Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-09-14
Another Meeting at Lilshficld.

come a map, dclincating the anti-slavery en-
terprise by showing report of every anti-sla-
very meeting within the limits of its circula-
ton and as we have had on important meeting
since the anniversary Of our Society, l am in
duced to communicate TO you an account OF it.
As many of our friends from adjoining towns
and in our own vicinity were disappointed in
not hearing Mrs. Foster the Sabbath on which
our anniversary was held, she consented to
speak in the Free Church on Wednesday eve
ming, August 2lst. will not attempt to give
you full report Of her speech, but as some
sayings she uttered should think be repeated
over and over again, that the minds of our Free
Soil friends may be stirred up by way of re-
membrance, will refer TO some Of them.
Mrs. Foster glanced at the ecclesiastical and
governmental sustainers of American Slavery,
but she wished more particularly to show the
position of the Frcesoil Party-taling Joshua
II. Giddings, who is an authentic expounder OF
Frecsoil principles and one of their best men,
for whom she entertained a high personal es-
tcem for illustration. She said the time was
when it was necessary for the rumsellcr to OBJ
tain certificate of good moral character before
a license could be granted him to sell liquor
But the progress of the cause showed, that the
more respectable the man, the moro deleterious
the influence he exorts in favor of the wrong
he endorscs-henco our regret at the present
position of Mr.. Giddings. She called our at
tention to tho fact, that Mr. Giddings on the
floor of Congress, Feb. 18th, lSl0, in behalf of
himself and his constituents said, referring to the
decision in the case of Prigg: "These slave
holding Judges do not prctchd that this govern
ment or the people of the Free States are
bound to sustain or encourage Slavery. On the
contrary they solcmnly declare that our whole
duty is to abstain from sccreting, defending, or
rcscuing the Slave. These obligations ice o6serre
to the rery letter." In demonstration of the di-
abolism of this position, She. supposed slave
girl OF Henry Clay's should escape from the
plantation, find her way to the residence of J.
Il. Giddings, whose professions Of anti-slavcry
she might have heard, and ask for protection.
Instantly Henry Clay appeared in hot pursuit
of his victim. j. r. Giddings is standing in
his door prepared to test his principles Of fidel-
ity to the Slave and the Constitution. The
poor painting girl rushcs toward him expecting
tn meet a friend and find protection. But Mr..
Giddings, with II stern, forbidding glance of
his eye, says to him, Fidelity to the Constitu-
ton forbids my secreiin2, defending, or rsscuing
the Slave. Then, turning to Mr.. Clay, he
says: "Ihese obligations ,ec observe to the rery
letter and, throwing his arm across his door,
thrusts the terrified, despairing girl back into
the clutches of her infuriatod master. Where,
she asked, was his pledge before high Heaven of
fidelity to the Slave now, OF what account
was his burning cloquencc in favor of Liberty
and Justice nowi And what was the inAu-
cnce of that Christianity upon the nations that
sit in darkness round about him nowi
Mrs. Foster, some time since, in conversa-
ton with Mr.. Giddings, asked him if his
daughter were stolen and reduced to the con-
dition of Southern Slave, he would sit in
Congress with shareholders and call them hon
orable gentlemen Mr.. Giddings replied, that
to ask the question was to answer il; thus
evincing that he understands well his present
position. Mrs. Foster then proceeded to ex-
anime the relative position of Daniel Webster
and j. Il. Giddings to tho anti-slavcry cause,
and critical investigation failed to reveal any
considerable advantage in behalf of Mr.. Gid
dings In fact it was thought that diagnosis
of his position by some venerable d. ID. would
place him about on an equal footing with Mr..
Webster.
Her speech throughout was remarkable for
&c 1Iuafrot;n,, al
persuasive cloqucncc, and was well appreciated
by large, attentive, and intelligent audience.
Yours for the oppressed,
JOSEPHINE S. GRIFFING.
p. S.-J. permits me to add postscript to
her letter, to say, that our late anniversary in
this place was attended by many persons having
no connexion or sympathy with us, among
whom was seen boy selling Cronk's beer"
a Clergyman exhibiting professional dignity,
and apcdlar selling Infdcl books and although
We were in no sense responsible for tho quality |
of beer sold or the orthodoxy of the boy sell |
ling it, the gentlemanly department of the Cler-
gyman or the valuo of his stated preaching, the
character of the pcdar or the sentiments con-
tanned in his books, yet the church hero arc in
an ecstocy of horrihcation, and from the circum-
stance that some one did then and there offer In
idel books for sale, reason that are an Infidel
association and if they do not soon discover the
fallacy oftheir reasoning, the law of progression
with which they are afflicted will doubtless
lead them next to set us all down as sleek and
well dressed Presbyterian Clergymcn - next
manufacturers and venders of " Cronk's beer "
on Sunday, and next perhaps altogether such
as themselves. From such consummation |
may the good Lord deliver us !
c. S. S. G.
Litchfeld, Sept 3d. 1850.