Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-03-15
Close Of The XYNIst Congress.


tutional Limitation on Tuesday, March 4, at
noon. We believe that more corrupt body
never assembled within the walls OF the Ma
tionol Capitol. Its course from first TO lost
has been marked by treachery to the cause
Of Freedom and the basest serviIity to the
National Idol, SLAVERY. During the strig-
gle Of 1913, the Northern people were told
that no danger of the extension of slavery
could nrise from the election of Gen. Taylor,
because all power over that question rested
with Congress, and Mr.. Fillmore, being a
Northern man, would cast his influence on
the right side. What if Gen. Taylor ia a
stakeholder ? said the wire-pullers; what
if he is personally favorable to the South 2
Only pledge your Members Of Congress to
the Wilmot Proyiso, and all viii be safe
Lulled into security by this siren song, the
freemen of the North were easily induced 10
put their trust in men whose weakness or
treachery, though veiled by loud professions
Of love for freedom, was certain in the end
to fiji them with disappointment and sorrow.
Nearly all the Northern members of Con-
gress, Of whatever party, were elected under
pledge, implied or expressed, to support the
Proviso as cardinal doctrine of their politi-
cal creed. But under the combined pressure
of Executive influence and Southern dicia-
ton, many of them speedily betrayed their
constituents, and the very CongIess in which
the North wns supposed to stand stronger
than she had ever stood before, and which
was relied upon TO interpose barrier against
the further encroachments of the Slave Pow
err, became the instrument by which she
was plunged deeper than ever in the mire of
degradation and made TO lick the dust from
the feet of the Southern NIoloch. The mea-
sure of her humiliation would seem TO he
now full, but we fear that many new iugredi-
ents of bitterness and shame will be added
before her awakened selfrespect will iinpel
her to dash the poisoned cup from her lips
and TO stand up in the dignity of a true
manhood.
But why were not the Members of Con-
gress from the North able to stand against
the wilcs of the shareholders? Was il be-
cause they were at heart weaker or baser
than their constituents? No. 1t was be-
cause they were so!emnly sworn.to support
a Constitution containing provisions design
ed for she protection aud defence of Slave
ry. They were palsied by that OATH If
they had stood on the floor Of Congress un-
trnmmeled by an oath of allegiance to the
Constitution, and free from the obligations il
imposes, think you they would so readily
have submitted their nccks to the Southern
yoke? We do not believe it. The simple
rushrlsssiha. under the pSsssRsN National Com.
That may not be read in m9shiGi'pp6SK 9 p6Kf !
makes her, in a political sense, aln|lost in
'incible. Slavery is in the bond, and every
nan that takes part in administering the
Government is compelled to do il reverence.
We believe that honest and intelligebt poll
icans ut the North are fast getting their
,yes open to this truth, and that the day is not
far distant when they will repudiate the Cou-
stituton and all its debasing compromises,
and planting themselves on the Higher Law
of Justice and of God, present to the South
the alternative Of Emancipation or Dissou-
ton, r..f
I'm reviewing the proceedings Of the
last Congress there is one thing which gives
us intense satisfaction, viz; the defeat of the
Tariff and of the River aud Harbor I'm
proyement Bill. The hope of getting South
ern votes for these measures induced not a
few members from the North and West to
support the Compromises, including the in
famous Fugitive law. These hopes are all
disappointed. Dough wus made so cheap
that the South got all she wanted without
paying that price, and the Northern dealers
were left with large surplus ON their hands
and no chance for market. They got just
what they deserved, and we hope the lesson
may not he wholly lost upon them. ,eg
Our opinion Of the late Congress is
borne out by the sweeping remarks of that
eminently conservative Wing paper, the
Pittsburgh Gazette, viz; -,,a 553rl'
This is fitting finale of most disreputa-
ble Congress, the existence of which, we re-
joice TO say, is ended, and we trust the coun-
try may never see such another. The at
mosphere of Washington has become SO
pestilential and infectious, so intolerably foul
and corrupt, that few men are capable Of re-
sisiing its debasing Influences. Thus we
scarcely ever record the close of short ses-
sion without being compelled TO acknow-
ledge that its evil oyerbalanced its good
What has Congress done at this session
worthy of public appreciation, and for the
public welfare? What single act has il
passed to alleviate the wants of Ithe people,
and promote public prosperity? Not one.
G3-Mr. SIMMONS, the Unitarian Minister
4 L Il : 4