Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-04-16
A Charge.

II is charged upon those who believe tho
Constitution pro-slavory, that by entertaining :
and prorasatins such an opinion, they afford
direct and palpnble support to slavery. Mr..
Douglass writes out this charge in his last pa
peE. And somo Of our personal friends in this
region, ar, quito out Of patience with us. be-
cause We cannot see that the Constitution is
snti-slavory. We have only to say, tha, our
convictions nre not held at our option. On this
- on all other subjects, they exist Of necessity
nom the evidence before us Many fact VIC
have been compelled reluctantly to admit, and
ts adopt many an unwclcomc opinion, because
ths evidence compelled us. 1t would be very
agreeable to us to believe there was no slavery
al the South and no rro-sla9cry at the North,
ard VIC have decided preference for believing
il VIC could, that there was mono in the Con-
s;itution. But the evidence on all these points
is such as to compel our conviction in spite Of
eur desires. Our convictions being such it
seems to US best the truth should be known
and tho evils arrested
That these opinions either entertained or OK
pressed, make US responsible for the contnu.
tnce of slavery, VIC can neither see nor feel so
long as We make our declarations only in the
shape circumstances againstit, for the sake of
its exposure and removal, OF to justify our re-
fusal Of allcgioncc to its power.
We say it with no terminating spirit but as
eur thorough conviction, that if there be re-
sponsibility resting upon any of tho enemies of
slavery for its continuance, it is upon those who
believe the Constitution thus to support slavery
aud yet pledge themselves to Us support, by
voting for those who thus believe. Many of our
Free Soil friends arc becoming convinced Of this
responsibility, and are seeking to escnpe from
II by adopting the opposite Interpretation To
those who believe the Constitution anti. slavery
we have no labor to perform provided their
voting corresponds with their creed. But while
their candidates represent the opposite prnci-
pie, VIC hayo to enter our remonstrancc. Tho
iigats and the interest of the slave demand il.
Mr. Douglass, in his paper, uttered prayer
in which With our hole heart VIC can unito.-
lie sRys: We wish from onr nmost soul. that
MIR. Mann would como nut with such IN expo-
sition Of the Constitution as shall forever put
to silence the hateful doctrine that tho Cons,i-
tuition is pro-slavery. Such work would bc
very great service to the Anti. Slavery causc.'
In Heavens namc if such an exposition can
be made, let us havoit. II Mr.. Mann has found
occasion to change his opinions on this subject,
we presume it was for good cause. If We can
ace them to be reasons We will say 50, and we
will not slide out without distinct annuncia-
zion Of tho change and an avowal thereof. But
Mr.. Mann has attempted no such thing yet,
and we hardly expect he will. We shall wei.
come his effort in this direction. For to us it
is grcvious thing that any instrument, and
especially the Constitution of our country,
shopld give support to the Internal system of
slavery, thus binding the nation to its bloody
car.