Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1852-09-11
From the TIuo Democrat.
The Tenth Annual Meeting Of the Western
Anti.Slavery Society,


terest.
But among its doings which we should
Judge il might as we'll have left undone,
were its denuncinions ofwlat it denominates
"the dangerous aud fatal tendency Of polit-
cal party action, MS an element in carrying
forward Moral Reioruh," in general, aud of
what it calls "the political detection and
aposiacy of Gerrit Smith, of New York." in
particular.
"M Morul Reform'l Why, ladies and gen.
tlenen, the most intensely political reform
now sought to I've carried in this country, or
that was ever attempted in any other coun-
try, is Just the Ant.Slnvery reform. Aud
the carrying forward" or at least the carry
ing out of that very reform involves, as n
thing Of necessity, political party, aud pre-
eminently so, ii Daniel Websier's old defini-
ton Of party is to he accepted. And there
is nothing, in any political party,n whit more
dangerous" nothing of n whit more "ialal
tendency" than exist IN the persons com-
posing IT, The iden, that the action ofpeople
ns individuals may be sanity, aud that the
action OF the snne people assuriated us n
pnriy must he diubolicnl, II, we say II with
all due Difference. ns absurd n vagsry us ever
seized or beluddlrd the brain Ol lnuntic.
The ground of that meetings denuncia-
ton Df Gerrit Smith Ms M nposlnIe and what
not, iS indicated 10y the following extract rom
that genlleunn's account of the Pittsburgh
Convention, which extract is quoted IN the
denitnciniory resolve:
Notwithstanding all the fault have found
with the platform of the Free Democracy,
nevertheless regard myself as member OF
that pnriy. liis u good party und will rapidly
grow hetter."
With the greatest respect for the Anti
Slavery earnestness, aud the fearless out
speaking, of the men aud women OF the
Western Anli-Slavery Society, we say, com
mend both us aud oiir cause To tile help OF
such upostntes us Gerit Smith.
MEssRs. DEMOCRATS I'VE don't deny the
propriety or necessity of political organization
and action in regard to slavery. 1t ought to
come. It will come; and all slavedom can't
hinder it when the people are ready for it. But
political party action, to be of any value, must
be the supeystyuctUre, not the foundation. The
foundation is the moral movement. What We
object 20. is, that just now. when the corner
stone is hardly laid. and everybody ought to be
at work at the foundation, our political friends
arc for spending their energies upon the roof,
and ornamenting the cornice. They are for
"some pr .ctica ISSUE" They want numbers.
Voting is poor business without counting after
wards. Here comes crowd, with each q shingle
or a fourpenny nail for the roof, or dab Of
paint for the weather boarding; and insist that
as they can never have an eiiticc for freedom,
without shingles and paint-that they shall put
them on at once. These superstructurc men
don't at all like the abolition foundation. They
prefer the constitution, to build upon. The
fact that it is now occupied by the cdifce of
slavery is no objection. Roof and paint must
go on any how. They are Jealous. They can't
brook any delay. So to shingling and painting
all hands go, upon this miserable old pile, the
pro-slavery govcrnmcnt-with the rotten con-
stitution, for the foundation. And oil who
don't work there, are "do.nothing" builders
And any rcmonstrancc against their folly chad
better be let alone" As wo don't think so,
gentlemen we shall just now say to you, that
this remoddeling and repainting, may deceive
yourselves and others-but it wont change ac-
Qualities, nor make that national renovation
which is indispensable to the establishment Of
liberty.
As to the "vagary," Mcssrs Democrats
wi ich you suppse "befuddles certain lunatic
brains," we can assure you, it has never " seiz-
cd the brain" of the Western ti-Slavery
Society folks. They are not afraid of the asso-
citation of the " saints" but they do think it
l.. Al Ia 10 tl,o
"diabolism" of the people, which embodies
itself in the whigcry, democracy, and picty OF
the country, before they attempt to associate
them, for any sanity purpose. And further
more, they do believe that even saints, are in
some danger of falling from grace, when they
enter into partnership with slave holding sim
ners. They believe that evil communications
corrupt good manners. That sanity individuals
may become somewhat "diabolical" by constant
association with diobolians, especially whcr
they start out by being so very complaisant tc
them as to recognise pledge to let their devltry
alone, and permit it to do the best it can fol
itself.
With all due Difference we say" that We
doubt whether those who make this concession
have arrived at that stature Of sanity politiea
manhood, which authorizes them to start GU
alone with hope of success. They need fur
ther knowledge of doctrine and duty, if they
have not yet learned from the history of the past
that this tremendous letting alone, is just tho
thing that slavery can thrive upon. That thei
concessions to it defeat in great measure al
they can do against it. But, if after their owr
experience they can't do any better, why w
must even wait the longer, for their and ouI
success.
Young Peoples Convention.