Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-05-07

slaves? The fact is, as soon as il was adop-
ted n census was taken and three. fItlIs of
the slave population 'rds taken rs the basis
Of representation. This would have been
absurd aud impossible, it such contract
had not been made. 1t remains intact to
the present tme--the worst compact ever
entered into since The SIM began to RISE
The nntion hns decided by it nets for GO
years that ii is in the bond.
will any one say hc believes there never
was contract made with the slave power,
for the continuance of the slave trade for
twenty years? In regard to fIgitiyes, eau
amy one stand up aud say that our fathers
did not bargain for their return? could
say that there are no slaves in the world, as
well ms to say this. They agreed too, that in
surreciion of the slaves should be put down,
aud all these things except the foreign slave
trade remain in the Constitution till now. !
admit the word slave and slave holder are
not in the instrument, but this is not con-
flict of verbal criticism. The calamity is
that the words are not there. For when
you have the naked devil before you, you
are in no danger. lie is dangerous only
when he wraps himself in the garb of nn
angel of light When men enter into devil
ish bargains they act in secret. Now they
call slavery pa;riarchal or peculiar institu-
ton, hut who thinks they don't mean slavery
Mr.. Smith grants that the foreign slave trade
is recognized in the constitution, hut defy
him to prove it on his own ground. 1t ouly
speaks of the migration or importation of
persons. How came it to pass for all this
length of time, that slave holders have rep
resentaiivcs on the floors of Congress, aud
fngitlves have been hunted il slavery is not
recognized.
ullirm the Constitution to be covenant
with death and an agreement with hell; that
in the language of the prophet, ave have
made lies our refuge" For more than sixty
years all public bodies have agreed in con-
strung this instrument In the same manner.
Did not Washington, Henry, Madison, and
all the fathers understand the Constitution
they adopted? To make it anti-slavery you
must accuse them of this folly. l nm not
disposed to say anything harshly of them
unnecessarily, but | say they acted wickedly
in compromising with slavery. The argli-
mcnt was that if the Union was not formed,
the colonies would fall prey to England.
This argument was poweriuI-plausiblc, and
will admit, for the arguments sake, that
such n result was certain. What then
what right has one man TO sacrifice another
to save himself? What right had our faith
ers to immediate the rights Of others, to Sc.
cure their own ? 1t is high-handed yilainy.
Ii seems to me that if the meaning of The
Constitution is not settled, nothing is settled.
Do you Free Soilers 20 for an amendment
of the COnstituiion-tor striking out the
compromises with slavery? You have not
inscribed it on your banners, aud until you
do, hold you to the bond. Mr.. Smith is
going to Congress. lie will he n rIra avis
there. lie says that slave holders are pre-
emnently pirates, aud he takes his seat
among pre.enIinent pirates, to promote the
blessings of liberty. would not dictate TO
him, hut il seems to me his first duty will be
to move for the expulsion of twenty-five
members of Congress as interlopers. hope
he will attend 10 that part of his duty. Thai
will do to begin with. They will have live
ly times. Another thing-an anti-slaverN
construction of the constitution would bring
dissolution. Such definition would be dc
claration Of civil war. II Free Soilers had
minority in Congress, and should proceed ol
this construction, the South would arm us
, man.
, 1t is bloody construction ours is peace
ful one; we acknowledge the bond, and W,
have this alternative, to swear to support j
, or stand outside But you support il ns you
understand il; that is game two can play
at. Garry il ont aud your constitution is q
nose of wax. If the stakeholder can get the
power, he will understand it as he pIeases
Aside from the constitution, we have no IN,
ion, and when speak of dissolution, NEAR
n withdrawal from the constitution, and a re
fusal TO act under il.
EVENING SESSION.
The evening was devoted principally TO {
discussion of the position and claims of the
colored people of the Free States. The
speakers were three in number aud all col
ored men. They acquitted themselves in O
manner that would have been highly credit
able to any class of men under any circum.
stances. They were Mr.. John ]. Gaines, o.
Cincinnati, Mr.. G. l.. Remond, of Salem
Mass, and MIR. J. Langston, Of Oberlin. The
speeches Of the last two gentlemen we are
not able at this time even to sketch, as wC