Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-04-26


cripple. do not undcrvaluc tho influence
Of the Living Speaker, but l know right we'll
that unless his efforts arc followed and sustained
by the Press. they will be comparatively spas
modic and frutless and am equally certain
that Abolitonists who suffer an Anti. Slavery
paper like The Bugle to die when it is in their
power to keep it alive, cannot be relied upon to
keep q corps of Agents in the field. Ask any
experienced lecturer, and he will tell you that
unless the Press prepares his way before him
and remains behind to give permancncy to his
influence, he works at great disadvantage
The Anti Slavery paper, moreover, is indispen-
sable as a channel of INSTRUMENTATION be-
tween Aboitionists living a. widely distant
points, and Of securing that intelligent cooper
alton and concert of action, without which the
progress of the cause must be immeasurably
slow. How dificult-nay, almost impossible
1T would be to give adequate public notice of
a lecturing campaign without paper; and
how, without it, could the whole body OF Abo-
litionists DO informed of the progress and sue
cess of such movemcnti All experience
proves that such information widely and prompt.
y diifused is necessary to the liz, of the cause.
But why need urge the Abolitionsts of the
West to do that which am sure they arc al
ready resolved to do' Certainly cannot sup
| pose them so blind to the interests of the cause
as to stand in need of being convinced that the
death of The Bugle would be calamity, which,
if it should be caused by their neglect would
involve them in fearful responsibility. They
know all tins, and knowing it, will take good
care to avoid such a catastrophe. Harmony
reigns in the Society and in the Committee, and
whatever differences of sentiment there may
be on minor points, there is but one opinion ON
this, and that is, that THE PAPER MUST AND SHALL
BE SUSTAINED. Certainly the Executive Com |
mittee will not stop it unless compelled to do so
by the palsying neglect and criminal indifIcr-
oncc of those who by cccting pledged them
selves to stand by them; and that is a contn-
gcncy which do not believe will occur.
Readers and friends J.. 1 take leave of you
with regret. but not in sadness or dcsponden-
cy. l cannot doubt that tho cause in which
some of US have so long labored is making sure
if not rapid progress. Some of its friends
know are discouraged by the developments of
the last two years. They see the spirit of Con-
servatism and Compromise rampant through
the land; they see tho ruthless kidnapper,
armed with tho whole power of the Govern
ment, and with his biped bloodhounds at his
back, ranging over our hills and valleys and in
vading the sanctuary Of our homes, sezing des-
pairing husbands and fathers, or helpless wives
and mothers, tearing theu from their babes and
dragging them back into the hell of Slavery
they behold corrupt party press congratulat-
ing the people that these inhumah and fendsh
deeds are perpetrated without exciting rctrbu-
tive violence and, worse than all, they see the
ministers of Religion justifyinG the wicked for
reward, exalting our blood-ccmented Union
above all that is called God or that is worship
ped, and baptizingin the namc of Christ crimes
(which well might shame EXTREMIST hell
Seeing all this, while no fire comes down from
Heaven to consume the perpetrators, and no
earthquake yawns to swallow them up, they
begin to fear that all is over-that the Country
is doomed-that there is no ray of light, no
gleam of hope for the slave.
Perhaps it is inevitable that persons of a
certain temperament should be thus affected by
the events now passing before them but to
whatever cause their dependency is to be at
tributed, feel none of it. In fact was mover
moro hopeful of the speedy triumph of our
cause than at this very hour, when some of my
friends can SEQ nothing but clouds and dark
ness and arc tempted to give up in despair. 1
should as soon conclude that the sun was ir-
recoycrably lost when it had only descended be-
low the horizon, or hid itself behind a passing
cloud, or that the zephyrs of Spring could never
again fan my checks, nor the music of birds
enchant me, because the blasts of Winter were
bowling around and the earth was covered with
snow, as doubt under present circumstances
that the Anti-Slavery Movement is becoming
+ every day more powerful, and that every blow
struck by its friends hastens the hour of final
} victory. l see in the very events which to some
are SO discouragng grounds for confidence and
hope and catch new inspiration from facts which
appal and paralyzc those of less sanguinc
temperament. With God, and Truth, and
Conscience on our side, why should we de-
spond' The Fugitive Slave Law, with its long
train OF denominations, viii yet do moro to rouse
tho slumbering conscience of tho North than
any other instrumentality which the internal in
gcnuity of the Slave Power could possibly
have devised. IL confirms every fact and
clenches every argument with which the Abo-
h'ionists have SO long been plying the minds of
the people and endeavoring to awaken them to
sense OF their responsibility. In enacting that
law tho advocates and apologists of Slavery
prepared an avalanche which will yet grind
: them to powders and the day when il shall be
g precipi'ated upon their guilty heads is rapidly
: approaching. and viii be accelerated by the q :