Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-11-01
Reasons against NOn-YOling.
ny WILLIAM NICK.


You say you approve Of Land Reform and
think it most desirable to be made the Law of
this land. But you have serious scruples a.
gainst voting.
|. Because you cannot use slavehoiding
Constitution and Laws to effect this any moro
than employ, evil that good may come.
Ans In your doinys, in all your pursuits after
happiness, especially in your business transac-
tons, you arc in tho employment of nothing but
cell instrumcutalitics-yo arc cmphnticnlly the
creature OF this necessity. Let schcmng and
whimsical cupiric' say what they may, VIC
have but tho choice of evils until human per-
fcctibility be achieved. All VIC can do is 10
choose that line of action, which has the least
evil in it. II then you cannot achieve Land
Reform without voting, or il you cannot obtain
it So rcadily-with us little delay, for the longer
tho delay, the greater the suffering you inhict,
or with as little violence in tho shedding of
human blood by any other means, and fully
believe you cannot then You ought to choose
the least Evil and vorR.
.. But you say again. that tAc method of do.
lilI IL DN lnc ADlNC VI HltJpRltltef NiANANbl
compelling the minority to submit it to what
they believe to be wrong, is tyranny towards
them.
Ans. There is no tyranny in the enforcement
of Truth and Rightcousncss-i, i, is only imasi-
merry, not real. And, therefore, although you
may pity the ignorance, you cannot bless, and
must not submit to its authority. Whenever
fal,choods or wrong, however, plausible or su-
CARED over by interested sophistry is reduced to
Law, it is not the minority that suffers, but all
every individual, whether of the majority or
minority.
8. But in this enforcement of Truth, should
you require more than the force of moral sua-
sion, and be compelled to resort to physical
force, would be justified in my political voting
action, for the obtainmcnt of such Truth; Or
| ought not rather to remain passivcly nom
voter, and by neutrality, avoid the sin of physi-
cal force, violence.
/ Ans. This thing cf neutrality is not what it is
supposed to be. The individual and opposing
| interests OF Il comparative and commercial state
of Society, has taught US the false doctrines. A
human being has properly no neutral position
! he is always for or against thng-hc has to do
aud can never have nothing T. do with any
| thing. The action Of Withholding something
/ say our votc-is not doing nothing, is neither
! neutrality, nor passivity in correct philosophy,
/ whatever it may be-, in the logic OF the Schools,
and their musty Grammurs. Wrong To'iHJ-
! part OF which may be (and it certainly was in
this CASEY nom -roliHg gave us the Fugitive Slave
Law, OF which Non-votcrs 80 loudly complain,
and yet 10, want of more restraining force in
Congress, such as Giddings, Hale, Cable, and
the rest who voted nyainst that Bill, was the
wrong inflicted upon The very force that
Non-yo;ers approve, they will not sond-their
,.os dOiig leaves Truth undone, and lets Evil
usurp It's throne. Such Non-voting, therefore,
is equyalcn, TO wrong voting is equally crimi.
nal, lor by not restraining wrong, it gives up
the right. Thus between two thieves hangs
Jesus;
WRoSG -VorING-P -PREEpoM-NoN- NoTING.
LOST.
Again, your supposng that by non-voting,
'ncutrality" you will avoid physical force, vio'
lcnco is great falacy. The only way TO do en-
tirely without physical force, violence in tho
enforcement of Law, is to take all error, from
whence springs the violence, out of Law-ant
establish Truth and Righteousness by securing
the Rights of Man-do this with as little vio'
lence as possible, but do Il, or moro violence vii
follow. The establishment of Truth is Peace
and all beside is War. In the transition state
/ some violence may, Will be necessary, but /
will gradually lesson as the Fruits of Truth ar
felt. Unity. of sentiment harmony of feelings
= and oneness of action will be the fruit of Jus
tice to all while misery, discord, strife, reyo
lutions of violence, bloodshcd and death, ar
the sure attendants of Land Monopoly and elias
), legislation.
l. In the present circumstances then, there
@ no such thing as the chance of doing no wrong
the pratte of the poricctionists to the contrar
Y, Notwithstanding. The best we have is choic
At of evils, and he is the wisest and best man "h
10 selects the least. However certain 1t may
re that human perfectibility is nttainabic the PEI
fection is not yet