Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-02-08
THE ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE.
Modern lniideliiy'

The reader win find, under this head, on the
First Page, an article of remarkably truthful
and suggestive character, copied from the organ
ofthe Free (Anti-Slavcry) Presbyterian Church,
body composed of men who, to clear their
skirts of the blood Of the oppressed, have been
constrained to come cut from the old Prcsbytc-
rian organizations Of the country. though agree
ing with them in their theological views, and to
add another to the numerous scots into which
the Protestant world is divided. 1t is rare that
We find an Orthodox clergyman speaking so
plainly and fcarcssly of the terrible guilt of the
Church in lending her support to popular ini-
unity. and at the same time so sandidly and fair
lv of those rcformcrs whose religious views no
conscientiously regards as unsound and perhaps
dangerous. There is nothing more beautiful in
our ewes than that enlarged, magnanimous and
enlightened charity, which lifts the soul Of
man above the narrowness and bigotry Of par
tizan or scctarian warfare, and makes him will
ling to recognize and do homage to the Chris
tim Spirit, under whatever forms, or in the
midst of whatever incidental errors, 1t may be
manifested, The Editor Of the Free Prcsbytc-
rian is not less ardcntly devoted to the opinions
usually known as Orthodox than he was while
a member of the old Church probably not ono
of his old associates regrets more deeply than
ho docs the wide departure of so many Reform
ers from the faith in which thoy were educated
and vet, when speaking of those Rcformers, he
has the courage to do justice to their motives
he scorns the language Of detraetion and false
hood-hc meets the issues between them and
himself in manly and generous spirit. For
this We thank him from the bottom of our
hearts, and VIC say unhcsitatingly that such
nan will do moro to commend Orthodoxy to
the respect of intelligent and earnest minds
than whole regiment of ordinary preachers
whose voices 60 to swell the popular clamor
against Reformers, while they arc never heard
in dcnunciation Of popular iniquity.
The official relation of The BUgie to the Anti
Slavery Cause precludcs the formal discussion
in its columns of theological questions, though
it is impossible to avoid frequent illusions to
such topics, connected as they necessarily must
be, to a certain extent, with movement which
derives its vital force from tho Religious Ele-
ment in mans nature and makes its appeal so
directly to tho conscience and the heart. Abo-
litionists of the school to which VIC belong have
their religious views, but however anxious they
may be to defend and promulgatc them, they
cannot do so upon the Anti-Slavery platform
nor in papers owned by Anti Slavery Societies.
This consideration alone prevents us from offer
ing remarks, suggested by the article from tho
Free Presbyterian, on the question of Plonary
Inspiration. We can only say, that upon that
and all other subjects pertaining to theology.
We shall always be glad to listen to the opinions
and counsels of men who address us in the spjr
it which pcrvadcs that article. There is not in
the land a body of peoplcin whom the Religious
Element is moro active than il is among those
who are invidiously called 'Comcoutcrs,' and
whom the popular Church donounccs as inf
dcls. Their creed may be very crroneous--oi
that we say nothing-but unless the Apostle
James made prodigious mistake in his dcscrip-
ton of true religion, they are among the small
number who may lay claim to the Christian
name.
1t is not the business Of Aboitionists, as such,
to determine the true Interpretation of the BIZ
bic, or settle the question of its infallibe inpi
ration. 1t is due to truth to say, however, that
on this subject they greatly divided in opin-
7 ion; but in acting together for the redemption
of the slave they do not make themselves re-
{ sponsibc for each others views upon this OIL
: any other foreign question. Planting them
Q selves upon "TuE INNATE EENsE OF RIGHT
@ which," in the language of the Free Pres6ytc.
rian, " God has implanted in srery mans So,a,
they affirm the snfulncss of Slavery and the
duty of Emancipation, leaving every man to dc
terminc for himself how far the Bible comedies
with the revelation thus written in the heart
This it seems to us is alike the dictate of com
mon sense and the philosophy of Reform. If
> belief in the infallible inspiration of the Bib.
: were sufficient to make men the enemies o
slavery, there would be little need of Anti Sla
very Societies, for nearly the whole Protestan
world would in that case be abolitionists. Il
: no part of the country does the Church elm
. more tenaciously to the popular doctrine of in
spration than in the South, and yet see no,
she is stepped in the blood of the slave VIII
=. then should Abolitionists turn aside from thei
o. appropriate work to discuss that complcatc
M subject 1t is enough for them to say, as tn
c. Editor of the Free Presbyterian he's said, that
n. the book sanctions slavery, then 1t is not froI
Above but from Beneath; and having done th
to leave the question to those whose peculil
H. provinceit is to discuss and settle it.
to
m. LEeIsLArURE.-1he resolutions on III
he subject of the Fugitive law have produce
a good deal of exoiiementin both Houses
70 Gen. Randall made on able speech in opp,
.. sition to the law in the Senate, and Howal
:. : of Clermont and Bull Of Ashland spoke q