Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-10-25
Letter from hiicajah T. Johnson.

FRIEND MARius In The Bugle Of the
thirteenth Of last month, read an article
from the Anti-Slavery Standard, from the
pen of Edmund Quincy, Il suppose) attempt
ing to give the reasons why members of the
American Anii-Slnvery Society did not vote /;
the reading of which caused some reflections
which feel inclined to pen down.
In the first place, it appears that the aboi-
ton of Slavery, is not the primary object of
the writer in refusing TO vote but to be an
honest man. Certainly nothing can be more
commenduble than honesty. 1t seems that
man has gone to the end Of his string
when he Gun truly wear the name. 1t must
be remembered that men are equally honest
when they live1p strictly TO their convic-
tions of duty; aud all men have a right to
decide for themselves what constitutes duty.
Now were il not that circumstances alter
cases, and mems opinions of duty often
change intercourse and argument would he
perfectly useless. But in as much as chan
ges are produced in mems minds by circum-
stances; agitation, argument, and appeals
to the different faculties are made to bring
about the abolition of Slavery. All admit
that this can never take place without n
change in the public mind. Men must be-
come willing from some cause or other, to
change their habits before il will be DONE
There is no dispute between friend Quincy
and myself, in regard to the importance of
attending strictly TO the dictates of duty.
And while we keep its importance always
in view, let us not throw n shade of suspi-
cion Oh our own movements, by impeaching
the motives ofothers. IT is conceded on all
hands that all increase of benevolence, hu-
manlty, aud justice, are necessary to abolish
slavery, and these faculties alone should be
appealed to, in order to strengthen their
powers, and increase their growth. If the
passions are brought into action, by an mp
peal TO them,-they grow and strengthen at
the expense of the morals; and could slave
ry be abolished by long continued appeal
to arms, the cause Of humanity would gain
nothing. Cruelty would form so conspi-
cious part of the human mind, that oppres-
SION in some shape would prevail, just in
proportion to the absence ofbenevoence and
humanity, and these sublime faculties would
necessarily be down to Zero.
Consistency is quality that few men pos
sess. If men refuse 10 support one Govern
ment on account of supposed evils therein
| and at the SAME time advocate the doctrine,
that majority in country, should rule
they are grossly inconsistant, and he that
would violently resist law that he tried by
his vote to defeat, is childish to greatest ex-
treme. II is hard to reconcile the judgment
of a man with common sense, who will la
Dor TO establish rule for the government ol
his neighbors, according to his own taste
and when defeated, refuse to obey such as
they establish for him according to their no.
tons of propriety.
II seems that none but Non-resistants are
justified in refusing TO support the present
governmental that believe it right to main
tain government by arms, should support
the present one, until majority is opposed
to it, aud then resistance will be useless as
the government will always conform to the
will of the people. Still duty should always
be attended to, but it is strange that duty
should ever conflict with consistency.
Thy friend in the cause of Truth,
MICAJAH L. JOHNSON.