Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-02-02

While in view of the past, we are filled
with Joy to-day, we also feel the solemn re-
sponsibililies of the present hour, and the i'm
p~ortance of the work which yet remains 10
be accomplished. The arduousness Of that
work is not diminished. Slavery still exists.
The slave still sends up TO heaven his daily
cry, "How long; Oh! Lord, how long ~
The Constitution Of the United States still
extends its broad egis over this vilest Of all
forms Of oppression; the American church
is still a city Of refuge for the oppressor.-
The last, the heaviest, blows are yet to be
struck for freedom. Now, indeed, must we
do with our might, what our hands find 10 do,
for that which has been already gained by
sturdy and long-conlinued conflict, may yet
be lost by unfdithfulness. Abolltionists must
now press the slaves claims, with %irresisil-
Bile force, upon our national Legislature, must
demand, with importantly that cannot, Will
not, be denied, the restoration OF his rights.
They must give the church no rest, day or
night, until she lifts up her voice in behalf
Of emancipation. This is no time TO rest
Nor is it a time when vigilance can be safely
relaxed. The dangers which threaten our
cause now, are not less formidable than those
which assailed it in former years, although
they are of a very different character. The
violence which once opposed our progress,
has ceased 4; the anti-slaveTy name, once ha-
ted and despised, is now honored and covet-
ed; and political parties now court the favor
of men whom, but a short time since, they
affected to contemn. A new political party
has been organized, during the past year, ba-
sed on the principle Of TIE non-extension Of
slavery, into which the Liberty party has been
merged, and which is gathering into its ranks,
men of various sentiments on other questions
of politics, As an indication Of the progress
Of anti-slavery sentiment among the mass OF
the people, we hail this organization with Joy;
while we see in 1t also, a source oi danger TO
our cause. 1t can be such, however, only
through the weakness or detection of aboli-
t~ionists. The Free Soil Parry does good SER
vice to the cause of Freedom by drawing
Wings and Democrats from their respective
parties, into its own ranks, for it e~levates
their position, and gives them higher politi-
cal aims than they could have had in either
of the old parties. If it be faithful TO its
avowel principles, its iuAuence in our ma
tional Legislature may be powerful against the
extension Of our national curse. The danger
TO be feared from it is that it will draw abo-
liiianis,s from their higher to its lower posi-
lion, and thus diminish our strength. While,
10 the men who have occupied the positions
of the Wkig and Democratic parties, it is a
progressive step to enter the Free Soil Party,
it is TO the aboIitionist, a retrogression. The
Standard of abolitionists has, from the begin
ming, been far higher and more uncompromis-
ing. that is that Of The Free Soil Party. Our
demand has been, the utter extinction OF sla-
very. After fifteen years Of toiling and strug-
Cling in this conflict, and just as we are about
TO obtain the victory, we cannot cease our
war-cry, and content ourselves with demand
inr that The terrible evil shall be restricted
within its present limits. TO do thus, would
be treachery to the slave, and gross unfaIih-
fulness to our solemn pledges OF devotedness
10 the cause of emancipation. Again, The
Free Soil Party is, in common with the other
political parties of this nation, pledged 10 the
support Of the constitution of the U. States,
and, consequently, every abolitionist who al
lies himself to it, virtually promises to main
tain that compact with the oppressor. Yet.
strange as il may seem, it is a lamentable
fact that some of the long tried friends Of ouI
cause, who, during many years of temptation
and peril, held fast their integrity, refusing
all compromise with slavery, have been won
by this specious bait, TO enter the political
arena, and give their votes for the election &c
the presidency, Of a man who not only must
by virtue OF that office, become a protector
of slavery, but who does not profess, and l;
not supposed, TO be an abolitionist. Thougt
the number of such has not been great, it il
sufficient to show us the danger to be appre
hended from this source, and to induce US II
+ utter a word Of warning against ii.
In this important and highly interestin!
d crisis Of our enterprise, do we need new in
J c%entives TO diligencel All the sources from
which we have drawn encouragement an,
. strength during the past, are open TO us now
y and added TO them is The success which ha
d attended our labors. When, as the result G
y early sowing, SO rich a harvest awaits tn
%reaper's hand, we shall be ineXcusable il "
turn idly or YEARLY from our work. Voice
&c from The grave speak 10 us to-day, warnln
u us that the time Tor labor is short. But a te
y months have passed since one Of our ban
W who had but recently enrolled her name wi
J" ours, was taken from our midst by death, ar
:, the event was quickly followed by the b
" Teavement of another feilow-!aborer, WI
10 though her name was not recorded as a meI
/ Der Of our society, was closely united 10
IT, in fellowship of spirit, and whose active al
"a unwearied efforts in behalf of The cause Of 4
Is slave, will ever be among our pleasant mem
u ries, as a beautiful example for our lives.
as The slave, who from the innerm ost cell
II his prison.house, has heard our .%eiterat
s. pledge OF devotion TO his cause, aud h
e strengthened his heart, patiently to wait
~ his deliverance, is looking towards us, /
p~loringly, to-day. When we see The angul
~ Of his soul, we cannot pause or turn asi
as from our work. When we think on the hop
OF " hich the abolitionists of the North have {
10 cited in his bruised heart, we dare not be u
NJ faithful to him. We are pied ged 10 lifelo
De service, il it be needed, in the effort 10 ema
us cipate him, and it is not now optional W
10 ne whether we will 60 forward or stand stl
m' Should we prove false, "the voice OF G
l's brothers. bloodp would cry to Heaven agaiT
y us.
~, We the labors Of another yt
with hopeful hearts. Our enterprise progr'