Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-12-13
The commonwealth.

INC commonwealth,
The Boston Commonwealth, which so far
as any body knows has been editing itself for
the last month or two and has done it very
crediiably,-comes out with new editors and
new purposes as papcr-ELIzUR WRIonT
is again at the helm with CHARLES LIST rs
assistant. 1t is now an indepent paper-no
longer the organ of the Freesoil Party. Bat
nlonc the exponent of lhe views Of its Edi-
tors.
The Editor proposes to insert fewer adver-
lisements and depend more upon an cNteu-
ded circulation for support. He proposes TO
give the paper n more general aud miscela-
neous character to discuss all political and
moral questions, without reference TO any
political party.
On the Higher law question the Editors
introductory contains the following chnrac-
leristic remarks:
Wien the government. or the majority,
transcend their right, 10y inlerdicling to the
individual what is not criminal, mean, in
NY W lItul ltltIl WIN ull lllt loI-
bearance aud respect which the case admits.
Possibly such laws should be regarded us
laws willie they are not repealed. But when
the supreme Legislature enucts q palpnble
selEevdent crime, aud the supreme judi
ciary pronounces it constitutional, then say
that their law iO criminal, and they are criIni-
nails. Constitutional, iorsooth! deny that
the constitution sanctions or can sanction Il
crime. | repel so foul libel from its franz
ers. II TO call them too honest aud honora-
bic to do such thing, is to be traitor, then
am one theoretically, and God help me, il
need be, 10 commit some practical Christian
outrage TO deserve the hemp!
STILL though | mold this rather decided
opinion about the Fugitive Slave Law of
1851, MS enacting the meanest and most cru
el of all the crimes that ever disgrnced hu-
man history, us a blasphemous attempt 10
legislute God out of the universe on the i'm
prudent plea that George Washington and
his associates did so fully believe that it
will he over ruled for good--that il will react
against the great national crime of slavery,
and hasten its extinction iastcr than all the
abolition societies in the country, Hence !
can whit with the most Christian resignation
for its peaceful and constitutional repeal
diencc toward il is not perfectly constitution
al. Slavery aud all sorts of despotisns are
unqucstionably made TO minister TO the pro-
grcss of the race, but this is 10 reason for
not substituting better minislralions i'll the
shortest possible order, while it is Il reason
for patience and hope.
From the following paragraph one would
almost suppose that Elizur had become Il
convert to ultra calvinism or Turkish philoso-
ply, he seems certainly submissive TO the
D" Lords way and time" lie proposes very
comfortable way Of abolishing slavery, viz:
keeping whiting patiently and actively
and trusting to phenotopy-fax cotton and
cheap pnewspnpcrs.'-- .'--Thcse nslrumentolitles'
except the waiting and keeping cool, are ra-
ther new ones. These last have been as
vigorously used as the nature of the case
would admit for the last tlIrec-quarters of II
century, with what success the present state
of the " institution" can best tell. The cheap
newspapers of enormous circulation" have
heretofore been on the wrong side. We
wish Mr.. Wright may succeed in making
the Commonwealth an exception.
Slavery he thinks, is as sure TO melt away
before the thinking, printing, and marvellous
locomoton of these days, ms wax is TO melt
in furnace, though it by 10 means improves
the odor Of our republican ointment, is no
bar TO our exercise Of patriotism or charity,
and scarcely neck OH the blue sky of our
nalional hopes. Let us addict ourselves 10
free schools, phonotypy, ,AaX-cotton and cheap
newspapers of enormous circulntion-kecr
cool, laugh at despolsm and wnit patiently
and actively the Lords time. Perhaps We
may be rich enough by that time to make the
South present equal TO the value of tho
slaves. That might not be so much out o
the way, considering what agency we have
had in manufacturing the curse, and keeping
il in repair, but don't say it should be given
altogether TO the masters"