Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-10-26
Mrs. Foster at Rochester.

J evening last, on the subject of slavery. He
! speech was one of remarkable clearnes
| and power, and held the listening throng il
I close attention for nearly three hours. Sh,
+ evidently made profound impression. w,
; have never heard an abler discourse from
= this distinguished advocate of human rights
! Notwithstanding her orduous labors in th,
West during the past summer, she stood be-
fore the assembly the picture of health nnc
vigor, showing no signs of wenriness moi
! want of zeal. We hope that her visit It
Rochester will prove Of lusiine benefit
She commenced her address by rapid
and lucid recapituatiou of ine promises aIt,
professions OF Northern politicians fhvoraLl,
to freedom during the past two years, show
ing that slavery WAS to I've limited aud free
dom extended, the save-power humbled
aud liberty exalted; and, as a sequel, she
recouuted the soul-sickening incidents ol
cowardice, trcachery aud corruption on the
part OF Northern men, by which the very OPP
posite ol. all their promises had been realized.
Slavery had been completely victorious, and
freedom us completely yanquishcd. The
South had had everything its own way in
the organization of territorial governments,
in the settlement of the boundary of Texas,
and in the enactment of the ntrocious fhgi-
tive slave bill. Day after day (said the gift
cd lecturer) since the election Of General Tay-
lor, the heavens have been overcast with
| dark and portenlous clouds, which, one af-
| ter another, have settled down above the
horizon in one mass of terrific blackness
| overshadowing the land with gloom and des-
pair. The alarmed fugitiyes were rising up
in multitudes from all parts of the free Suites,
and moving off from our doomed country TO
a land of safety. There had been a time
when she had counseled the fugitive slave
TO remain here and to avoid Canada. She
has hoped that the day had passed when the
fugitive slave could be recaptured in the
North. She no longer entertained such q
hope; and therefore she no longer gave
such counsel. The recent recaptures at
New York and elsewhere, warned the slave
to escape, aud to seek safety beyond the
bounds of the United States. After des-
cribing the present as a time of deep gloom
and terribly soemnity, Mrs. Foster turned
with much emphasis to the demonstrations
of JOY made at the North and South over the
settlement by Congress of the slavery ques-
ton, and inferred from them that the pres
ent is the darkest and most direfiil period for
freedom which she had witnessed during
the last fifteen years. "Wlat means this re-
iaicllalg > .said sue. !. Why, but q few years
ago we were looking forward TO the repeal
of the ubominable law of 93, and now the
North is rejoicing over the passing of the
recently enacted fugitive slave BILL" Anoth-
er proof that beyond the deepest depth,
there is deep still more profound. The
picture here of retrograIation was chilling,
and painful to look upon, and the mind
struggled to rid itself of the saddening truth.
From this point the discourse of our elo- |
quent friend widcned into a broad and phi
losophical exposition of the governing ele-
ments of the American Union. She abso-
lutely denied that freedom had ever achiev-
ed a victory over slavery in this country |
through the national government, and very |
boldly declared such victory to be morally |
impossible.
While there are fifteen hundred millions |
of dollars invested in slave property-while |
il is constitutionaly represented on the floor |
of Congress, and while men are required TO |
swear TO support that Constitution, slavery |
will continue to give laws 10 the Republic,
and it is beyond the power of men or angels |
TO prevent II.
It was great mistake to suppose that
numbers ruled in this or in any other gov
ernment. Capital has always ruled, and |
must, in the nature of things, continue to do |
so. Capital controls labor; and that which |
controls the labor of country, will control
the government of that country. For two |
hundred years, England was ruled by land
ed aristocracy, aud the same power would |
rule ut the present moment in that country, |
but that its influence has been neulrulzed by |
manufacturing and commercial interests
Ii was these interests combined which re-
pealed the Corn Laws, aud gave "Free
Trade" men TO the British Governments
This was inevitable from the very nature OF
the forces which give direction to national
bodies.
Now, in the Northern States, there is no
cOunteracting capital 10 the capital invested
in slaves; aud the South must therefore
rule, and the North submit TO be ruled, so
long rs the "union with shareholders is
maintained, for while the South is of ne
cessity united, the interests of the North are |
such as to render her people dsunited.
The argument on this part of the subject |
was straightforward clear and convincing.
The attention of the assembage was pro-
found, and many appeared astonished that
woman should be able TO present subject
so complicated as the one under consdera-
ton in manner at once SO philosophical and
so statesmanlike.
Mrs. Foster then reviewed the history of
tlle country, embraced wllllln me last Iorty |
years. She recounted the various conflicts |
between freedom and slavery that have oc-
cured during that period and she declared
that, while slavery had come out of every |
conflict stronger, the North had retreated
from the field weaker, than she entered; and
so must it ever be while the unhallowed
compact remains. Our only hope was in
the dissolution of the Union.
frla Iottar nart of the digcourSa WINS ne |
culiarly touching, as she spoke upon the du-
" of hiding the outcast, and of "bewray- |
ing not him that VANDERBILT" and reverted |
to the inhuInan law recently passed for the
recapture of ingitives, and many tears bore
testimony to the deepness and strength Of
the feeling awakened. AS we listened TO