Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-02-16
WHOLE NO. 231.

And what is this mighty ruler of mems
consciences, and whence did il derive such
supremacy, TINT justice, mercy aud truth are
as nothing in comparison with il? What Il
the Constitution of the United Stntes A
contract made by our fathers, pledging them
each TO the others, for the performance and
permission of certain acts; document
which was TO be the basis of all their legs-
lntion. This contract their sons and sue
cessors, generation after generation, have
made their own, by their vows of allegiance
TO 1t. Among its provisions Ore the pledge
to deliver 10 the South all fugitives from
labor, due, according to her law; the pledge
TO suppress, by the whole force of the ma
ton, ii need be, her domestic Instructions;
and grant of peculiar legislative privileges
TO slavehofding states. 1t is seldom difficult
TO make northern mind perceive tho injuS-
tlce of all these provisions, and especially,
the sinlulness of the first. II will usually
be acknowledged to be violation of Gods
law, TO betray tho fugitive from oppression,
sin against mans higher nature. But tha
Constitution requires it, is urged as an un-
onswerablc argument. Men and women,
religious and irreligicus, learned and un-
learned, in public and private life, will ac-
knowledge, ay, feel the Inherent siniulness
oil slavery, It's outrageous violations of hu-
man rights, who yet tremblc to strike a blow
against 1t, unless they can do so, constitution
ally. So sacred thing is that parchment
scroll which has come between their hearts
and their brothers welfare, their consciences
and the law of their God. As we have
listened TO this plea for known injustice, this
excuse for acknowledged wrong-doing, urg-
ed seriously, and often sincerely, by men
who profess TO believe in God we have
sometimes wondered whether they will pro-
sent it at that tribunal where nations will
stand only as individuals. When, there, tho
question shall be asked, Why did ye not
thus and thus, for your ensaved brother?
will they cry" the Compact! the Compactp
and holding up that leitered scroll in that
light before which the heavens are dim,
point TO it and say ave knew that the
law Of God forbade us to deliver to his mas
ter, the servant which had escaped from his
master unto us we knew that he who tuught
perfectly the will Of Cod on earth, babe us
love our brother as ourselves, and do unto
him ms we would that lIe should do unto us,
but the Constitution of United Stafes forbade
u. We chose whom we would serve" If
they shrink back, aghast at the thought of
preierring such plea, there, why do they
urge II with SO much confidence here ?---
stand they not erer nt the tribunal of Infinite
Justices Is not every decision which they
make, made in the presence Of God, and
stamped, az once and foreve1, win kis ucur
proval or disapprobstion II the plea Be
valid, where in Gods universe should thew
not dare to urge il, and il il be not valid,
what can il really avail them, here and nowa
Nothing, save for the purpose of self-dclu-
sion and 10 that end il has availed much,
with this nation. Men hnve really arrived
at the belief (though the expression of il
would startle them) that Gods laws cease to
be obligatory, when sufficient number of
men to constitute nation, decree that they
shall be so; and that lie will excuse them
for choosing TO obey men rather than Him
SELF But the nation is beginning to awake
from this spiritual lethargy. Into thousands
of hearts, the great truth that Man is more
than constitutions !" and that treason TO
Humanity is the treason most accurst," 10
gradually, but surely, making its way. This
nation, Christendom, the world, will yet
learn that il is better to traInple under foot
any statute of human enactment any COM
pact and constitution, that men ever iiamed,
and bear the consequences of such defiance,
than TO violate one jot or one title OF Gods
eternal law of JUSTICE and of LOVE.