Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-07-08
BENZ. S. JONES, Rec. Sec'y.

GERRrr SEIrlf, has resigned his seat in Congress,
TO take effect at the close Of the present session.
When Mr.. S. took his scat, we looked forward to his
course with great interest. An interest, we con-
Tess, prompted quite as much by curiosity, as hope.
We had entire confidence in Mr.. Smiths fidelity
to his principles and in his boldness to avow them.
But we were curious to see how the utteronce oil
such principles would affect the "pirates" whom
Mr.. Smith familiarly denounced MS such, and yet
fellowshippel in political union for the maintcn-
ance of liberty! We had small hope of any ex-
traordinary good, for how could We hope for the
legitimate influence of truth, however boldly ut
tered, when thus nullifed by position and associo-
ton.
The experiment has been made. Mr.. Smith has
been in Congress for seven months. He has there
put forth all his strength, Intellectually and NOR
ally, in his contest with tho Shareholders. And in
our Judgment, these months have been to MIR.
Smith, months of less anti.sleyory influence than
any other seven months which have passed over
him for the last half score of years. And we can
not resist the conviction that Mr.. S. himself, has
an impression Of this sort, else he would not aban-
don his post. When convinced that he can cifec-
lively advance the cause Of freedom, he is not &C
customcd to let '~privatc business" come between
him and this great work, and this Though we have
not seen his letter., we understand to be the reason
assigned for his withdrawal. The result has fully
satisfied us, and we have no regrets that he has
resigned. We want his dircct agency in regeno-
rating the people, net in hopelessly battling the
tricks and frauds of an inpregnablc majority of
slayeholding congressman.
Every hour, does i. become moro and more man
ifest, that in this slnv-hJllins union, we can never
successfully contest the question of liberty with
slayery. Gcrrit SmiA calls shareholders "pirateS.'
If he docs them only jaatice in this appcllaticn,
WIZ then should he not withdraw from them, as
he does from ether pirates, and treat them as
though they Reserrca to be hanged, as they UnqueS-
t:ouaJly do, if animals in human form, should ever
be put to such use. Our first step is to dissolve
our ~pitatical union with the villains. To refuse
to share their guilt in the innocent blood they shed,
the liberty they cruelty, or the plumber that it
brings. Let us cease to be pirates ourselves, and
then with some show of decency and some hope of
success, we may expose the guilt of unrcpcntant
pirates. We want revolution, not anti-slavery con
gressmen. or this, Mr.. Smiths course is q new
and most ~palpablc demonstration. We believe he
has done what he could. But the most cruelty
hopeless of all anti-slavcry positions, is that of an
anti-slavery congressman. lie is tied hand and
foot,-and tongue too-and then expected to work
miracles for freedom, in spite of insult and all
manner of power combined against him.
Mr.. smith will, we think, find mUre honor and
greater usefulness as 4 minister of righteouncss
among the people, than as a fellow legislator viii
shareholders.