Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-04-13

stand their duties to the Government, to
their iellow-men, aud TO their God. The
law of kindness, of sympathy for the oppress-
cd, of love TO our fellow-men, is written up
on our nature by the finger of the Most High.
Can you repeal that law of the Almighty P
Can you tear from the hearts core our love
of illstice--our hatred of crime? Sir, no
legislation can effect that Object.
Sir, we ought not to deceive Southern men.
We should say to them in all irankness aud
sincerity, that the day for arrcsting fugitive
slaves has gone by forever. We abide by
the Constitution; but that instrument docs
not give sufficient power to the master TO Sc
cure his fugitive slave when he once reaches
our free Statcs. II has not come up TO the
expectations of the South in this respect. 1t
fails TO ietter the limbs, to stop the flight, of
their fugitives. They generally reach Cana
da, and there find an asylum, and every
friend of humanity rejoices at their success
The Constitution has also failed TO protect
our colored citizens when they go to South
ern States. II has proved defective on this
point. We arc willing TO amend it, hut we
would strike out the entire provision relating
to fugitive slaves. No such clause cau find u
place in any new Constitution.
In conclusion, | would assure Southern
gentlemen that a portion of our Northern cit
izens have determined on reforming the abu,
ses which have rendered this nation subser-
Went to the Slave Power.
We wish all to understand distinctly and
fully our views and ultcrior designs. We in
tend TO limit and confne slavery TO its pres
ent bounds; to repeal all acts of Congress
which sustain that institution; aud totally TO
separate the people of the free States and the
Federal Government from all responsibility
of sustaining slavery or the slave trade; to
restore the Government TO the position rela-
tive to that institution in which it was placed
by the Constitution. We then hope to direct
its energies and the influence of the nation in
favor OF fjustice, of truth, of liberty, and of
humanity.
am aware of the efforts now making to
arrange and to compromise these questions /;
to quiet this agitation TO roll back the tide of
popular feeling now manifested, not only in
our FREQ States, but in Europe, aud through
out the civilized world. Sir, feeble and i'm
potent arc the powers of Congress when
brought in conflict with that rising voice Of
the people now heard in every quarter of
our nation. Can we, by legislation, take
from twenty millions of ireenen their con-
sciences, their thoughts, their judgment P
Can we prohibit their Investigations of truth?
This struggle has been going on for centu-
rics. Men may denounce it, but it will 60
forward: Reforms in all ages, and in all
nations, haye becu denounced. Oppression,
Guilt aud Crime always seek silence aud
darkness; but as intelligence increases, and
becomes more aud more generally difiuscd,
abuses will be corrected, and the work Of re-
formation will proceed.
For the last twelve years have watched
the progress Of this great political revolution.
Its advance has been regular, constant, and
have seen the influence of
the Executive, Of Congress, of the public
press generally, and of politicians put for
ward to retard its progress, but they have not
oven checked its onward course.
The arrogance of the Slave Power has
been beaten back; the spirit of Northern SER
Witty has been rebuked aud brought into
contempt; the freedom of debate hus been
regained; the advocates of truth and justice
have increased, and are already seizing upon
the strongholds of oppression. In our State
Legislatures, the language of freedom and
of truth finds abundant utterance. With the
most unsllaken confidence, in the assurance
of unwavering faith, expect, at 10 distant
day, TO see this Government and the people
of the free States redeemed and purified
from the guilt end the crime of slavery.