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

'he case oi Tie young man who came to Je-
sus and inquired what he should do to he
saved? To this was replied " Thou knowes,
the commandments; keep them" Joyflly
he responded, "This have done from my
youth up" "Then 90 sell all that thou hast.
then come aud follow me.' MANY nre pre.
pared to go so far as TO keep the command
tnents in church or party, but when il comes
TO sacrifice the great possession Of vote, they
go nwny sorrowful aud cannot do il.
In reply to the position Of Gerrit Smith,
man whom honor aud venerate for his noble
iabors in behalf of humanity, that the Con-
sti'ution is unti-slavery and designed hy its
powers SO to be, showed you that twelve of
the thirteen States which originally adopted
1t were slaveholding States,-that no ngi,n-
ton Of the subject was had to prepare the
public mind for so great change how then
could il possibly happen that an anti slavery
Constitution should be ntopted2 whnt in
Huence existed to SO stultiiy the STAKEHOLDER as
20 induce him TO do actually what was ex-
actly contrary to lis intention? And again,
for sixty years after its adoption no cne mp.
penred until IN these latter da, to assert that
such was the practice. The people, the
Congress, the Executive, the Supreme Court;
all coincided IN the one opinion and the one
action under il, and which still continues to
be the opinion and the action Of tile great
mass. Washington, Jefferson, Madison,
Wythe, Henry, and all the rest who engaged
IN passing the instrument, must be presumed
10 have understood what il WINS intended to
mean. Swallow the contrary opinion those
who can. cannot.
Our fathers agreed the slave trade should |
continue for twenty years, and that our flag |
should protect it against the world for that
period. This provision of it is said to have |
become obsolete. True, but ii is useful to
remember it when examining the anti.slavery
pretensions of the instrument, and especially |
in view of the construction desired by some
TO bc given to the language of the fugitive
slave clause. But some say they only stay
in the government and support the cousl,u-
iion with a view to its amendment. lie who |
sweors to support it is hound by it till il is
amended. Now how eau las an ahollionist
agree that a slave owner may have political
power in proportion to the number of slaves
he steals? How can as an nnti-slayery
man swear by my representative that there
shall be no foot of soil under the constitution |
from which the fugitive slave may not be re-
claimed? musi serve either God or Belal |
and never will consent TO any Of the slave
clauses. 1t is ouly the overwhelming power
Of the north which keeps the slave in bis
chains. ] will never consent to be party in
this guilt
In respect to the consequences of doing |
right have no concern. II we suffer with |
Christ we shnll reign with him. We want
something of the old apostolic spirit aud the
spirit Of Jesus Christ, nnd then we shall be
able to serve the world like those who have
gone before us.
lsuid of the Free Soil party that they stand
on the same platform with the other pnrties
IN respect to the Constitution. lf they mean |
TO amend it, they ought to say so. would
like 10 see their banner flung ont, aud inscri-
bed on it down with the compromises"
Some will say" Law which is immoral is
void" "That is true. The right exists in
the individual to decide what is right" But
nothing is TO be gained by reiteraling this; it |
does not touch The wrong. We are talking |
about n solemn compact You say you must
have government What do yon mean by |
IL? Is il that every man in Congress or the
Executive or the Judiciary is to decide every
question by his own theory in regard to right
md wrong irrespective Of constitutional pro-
visions' Ii is to prevent oppression and
tyranny BY those in power, that the consttu-
ton is provided aud the officers sworn to |
accept il as their guide aud authority. 1t |
states the objects of legisa,ion-the rights
and duties of the people and of the States |
the duties of their representatives aud agents,
&c. The man who says there is sin in these
provisions to which he cannot consent, can
not come into Office. The majority says they
are all right and whit they desire. Legal |
writer's uniformly teach that the wrong pro-
visions Of government can only he corrected
by the power which created them. Whilst
laws exist they must be obeyed. The Judge
mny resign his Office rather than administer
IN unjust law, but that is his only remedy.
He cannot alter or amend il. say in all
Difference to the character Of Gerrit Smith,
'ho. his position in respect to the government
Is exactly the position Of the auiocrat. Il
gives the law.muking power into the keep
ing of its ministers without let or hindrance |
finn the will of the neonia