Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-02-15

organizer. In due time, the cause grows and
advances TO its sure triumph and in propor-
ton as it nears the goal, the popular esti-
| mate of his character changes, till finally eX-
ccsive panegyric is substituted for outrage
Gus abuse. The praise on the one hand, and
the defamation on the other, arc equally un-
merited In the clear light of Reason, 1t
will he seen that he simply stood up to dis
charge a duty which he owed to his God, TO
his fllow-nIen, TO the land OF his nativity
that is ALL and if he had been recrcnht 10
that duty-if he had shrnuk from bearing n,s n,s
testimony against the iniquity revealed 10 h's
yision-it would only have proved now great
was his criminnlity. But IN merely dischhrg-
iny his duty. he only performed that which
every man is bound to do; and for the per-
fortnnnce of which, he is entitled to no praise.
If were to look back minutely over the
twenty years which have trauspired since the
first number of the Liberator was issued,
and call IN the "reminiscences which are
crowded upon my memory, could detain
YOU here all night But propose to do no
such thing. In the rise and progress OF the
anti-slayery movement, see how God iultlls
his promses-how true he is TO his word
aud behold another exempiiication of the
apostolic declaration, that the weak things OF
the world are taken by him to coniound
tue things which are mighty
If any one wants TO he encouraged and
strengthened in devotng himself to right
eous cause, however unpopular or perilous 1t
may he, or however lOrminable may be the
difficulties that lie in his pnth, do humbly
tlink that, in the history of this struggle,
aud my connection with it, he may find
much TO cheer and support him.
Mr.. G.. proceeded to speak of the circum-
stances which first called his attention to the
subject of Slavery, and led him to eonsocratc
his life to the work of Emancipation. lie dwelt
with much feeling upon his connection with
b. Lundy, and spoke in the highest terms Of his
noble and sclf-sacrifcing labors. "My indebt-
odncss to him." said he, ain causing me to
stand forth as an advocate of the slave is be-
yond computation" He next alluded to the
great principle of Immediate Emancipation as
the sheet anchor of the cause, and TO the strug-
gle with the Atheistic impostcr, Colonization.
Hc proceeds =
Convinced that slavery could be peaceably
abolished only by radical change in public
opinion in relation to its euornity, and that
| tiiC uOiui anu ttbEipNS PO"Ni " Wv NN'''
try was TO be found, ii any where, in our
own New England. | came TO Boston in
the autumn of 1890, determined TO invoke
tha, power through the medium of new
un,islaveiy periodical. At my request, a
| few gentlemen came together 10 consult on
the subject hut when they understood what
| were TO be the doctrines inculcated IN the pa
| per, they declined giving me their countcn-
| mace.
What was to be done? / had not the
means TO get even the first number printed.
Happily had friend, Isaac Knapp,) who
was a practical printer MS well ms myself, and
with whom entered into partnership; and
| the way we conlrived TO issue the first three
or four numbers was by working as journey
men in a printing establishment, aud paying
for the same in manual labor. i remember
that when we were AT Our wits cnd to dis
cover how we could obtain ream or two OF
paper OH which TO print our first number,
went to the post office, and there found,
most unexpectedly, Il letter, in which was en-
closed fifty dollar bill applause; 1t was
from a colored man, too, (cheers, IRON
james Forten, the distinguished sail-lnaker
of Philadelphia. (Rencwed cheers.) II was
the payment i'll advance for twenty-five sub
scribers obtained by him for the Liberator.-
We were thus enabled to print specimen
number; and seriously question whether
there ever would have been Liberator
printed, had il not been for that timely re-
miltance-at least, | see not now how ii
could have been done. On such slight in
cidents are often the greatest movements de-
pending!
1t is impossible, Mr.. President, TO do just
ice, OH this occasion, TO the few noble men
and women who, during the first year or two
of trial aud persecution, gave me their CO.
operation. The Liberator was commenced
without any subscribers. | will not detail
how il had 10 struggle 10 preserve its exist
ence from one month, often from ono week
10 another-at times, every ray of light he
ing excluded by the impending darkness
But the cloud was again and again lifted ant
removed us 10y miraculous hand, and th'
needed relief afforded often in II manner trn
ly surprising. Suffice it to say, through tn
help of Him TO whose cause il has been con
secrated from its inception, the banner OF TN
LIBERAToR is still flying in the breeze
Cheers.
This, ladies and gentlemen, was the siz
of the Liberator originally (holding up
bound volume abour twenty inches by siX
teen)-not very formidable sheet as TO size
certainly-Hbout as large as pane OF glas
Ia Uoice-7 by 0)-yes, by y, more or les'
and yet what commotion il created when
was sent ont OH its mission of freedom
Standing comparatively alone as | did a
that period,and knowing how internal was tn
spirit of slavery, will here say that, durin
the first two or three years in particular,
daily expected TO fall a martyr to this sacre,
cause especially after the reward of fiv'
thousand dollars was offered for my abduc
ton by the State of Georgia. Looking O
, the perils through which have run, It is in
| deed marvel to me that am now living
! But enough in regard to the insults and dan
gers of the past.
If the Libcrator has wrought any chang
in public sentiment, in favor of those VIII
are meted out and trodden under foot, it ha
! been solely through the power of truth. N
! person shall deceive me with the idea, that
. deserve any thing. Oh, if can only sa