Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-11-02
WHOLE NO. 26S.


Southern States that belong to the Church
than there are Whites?
9. Are not Aboitionists daily rendering
themselves obnoxious to society?
p ;. Answer this in to-morrow's paper
ANSWER.
We know no reason why our unknown
correspondent should require us to answer
the above questions, but he is quite welcome
to all the light we can shed on the subject.
His tone leads us to infer that he is one Of
those who insist that Slavery ought not to be
discussed at the North and yet are perpeti-
ally stirring up its discussion. But here is
what we have TO say in response to his ques-
tons, viz;
i. Some Shareholders work their slaves
very hard, hut we think the majority do not.
The hardship in their case is two-fold-frst,
they have no legal or other efficient protec-
ton against a requirement Of excessive la
bor; and secondly, they know that their
earnings will not accrue to themselves or
their children. Now some farmers sons
may be worked too hard, but they know that
the proceeds Of such toll will generally come
to tbem--at their fathers death If not SOON
er; and they have a security against excess
sive exertion in the natural affection of pa
rent. In general, we believe fathers are
ship, even by incurring it themselves, which
is not apt TO be the case with shareholders,
who guudgingly admit that slaves are par
takers with them of common humanity.
2. We think the Slaves are not better off
in Slavery than they would be in Freedom.
In the first place, their opinion on the point
is entitled to some weight, and you may
ask all the Blacks in the Union TO choose be-
tween Slavery and Freedom and not find
hundred to choose the former. In the next
place, we cite the fact that slaves are neces-
sarily exposed without protection to oil map-
ner of insult and abuse from the family,
which they are not permitted TO repel or re-
sent. No slave can be a witnes in court
against the white man whom he has seen as
sault his aged father or abuse his wife or
daughter; and the persons of slaves, male
or female, are subject to the absolute control
of their masters. Such is necessarily the
tdio of Slavery; individuals are sometimes
better, sometimes worse than the law above
them, but Slavery is what the law Eaakes il,
and we are considering that. Progress, I'm
provement, the hope of bettering their con-
dition and the hope of saving something to
smooth the pathway of their children--such
are the sweeteners of human existence in
this rugged world. To the Slave, all these
are denied. Ii allowed to earn for himself
out of his masters time, his earnings are still
legally his masters properly, and may be
wrested from him at any time. If his mas
ter of to-day is kind, he fnny be sncceeded
tomorrow by harsh and rapacious heir
Abused as the Free Blacks are among us,
the property they have acquired, the persons
of their wives and children, are still under
the protection of the law, and tlleir. con-
dition is infinitely preferable to that of slsves.
3. As to Education, two-thirds of the Free
Blacks of the North have a share of il,
while the Slaves are not permitted to have
any. To teach Blacks is here esteemed
laudable, while to teach Slaves is, in most
Southern States, punishable as felony. We
have known Christian Shareholders at the
South distressed by their conflicting obliga-
tons to teach their Slaves to read the Bible
and the Laws denunciation of severe penal
ties against any one who should teach reads
ing to Slaves, even though their own. The
Education of the Blacks of the North is rap
idly increasing; that of the Slaves of the
South is stationary, if not retrograding.
4. We think the Southern Slaves have TO
provide not only for themselves but for their
masters also. But that is delicate subject,
and we pass rapidly over it.
5. For the credit of the Church, we trust
it does enroll as members more of the victims
than of the champions of Slavery. But we
do not consider the condition either of slave
or stakeholder favorable to the full develop-
mcnt of Christian character.
&. This is n hard question to answer
Many Aboltionists seem TO us narrow, indis-
erect, and violent, hut they see at least equal
faults in our course. We think it better TO
be indiscreety jealous for the Right than
ever so adrotly devoted TO the Wrong. We
think Aboiionists are less obnoxious now
thNn they were fifteen years ago, when il
was the fashion to mob their meetings, burn
their halls and destroy their printing-presses.
But if anybody expects to war against any
formidable abuse on injustice iOithoh becom.
ing "obnoxious to Society,"" he is embark
ing in business without counting the cost
Ed. Tribune.