Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-12-14


BY fairy hands their kncll is rung;
Here honor comes apilgrim grey,
To bless the turf that wraps their clay;
And Freedom shall awhile repair
To dwell weeping hermit there.
Has the chariot of freedom halted since
these grea, and good men passed from the
scene? No. Il has moved onward, crush
ing beneath its triumphant wheels the pros
trate despotism of the traffickers in human
flesh. Other islands of the Antilles have
blended their song ofjubilee with the islands
made free by the philanihropists of Great
Britain. The revolutionists of France did
not monopoize the freedom which they won
during the eventful days of February, 1913.
The master spirit of that epoch, the wise aud
gifted Lnmnrtine, did not think his work
done when he had won for France the de-
liverance of her sons from kingly misrule.
He remembered the slaves of Guadaloupe
and Martinique, and sent over the Atlantic
the decree, which gave freedom TO blacks as
well as whites, and enabled the slaves of
yesterday TO place their sable delegates
amongst the representatives of the people,
where it was my happiness to see him.
i bring these things to your remembrance,
because they are the triumphs of your race.
Because they are victories in the very cause
in which you and your friends in this coun-
try are engaged. Because they demonstrate
the eventual omnipotence of those princi-
pies which are now ut work in this Repub-
lie. l bring these things TO your remcm-
brnnce, that you may learn from the past,
the history of the future, and be assured of
the final success of the labors now being
prosecuted for the entire redemption of your
race.
The triumphs to which | have referred,
arc amongst the purest the earth has ever
| witnessed. They are, also, amongst the
most instructive and encouraging. They
have been emphatically the triumphs of
Christianity. Not by might nor by power
have they been accomplished. Not by the
great and the noble have they been espous-
ed. These SYSTEMS have been overthrown
by the humble and the poor; but they had
the instincts of humanity, the eternal princi-
pies of justice, and the God of the oppressed
to aid them. They fought against systems
accursed of God and man. Systems de-
nounced by the thunders, and scathed by the
lightning of Mount Sinai. Systems so re-
pugnnnt to every idea of cqui,y-to every
dictate of morality--to all the affections and
promptings of our common nature, that
universal humanity cried out against them,
and their only defenders were those who lad
dared TO say, with lost archangel,-
"Evil, be thou my good"
The issues Of these conquests have been
ms gratifying as the struggles which led to
them were pure aud holy. How was the
day of emancipation hailed in our West
India Colonies? Let me describe the scene
in the language of one who was for nearly
thirty years the champion of the West India
slavc-Lord Brougham.
Mr.. Thompson here quoted an eloquent
description of emancipation from Lord
Brougham, which escaped us.
Such believe would he the conduct of
every portion of the African race now held
in slavery, if freed from the letters which
bind them. While these victories have been
gained abroad, what has been the course of
events on this soil? IL has been all that is
suspicious and encouraging. Looking at the
condition of this country twenty years ago,
and its condition now, am prepared to say,
that in view of all the circumstances oftho
case, no reform movement ever made more
rapid advances. A retrospect of progress of
the Anti-Slavcry Cause in this country, so
| far from being calculated TO create feelings
of despondency, is calculated TO awaken
feelings of wonder, at the change which has
been effected, and the prospect which has
been opened up to the friends of humanity
and justice.
A state of universal slumber, has been ex-
changed for one of universal wakelulness
and sleepless vigilance.
A state of universal apathy and indifler-
ence, has been changed TO one of universal
activity aud effort.
Where unbroken silence prevailed, there
is now the strife of tongues, and the dis
cussion, of what is now, "the question OF
questions"
Indifference, derison and contempt, have
been transformed into hatred, malignity, and
alarm.
A voice has spoken in the ear of this
mighty nation, and has said,-
Sleep no more
Slavery has murdered sleep. 1t is unneces.
sary for me to enter upon historical details
Most, if not all of you, havo been living wit
nesses of the progress of the cause. Some
of you have been conspicuous actors in the
sublime drama which is still unfolding its
deepening in interest as they adj
vance in the stage of the civilized world.
The question is up--tbe contest is begun
the combat thckcns-the battle becomes
grnnd-it will be grander still-it will be
the greatest and grandest ever fought on
earth, and its consequences, the most mo-
mentous and far-reaching of any that have
ever followed from war of principles since
the world began.
Slavery il is the theme of every newspa
per- Ii is the topic of debate in every legis
iative hall. 1t lengthens the sittings of Con
gress. 1t allows your Senators but two hours
rest at night. 1t mixes with your soil. j
determines your boundary lines. 1t is tina
word in every new Constitution, which caus
es the mightiest intelects in the land tC
} grnpple with each other, in passionate an'
} unyielding conflict. 1t is the pivot upoi
which every election turns 1t decides tn
complexion of every ticket placed in the bal
lot-box. II is the test of membership in tn
churches. 1t is the cause of divisions IL