Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-10-05
The DiabOllsm Of slavery.

which he IS welded, you viii find them
written la uninistnknblc characters in the
internal Law for the Recap,ure Of Fugitiyes.
Just turn to that law, or to the synopsis Of il
both which will be found in this paper
and then say whether il would be possible
for any assembly of devils in Paudemoniuln
co ouido the American Congress, or wheth-
er the urch Fiend himself ever gave bis as
sent TO statute more thoroughly diabolcal
than that to which President Fillmore has Of,
fixed his official signature. In describing
shat law the most terrible epiihets to lie
found in the English language seem to US
tnme and Inadequate. Tue guilt of those
who have framed il, ut this meridian of the
Niuc,ocnth Century, in this oge of light and
knowledge, is measureless and unfathoma-
Bile. So far as any human statute can do it,
IL makes the whole body of the Northern
people pack of blood-hounds to pursue the
POOR fugitives from bondage more terrible
than any this side Of the gates Of perdtion,
and hurl them again into the abyss of dark
ness and woe from which they sought to es-
cape. Il arms the inhuman sluveholdef
with power more terrible than that wield-
ded by the butcher Hoynau in his incursions
among the rebellious Hungarians. II over
rides all the ordinary safeguards of human
freedom, and places the rights of the legally
free as we'll as those Of the slaves at dread
fil hazard.
And YET this law, bad as il is, is nothing
more than an embodiment of SLAVERY in
statutory form. 1t is but the necessary appen-
dage Of the Constitution which links the
non-slayeholding with the slavehoIdiDg
States 1t requires of the North no more
than she is bound in good faith to perform,
as long as she consents to stand in political
fellowship with mensieulers. II the slave
holders are worthy to be received into fei-
lowship at all, then there is no reason in the
world why those who hold such relation
to them should refuse to help them recover
their lost properly. The only honest way of
escape from this obligation lies through an
open repudiation Of the Constitution and of
every other form of union with men guilty
Of such crime. To admit them into gov
,rpmensoi rcsasions on sSaat t1nBis
piled endorsement of their villany, and that
independently of any special clause Of The
Constitution. While she consents to hold
such relations 10 them, the North has no
right to complain of any burdens which they
may lay upon her shoulders. II the loud is
heavier than she bear, let her proclaim a
dissolution of copartnership and set up
government for herself llf'l s.il
This law, it will be remembered, is one of
q series of measures which, according to the
prophetic announcement Of our political
seers, was to silence the anti-s!avery agita-
ton and reetore the country 10 peace and
uuietudel Poor dcluded fools! If il had
been their deliberate purpose to increase that
agitation teu-fold, they could have concocied
nothing hnlf as effectuol for that purpose as
this very bill. Already we hear the deep
mutterfngs of that omnipotent PublicOpinion
which, in large portions at least Of the Free
States, will render the law nullity. Yes,
thank God! tho seed planted by Abolition
lets during the last twenty years has not oil
fallen upon barren and stony soil. Some Of
II is even now beginning to bear fruit In
mnny places il will be as impossible to exc
cute this internal law as il would he TO pluck
an angel ont Of heaven! Constitutions and
laws, commissioners and marshals, will be
alike poweress before thnt rectifed Public
Sentiment which regards Slavery as in all
circumstances a crime of the deepest dye.
At whatever peril TO life or property, there
ere thousands Of brave men and women who
will shelter the fngitive--aye, and if need be-
rescue him from the hands of the kidnap,
per.
We have given on the First Page some
extracts from our exchanges which will serve
20 indicate which way the current Of Public
Opinion is setting in regard TO this outra
geous law. We have not room, however, tc
publish tithe of the dcnunciaiions which
tho various presses of the land are sending
forth. The Asbtabula Sentinel says
Never have we heard our people talk O
gesisting the laws, of secession, and pIssoLu
rTos, uutil the present week. In severa
pubiic meetings we learn that efforts wer
made 10 pledge those present TO open resist
ance to the Fugitive law by force Of arms
Leasiing men have opposed such public mar
ifestafions until there should be more tim
for reflection aud cool deliberation. But III
Indications have satisfied us that the arre
ofa fugitive slave, in almost any part of oil
county, would be attended with bloodshe
This attempt on the part ofCongress TO lei
isIafe for oppression, TO place the governmel
IN hostile attitude TO freedom, TO Use
power TO rob portion Of Our fellow men
their Cod-giyen rights, has awakened a aspiI
of resistance never before witnessed in III
region. Indeed, we think that people WI
would timely submit to such law, must