Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-12-22
Bradburn and Burleigh.


The question of Disunion and of the rela-
tons of the U. S. Constitution to Slavery
was discussed at the recent meeting of the
Rhode Island Anti-Slavery Society, by Fred
erick Douglass and c. c. Burleigh OH the
one side and George Bradburn OH the other.
The scene must have been a rich one. The
encounter between Bradburn and Burleigh
is thus described by c. NJ. b. in the Penn
s~ylvania Freeman:
Bradburn labored for an hour through the
impracticable distractions OF Spooner & Co.,
interspersing them with witticisms and cd
dities of expression and action, which did
more to excite mirth than did his argument
to convince the Judgment. He performed
his difficult task as well, perhaps, as any one
could have done it, though / thought he
showed very visibly his fears for the durabil-
ity OF his structure; fears which were speed
lily born into facts.
G. G. Burleigh succeeded him, first read
ing the resolutions, then throwing around
them an i~mpregnable wall of argument, built
OF ronderous facts, built together by the
tough links OF logic; and then, trtiling to the
fue iancy work OF his opponent, he exposed
its weakness by tumbling it into n mass of
baseless assumptions, unwarrantable infer
ences, inconsistencies and contradictions
The speaker was constantly interrupted by
MIR. BRADBURY, who rushed TO save some part
Of the edifice he had reared with so much
paihs, but only to retire with a more inglo-
Iious defeat. The most l~aughable Of his at
tempts TO save himself, was an affected grief,
in reply 10 some keen retort which raised a
general laugh at his expense, that his oppo-
nent should treat so grave a subject with lev
ity instead OF serious argument. The ridic-
ulous absurdity of such an appeal from him,
especially right after that evenings speech,
was too much for the gravity OF the audience,
ind was received with a very significant
smile, which broadened into q hearty laugh,
at the retort which the stroke brought upon
linn.
Frederick Douglass writes thus to the
North Star:
Mir. Bradburn made ore of the best speech
es | ever heard against the doctrines of the
American Anti Slavery Society, on the sub
ject OF disunion. lie spoke nearly an hour
and was rapturously applauded throughout
He evidently had the sympathy of the audi
ence with him, and sat down with an air OF
triumph. But the triumph was short. Chas
c. Blrleigh assembled the platform, and pro-
ceeded to address the meeting for a time in
a strain of convincing eloquence, not ever
alluding to the speech to which the audience
had Just listened. This was, for the mos
part, to clear away the meaningless and use
less rubbish witt which the great centra
question had been surrounded. He wen
from point to point with the speed and agili
ty of an Arabian racer. First, he read the
resolutions; second, he referred to the diff
ferent aspects of the question TO which they
related; then gave a statement of the various
points in their logical order. The audienc,
was still. All had been laughter and plea
santry before-all was still now. On wen
the speaker. Truth had mounted her swift
est chariot. The great lessons of duty wer,
made TO shine like stars in the blue firna
ment. He at length halted, and took up
bit of paper; it was a paper containing tn,
points of Mr.. Bradburn's speech. One b,
one he took them up, turned them over, re
piled to, and tr%iumphantly refuted them
Mr.. Burleigh was several times interrupted
by MIR. Bradburu, with questions and replies
but these formed no barrier to the irol
strength of Burleigh's argument. They OH
ly called forth finer and brighter qualities o
mind from the speaker than he had befor,
displayed, and subjected the restless objecto
10 more complete and disastrous defeats
, Aside from the glorious truths yindicated
aud my sincere interest i'll them, the debate
, on intellectual grounds, was worth going tn
; whole journey from Rochester to Providence
r TO hear.
Many who have safely passed the rocks 9
4. I-...