Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-11-10
From the Canton (AIiss.) Creole.
S.

~. Editor Permit me, through the me
dun of the Creole, to call the attention of
our Hon. Police Court 10 the subject of pa
trofs in our county. At this time-when
there Is such alarming agitation on the slave
question = every prudential measure that
VIII contribute to our internal quiet, should
be adopted. That an efficient system of pa
trois will do this, | imagine few will ques-
ton.
The fearful agitation now threatening the
union on the slave question, should be sut-
flcient cause for the utmost vigilance on our
part Add to this the more alarming fact of
the growing INSTRUMENTATION among the
slaves IN the South, and it appears to me as
CRIMINAL i'll us to neglect any-event the least
-rneasurc of security.
1 am aware that there are some who OPP
pose any system of patrol, on the ground
that it is the duty of every man to patrol his
own premises; and III q community of large
plantations, this plan may do; for there the
Owners are under the two-fold obligation of
economy and interest to keep strict watch.
But those who own but few slaves are not
under the same necessity, and, indeed, can
not afford to mount guard" The result is,
that after~ nightfall, slaves in the country are
literally sat large" and no more called for
by their owners until the next days wari;
commences. What better opportunity could
be asked for organizing a deadly plot? This
county has probably never been free from
the presence of abolition incendiaries and
eHlissaries, and but few such are required tc
corrupt the whole slave population. And
prooably at no time in our history has so ma
ny suspicious vagrant characters been OBJ
served among us, as within the last twelve OF
eighteen months. The late startling case ii
Soi CarelinaA 1orasstotfesb denops.ratio
g5Sking at all these facts, il seems to nj
strange that there is such general apathy il
the public mind on this subject. Having ev
cry civilized nation on the earth clamorins
against our peculiar institution, and more
than half our own citizens dcnouncing it a;
a " great moral and political evil" we SHOULD
feel that we slumber Oh u volcano when {
are careless on this subject.
The history of our country will show thai
| every instruction among the slaves, from
that of 1895 on the coast of Louisiana, tC
that of 1885 in Madison county, has occur
red at a time when there was the most pro
found security, TO all appearance. Altho' NJ
record is made of the fact, | bave no doub
but it is equally true, that Immediately prio
to each, there was no patrol organization, o
if any, a very insufficient system. Many cit
liens of this county can remember that il
"a and '35 there was scarcely such Il thin
known as a patrol i'll the country, until tn
people were aroused to a sense of their dan
ger by accident only, in time to save them
selves from massacre.
Scarcely a week passes now but some Ia
ter evidence of the insubordination amor
the slaves occurs III our State. Where is I
be the end of this, without some system I
force order among them? | see none MOI
probable than another outbreak accomplish
ing the death of thousands of our citizen
and desolating the country.
But | have already said more than there
any necessity for, perhaps, as my objectis OF
" TO call the attention of our worthy polio
men to the subject, believing they will gi'
it the attention due to its importance, whC
/, consulting the PUBLIC SAFETY.