Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-02-08
From Harlus R. Robinson.
BRnpA, Jan. is, 1851.

ly. During the first week found that the
holidays, which were being celebrated by balls,
oyster -suppers, and attempts at revivals, pre-
sentcd some obstacles to my success. My first |
meeting was in Mogadorc, in the Methodist
church. Audience large ard apparently inter- !
cstcd. On motion of Preacher Moss, of the |
Disciple church, It was unanimously resolved, |
that we will disobey the fugitive slave law,
also that we will treat with APPROPRIATE re- |
spcct and civility any man among us who will |
accept the Office of Commissioner" Had meet
ings in Wostfcld, Harrisvillc, and Sullivan
AT Troy no mceting-no notice having been
given. found that the man 10 whom had been
directed as the representative abolition, was
absent-that he was a Reverend, and grog
seller. After some bar-room lecturing, amidst
the tobacco and whiskey fumes of his custo-
mers, proceeded to Fitchvillc, Huron Co..
The Methodists were here in a state of revival
trying to bc-which greatly reduced the num-
Der OF my audience; yet was told it was COM
posed principally of the intellect and influence
OF the place. Fitchvillc, like many other pla-
ces in this region. has much of anti ti-slavcry
feeling, though its direction has been exclu-
sively under 'hc old dispensation of Church
and State. / doubt not that some faithful
preaching Of the gospel would induce them to
abandon the ritual of the Old for the life and
spirit of tho New. At ClarkcsReld, although
could hear of no avowcd dsunionists, yet at
the close Of my adrcsss a venerable man, q
minister in the Methodist Church, made a
short address, approving the position had ta-
ken in regard to the Constitution and the Gov
crnmcnt and avowing himself a dissolutionist.
But cannot particularize.
sec everywhere beginning to be felt the in
iuencc of Fillmore, Cass, Clay and Co., to ST.
lcncc discussion and quiet agitation. True, in
most places have visited it may be said there
is no fugitive slave law. The people have re-
pealed it, yet those who have been accustomed
to control the people, by party influences arc
beginning to whisper, sit is law-true it is
wicked-unj just-outrageous-buti it is law, and
must be obeyed until it is repealed" And as
supporters of the government they arc certain
ly consistent. For, TO sustain the Constitution,
and yet rcpudiate the law, reminds ono Of those
who, while they swallowed camcls strained at
gnats. But these counscllors Of submission to
wickcdncss and injusticc-the Fillmorcs, Cass-
cs, Rev. Drs, Professors, and pious Editors of
religious newspapers, arc troubled with no
"straining their throats, which are "open
sepulchres," swallow with equal case gnat and
camcl-law and Constitution. Whether these
4 men will be suscccssful in cultivating the like
facility in others remains to be seen. 1 fear
they will. This nation has evinced an aston
ishing facility for swallowing; as is apparent
from the monstrous and irrational dogmas they
have been accustomed 10 receive without qucs-
ton from the political and religious priesthood.
There arc, however, favorable indications. A
great point is gained by the position politicians
have been compelled to assume. Henry Clay
has given us the true alternative. To be sure
it was faschood and fanaticism when presented
by aboitionists but now that it has received
this important endorsement, may VIC no, hope
it will be transmitted to truth and sobcrncss p
He says, "The question before the nation Ot
would be folly to attempt to blind or disguise
IT'D is, whether agitation against slavery shall
put down the Union, or the Union be prcscrv-
cd and the agitation be put down. There is no
alternative" Very many of the people are
beginning to believe him and have not fail
od to strengthen, according to my ability, their
new faith in this most orthodox opinion
Many of the old anti-slavcry men, who in tho
outset of the enterprise bore their full share oi
the conflict, who were begucd by their attach
mcnt to their churches & deceived by the fiction
that the Constitution was anti-slavery, arc now
doubling and yielding. They feel that after all
the outragcs of the Government for the sup
port of slavcry-aftcr all its diplomacy, legis-
lation and judicial action,-with the Constitu-
tion in existence which has (ostcnsibly at least
authorized it all-with the old law of 93 in ful
force, it would be an excess of modcsty alto
3 for the repeal of the law of last September
: Petitions which are to be as effective as thougl
v they were presented by our Southern brcthrei
J of the plantation. They sec that voting, so fa
Y as legislation is concerned, has been ineifectua
and must continue to be so. That there can b.
c no alteration in the Constitution. as it is impos
y sible to obtain the consent of thirds of tn
n States to any anti, slavery amendments. Il
b short that in their present Union with the slav
II power they arc bound hand and foot and hav
no alternative but dissolution of the compact
a reputation of the compromises, whether re
= cent or remote. Many of them indeed knov
:" not what to do. Attachment to the Union
veneration for the Constitution and the fathers
D. fear of the odium of traitors, and with man
fu the still greater fear of association with come
N cutters and inadels, on the one hand, and tn
a convictions of their judgment and conscienC
I'd on the other greatly bewiider and perplex then
n But there is hope. Time and circumstances wi
ir, emancipate them. If the slave power will b.
he perfect and press their proposition for Unic
is party for the support of the system, they vi