Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-09-27

By .4naican Fugitive Siducs in The British
ueiropois.
LoNpoN, August sIh, ls5I.

My DEAR sir; l have now the pleasure
ofredeeming my promise, by forwarding
you full report of the proceedings of one
Of the most interesting aud, in lis anti-slaye-
ry aspect, most important, meetings ever
held in the city of London, which took place
on Friday last, August LIST, at the Hall of
Commerce, Thrcadneedle-st
The time, place and circumstance of the
meeting are deserving ofspccial notice. 1t is
one of the most important demonstrations ey-
er made by British citizens against American
colorphoba. The thousds of Transatlantic vi-
sitors to the Great Exhibition have caused
London TO be fuller OF representatives of the
American Slave Power than at any previous
period. Among the deficiencies of Ameri-
can character, inquisitiycness cannot bc num-
bered. No men have gone about with their
eyes wider open than these same visitors
from the United States. They have availed
themselves of every public meeting and all
opportunities of witnessing expressions Of
British feeling. The meeting on the first of
August was not only remarkable event,
calculated above all others TO catch the
American eye, but il was thing not done in
corner. The Hall of Commerce is the
largest available room in the city of London,
within stones throw of the Bank of Eng
land, the Exchange, aud other public build
ings-the terminus for omnlbuscs from all
parts of the Metropolis-intbe very centre OF
its trade and commerce. The meeting was
most extensively advertised in the leading
newspapers, aud the walls of the metropolis,
from end TO end were placardcd with The
announcement. The invitation to tue meet
ing was not couched IN the restrictive terms
adopted by sonie societies, the friends aud
,,Is = ala
as well as the hall, was open to all c0niers.
Most prominent in the notification. was the
extraordinary and unparalleled circumstance
that the chiar would be taken 10y a fugitive
slave. Ii was publicly announced that the
'peculinr institution of the United States
would he openly tnpenched; aud yet, al
though American citizens in shoals were
walking the streets of London during the
day, not lialfn dozen, with the exception Of
the fugitive slaves, were present nj the meet
ing, aud those who were present were gen
tlcmen favorable 10 its object. One of Two
nicrencos must inevitably be drawn from
their absence; either American citizens, not
withstandng their skill in howie-kniic aud
revolver, are naturally towards, or they felt
themselves placed in circumstances where
they would be
but naked, though locked up in stccl'
Their past history proves that Americans are
not naturally towards, aud we are driven to
the other alternative-thnt the cowardico
they displayed on this occasion was the cow
ardice OF conscience. Their avoidance Of
the challenge arose not from nny general
lack of moral courage, hut from conscious
ness that the manifest injustice of slavery, IN
the eyes of all men, IN II free country, rem
dered them utterly powerless in its defence.
They must have felt how despicable their
slavery, and how coniemptiblc their preju-
dice of color, had rendered them in the sight
of all men for Notwithstanding the immense
disadvantages under which the fugitive slaves
labored, if the American statement was true,
from natural inieriority of mental powers,
superadded to the nndoubied disadvantage
of defective education, the chivalIy of the
South as Lord Carlisle ludicrously terms it,
conioined with the vaunted almigminess OF
the Norlh dared not enter into discussion
upon subject to the defence of which has
been brought TO bear all the argument and
learning of the most profound statesmen,
philosophers aud doctors of divinity Of the
United States. The pusillanimily OF Ameri-
cans upon British soil has thus been brought
out in marked contrast with the courage OF
Mr.. George Thompson upon American soil.
Beginning at tho city of Boston, he denounc-
cd in unmeasured terms, for eight months,
the national sin of the United States, in every
part OF the Northern States, us well as M Gu
nada. He declared himself rendy to meet
any and every advocate and apologlsl for
slavery. In the metropolis OF his own coun-
try, he again meets them, and from the heart
OF the city of London, before the worlds
congregated representatives. he uitcrs the
same scathing denunciatons against their
peculiar institution. His accusations were
conveyed the next morning, drought the
medium of the daily press, not merely TO all
parts OF the metropolis, but to every portion
of the kingdom. II was hardly possible for
an American 10 take up paper from his
breakfast table, or in any public room in the
country, without his eye resting upon the
burning words Of George Thompson in con-