Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-09-28
Circular from the Chaplin Fund Committee
Believers jim estls Cguist-Lorers of Impartial
Liberty-Htman Men and Homen.to you
ice appeal.
CAzENoyIA, Aug. %, 1850.


WILLIAM L. CHAPLIN, native Of Massa-
chusetts, long resident of the State of
New. York-the accomplished gentleman,
tue ripe scholar, the upright statesman, the
whoie-souled pniIdntlir6Pist, tie si1cere,
practical Christian VIM. l.. Chaplin is in,-
prisoned at the city of Washington, the Capt.
tai of our Republic, charged, a'
FWsf, With having assisted certain enslav-
ed fellow men in their attempt TO escape
from bondage, and
Secondly, With an assault upon those who
arrested him, with an intent TO kill them.
For these alleged offences he is now held
in "duress vile" by the Police of the Dis
trict of Columbia, and also under reauisi-
ton of the Governor of Maryland.
| Now be il known TO all men, that he did
not commit the second offence named above.
AT the time Of his seizure he had no weap-
on of violence about his person, nor does ne
ever wear any; neither did he know that his
companions were armed much less did he
counsel them to make resistance. All this
we know and do affirm. He was ignorant
too of the character of the persons who
seized him. No warrant for his arrest was
announced A band of men, like rufiians,
in the darkness of night came upon him, on
the highway, and the first salutation he re-
ceived was savage yell, and a blow that
feiled him senseless TO the earth. When he
recovered from the shock, he was in the
hands of four stout men, and therefore DOW
erless f ~
The persons who were with MIR. Chaplin
made an effort, lunhappily without success)
TO save themselves from the monsters who
would return them into slavery. Butno one
of either party was seriously Injured, unless
il were the seifsacrificing Chaplin. lie
was severely bruised by the ruffians who
captured him. nlrJt H
The other charge, that he helped men IN
t.e'r attempt 10 escape from slavery, if true,
should fix upon his good name the stigma
OF no crime, unless il be a crime to act in
obedience TO the command of Christ, to fol-
low the example OF the good Samaritan.
Chaplin has the heart of man, quicken
ed by the spirit of the Son of man." He
was III that bad region of our country which
Is infested by the worst of robbers, where
men and women are often found stripped,
NOT SO much OF their raiInent, as of ali the
rights Of human beings; wounded, many of
them in their persons, but all of them in
their feelings, in the tenderest relations of
life; and left with not indeed SO much as
half of what constitutes the true life of men.
lem and Jericho was TO be pited, and his
relief attempted, Notwithstanding the dan
gers OF the place, much more, every Chris
tan must allow, should we attempt lat any
hazards TO ourselyes) the rescue OF a fellow
man. who is subjected to the terrible wrong
OF American slavery.
w, L.. Chaplin, If he has done all that
the charge alleges, has done no more ,han
the good Samarimn would do ; and for this
we honor, we love him. To deliver him
RON confinement, therefore, as soon as possi-
Die, that ne may renew and redoublc his
generous exertions in the cause of snCIar;nc
humanity, we feel ourselves impelled by the
highest sense of duty, and the deepest feel.
,nss OF sympathy with him, and brotherIy
kindness to all men. We call upon ali Who
have any love Of Christian heroism. 10 halo b
US. lhe last man who should be kent in
confinement, or subjected to any Disabilities
IN our country, or in our world, Il the man
who Is ever ready to spend bis time. his
strength, his all, TO break the yoke of ,Ss op9 m
pressor and set the captive free Such Is