Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-11-10

Extracts from the Annual Report of the Ex-
ecutiyC Committee of the Pennsylvania A.
). Society.

H
The ultimate object of this society and
those affiliated with it, is the abolition of sla-
yery in the United States. The immediate
end to which these labors are directed is the
entire change, on this subject, of public SEN
ti,nent. Such n change, for reasons, which
have often been given, and which we need
not here repeat, would be the inevitable and
immediate precursor of general emancipa-
ton. There are those who profess to be-
lieve that the people of his country are al
ready opposed to the system of slavery that
they regard it as a great evil, and that, if they
could, they would gladly abolish it. To talk
thus is to talk idly and falsely. The idea
that a nation like this, mighty in its energy
and spirit of enterprise, and exhaustless in
its mental and physical resources, fold ITS
arms before the system of slavery and allows
it to flourish, from mere inability TO remove
it, is simply preposterous. A people that
can convert, as by magic, boundless tracts of
forest into fertile fields, that can summon in
TO sudden existence flourishing cities, and
convert vast territories almost untrodden by
the foot of civilized man, into furnishing
settlements and w~elLorgaiiized states, must
have some other reasons than that OF inabill-
fy for not putting an instant end to a system
~ df>@st BTodffct Observation-Disclosures
The inability in this case lies in the will. 1t
cannot. because it has not the desire. This
nation has no genuine adherence of slavery,
no lust appreciation OF its turpitude, and no
sincere desire for its abolition. If it had, the
system could not endure for n day. 1t would
be swept Immediately and for ever from the
face of the land. All obstacles would dis
appear. Laws and constitutions would not
offer the slightest obstruction. These laws
and constitutions were made by the people,
- II. -.-Il ,,,u IN. AtSanAnnr at once
before the power that made them. All that
is wanted to the abolition of slavery in this
country is the tUiH-the disposition on the
part of the people. To produce this dispo-
sition is the object of our Anti-Slavery SO
cieties.
II will be seen from this statement of the
case, that our enterprise is entirely a moral
one. We discard all resort TO physical force
We would not stir up the slaves 10 msurrec-
tion. nor would we seek the possession OF
noliticaI mower to coerce their emancipation
Asa matter both of principle and eXpediency
we stand aloof from all participation in the
government of the country. OF principle
because to take any part in its voluntary sup
mort. whether that of holding office or elect
ing others to Office, would be In our oplnioi
TO make ourselves parties to the CRIME o
slaveholding. The constitution OF the I'M
ted States we regard as the pillar ana sale
guard of slavery. 1t upholds and pefpetu
ates the system. If the slave escapes
proyides for his ~recapture if-as did OH
fathers-he rises in rebellion, under its sane
lions he is cut down and lest by some othe
means n way should be devised for his dc
Iiverence. the constitution clothes his maste
with extra political power 10 prevent IT.
The constitution is a league between the I'll
ferent states of the contederacy to perpetual
The system of slavery; to this league we, {
abolitionists, cannot become a party. w
c.n neither hold office ourselves nor ald
electing others.
Not only from principle do we take III
GROUND, but as d matter OF expectancy III
Injurious effects of politics upon moral cha
acter and all moral enterprise, when they a
brought in contact, is universally acklio'
ledsed. The "muddy waters OF politics
has become a proverb. Whether the evil
inherent, or only accidental, is not for us he
10 determine. All We have to do with is u
= fact; and that it is a fact that any attehhl
to promote a moral enterprise by means
political machinery must prove dlsastro
and abortiye, is attested by all experience
From motives, therefore, of both princiI
and policy, this Society stands strongly col
,o;ttad against any resort to the machine
If %noIitics ior. the promotion of its object.
The measures which it employs are al
gether of a moral kind; consisting IN
'opposition of truth TO error, lightto darkne
and the power of reason TO the spirit OF ?
;udice. Their mode of operation is man
through the printing press and living SIP
ker. BY the circulation of newspapers,
distribution of tracts, and the sale OF boz
and pamphlets, they are continually max
their appeals to the hearts and conscleh
of people, at the same time by their pul
speakers and through all the private cham
of social intercourse, they are seeking by
gumen and facts a proper sense OF the
of slavery and the necessity OF It's aboli'