Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-07-23
NO. d..
Many Men Of many Minds.


ascertain our obligations to slavery and slave
catching under the Constitution. The subject
seems to us to have been thoroughly discussed,
and well nigh exhausted, and yet there is much
for some anti-siavery men to learn before they
occupy an anti-slavery position.
The Free Soil party, before the adoption o.
the Pittsburgh platform, decidedly acknowledge
ed its pro-slavery obligations to the STAKEHOLDER
and yet claimed to be anti-slavery.
The radical views Of Gerrit Smith at Pitts
burgh, seconded by the hearty, thorough anti
slavery meeting which there and then assem-
bled, compelled thorough discussion OF the
subject, and an attempt was made after the
fashion Of the Constitution, to construct a
platform on which Gerrit Smith could stand in
must have fugitive slave law-as the Consti.
tuition authorized and required it, though they
were outraged with that Of 1850. which they
declared disregarded other important guarantees
Of the Constitution. The platform builders
were to som extent successful. They seemed
in one part of their platform to affirm Gerrit
Smiths doctrine, while in another, they seemed
in some sort to concode to the Shareholder his
claim. Gcrrit Smith was not satisfied but
free soilers were, and from that time to the
present, have lauded and reafIirmed the platform
ss the perfection Of political architecture.
In this region, since that time, we arc glad to
Sry, political anti-slavery sentiment has been
gradually verging towards the "Js,vy lerei,'
viz that slavery is always and everywhere an
out law. Some of the papers, as yet, hardly
know where they stand-seeming to have leg
on each side of the line. With that, however,
we find no fault, for every body who steps over
line, must some time be in just that perdica-
ment. All that we ask is that they should not
stand astride too long. Some of our prominent
men, have gone quite decidedly over. Samuel
Lewis, for instance, at the late Cincinnati Con-
vention, declared in his most emphatic style,
that he would never swear to support the Con-
ssitution If he believed it required the surrender
Of fugitive. "No SIn.-NEvER."
Othen-cspecislly some of our papers. are
very decided for the "ConStitution" and the
"Union," but what they think to be the require
ments of the Constitution and Union, they do
not so explicitly state. Among these are snme
Of tho most able and popular papers of the
party.
We hope soon to hear them define most
explicitly and unmistakably, their convictions
on this question. For now TOE cannot tell where
they are, whether with Horace Mann in his
printed speeches of 1850; or with Horace
Mann in the Li6crator of 1858. The Free
Soilcrs of Ohio will soon come to Horace Mann
of 1853, unless their desire for alliance with
the Wings. shall deceive them, of which VIC
think there is danger, though we still hope fol
the best. The State organ at Columbus is out
spoken, and declares the Constitution Anti
Slavery, and defends il as such.
On either side of our State there is di6erenc,
of opinion. Two prominent papers in New
York, have contended that the whole Free Sol
party stands on the "Jerry Level"
Indiana Free Soil, gives its version of tn,
platform, through its organ, the Free Democrat
as follows. Tie Editor will certainly be abl,
to get off the platform he stands upon without
danger to his neck or limbs. Who shall recon
ollie the platform differences we cannot say
We hope the Free Democrat may yet come uI
higher-he may without danger. We copy III,
whole article that our readers may judge of its
merits for themselves, and may not charge u,
with garbling.