Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-05-27
MIR. FURNEsS,S SPEECH.

NJ PRESIDENT: SO sincerely deprecatc the cx-
pectatiOn of speech from me on this occasion,
that although it is not exactly in good taste to be-
gin with talking about ones SELF yet, | must be
allowed to say that have come hither on this oc-
casion, not SO much to make n speech as to take
sides II appears to me it is not n question of
speeches, or whether a man can speak we'll or i'll,
not at all, bat that this is the question: namely
on what side he is; and thank those gcntlcucn
who have invited me hither, for the opportunity of
committing myself again and irrctrieyably to the
great cause of humanity (applausel Besides,
am u timid man, and like to be on the safe side
and on the strong side (applause) do not think
have courage enough to be, or to appear to be,
on the pro-slayery side, though should have the
President, his Cabinet and all Congress to back
me (laughter) And besides, again, it is difficult
10 make q speech. When | am in the pulpit
have notes before me, and there is restraining
grace there but upon this free platform it is diff
cult to speak in any measured terms upon Slavery;
and at the present time, when we think what is
doing at Washington, it seems to me that if any
man who has heart in his bosom rises and at
tcmpts to speak on the subject, his words must
die away in shrek Of horror and indignation.
(applause.)
recolcct, thirty or forty years ago land nearly
all who are old enough to remember so far back
have similar recollection), that when the subject
Of Slavery was mentioned our elders used to shake
their heads. look grave, and say; "Ah! there is
the danger; that is the thing which is going 10
work the ruin Of this country; that is the black
cloud which will grow bigger and bigger, and at
last send out terrible lightning to dash to pieces
the fabric of American freedom" This was the
universal anticipation; fearful looking for OF
deadly mischief from that quarter; and the way
and the form in which the mischief expected was
TO come, was by insurrcction. 1t was expected the
blacks would increase to such degree ihat the,
would at last rise upon their masters; that thC
tcrrors Of 81. Domingo would be re-enacted hert
on larger and more irightful scale; and that
war between the two would be begun, whicl
would probably terminate in the establishment o
black empire over nearly one half of the country
That dread OF nsuTectlon has now almost entire
ly died away Ii does not appear to be feared
that the slaves will ever rise Of themselves; and
the reckless determination with which slavery
seeks to enlarge her borders more and more, look
ing with greedy eye on Mexico Cuba, the River
Amazon, and the remotest parts of tho earth,
shows how distant that day is, in tho apprehension
of the South, when the blacks may rise.
am free to admit that think there is very lit
de danger OF an instruction and for two rea.
sons +: First the character of the coloured race
themselves, so gentle and so docile. The fact that
nearly four millions of them have been kent under
such unmitigated despotism, and have never made
any attempt TO strike it off, creates a strong pre-
sumption that they never will rise. The second
fact, which is our protection against insurrection
is the existence Of the Abolitionists. Abolition a
the North is the protection Of the Southern slave
master. know that the title Aboitionst is look
cd on as but another word for incendiary and fire
brand but the existence Of the abolitionists
either known among the slaves or it is not
not, then the Aboltionists exert no influence O
the slaves one way or another, for good or fo
harm. If their existence is known then they ar
known as the friends Of the slaves, and naturall,
according 10 every principle of human nature, the
are induced to wait patiently, knowing that the
have friends in the country who are labouring 70
them.
Oar rulers talk insancly about putting dow
Abolitionists. Put them down, silence every wor
IN behaaf Of human rights and of common hu
manity at the North, and then, II ever, look 70
sowing to mistake made In lSil aud observed unit
he Aunversaries of the Society The last ten years
designated by number The
as the TWENTIETH. IL tfs reEily the TWENTY FIRST.