Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-05-31
The Union of AbOlitiOniSiS.

ihe recehl pressure OF the slave power
upon the North has produced tendency to
fraternization among all classes of Anti-Sla-
very. To the repetition and increase of this
pressure we look us the only means that will
ever arouse aud combine the North for any
eftectual resistance TO that power. So OBJ
liberated is the conscience of this nation
so sweet are the emoluments of office-the
gains of trade-the indulgence of ease and
the predomincnce of sect aud party, that
mighty as is truth, we arc without hope of
its success, so long as the North continues as
now, prosperous in her iniquity. She will
not effect the emancipation of the slave till
she be herself enslaved-she must lie far
more ignominiously PROSTATE than now be-
fore the slave power, and be forced by simi-
arity of position TO make common cause with
the slave.
The last act of tyranny, the fugitive slave
law as in some of its features it is more at-
trocious than any thing that has preceded
IT, so It has more exerted this influence of
which we speak. We see it principally on
those most sensitive to this iniluence-thc
nbolitionists. 1t has brought them oil, of
whatever school into close proximity, dspos.
ing them to deveope not their points of diff
ference, hut those they entertain in common.
They have long seen, that by union the South
has It's power; aud they now begin to feel
that by union they can alone successfully
compete with that power. Hence the kindly
feeling that has pervaded the ant-savery
press and characterized anti-slavery conyen-
tons for the past few months. We rejoice
in this, for we are always and everywhere the
friends of union, when its corner stones are
justice and humanity. But can this union
of anti-slnvery elements be now perfectly
effected, and the whole host of anti-slavery
warriors marsh0led under one banner and
harnoniously marched against one common
foe. The mass of the people are yet unarou-
sed. Though they wear CHAINS, they hear
not their clanking-thoy wear feters upon
their limbs, but they gall them not, and
though the burning iron of slavery has pier
ced their insensible flesh, it has not vet en-
tered their SOUL The anti-slavery men aud
women of the nation drawn down by this
dead weight of pro-slavery insensibiity
ground them, cannot assume their true posi-
ton. Their power of action is parayzed in
its presence. They are disposed perhaps all
unwittingly, to themselves, to temporize-to
place some idol above the God of freedom
and give to it their homage-a book and
crced-a constitution-an institution or Or
ganization must remain untouched, though
it be the main piller of slavery. They are
satisfied TO act upon the delensive-not ap-
preciating the terrible power of the evil or
the real efficiency of the means by which
they seek its overthrow.
The difference of Anti-Slavery measures
originates, in great degree, from different
appreciation of the wrongs of slavery, or
from a different estimate of the adaptation
of our political and ecclesiastical organiza-
tons for its overthrow. This difference ex-
isting, il is manifest that different measures
will he the necessary result. For example
the different advocates of the anti or pro-
slavery character of the Consttution-though
harmonizing as many Of them do, in their alb
horance of slavery, are necessarily driven to
different means of assault. The one may
legitimately vote under the Constitution and
secure if he can the overthrow of the system
by its means. To the other there seems no
course of efficiency except revolution. lie
cannot cooperate with the liberty party, for
to his mind the whole course ofaction it pro-
poses is based upon fiction, without form,
tangibilty, or other evidence of substance
To him, so terrible is the power of slavery
over this natien, with the wealth, social in
fluence-tho government the church and all
other sources of influence at its command
that to attempt its renovation by any ordina-
ry political or ecclesiastical action seems a
waste of effort-an outrage upon his own
convictions, and mockery TO the slave. lie
can therefore do nothing less than to sol
emnly and unyedingly demand dssolu-
ton of tho bonds, or dissolution of the
government that maintains them. To the
other whose sense of justice may be equal
~ ouuuScu WIN MS oNh, ny thc CHoilllIlies
of slavery but whose confidence in govern
ment exceeds his, who has been accustom-
ed to look to Church or State for the redress
of all wrongs, the former position looks like
an extravagant and uncalled for expenditure
of labor, and sacrifice OF institutions and per-
chance of lite. What then is to be done by
these individuals having thus common OBJ
ject bst thus widely differing in regard to
measures. Shall they attempt combination3
Weakness and inefiiciency will be the re-
suit. The former would have 10 heart in
any attempt at controlling ballots or influence
ing parties or partisans. No more could
the latter in prosecuting measures to him so
uncalled for. We have been speaking only
nf the ayailahilitV Of these tneasures of