Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-05-29
NO. 37.
Letter from Cincinnati.
ClNcrSSAr5 May 81, 1852.


Tie offence to some of its friends who think them
too severe, I am not surprised at this; but feel
confident that strong as my remarks wore they
were far more eiscriminating-mo fair in Civ.
ing credit where it was due - than the cStrain
of remark usually INDUCED in by many Abo-
litionists when censuring Shareholders or those
opponents of Slavery who cannot adopt their
plans of action. 1t is but fair however to say
that l do not suppose the late Convention
any more deserving censuro than that which
met year previous or than any of the meet
ings of the Garrison party in Boston or else
whcro; or many other meetings OF Abolition
lists Of other shades Of opinion. Many of these
have been marked by the same spirit of sweep
ing dcnunciation of the American Churches
tho same disposition to overlook the vast
amount of good done by the great voluntary
Associations Of the present day which derive
nll their dnin,us, oil their efficiency, from tho
Evangelical Christianity of the age the same
disposition to make tho Slavery question (or
rather certain views in regard to iU the sole
test of picty, and to overlook all that has been
done and is doing for the removal of the gigan-
tic evil, if it be not done with the Rail-Road
speed, or in thc peculiar manner which we de-
sire. 1t IS to this exclusive and narrow spirit,
which makes deficiency of duty in regard to
the slave vitatc all the good done by a religious
Society, that /, object. Though believer in
the total corruption of the heart of man by ma
turc, am far from believing either Shareholders
or those profcsscd Christians who have neglect
cd tho Slave so hardened as not to be reached
and gained by argument and persuasion, ad-
dressed to them year after year, pcrsovcringly,
in a kind, sympathisng Christian spirit. They
have honest difficulties in their minds as to the
rightltlncss or cxpclicncy of immediate cman-
cipation-just as nine tcnths of the ecommunity
both in and outside Of the Church, in this or
any other city have; and these opinions it is
uneharitable and unjust to attribute to love
Of slavery, or any great amount Of indifference
to its ultimate extirpation.
Before proceeding further l wish to explain,
once for ALL my own position so distinctly that
none need mistake it. am not a member of
any Church nor have 1 any intention of being
one. Since my dsownmcnt by the society OF
Friends some nine years SINCE my vciws of the
sinfuncss of Slavcholding and War, and on
other points of practical righteousness, (Which
nrc substantially those Of that excellent Socic-
ty,) have prevented me from uniting with any
other, as is well known here by my friends
Ny views Of tho inconsistency OF Slavcholding
with q puro Christianity arc sufficient alone
(wcrc there no other obstaclcs) TO prevent my
uniting with any Church whcrc it is tolerated.
Nor would contribute to sustain Church or
its Minister who did not bear decided tcstmo-
ny from tho Pulpit ngainst the system of Slave
ny, or who refused to labor for its extinction,
in good .frith. Such men as tho DIR. Riee's, |
Graham's, Junkins, and Lords so far from
aiding to support l would not condescnd to hear
us preachers of the GOSPEL.
In regard to the political ground have
been for ten years past ono of the old Liberty
men of the James q. Birnoy School, before the
so-colcd "Frcc Soil party was thought Of
both the great parties as they are and have been
controlled by the Slave Power repudatc, and
were 1 compelled to choose between them
should certainly be non-roier. regard the
movements of Anti ti-Slavcry men in organizing
anew political party and forming new Churches
on an Anti-Slavcry platform as altogether ex-
pedcnt and judciouq, and as tending by the
discussion and light they produce to urge those,
who do not think it their duty to leave their old
Churches or parties to labor for their purGca-
ton. Thus far can go with any one; but
when am told, it is the duty Of oreyy friend of
Freedom to "como OUT from his Church or
d.. I 4 II lo hut, IL &, N
tion which no one but the individual himself
can decide.
Let US look at this subject candidly. may
feel it my duty to aid in forming purcr Church,
but it docs not follow that it is my neighbours
duty. The wrongfulncss Of Slavery and the
duty of bearing decided and practical tcstmo-
ny against it, arises from the great and funda-
mental law 'Fhou shall lore Thy neighbor as thy
self" but outward organizations religious or
political arc matters of erpediency to be settled
by every individual for himself as in the fear of
God. Some of the best A. Slavery men in tho
country, those who originated the movement and
have always been its steadfast friends have never
Thought it expedent to leave the Churches
with which they arc connected; others who
have pursued q different course have remained
in their old parties, and many other have left
both. The first named think it by no means
hopeless effort to bring their respective
Churches up to the right standard, by persevcr-
ing in the use of the proper means and they
found this belief upon their experience Of the
success of the Temperance and other benevo-
lent reforms in the Church, and the large
amount of true godliness existing in its COM
munion. Were tho Churches as corrupt or any