Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-08-31
From the Practical Christian.
A New Plan Of Political Action.

us, aud been proposed by worthy inquirers,
Can any plan of political action be devised,
under the present Constitutions and laws OF
our country, in pursuance of which Christ
ian non-rcsstanis aud other uon-luring re-
formers might vote at the polls, and other
wise participate in the existing government
of the country? Until lately we have dis
covered nothing like warrantable and sat
islaclory plan of this nature. At length ono
has occurred TO our mind which may possi-
bly, answer the purpose but which we cam
not have sufficient confidence in to recon-
mend or act upon, till ufier seeing and weigh
ing the objections TO il. IL is TO call out
those objections from our acute and con-
sciuntious friends, that we now present IL;
and we solicit full expression of their cri-
ticisn.
The plan proposed is for two or more le-
galy qualified voters in any town, now con-
scientiously scrupulous against voting on
account OF certain things in the Constitutions
aud laws of the land, TO make n public De-
cluraiion, substantially according TO the fol-
lowing form, viz:
DECLARATION.
I'm order to conscientious exercise of the
elective franchise nnd the other great natur-
al rights accorded to us by the Constitutions
and laws of our country, we, the undersign-
cd citizens of M, in the County Of
aud State Of, publish the following
Declaration TO wit,
|. We scverally declare our profound
moral adherence of chatte Slavery and all
kindred expressions; also of War and all its
constituent requisites; also of Capital Pun
ishnent and all pcual infections IN their ma
~, flprp-
of; not, however, obiecting TO any process
of coercion or restraint against persons who
endangcr the lives or rights of others, pro-
vidcd a sacred regard be evinced for the real
welfare of all parties concerned.
2. We severaly declare, tina: in so far as
the Constitutions aud laws of our country
are construed to require, authOrise or coun-
tenaucc either of the abhorrent evils above
specified, we hold ourselves in duty bound to
abjure aud dcnounce them; remaining obi-
gated nevertheless, TO support and conform
to the said Constitutions and laws in all other
respects, and TO oppose what we objure only
by orderly and peaceable means.
3. We severally declare, that in voting at
the polls, or otherwise participating in the
government OF our country, or claiming the
protection of the civil nufbofftt, cOnsiNeiiiiy
with this Declaration, we bold ourselves
henceiorth absolved from all moral respon-
sibilty for any thing done by mejorities of
the people, Legislators or magistrates contra
ry TO our peaceable cndeavors and protests.
III testimony whereof we have hereunto
subscribed our respective names, at M
aforesaid, this - day of - in the year
-; at the same time ordering copies here
of TO be published in the principal newsPa-
pers of our County, and duplicate copies to
be filed for perpetual reference in the Clerks
Office of said NJ, and in the Secrctary's
Office of this State.
Relormers who do not go the full length
of Christian non-resistance might make
similar Declaration covering only the ground
of their own scrupes. After considerable
number here aud there shall have published
and filed such Declarations, let n general
Convention be called for the purpose of or
ganizng Republican Reform Association,
extending its qualifications throughout the
State. Let it be made the settled policy of
tho Republican Reformers TO acquire and
hold the balance of voting power wherever
they can between the large parties, and TO
throw their weight always into that end of
the scale which seems most likely TO 60 fnrth-
est towards Outstanding the government
and laws. In this way comparatively small
minority of voting citZcns may quietly car
Iy, point by point, all the great measures
necessary 10 redeem our country from It's
organic iniquties, and to render II glorious
throughout the whole earth for its benign
institutions. II will be seen that the Repub-
lican Reiormers, acting Consistently with
their Declaration, are 10 longer responsible,
as co-actors in the body polite, for any thing
pro-slavery, pro-war &C., done 10y majori-
ties, or even by the men they may vole for
10 particular offices, provided only that their
testimony he kept alive. At the same time
their political action will not contraycne or
supersede their moral action. They will
talk, and vote, and put forth all their endeay-
ors freely and consistently. Even ii they
should ascend TO office, aud take the cusio-
mary engagement preiaced by the nboveDe-
clarulion, (which is not u thing TO be expect
ed at present) they would stand coniessedy
free from the trumncls which now ensnare
all ho take upon themselves those official
engagements; because public sentiment,
with a full knowledge of the ncumbents de-
termination, would rule down the old con-
struction aud take him according TO his own.
ii is quite likely, however, that the Conser-
vatiyes in the government will for years, III
one way or another, exclude all our Decla-
ralors from office, or ut least from taking the
customary engagement on the ground that
their Declaration has disqualified them. No
matter for this. Time will take care Of such
things. The mnin good is TO be done by
bringing 10 the polls thousands of good men,
hitherto conscientiously unwilling TO make
themselves responsible for organic iniquies
of the government, and the shifts Of its COM
promising politicians. Absolved before God
and their country from all such responsible
ty, their position will be unmistukable, and
their work will be to make the politicians
reckon among the requisites of their success
some favorable concessions TO that divine
law of righteousness which is above all mere
human governments. And this right of vo-
ting on the ground proposed, no Legislature
will dare to take away, whatever they may