Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-03-12
VOL. 8

statesmen, justify themselves in swearing TO
support the Constitution, in sense which they
know Is not the sense in which the nation sc-
cepts their oathi
A promise is binding in that sense in which
the promisor knows the promisee understands
it. And so of Mr.. Manns oath to the Con;ti-
tuition. The nation-the phole nation-snd
he, are the parties to that promise. Has he
any doubt in what sense the nation understands
his oathi
This is not the first time that have Been
called to allude to Mr.. Mann's want Of frank
ness. 1t is only within very few years, Chat
he has opened his mouth on the subject Of
slavery. For years, as Secretary of the Board
Of Education, he preserved profound silence,
while his intimate friends were sure he was an
anti slavery man ut heart At that time, I had
occasion to crticise those statements in his Re-
ports Of half truth and concealmcnt Of real
facts that threaten harm to the colored man.
The most honorable excuse for him was, that
his philosophy deemed it right to sacrifice tho
slave and the free colorcd man, in order to Sc
cure for himself q wider influence and for tho
white race better education. / had no reason,
therefore, to be surprised that he carried into
politics the same habit. When he first entered
Congress, it was by Wing nomination; and
though elected doubtless, by the votes Of the
anti-slavery party, he would give them no
public recognition. They ncquiesecd in this,
as likely to leave him stronger with his own
party, and relied on his private assurances.
rejoice to say they were not deceived. But
the course was one which Tailed well with the
philosophy of his previous years. - =
As to Mr.. Munn's remark about plagiarism
If he will read my speech attcntively, he ~fh
see do not charge plagiarism on any one. -
have no apology to make to Mr.. Mann.a-
cannot see that have dono him any injustice,
Perhaps do injustice to the Free Soilers,. in
allowing Mr.. Mann to speak for them. Though
they have recently put him at the head of their
State Convention, know public rumor ASSERT
cd that he never accepted their nomination until
he found himself unable to get a Wing one;
and as late as the fall of 1850. he voted, he
says, the whole Wing ticket. As late as May,
1850, he was lauding the Wing party, and pro-
nouncing General Taylor IAN anti-slavcry man.
though little later he could describe him AZ
'the hero Of tho Florida war,-as great an OUT
rage against a race as ever Rome or Russia
committed. lie had been prominent, and, fas
many believed, n willing instrument IN splitting
the blood of sister republic. Even should
the executive divest him of military command.
or he should grow too old tor service, .it VIA
universally known that there was full, black
battalion on his own plantation, which; he
would always command / cannot, therefor,.
allow Mr.. Mann to talk very loudly cf sreSa..
ing to follow the political party with which he
had acted
As to his criticism of my manner, his letter
has obliged me to look again over his volume:
and If he could say what find in his Letter to
Webster, believe every part of my Letter.
to be within the bounds of courteous and res
pcctful discussion; there is nothing in IL which
might rot pass between gentlemen, without
intcrruptns relations of civility or friendship..
i think may claim as much for my remarks,
Ii, quoting again his own words, remind him
that, among gentlemen, no insult is ever or
fered where none is intended there NAV be
heedlessness of conduct, there may be an UNI.
intentional wounding of sensibilites but there
can be no affront where the design to affront n.
wanting; he is not a gentleman, but poltroon.
and braggart, who pretends he is insulted,
and proceeds to rctaliatc for the affront. when
all insult and all Pffront are sincerely disclain-
ed,'-I trust he will see no occasion to make
the present case an exception to that very en-
phatic and sensible remark.
The spirit and language of his letter cannot
descend to criticise His rule is, still, I SUP.
pose, as he told Mr.. Webster, that when YOUR
opponent INDUCES in 'angry and reproachful
language, it releases you from all further obli-,
CATION to treat him with personal regard Had
L INDUCED any unbecoming language. l should
not consider that fact any justification to Mr..
Mann ; for l cannot assent to such a CANON
Tn the contrary, hold myself bound as q
gentleman to treat every man with courtesy.
no matter how grossly any one may fail in
courtesy to me.
WENDELL PHILLIPS.