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

#Thc accident referred to may be found relasci
in the Memoirs of Claiming, vol. 3, PIP. 229, 2S0.
The incident, to which reference is made in this
kindly Sonnet, was first related. in The Martyr
Age, by Harriet MartinGau, but great deal more
was extracted from ii than the facts warranted
The case ssks simply this:-In 1915; committee of
the Legislature of this State had submitted to them
the expediency Of reporting bill, making it a pen
al offence to- print and circulate any ant-slayery
publications, or to agate the subject Of slavery in
this Commonwealth accordance with the de-
mands of several slayeholding States made through
their Legislative assemblies. That such an auda-
cious proposition should have been glnycly enter
tained, for one moment, in the face of the Bill Of
Rights and of the u s. Constitution, rendering the
liberty OF speech andofthe press inviOalabc indi-
Gated that solemn and 'momentous crisis had come
involving the very existence Of a free government
That crisis was met in the most spirited manner by
the Managers Of the Massachusetts, Anti-Slnvcry
Society at whose request Prof. FOlen, Ellis GRAY
Loring, VIM. Goodell, Samuel j. May, Samuel Il.
Sewal, and myself appeared before the Commit
tee aforesaid, to enter defiant protest against the
passage of any such law and to warn them that
there were not prisons enough in the old BAY State
to hold themen and the women who would glory in
trampling such an enactment beneath their feet.
Among those who attended as spectators was the
Rev, Channing who, though not willing to be den-
tilted with the abotionists, had his spirit reused
by an emergency so extraordinary aud alarming.
As he entered the Senate Chamber, he stood SAYS
Miss Martineau, for few moments, mufied in
cloak and shawl-handkerchef then walked the
whole length ofthe room and was Immediately seen
shaking hands with Mr.. Garrison. He afterwards
explained, that he was not at the moment CERTAIN
that it was Mr. Garrison, but that he was not the
less happy to have shaken hands with him. A
murmur ran through the gallery and a smile went
round the chamber. Mrs. Chapman whispered to
her next neghbor righteousness and Peace have
kissed each other" DIR. Claiming had consured
the abolitiOnists in his pamphlet on slavery, Mr..
Garrison, in the Lbeator had rejected the censure
and here they were shaking hands in the Senate
Chamber
This is described with dramatic effect, which UNI
fortunately, is wholly dssipated by the truthful
statement, that, when DR.. Claiming took me by
the hand, il was only an act of ordinary cyilty on
his part, as he did not catch my name and did not
know me personally; and therefore, meant nothing
al all By No interchange of opinions took place
between us, on that OCCASION. II, afterwards, on
ascertaining distinctly who it was that had been
introduced TO, himhe remarked that he was nol the
less happy to have shakhen hands with me- can
only say, that never, at any subsequent period, to
the hour Of his death, did he intimate desire to
see me again; and neither by accident nor design
did we ever again meet each other, face to face.
The truth is, | was no favorte of DR.. Claiming,
at any time. lie never gave me one word of coun-
sci or encouragement lie never invited me TO see
him, that he might understand from my own lips.
my real feelings and purposes, and afford me the
benefit of his experience and advice My early,
faithful clear-sghted friend, Prof Follen tried Ia
induce him to make my acquaintance, believing il
would be mutually serviceable; but he never mani
tested any dosre to do So OF this, never made
any complaint, My selfrcspect and strong sense
of propriety would not allow me to thrust myself
upon his attention, the notice of any other public
man. do not think he cherished toward me any
personal unkindnessr-far from it. But my mode
OF dealing with slavery and its abettors was very
distasteful TO him; and between my philosophy Of
reform, and his own, there was very great differ
ence the difference between principle and senti-
ment-betwecn calling mon and things by their
right names, and dealing in distractions -between
nm uneomprcmising principle and an accommoda-