Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-08-18
H. i. PreStOn-Meeling at Berlin.

Iough 10 berlin-a distance Of 90 miles-t,
attend a Free Soil meeting, at which H. l.
Preston was expected to be the p~rincipa
speaker. We had been earnestly invited be
iorehand to meet Mr.. Preston on this occa
slon' to discuss with him The questions a, issu,
between the Disunionists and Free Sellers
but had declined doing so on accoun, Of 9th
er engagements, whereupon his admirers Sc
up the cry that we were afraid Of him. ane
boosted that she DisuRionists would be utter
ly annihilated at Berlin! As il happened
we were able to get released from our en-.
gagement at Marlborough on The day refer.
red to, and therefore we determined TO be an
eyewitness Of the intellectual tornado tina,
was TO annihilate the American Anti. Slavery
Society and its auxiliaries. Going through
Randolph, we were SO fortunate as to secure
for a travelling companion our friend Truman
Case. We reached the grove at the hour
appointed, and found an audience Of about
100, or possibly $50 persons, most Of whom
we understood TO be Free Sellers. Aaron
Hinchman, of the Homestead Journal, was
appointed Chairman. Mr.. Preston then took
the stand, but did not seem prepared, for
some reason or other, to begin the work of
humiliation. He consumed a full hour in a
a sort Of historical sketch Of the origin of the
Liberty party, its aims and methods, and
its final union with the Free Sellers taking
special pains 10 avoid the radical questions
on which that party and the Disunionists are
at issue. His tactics were manifest. He
wanted US to begin the controversy which he
and his friends had invited instead of stand
ing up to his true position as an assailant of
Disunion, he adroitly endeavored to place us
in an aggressive and himself in a defensive
attitude. There was in this a want of man
Illness which we Judge to be Characteristic.
After Mr.. p. took his seat there was a very
embarrassing pause. Every body felt that
his speech was not a legitimate part of the
entertainment to which the audience had
been invited. We were urged 10 take the
stand, but declined doing so on the ground
that Mr.. Preston had not argued the question
of Disunion, and had said little TO which we
cared to reply. We awaited the blowing
up which Mr.. Preston's friends had prom
Used us, and after the shock was over, intend"
ed TO make such defence of our cause as we
might deem necessary. Mr.. Preston again
took the stand and spent half an hour in an
effort 10 exiricate himself from the position
in which his own friends had placed him as
the antagonist of Disunion.
70 Being repeatedly urged TO speak, we reluc-
family consented to do so, under protest against
Mr.. Preston's unfairness. We took the op-
portunity to define the position of Disunion-
lists in relation TO politics-to show that they
are not opposed to all political action, but On
ly to voting under a Constitution which in
wolves all who support it in the guilt of sus-
tanning Slavery. We also defined the real
position of the Free Soil party, showing that
it did not even propose TO abolish Slavery
any where save in the District of Columbia,
and that its Presidential candidate was even
opposed to its abolition there, as a breach of
: good faith toward Virginia and Maryland,
(vide John Van Buren's speech at Cleveland
though he had promised not 10 interpose his
veto, if Congress, contrary to his judgment
and wishes, should pass an act of abolition.
We showed, also, that the Free Soil party
acknowledge d itself bound by the 'compro-
misses of the Constitution-that it did not
even propose any alteration Of that instru-
ment-and, therefore, that it was utterly abb
surd TO talk of that party as the friend of u
Universal Emancipation, or as offering a reme-
dy for Slavery throughout the Union.
MIR. Preston, in his reply, played the gri-
maxim and the pettifogger; instead of meet
ing the issue manfully, he sought to escape
from it Through very small holes, by disingen-
Gus quibbling and artifce. His only argu.
ment against Disunion was, that il is imprac-
iicable! This is precisely the plea which
the opponents Of the anti-slavery enterprise
have always urged. Unable to meet the NOR
al Issues involved in the question, they have
always sought to make a dust about the Z alb
surd' and 'impracticable schemes of the Al
olitionists! What folly! Is it impossible
TO refuse TO support a pro.slavery Consiitu-
toni Will it be impossible for the people
of the Free States, when they are animated
by the true spirit of Liberty, to break the
chains which bind them in unholy partner
ship with menstealers! Nonsense! When
there shall be The wiK, The way TO dissolve
the Union will be plain enough and easy
enough. There is no need OF doing evil that
good may come-no necessity for swearing
in the name of God to support Slavery in or
der to acquire the power 10 abolish it.
Ev.sr - As1psr "a l.up Leave