Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-09-28
WHOLE NO. 263.

they are reasonably prudent and economical,
their account Of receipts and expenditures
may be made to show balance on the rieI,.
side. l.t .l
We make these remarks from no invidio,is
motive, but because we believe them TO be
called for by the circumstances in which our
Society is now placed For years we have
received liberal aid from friends of the cause
at the East. The American Society has
sent among us, from time to time, its most
eloquent and effective agents, and done an
in its power to aid us in sustaining The Bu-
gle. BY its timely and efficient aid we have
been able to Iiquidate, in good part, the debt
which has 80 long embarrassed us. The
Committee believe that the time has now
come when the Abolitonists in this part Of
the country should take upon themselves tho
full responsibility Of supporting the ordinary
operations of the cause among themselves.
That they are able, and more than able, to
do this, we entertain no doubt; aud it is for
them to decide whether they ,ciH do il or not.
To appoint an Executive Committee, and
then leave them without the means of doing
the work assigned to them, is neither wise,
manly nor just. If the members and friends
Of the Society really deem themselves too
poor to sustain an antislavery paper and the
other necessary agencies of the cause, then
it becomes them deliberately to consider
whether they ought not to abandon the effort,
and find some other channel for their con-
tributions. But il, as we believe, there is no
want of ability on their part, but only the
need of greater devotedness to the cause, a
deeper sense of personal responsibility,
more earnest spirit Of sclfconsecration, then
we trust that the future history of the Socie-
ty will show that these friendly admonitions
were not uttered in vain.
Let us not, however, be misunderstood
There are many among us whose contribti-
tions are equal to their ability, and we would
not seem to be insensible TO fact which has
SO often cheered us in the performance of
our duties. Many more, we are willing TO
believe, have failed to contribute from an
honest msapprehenson Of the subject and
of their relations to the cause, rather than
from the want Of benevolent and selfsacri-
ficing spirit. These, we are sure, will re-
ceive in kindness the remarks we have felt
called upon to make. Tho language of cen-
sure and complaint is not that which we best
love to Use; but our duty to the cause, over
whose interests we have been called to watch,
has constrained us to utter truths which ex-
pericnce has forced upon our attention.
The Western Aut-Slavery Society, being
the only organization auxiliary to the Ameri-
can Society this side the Allegbanies, occu-
pies post Of immense Importance, and one
which involves its members and friends in
no ordinary responsibility. Hitherto its ope-
rations have been mainly confined to the
North Eastern portion of Ohio, and even in
this limited field they have been but too fee
bly, sustained. There are calls fer service in
the Central and Southern portions of the
State, and in Michigan and Eastern Indiana,
which the Committee would gladly supply
if they had the means. We ought to keep
constantly in the field a band Of faithful
agents to disseminate our principles and keep
up the moral agitation without which the
people can never be divorced from their
guilty alliance with Slavery. The public
mind is now in an inquiring and receptive
state. The ears Of the people are open to
our message. On all sides we hear the cry,
Send us lecturers, that they may shed tho
light of truth in our pathway and show US
| 4. LII. 4. .t.
foulest abomination.' Shall that cry be un
needed, and the golden opportunity for
reaching the minds and hearts of the peo-
pie be lost? II is for the members and
friends of the Western Anti Slavery Socie-
ty to answer this question at their Annual
Meeting-to determine whether they will
arouse themselves TO the discharge of their
,rlole duty, or be content with maintaining
a feeble, halfway resistance to system
which plunges millions of their brethren
and countrymen in an abyss of wretched-
ness and woe to which neither earth nor hell
can furnish a parallel. We trust you will
decide this question as becomes Men and
Abolitionists-that you will meet your re-
sponsibiities in spirit Of firnhess and self
devotion which, while il fills the heart os the
slave with exultation and causes the oppres-
sor to trembe before the majesty of Truth,
shall convince the world that you are indeed
in earnest---that you have enlisted in this
holy warfare with an Interchangeable deter
minntion TO yield to no discouragemeni, TO
be baflled neither by the plottings of the
politician nor the craft of the priest, and to
hold property, reputation, and even life,
subordinate to the eternal principles of Jus
lice Truth and Right. Under the influence