Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-04-09

south, friends among the Shareholders, who
have large claims upon us personally, for past
fratcrnal kindncss-but not for one hour would
this government afford protection to our liberty
or our life, did We dare to visit them and plainly
utter in public the opinion we entertain in refer
ence to their co duct. tits not true therefore
"literally' or any otherwise, that this govern
ment secures to Immigrants, sojourncrs, and
citizens, or to any other class, " the full enjoy
mcnt of these rights"
The Era certainly will not contend that con-
science, in its legitimate operations, is confined
to forms of worship or theological opinions. -
Its highest function is in directing our conduct
with our fellow men. in accordance with the
high principles Of justice. In this, as we have
seen, and as we might show by numerous othe-
or instances, there is no freedom to any class,
not even the highest official in the Nation.
One of the men whom this nation elevated
to the second office within its gift, the vice
presidency, was compelled to live in state OF
c0ncubinago with the mother of his children, or
seperato from his flmily, because it was in
contravcntion of the laws of the State where
he lived, to unite him in wedlock with the wo-
man of his choice. The same minister of re-
ligion who refused to perform the marriage Ger
clnony because The State forbade had also pre-
viously refused to admit the woman to the
membership and ordinances of the church, be.
cause she lived in this forced state of concubin-
age. Pray how much ofprotcction was afforded
in this case to him who was elected Vice Pres
mother of his children, or to the minister of
religion.
1t may be said that all this was done by State
laws, and that the General Government, and
especially the Federal Constitution is not respon-
siblc therefor. We hold it all perfectly relevant
and directly applicable to the question between
us and the Era DIR. Bailey says in his last
article: We said that the United States-the
Nation, recognizing in their organic law-,hc
Federal C0nSiitUtion-the rights of conscience
and FAITHFULLY securing the cvoynent Of these
rights TO imiyrdnts, sQouJ7,erS or ciii-ens" with
utdiNtinction OF sect, and he adds with apparant
hiuihpHt 10 not TINS TACT we answer no.
The facts We have given above all answer no,
and thousand other facts corroboratc the an
swer. That the Era should, with full know.
lcgdc of these facts, culosize the United States
tho Nation" for "taH4|aly securing the full
enjoyment of the rights of conscience, is still
as marvellous to us, as when wo first penned
the notice of tho strange declaration.
With regard to the lesson tho Era ralhe mag
istcrially reads us, (wc suppose he means us
from the cohnection) we have little to say We
have carefully reviewed our course, and don't
find ourselves guilty of the charges he prefers,
so we can afford to bear them. lie who tells
the truth of his country does not therefore treat
it with contempt, nor is he guilty of Defama-
ton. If he seeks thereby to remove its sins
and dishonor, he shows a commendablc attach
ment, and acts the part of the faithful friend.
lie treats his country with contempt and dis
honor who ands i, at the expense of truth, aud
by covering up, perpctuatcs its injustice.