Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1850-01-19
Select MS.
mR. FURNEss's ADDRESS.

Members and Friends Of The Pennsy'Udnia
.4,sti-!Siarery Society, during The ANNUAL
FAIR, Dec. 10, lS49. by w. II. FURNEss.
The history of Abolitonism is full Of en-
enlargement. From the time whcn--about
quarter of a century ago--all that could be
discovered Off was a white nun nnd black
boy laboriug in the Office of the Liberator,
up TO this present moment, the course of this
great doctrine of Humanity has been most
animating illustration of progress and of VIC
tory. As we look back upon il, man, indi-
vidual men, the men and women who have
been its ministers aud instruments, disnp-
pear; and we seem to be observing a great
process of Nature-the goings OF the Al
mighty.
So manifest is il that in this movement nn
eternal law of Nature has been at work, en-
tering into the hearts of men, subdung their
reluctance to receive il, awakening and en-
listing all their energies, and coming forth TO
demand recognition and obedience, that noth-
ing could well seem more childish than the
GalIlt which is found with those who have I'M
dertaken the maintenance of this law. Il Is
very common for grave statesmen aud digni-
fed persons to express, in terms more or
less strong, their regret, and their disappro-
val of the ignorance and folly and fnnatcism
of violence, and know not whaf, of those
who have been known MS Abolitionists; all
which regret and disapproval are becoming
ms ridiculous as the mop with which Mrs.
Partington undertook TO sweep back the At
Inptic ocean. am not disposed TO admit
TINT the friends of Freedom have been par
ticularly ignorant or foolish or fanatcal or
violent. have never heard Of their she'd
ding any blood, or even OF their threatening
o,,1 tIt,e iu mora Than rnu ha an i'll
of some OF their opponents, who stand, too,
among the highest IN the land. But even it
,bey were foolish and violent, doubt wheth-
er any folly OF theirs has exceeded the folly OF
those who object 10 the imperiectOns Of men
mud overlook the mighty work of God. l
find il hard 10 understand how any thought
fll. intelligent man can full TO see that this
cause of the Abolition of American Slavery
involves as its central life the first great prin-
ciple of our social order, the radical truth OF
the Religion of Christendom, the eternal law
ofJustice and Humanity. Ifthe solid eartl
on which we stand, ii the great heaven over
our heads, he fact, then is human freedom
n fact also, which must he realized; and
whatever may be the defects of the indlvid-
uale who study and labor for the liberation
of man, see in the thing itself, natural
growth, Which must come, a product OF ma
ture, a work of God, like the light and the
oir II is no creation of mans fancy, 10 Gu
price of mans self will, no device or hobby
IF man. IL has It's existence in the nature o
things. And it must needs assert its exist
ence (; and we might us well resent the suns
rising as the growth and dissemination o
those principles for the saSe of which you
INV friends. are associated. say, therefore
that AboIitionism, with whatever impertec
t;ons and infirmities it may be connected, j
the embodiment and expression of a highe
will than mans. 1t lies not in your will tina
you are Abolitionisis. You must needs b
40: you cannot help it. You have not che
.en ibis truth, hut this truth has chosen yot
and ordained you that ye should 60 and brin
forth such fruits as We huve produced and ar
producing.