Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-07-30
THE ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE.
Gerrit Smith in Congress.


Frederick Douglass, who has recently paid
visit to Gerrit Smith, at Peterboro, found him
nearly recovered from his late illness. He
writes Of him and his future, as follows:
"There is peculiar charm about that Peter
boro cottage. The smiles of Heaven are there
l expected to find Mr.. Smith less vigorous in
health than found him, in view of his late
indisposition. He is now able to be about, and
this week attends at Fulton, the Christian Union
meeting. found him cheerful, but thoughtful,
in view of the extraordinary circumstances and
duties that await him at tho National Capital.
An arduous task is before him. He goes to
6ll post of difficulty and danger. He will bo
an apostle Of liberty in the very stronghold OF
slavery, and almost single-handed, he will have
to dispute the pass with tho whole phalanx Of
slaverys chosen men. Paul at Athens, rebuk-
ing idolatry, did not stir up moro malignant
feeling than will follow the preaching Of the
pure anti ti-slavery gospel at Washington. Most
distinctly will Mr.. Smith deny the legality of
slavery. He will strip the vile thing of all
gospel, constitutional and legal countenancc,
and will treat it as it ought to be treated-a
system of violence and blood, no better than
piracy. Murder itself will get as much respect
from him as slavery; for, to him, slavery is
murder. But Mr.. Smith is not only an Aboh-
zionist. He is a Land Reformer; and more
still, he is now, as he ever has been, believer
in an "every way righteous civil government"
and is therefore, in conflict with this Govern
ment at many other points than its slavery
lie is at war with every species of class lcgis-
lation, snd will stand up for eternal Justice,
wherever and from whatever quarter it may be
assailed. A mighty work is before him. He
is a Temperance man; he goes among wine
bibbers. lie is a Peace man; he goes to min
gle with men of blood. He is a man Of prayer;
he goes among blasphemers. lie is an Aboli-
tionist he goes to meet the traflickers in human
blood. He is gentleman he goes to confront
ruffians. There will be few with whom he will
have anything in common; and if withal, he
shall pass through this furnace, heated seven
times hotter" and shall come out without the
smell of fire upon him, it will only be because
the same God reigns now, that cared for the
Hebrews. That he, like the noble Hebrews,
will refuse to acknowledge the lower law of
slavery, is certain that he will enrage the
worshippers of the slave power, and bring upon
himself their 6ery wrath, is certain; but wheth-
er it shall be his to save his lfc as we'll as be
true to his principles, is not certain. Slavery
may, in its madness, demand another sacrifice.
1t may demand another CRANDALL, LoyRJoY, or
ToRnEY, TO appease its bloody wrath. But we
turn from the horrd thought. Let them touch
a hair of his head; let the assassin knife of
slavery be drawn upon him, and the life Of q
stakeholder would not be worth sixpenco in
any Free State of the Union. Unseen hands,
moved by love-kindled vengeance, would lie in
wait for the murderers. Newport, Saratoga,
and Niagara Falls would become dangerous
places. There would be white men and colored
men all over this North land, who would look
upon their lives as worthless, in a country
where the peoples chosen man falls by the
assassins steel. Let them touch him To do
so would DO the climax of that madness which
precedes destruction. But the thing will not
be done. Gerrit Smith will be in Congress, as
at home; in Washington, as at Peterboro;
loved, respected, honored. Even men-stealcrs
will acknowledge his superiority, and respect
in him the principle which they have not the
virtue themselves to carry out.
upon him will be centred tho fixed atten-
ton of the nation. lie will carry new ele.
ment into Congress. He is a politician, without
policy; man of honor, without pride; and
believes that man need not abandon the char
acter Of Christian, because he fills the office
of q Statesman. Let him go to his great work,
and the prayers Of millions will go with him."