Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-05-29
Letter from c. c. Burleigh.
CNcnSArr,5th Mo. 18th 1852.

Ny DEAN MARIus Your readers arc already
aware that am in Ohio, with the purpose Of
spending few weeks in laboring to promote
tho good cause, and possibly they may expect
to hear word from me now and then, about my
movements while here. So, not to disappoint
this possible expectation,I will give you sketch
of what l have been doing since the Convcn-
ton. OF the doings of that you have already
had full account. On the five evenings next
following the close Of the Convention, lcctured
in this city, to audiences, small at first, but
constantly increasing till they were very re-
specially numerous. l aimed to show the re.
iigiots character Of our enterprise its relation
to the principles. spirit and precepts of that
Christianity which recognizes the brotherhood
Of man, and proclaims glad tidings to the poor,
liberty to the captive and tho opening of the
prison to the bound. then took up the rcla-
ton of the North to slavery, answered some.
what copiously the question, "what Lave we
to do with it i''-and in this connection endeav-
ored among other things to show the pro slave
ry character of that political compact which
Northern statesmen and divines arc trying to
exalt above tho "highor law" 1 briefly re-
viewed Douglass argument presented in the
last speech made on the evening of the Convcn-
ton, on behalf of his notion that the Constitu-
ton is wholly Anti.Slavery. How far l sue
cecdcd in proving this notion to be fallacious-
contradictcd by the letter of the Constitution
fairly interpreted, by tho whole mass of histor-
| .aoi ar r a
adopters of the instrument and by the moral
necessity Of the case it is not for me to decide.
l may say, however, in regard to my whole
course of lectures, that they were listened to
with gratifying attention and apparent inter
est, notwithstanding severe cold, which was
expressing my lungs ut the time, rendered it
very difficult for me to speak audiby, and thus
kept me even farther tn an usual from doing
justice to the subject.
By the way, let me here correct mistake of
your correspondent "P.," which may other
wise causo some uneasincss to my personal
friends, Of whom 1 have the happiness to count
not q few among your readers. lie ascribes my
hoarsonoss at the Convention, to bronchitis and
speaks about it in such way as to give the
impression that it is both a serious and perma-
nent affection of the organs of speech mistalS-
ing tho effect of temporary but severe cold,
joined 20 the fatigue of moro than usual cx-
crtion Of voice during the previous day or two,
for that of fixed disease Tho truth is, am
not coucious of any pcrccptiblc difference in the
general condition of my voice and vocal organs
| ,,,.ln 10 hoe 4.
years indeed than your correspondent has
| known me.
| Now my hand is in, will take up somo
others of P'." mistakes, - more important
than this. IIo says that Douglass defended
with warmth tho position of resistance by force
of arms, to any law an individual may think
unrightcous;" and that it was in effect sane
toned in ono Of the resolutions adopted. Here
arc two errors. No resolution was adopted,
expressing or implying a sanction, in terms or
"in effect" of any such position. know not
which of them " Pr refers to, but your readers
con look over the whole series for themselves
Neither did Douglass defend or utter any such
sentiment so far as 1 heard, and think listen
cd attcntivcly to all he said, which could be
supposed to bear on that point. 1 understood
him as applying his doctrine of forciblc rcsis-
tancc, to none but the Fugitive Act or at most
to such as, like that, assail tho sacred right to
liberty, moro precious than life itself dissent,
as you know, from his doctrine, even in regard
to such laws but do not wish him to be charged
with more error than he holds. 1 have no
doubt he would utterly disclaim the sentiment
which p" ascribes to him.
"P" represents "thc general tone" of the
speakers as denuncatory, vehement, dcclam-
ntory, satircal, sarcastic" Opinions differ as
well as tastes. / thought their general tono"
was earnest, argumentativc, morally elevated
and plainly truthful and most true hearted
Anti Slavery men" including some of the more
conservative sort, doubt not will agree with
me. l do not hesitate to pronounce "P's" rep
roscntGtion utterly erroneous. He says there
was but little argument, and feeble array Of
facts calculated to influence reflective minds"
&c. Now claim some ability to appreciate
argument, and to discriminate between facts
and defamation, between sarcasm and logic !;
and to me it appeared that in the speeches there
was much argument, clear and strong, and abun-
dant reference to facts of great Importance and
significance. That am not singular in this be-
lief,will be readily supposed by those who know
the "gcneral tone of thought and expression of
such mon as +, Douglass, Samuel Lewis, Geo.
W. Julian and others who spoke largely at the
Convention. "P" afirms that in every
speech" tho Christian church and political par
tics, and "all who do not SEQ it their duty to
advance the cause in the method laid down in
the resolutions, were made the object of 6aais-
crinpinate dcnunciation and ridiculc." This is
not true. 1t is not exaggeraton. 1t is entire