express their own
views nor assail those of their associates. In
entering an Anti-Slavery Society, no man is
Intercepted respecting his views of the BIZ
Bile. 1t he believes Slavery to be a sin, and
Immediate Emancipation a duty, he is accept
81 and il would be unfair to use his money
q hli<up or pail down any seclarian dog
ma. This feature Of The Anti. Slavery Move
ment is 10 us one of its brightest charms. It's
platform is broad as Humanity. On it men
meet each other as men-in the God-ordained
and sancIifed relation of Bn~oTHERHooD.-
Without regard 10 distinctions of nation, sect,
or party, whether they be Christians or Ma
hometans, Jews or Turks, BaIbarians or
Scythians, bond or free,' they may come to-
geiher as children Of one Father, TO eXtermi-
nate from the face Of the whole earth an in.
s~titution which wages war upon the dearest
interests, the most sacred rights, of Human
Nature. Let men have their creeds-it is
their right; bot when they are put foremost
in works Of philanthropy, they are the abom-
nation of desolation in the holy place. With
three millions Of our feliow-countrymen in
chains let us not stop TO wrangle about any
s%ectarian dogma. II IA man believes Slavery
TO be a sin against God and an outrage upon
humanity, and the hottest and highest impul-
ses Of his godIike nature prompt him to OPP
pose it, why need we stop 10 inquire whether
he traces his faith 10 the Bible or to the old
er Scriptures written in his soul! If the
faith is in him, vital and active, and shows
itself in good fruits is not that enough
7. the light Within says our friend,
may be, and often is, very erring. The light
of nature Tof God is so often obscured,
and its teachings so often not in accordance
with truth, in consequence of mans depraved
intelleclions and sensibilities and peIyerse
will, that it is not a safe, much less an inial-
lible guide to action Friend knowest
thou what thou sayest? Ihinkest thou that
: the True Light, that lighteth ecery man that
c0meh into The UOrid,' and not the readers Ct
the Bible only-thinkest thou that HAT Light
is from Man, and subiect. TO his caprices and
depraved inteIleclions Thinkest thou
that The small portion Of the world who are
blest (and truly blest) with the Bible, are the
only members Of the human family who have
IAN infdllible guide to action! Are the great
mass Of Gods children ignorant of his will ?
Nay, nay-lhon wrongest myself, and i'm
p~eachest the justice and mercy of our good
Father in Heaven, in saying it. If man has
not In his nature the noMer 10 disLinnnish