Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-02-26
Yours
| Wish 10 be Understood.

/
been misunderstood at least by Mr.. Walker,
and perhaps by Others; and ms wish to do
justice to all parties, / shall attempt an cxp;a.
nation endeavouring to use such terms only
as may be fully understood by all who have
amy interest in the matter
Mr. w. introduces his review OF my article
by saying ~ think tho writer docs The mcm.
bers of the American Anti Slavery Society in.
justioesin holding them responsible for the
snid (Biblc) Convention" Now if Mt. W.
means to say that held the American Anti.
Slavery Society in its official character, in any
proceedings of the "said convention," he is
entirely mistaken, and comes to "a conclusion
that 1 think no other man could have arrived
ut. There is not a word in my entire article
from which sucn an inference is deducible.-
But II Mr.. W.. simply means individual
members Of the American Society, he is
correct. do hold some OF thcln responsible
ior the "said conventions" at least ~ Tar us it's
call was concerned. Again. Mr.. W says: IL
also think that.the members Of the convention
arc unfairly dealt with IA being ciasscG with
comeouters." This presume to some extent
is the case. What constituted membership in
the convention, don't exactly know. Ii the
officers alone, were members of the cOnvcn.
tion, do not presume that erea they were Gall
con eouters in the accepted sense ot the term
much less dol believe that all who ATTENDED
the convention were comeouters. Therefore
injustice may have been done to many who at
tended the convention, in chasing them with
comeouters, as they do not belong there. nor
wish to be classcd with them. think | feel
as much disposed to do this class justice, as
even Mr. W., and therefore no,s say that do
not class many who attended the convention
with comeoutors but many others l presume
l may class there, for there they belong, aud
there they wish to be.casscd. hope / will
be understood by both these classes.
Then Mr.. W., after proceeding at length to-
state what he cnlls facts. arrived at the conelu.
sion, that. l held. tho Western Anti Slavery
Society responsible for the 4" said convention,
or if he docs not there is emo sense in the
following remarks. Mr.. w. says: Especial
ly to hold a whole society responsible for what
none but those present ever heard individuals
say. The Western Anti
Slavery Society had no more to do with the
convention than Mr.. Sclby. who was sick and
in bed" How easy it is when VIC start out
upon false premises, to arrive at "silly" con-
clusions. Mr.. w. bases this assumption of his,
on this saying of mine: ~ haze also defended
personally against The charge Of infdeiity, many
Of the names ha. / see az the proceedings Of the
contention, 6m can 0etewd yon ia this sense no
longer" &c. Or at least, this is the only word
that could have been construed to have the
least reference to such conclusion. From
this singular conclusion, Mr.. W. proceeds at
length to defend the socety-showing what
the "glory" of the society is, and what 1t
" ever has bcen''-that it admits to its platform,
and fellowship. "Christian or Inflel, Jew or
Mormon" as the case may be. l know this is
the peculiarly OF the society. There age soci-
eties which are held responsible for what their
members do, but not so with the Anti Slavery
Society, a seems to be something distinct from
its members, in every sense except one, and
this makes it necessary for those who speak or
write anything concerning the society, or its
members, to be very precise in what ,hcy say;
or there will be q loop hole found, and mani.
fest disposition on the part of individuals, to
dodge responsibilities. Now that the Western
Anti Slavery Society as SUCH " had no more to
do with the convention than Mr.. Solby," am
ready to admit nor did l ever claim that il
had--I never thought it had-I don't now
think il had, but III an individual sense, "ma.
ny members OF the society had much more to
do with the convention than had "Mr. Selby,"
or than he would wioh to have; and in this
sense alone did intend to address my come
outer friends. had only reference "to the
members of the convention" " and To individual
comeouters, and not To societies Ia any sense
whatsoever. hope 1 am understood in this.
| Now starting out fairly, wish TO say To come
cutters, and all Others who favored the Bible
Convention, either in its call, or resolutions;
or who favor the idea of rejecting the Bible as
q rule OF faith and conduct 10 man--you have
perfect right so to do and l would not take
this, your liberty from you but 1 must take
the liberty, (Which liberty you also allow) to
dissent from the whole movement, as being
unnecessary, and wrong-injurious to your
selves, and TO the Ant-Slavery Society, lin
as much as many Of you are members in the
society,) and also detrimental to all the inte-
rests of humanity, so far AS the good work of
Reform is concerned. l do most sincerely re.
pret this Occurrence-I cannot favor i'll am
not IN fellowship with either it. ar its support
whether individuals or societies, But
wish to say few words more with reference
to Mr.. WIS. review of my article, and do this
for his benefit, as well Us for the benefit Of
Others.