Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-08-16
NO. 40.
Letter from Mrs. Gage,
MouNr Amy. August 3. Is

FRIEND RoBINsoN was much amused, n
few days since, by tho relation of an anecdote,
intended to cast opprobrium upon the Anti
Slavery men Of Ohio. The story ran thus
A slave owner in Virginia wished to liberatc
some fifty slaves. But he would not do it in
Virginia because the laws of the state forbade
It. The people of Ohio would not allow them
to como over the Ohio River and settle them
selves omong us and do the best they could.
Tho open and free to all foreigners, however
ignorant, poor or degradcd-it is no land of re-
fuge to tho freed slave.
In this dilemma brother suggested, that he
should get them on board of boat hand.cufF-
cd and ready for market and give out word that
he was going to sell them to southern planters
take them down the river, land ut Cincinnati
and tho Abolitonists would rise en- massc-stcal
them all, pass them over Ohio into Canada and
relieve him Of all his trouble.
No doubt that such would be the result of
such an adventure if the game was we'll played
and at first glance, it seems truly ridiculous.
But if closely examined every phase and fca-
tnrc of the joke is full of significance The
man Of Virginia has grown weary of his trafc
in human flesh. He wishes to do a good deed,
to break the chain Of oppression and set the
captive free.
But the man is better than the law of the
land. Mans law, which is higher in these
days than the law of Goodwill not allow him
to do an act Of justice and mercy. lie turns to
the Abolitionists of Ohio and asks will you
who are SO much interested for the slave, take
these fifty men and women off my hands.
'No replies the Anti Slavery man, cannot
have no means of supporting them, my neigh
bors and friends would not permit me to bring
them into their midst, to support themselves
We all earn our own living in Ohio. These nc
groes have earned yours. They have been as
your cattle aud horses to do your work. YOU
have taught them nothing that men should
know, your whole system has been to degrade
and dchasc them. We would be glad to sec
them free. But we dare not run tho risk of
placing ,hcm among us with all the bad habits
that you have given them, our state too is but
little better than your own. If we take your
blacks among u.s. mon will insult and degrade
them, our state will tax them If they have pro.
pcrty. BUTT will not let them vote our com
mon schools will shut out their children. They
will not be permitted to sit at the same table |
with white men ride in the stagc-coachcs and
in the cars; even money honestly earnol will |
not buy them, the common passing respect of
men; therefore VIC cannot, however much VIC
might feel inclined to, set them at liberty on our
own responsibility. For we cannot secure to
them even among our ncighbors freedom from
y
they have supported you, you should take care
of them.
But let the Abolitionist know that these
poor creatures arc to be taken from the land of |
their birth into worse slavery. That all the
holy tics of life arc to be torn assundcr. Par
ents ard children, husbands and wives, brothers
and sisters are to be put upon The auction block |
and bid off like cattle in the market, and his !
conscience will not let him stand still. My |
word for it he will steal them if he can every |
man, woman and child, and with the help of his |
friends pass them over this free state to good |
Queen Vic's dominions where man even with
tho tingo of Africa upon his brow may live |
unmolested. This aHccdote as l said before is .
full of significance. Full of dark truths that
should mako the teller blush with shame for his
blindness Of mind and hardness of heart.
Tho stakeholder is better than the law Of the
land in which he lives, he is moro humane more
generous. His heart has gone beyond the Pc
cuiar institution in love and duty.
The Ohio Abolitionist Anti-Slavery man
is also in advance of the law Of his land, and |
his pro slavery neghbors. He will not see
man struggling for liberty and not give him
helping hand. Neither will he return the fugi-
tive to his master, nor give his aid at the ballot
box, to help men who arc giving ;hcir aids TO
Southern oppression. But still he would not
nay, he could not take upon himself to plant
colony of de5ased and degraded men, in
community where mob law might, Gt
has done it in like cases,) destroy the homes
and even the lives of the helpless victims of
American FREQ Institutions.
Yours, FRANCIS ID. GAGE.