Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-01-31

~ I'VE G1HW " khe HUgte: anc winter thus
Far, has been one of the most severe ever known
here. Just after my last letter in December,
The ice broke up, and for two weeks OF moro we
had good stage of water, and the wharvcs
were active with the busy scenes Of loading and
unloading freight, the rattling of drays, the hum
of voices, the screeching of steam whistles, SC.
Now the contrast Is striking-silcncc, almost
universal, prevails over the same space. An
other cold snnp as sharp rs the first has come
upon us; for some days navigation was nearly
suspended by aoatins ice, until two days since,
(the morning Of the 20th,) the River closed
again, and is now tightly frozen over The
Mercury carly A. NJ, on the 10Th. stood at 10
degrees below Zero, two degrees lower than on
the 10th Of December. The whole of the 10Th,
the temperature was below Zero. and was un-
doubtedly the codcst day We have had here
for many years 1t is the most severe season
for our Steam Boat men, since the winter of So
and 49, the last time the Ohio was closed by
ice.
The effect upon business of every kind is Sc
vercly felt this being the Pork and produce
season, large quantities Of freight arc waiting
shipment, aud dealers in all branches Of busi-
ness arc anxious to get their supplies by the
river. The weather has been midcr for nearly
two days, but is still cold enough to keep the
river tight, and it will be several days, probably
q week, before navigation can be resumed again.
The fall of snow has been as remarkable for
this section of the country as the severity of the
cold. Last winter there was not one days good
sleighing in this vicinity, but Roo lovers of this
recreation arc enjoying it 20 their hearts con-
tent. We had heavy fall of snow week or
60 since, and before il melted another last Sun.
day on the top of it, both on a good frozen foun-
dation. Itis now five or six inches deep the
bells are jinsling all day and night, and every
thing in the shape of sle1s or runners is put in
requisition; boxes, Jumpers, and all sorts of
vehicles and apologies for slcighs-thc rare oc-
currence of the sport here, preventing many
permanent investments in good sleighs. We
hear Of the snow being much deeper at Colum.
bus, Cleveland and in the North generally, and
no doubt in your locality you arc enjoying the
fines; sleghing in such perfection as we seldom
can have it in this more southerly cline.
A Convention of Coored people composed of
delegates from cvory section of the State, met
here last week. and adjourned on the evening
of Monday last, the 10Th, after a session of five
days. The Church in which they met was FILL
ed every day by very respectable audience,
mostly males, number of white persons being
present as listeners, among whom abscrvcd
several well known friends of the Colonization
Society. From what l saw | was impressed
very favorably with the intelligence, gentle
manly department and systematic dispatch of
business of those taking part in the discussions
Several of our daily papers have given reports
of Il o proceedings and bear the highest testi-
mony to the good looks, manly bearing and in
tclligencc of the members of the Convention as
body. j. NJ. Longston of Oberln, was chosen
President and filed the Chair with decided abil-
ity. Letters were read in answer 10 a circular
asking opinions as to the condition and prospects
Of the colored race from l.. ID. Campbell, Charles
Durkce, DIR. Townshend, e. NJ. Clay, Horace
Mann, and B. +. Wade, Senator from this State
Most of these contain encouragemcnts to oxer-
ton, and speak hopefully as to the future con-
dition of the free colored people. Some of them
contain excellent advice, especially those of c.
NJ. Clay and Senator Wade.
was not present when these letters were
read, but learn that the reader was most un-
usually good one" his voice strong and clear,
his emphasis proper, his cadences musical, his
intonatons perfect, fully expressing the minds
and feelings OF the writer's, who would no doubt
have boon much gratihod to have heard their
productions spread before the Convention in SO
elegant manner.
One of the principal subjects of discussion
was that of emigration, on which there was
some able speaking pro and con. Among tho
speakers, may mention Mr.. Wm. ii. Day, "a
graduate of obcrlin Collage whose talents and
eloquence have been the theme of general re-
mark. He was not in favor of general emf
grafton, but would not discourage individuals
who were disposed to emigrate to Africa, or the
West Indies or elsewhere Others were in fa-
vor of general emigration to some territory OH
this Continent, and Others opposed to emigra-
tion entirely. The proceedings, including the
resolutions adopted, and the letters above re-
ferred to, will soon be published, and you can
then insert such parts as you may think of in
terost. l regard it as good sign that our col
ored friends are taking up these subjects for
themselves; the more they make efforts to cdu-
cate themselves, acquire property, and improve
their condition generally, the more they will be
respected. As for emigration from this coun-
try, en- nasse, it is visionary as well as undesir-
able, but if they choose to go as individuals to
any extent let it be done in the true spirit of in
dependent enterprise, and not under the auspi-
els of the Colonization Society.
Among the visitors at the Convention was
James @. Birney, well known to the friends OF
Freedom the country over, as ono of its earliest
Apostles. Mr.. Birney has now in press
pamphlet reviewing recent decision OF the u
States Supreme Court, in which Strader and