Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-10-15
LETTER FROM INDIANA.


way, can you by long living in the West, explain to
me the meaning Of the term Hoosier applied to the
people of this State? know why you Ohioans
are called Buckeyes. But why in Michigan, the
people are called Hoircaes, or in Illinois, Suckers
or in Kentucky, Corn Crackers, or in Missouri,
Pakes, is secret yet unknown, even to much of
the learned world. othe IIunkcrsm Of Michigan,
the name Jgotreyene is appropriate enough. But
found many there last year, who seemed more 4" as
lambs in the midst of wolves" To Inc also, the
Mssourians are properly designated. ! am willing
that all slavedom should he baptized by the same
significant appellation. wish some of your learn
cd puudits in Western Etymology and Natural
History, would enlghtcn us further on this impor-
tant subject.
Weare a little disappointedin regard to the moral
condition Of Indiana. Perhaps our entree was made
under circumstances not the most favorable. We
came first to Richmond, the Capital of Quakcrism,
and the seat and centre too Of Methodist influence.
The first object that met our view, was the Indi-
ana Methodist Conference, then in session at Rich
mond. In 1850, there were nearly eight hundred
Methodist ministers in this State alone Tho Confer
enccin session when we arrived was pretty formida-
Dlc DOuNt suploINeu uh IL WIS w lNo
Southern Diyines Rev. DR.. Durbin, and Rev, Henry
Slicer, Of Baltimore. There were eminent strangers
from other States, as far cast ms Maine; but the
Richmond papers very characteristcally kept their
names concealed and spoke only of those from the
South. Thus loyal are they to their masters.
Then too, there was the mastering of Orthodox
and lIicksitc Friends, for their respective Yearly
Meetings. And such gathering of the Hosts Of
George Fox Dscipleship, probably was never wit
messed before. The Orthodox Indiana Yearly
Meeting is the largest in the world. Its territory
extends from the Muskingum on the east, across
western Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, to the
upper waters of the Missouri thousand miles and
more, on the way to sunset and from the Ohio
River on the SOUTH to Canada and the great Lakes
Their Meeting House in Richmond is the largest on
the continent.
Then the IIickstcs too were in the midst Of theii
annual Feast of Tabernaces, They had very
large Meeting House. but it became in time toe
small for Yearly Meeting. 1t could not however
be well enlarged, and 80, with singular economy
they set themselves to build another within few
feet of the Old lat most not ten,) and as irregular
as if blown there by the wind, and on Sunday botl
houses were filled, and preaching went on in both
we were told, at the same time--a double batter,
opened upon the powers of darkness.
At Newport, seven miles off, was another Ycarl,
Meeting also-that of the "Anti-Slayery Friends,
called so for reasons best known to themselves
We were not permitted to speak word in the
meetings; nor could we get the least possible co
operation from, them in ours; though we had thrc
evening meetings 1t their very door, during thci
Yearly gathering.
| All these formidable Objects obstacles perhap
they might be caled,) together with n County Fai
or two, we have encountered in the first week O
our mission to this State.
And all these religious bodies, claim great meri
for anti-slayery character and work. The Method
list Conference passed some strong resolutions-yer
strong but there sat DR.. Durbin and Henry Slice
in the high places, the most honoredo Of the concayC
And there it was declared too, by members that j
their own General Conference, were seventy thot
sand Methodists, recognized us Christians an
Christian Ministers, all Of whom arc directly in
plicatcd in the guilt of holding slaves And itwu
further declared most emphatically, that on tn
great question of human freedom, the Church wa
full hundred years behind the age. Oh, what
Remedy are a few Resolutions, for such state
things as this Surely blindness more than
part has happened to the Methodist Israel
The Orthodox Friends too, are yet rhisperin
never SO quietly, their yearly Testimony. This
the meeting that treated Lucretia Mott and Charlie
c. Burleigh with contempt and seorn But whc
Henry Clay simmered in the corruptions ofdcbaucl
cry, wine bibbing, ducling, slave breeding, buyin
ba oltal
the highest honors The Ccrk of the Yearly Meetu
walked arm in arm with him on Sunday, into tn
most august assemblagc, lie conducted him
one Of the "uppermost seats" and then the Sc
mons and addresses were framed so as to do hon'
to their illustrious guest, When at the close,
descended, salutations from both men and womc
greeted him on every side. One member, graspir
his hand, devoutly invoked the divine benedictio
in these cheering words:-" God be with thee, NJ
we will" His body slave, Charles, sat on Il
carriage, outside, during all this sckening pcrforr
ance
In Richmond, we elbowed two or three lit
meetings into Warner Hall, " small and most
convenient place. And even there, we had almC
to fight for our rights. For pompous little priC
of the Lutheran faith who beys permission to p'
form his weekly pulpit incantations there, insist
as he has sometimes done before on like occasion
that we should be turned out of doors. He pa
nothing for the of the place. and only has it,
condition that it is not wanted for other purpos
When he found'we had lighted the house, and tax
possession with our audience according to not
givcn, he seized his Bible and Psalm-book and 5
emnly marched. A few only followed and we
pleasant and not by any means Improbable me
ing.
OF our labors in Newport, Cherry Grove a
Winchester, you will probably receive accounts
due time,
Yours full Of Faith and Hope,
PARKER PlLLSBURY
RAND0LPHs SLAVES IN WISCONSIN