Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-08-28
THE ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE.

acknowledged the right of tho stakeholder, by
virtue Of the constitutional compact, to hold
his slaves within his own state, and to capture
them out of it, in such manner as the oonstitu-
ton prescribed. They approved of the Ur ion
Of the States, with the constitution as the bond,
prescribing the forms and limitations, under
which freedom and slavery should co.exist and
cooperate +" for the general welfare"
We on the other hand have uniformly de-
MED the rightful existence of slavery, any and
everywhere. We have refused to recognise the
validity of any Law, constitution, or compact of
union, which sustains it, whenever, wherever,
however, or by whomsoever made. Hence VIC
have ropudiafcd the slave catching constitution
as heartily as the slave.ca;ching law, and have
sought and do still seek. not removal of tho
mere incidents and inscparabilties of slavery,
while continuing our union with state robbers
of human liborty--rot to make "slavery sec
tional," but to make LIBERTY UNIVERSAL. We
therefore seek the dissolution Of the pro. slavery
union which now exists, as an indispensable
prerequisite to a union for freedom.
The Pittsburgh Convention, by declaring that
"none can be deprived Of life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness, by raiid legislation, ,exccp.
for crime" That slavery is a sin against God,
aud crime against man, which no law nor
usage can make rightly denying the bind
ing force" OF the fugitive law upon the Amer
lean people-by so interpreting the constitution
as to bring 1t in harmony with its avowed OBJ
jcct viz. " to establish justice, and secure the
blessings of liberty thus nullitying the con-
tlicting provisions of that instrument, which
recognise and sanction slavery the convention,
by these PLAIN declarations, has affirmed the great
truth we have so long contested with the Free
Soil party. That the law of justice is supreme
and all COT flicting onactmcnts, and covenants,
are null and void. So far as a declaration of
opinion can go, the Free Democracy are now
justly obnoxious to the charge which, while they
bore another name, they warmly repellcd; that
of being the enemies OF the existing Constitu-
ton and Union-but one to which it has ever
been our highest glory to plead guilty. We
anxiously wait the action of those friends in
correspondence with this principle. There is
need that they maintain it with decision and
frmness. It is the only one that can success
fully contest with the grasping and unscrupu-
lous slave power. There is need for the union
Of all whose desires are for Justice, upon
the highest and purest principles of Freedom.
We are yet in the midst of the battle. The
victory is not won, nor even the triumphant
progress of slavery checked. 1t is yet march,
ing from c1nquerng to conquer. Whether Scott
or Pierce shall lead its forces, the next four
years will, we fear, witness the annexation of
slayc-ridden Cuba, and the extention of the
national power, and with it slavery, over the
Sandwich Islands, and large portion of Mcxi
60. To thwart these purposes of slave extcn.
iion, we propose to strike at slavery itself |
no hiding place so venerable that we may not
search out and expose its abominatom-it can /,
by to no altar so sacred as to shield it from our
assaults. We wage no defensive war. 1t is one
Of determination.
Especially is it required of the members and
friends of this society that they remain firm in
their hostility to any union with the slave power
Tor the sake OF temporary advantage. The his
tory of the nation proves that such unions
are always destructive to liberty. Our especial
work, the regeneration of public sentiment is
yet unattained. Let us not be diverted from
L 10y any doubtful instrumentalities, or by di-
recting our main force against mere side is
sues with the slave power. Such will but weak
cn our power and defcr the day of our sncccss