Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-10-06
Eom Maru Greir.
PHILADrLpnrA, Sept. 18th, ls4e.

rum JtfUy OTctr.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 18th, 1s49.
RESPECTED FRIENDS & FELLOW L~ABoRERs:
1t would give me much pleasure, were il
III my power, to accept the invitation which
the Executive Committee of the Western An
ti-Slavery Society have kindly given me to
be present at your Convention. AS this,
however, cannot be, ] send you my word of
greeting across the mountains. The hearts
of the friends of the slave, here at the East,
will rejoice III the fact of such a Convention
as yours. 1t speaks hope to the slave en-
enlargement TO the friends of freedom. The
eyes OF this nation have long been turned to
the great and growing West, and its future
influence on the destinies of our country
has, perhaps, not been exaggerated. What
ever tins influence may be, it is, especially, in
the hands of the Young Men and Women
of the West. 1t cannot then be otherwise
than a hopeful and joyous sign of the times,
that a portion of the Young Men and Wo-
men of Ohio are preparing to concentrate
their energies and renew their efforts in the
glorious work of emancipating three mil
lions of American slaves, and removing from
their country her deepest disgrace. The
past services of Ohio in this cause, and the
courage and ardor of her youth, promise
much TO our enterprise, from this movement.
May its results prove that our confidence is
not unfounded!
You can scarcely need any word of mine,
by way of suggestion or encouragement but
the warmest f~raternal greeting l joyfully
c you. The wants and the dangers of
our cause, you have, doubtless, well consid-
cred, and experience in its service must have
qualified you, better than those not on the
ground, so select the wisest methods of pro-
noting 1t IN your section of country. But
there are some difficulties and perils which
our enterprise meets everywhere, to which
you will permit me TO allude. The day of
violent opposition against the anti-slavery
cause, and open assault ofits advocates, has,
probably, at the North, at least, gone by but
not less TO be dreaded are the more insidi-
Gus ioes which, at present, require our vigi-
liant watchfulncss. The peculiar danger of
our cause, now, is that its friends will be
ICON, not driUen, from their stronghold
From the popular sentiment against slavery,
and, especially, against its extension, which
is nor, and more pervading the North, and
the growth of a political party whose watch
word is Free Soil, arguments are drawn by
crafty foes and dim-sighted friends of free
dom, TO induce abolitionists to compromise
important principles, and descend to a lower
platform than that which they have SO long
and steadfastly occupied. Here is our dam
ger. Abolitionists have nobly borne aloft
their standard through scenes of peril from
without and t%reachery within their ranks,
and 1t has never been stricken from their firm
grasp. The power of persecution has been
tested upon them, and they came out of the
fire purified and strengthened. They are
now passing through a more fearful ordeal,
and it remains to be seen whether they will
endure, as bravely and as well, to be court
| p6 and f1afforpA nv ntn-clauary ~nolitical mar
ties, and halfconverted religious sects, now
that their enemies have become protested
friends, and those who once threatened and
mathematical them, appear before them as
suppllants, or whether they will weakly fall
ter, and yield the vital principles of our
cause, which they have SO long stoutly de-
Tended and faithfully preserved. Will you
respond for Ohio, pledging her to fidelity to
the watchword, "No union with Slavehold-
ers !" Will you pledge, for her, Jealous and
untiring individual and combined labor, on
the part of her anti-slavery sons and daugh-
tiers?
i have one other word TO say to you, dear
friends, who are to bear up the anti-slavery
banner In Ohio. Permit me TO entreat you
to see TO 1t that your own hands are pure
from the blood of the slave; that on you can
not rest the charge of making the slavehold-
err your agent TO furnish you with food and
clothing believed and stained by the tears and
blood of his victims; that you have no such
union with Shareholders. May a voice, con-
demning such inconsistency, go out from
your Convention, which the whole nation
shall hear!
With earnest wishes for the abundant
success of your plans and efforts for the pro-
motion of our glorious cause, in Ohio, and
throughout the nation, l remain,
Your friend and fellow-laborer,
MARY GREW.