Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-10-01
CLINTON COUNTY.
Sept. 10Th, 1858,

DEAR MARIUs: After long and parching drought
our portion of the anti-slavery field has bHen re-
freshed by shower of intellectual and moral
truths, and gives some token of returning vitality.
You know that this region has been somewhat ia
nous in former years for the amotnt Of anti-save-
ry labor expended here, and for the promise it gave
of an abundant harvest of good works as the re-
suit. Perhaps you do not know that with many
if not most of those making professions Of anti
slavery, indifference has taken the place of zeal,
until the character of abolitiohsts is Scarcely
merited by the majority of them, since they do
nothing to promote the cause of emancipation.
The causes operating to produce this change,
are in part; the removal to Cttcr places, of some
of the most intelligent and active Of those who
once gave tone to society here, but principally to
the sorceries of politics. that enchantress which so
easily bewilders and miseads the American people.
As the success of enterprise of abolishng sla-
very, depends wholly upon the conversion of the
people from tho sins Of slaveholding and slave
owning by appeals 10 intellect apd conscience,
10 follows neocssary eonsequcnec,, that wher-
ever these means are repudiated, and the force
principle through political action at the ballot box
substituted rctrogrcssion, instead of progression,
in moral principle. must be the result. No man
can handle pitch without being deflcd
But took up my pen rather to narrate than to
morase. On Wednesday, the l4th instant, our
friends Pillsbury and Mr. and Mrs Griiing arrived
at Oakland on their way West. As they were
willing to labor with us for few days immediate
arrangements were made for n meeting the next
evening in Wilmington, as the time too limited
to circulate notice of a meeting in better place.
But a small audience was in attendance and less
one the succeeding evening" but those present were
attentive listeners, and if the good seed fell not
upon stony ground, we may yet receive evidence
that the labor not in vain. Meetings followed
at Sligo, Oakland and lIarveysburgh, of which,
however, they will probably give you some account
themselves. AT the latter place Parker kindly
consented to deliver on Monday evening the 10Th,
his celebrated lecture upon the causes and charac-
: ter of the French Revolution, This was heard by
: n deeply attentive audience, who could scarcely
fail to have received much instruction; on n sub
ject little understood, rather so widely mis-
! understood
think our loctdriRg agents win be free to ack-
nowlcdge they found our free soil friends here,
with whom they came in contact honest in motive,
and sincero in their hatred of slavery. Not zeal
GUS however, not feeling for those in bonds, as
bound with them, not acting for the slave as they
would desire him to act for them, their situa
tions reversed. They love the union of these
states, and the exercise of political power under it,
more than they hate slavery. The fault is more
from want of just comprehension Of the true
relations they sustain to the slave, through the
crnment than indifference to his condition, yet ii
cannot be doubted their Siew Of what these rela-
tions are, would be widely different, il they saw
from the slaves point of vision! Were Metr wives
and children the subject of the taskmasters lash,
they would seek some less equivocal mode of lbe-
rating them, than to swear (by their delegates to
: Congress and the Presidency) to put down all
slave instructions, and to return the flying fugi-
J tive to his opprossor.
Our friends have left us, but their counsels will
not be wholly lost. Nor will their social influence
whifst among us, means for advancing reform
= not sufficiently appreciated, be soon forgotten
The constantly unconscious display of native
goodness by Charles, the afectionate earnestness
for good, of Josephine, the terse sententiousncss
of Parker, had alike their influence. May pence
and joy and abundant success be theirs in all
their future labors.
Yours as ever,
d A. BROOKE.