Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-06-04
NO. 81.
Illinois.
MT. CARROLL, Carroll Co., ILL.,, !
May 10th, 1868.

MT. CARROLL, Cafrol COss lhsi
May 10th, 1868.
DRAR FRIRSD RoBINsoS find myself very
pleasantly situated in my new home, at Mt.
Carroll, Illinois. Having been somewhat
taunted for moving into what is called slave
state, lowing to the passage Of the black bill }
purpose to show you that the exemption oil
your state from the same infamy, was not 30
much on account Of difference of sentiment
between the two states, as IL was the powerful
ingenuity with which It was forced through
the Ill. legislature; while senator Cushing's
equally infamous bill died upon the table, from
want Of the same amount Of skill. 1t is posi-
lively asserted in this vicinity, that not one
member from the north part of the state, voted
for its passage but that it was concocted and
carried through by southern members, who liv-
ing near the abominable institution, are all
more or loss under the baneful influence Of this
moral Upas. Living as did during my resi-
dcnce in your state on the borders of slavery,
know something of its corrupting influence.
have heard leading members of professedly
christian churches unblushingly assert that
they did not believe slavery to be wrong, and
were decidedly opposed to emancipation in any
way. One Sabbath our preacher gave us a
plain practical sermon, (Which like angels Wis
its, are special rarties in this thcorzing age,)
in which he denounced the hypocricy of our
eountrymen, who were making strenuous ef-
forts to educate foreign heathens, while they
were legally forbidding the mental cultivation
of those in their midst, because of different
color. II was publicly stated by members of
his own church before leaving the house, that
it would not do for him to preach many such
sermons as that in their town! In contrast
with the low state of moral sentiment upon
this subject in that portion of Ohio, l am happy
to state that the GalenG Prcsbytery, citizens Of
ILL.,, met in this place on the Sd and 4th inst,
and among other reformatory movements,
strong and emphatic resolutions condemnatory
Of the "black," law were adopted. l am more
than ever convinced that we must have higher
standard of morality, more worthy and elc-
vated object of worship, than is to be found
among our selfish church. worshipping relig-
ionists, with their divine sanction Of war and
slavery. There are many, very many, both
leaders and laymen, who by some strange. un-
accountable fatality, have made their advent
into the world in the wrong era. Their spirit
ual congeniality with the old Mosaic institutions,
and the worship of the god Of battles, prove
that they should have made their exit from
oarth together, long ages ago. Strange that
those same antc-diluvian spirits should still re-
tain within their influence tho legal sceptre-
the power to fetter and restrain the progress OF
truth and right. But their days are numbered.
law is but the embodiment ofpublic sentiment,
and tho ugh public sentiment be for time res
trained by an icobound surface, the current be-
low is moving, rolling, mingling its force with
its fellow wave-gathcring strength as surge
propels surge, in the mighty struggle for free
dom. Those sentiments must, and will be free.
The spring time is Fastening, when the vintry
chains will melt away, and be lost amid the
advar cling waves of purer and holier thought
of higher ard noblcr action.
Not one hundred rods from our door, is ar
open violation of this abominable black law
Will il be enforced Rather ask, "Darc it be-
Should the men hesitate to resist its execution
there is not woman in Mt. Carroll, that would
remain an idle spectator, while one Of her sex
free woman, was being dragged from hel
home to be sold into perpetual slavery. b.
assured there will be powerful effort for 1T
repeal, by the northern portion of the state
where its force is already as dead, and its au
thors as despised as the old witch laws of Sa
lem, Massachusetts.
Yours truly,
JANE FRoHoCK.