Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-03-25
ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE
SKETCH OF WENDELL PHILLIPS
LECTURE.
rUBLisnED EvBRY SATURDAY. ArsALru.


On Tuesday evening Feb. 2s, WENDELL PnrLurs
delivered an able and eloquent address ON the sub
ject Of American Slavery, Mt tho Broadway Taber-
nacle, in the presence OF large and highly respec
table audience. SO large was the crowd that
benches had to be placed in the aisles for the pur-
pose OF accommodating numerous persons. At'the
appointed hour the lecturer made his appearance,
and when the loud accamations of applause which
greeted him had subsded, spoke as follows. La
dies and Gentlemnn-l am here tonight to ad-
dress you upon the subject of Slavery, and it is
somewhat my misfortune that | am to address you
upon q subject upon which many of you have lis
tened now to eleven address, from some of the
most able and some of them the most popular,
men in the community, and of course it will be
almost impossible that | shall not tread over some
of the ground which they have covered. hardly
hope that shall be able to avoid offending the
prejudices of many that have done mo the honor
10 come tonight to hear me. | belong to the most
radical wing of the Anti-Slavery party. am con-
scious that our views upon this great national sub
ject meet with great repugnance from all classes
Of our iellow-ctizens and in listening to me, all
ask Is, that you shall remember that | am an
American rs well as you--that | have the same
share that you have in the honor and ultimate fate
Of our country-that all that have dear in the
world is hcre-and that my associations with the
past are the same as yours. My pride in the great
names Of the country is exactly like yours. My
hopes for the future bound up with the fate of
these Republican Institutions which cur fathers
gave us and believe me, | can have motive,
hidd n,se;ret underhand, either against the civil
or the religious institutions of our common country.
against its good name, its present or its future
prosperity. We are all in the same bark. We
are to float to sink together; and the great ma
tional issue that calls us together tonight demands
of us all, the of those honored fathers, who,
through great peril and at the cost Of great sacri
fce, maturcd for us the institutions of the country
the present issue demands of us that all with
mutual counsel and mutual confidence shall crap
pie with the question which threatens to shipwreck
the experiment Of sef-governmcnt in these United
States. 1t is no personal ambition, no sectional
or selfish feeling, no personal piquc no hatre OF
individuals, no wrath agans, parties no hidden
hostility to sects, that can make any honest man
open his lips upon the subject Of Slavery. 1t is
the mighty and solemn end to waive all such con-
sideratiOns and smother them in the momentous
issue which IS presented to every lover either o!
his country or his race. Now please do me the
justice that however / may deal with names and
institutions that are dear to you, | am exercising
only the dear-bought right and the most valuable
which our fathers left us--the right to think and
speak. Other men may part with it when and as
they please from considerations of delicacy to
great men-to great parties-to great acts-to
parchmcnts and TO institutions but my fathers
left tho right to speak, and will barter it for
nothing Cheers. Every ultimate good hangs
upon the assertion Of the right, and before its as
bertlOll u pOOu purpose on u cause Wluo enough
10 challenge its exercise, all considerations Of per-
sonal delicacy and all considerations Of the value
of great parties and institutions, nothing "LiN-
ing, | shall assert it," great New Highlander
said 'and dying, shall assert it" and, whether
unions or parties are subyerted or perish, mean
TO keep free lips until they dust loud cheers)
Ladies and gentlemen, we have assembled to
think OF Slavery. Now, the problem Of Slavery is
a very singular one in the present aspect OF our
country, in relation to the world. Bear with me
moment, while go across the waters, and look
at the condition Of classes and political institutions
there. | will not keep you long away from home.
But let me remind you simply that, for the last
seventy years, under the Governments of Europe,
which we Nre accustomed to consider as rottOn,
despotic, aristocratc and partial Chattel Slavery
has disappeared, with two exceptions Russia still
maintains the system of Slavery, though her EN-
peror is said to be laboring to abolish it; and
Spain, rotten and incompetent she is is still the
victim and the tool of the shareholders of her Colo
nes. But with these two exceptions, England,
France, Denmark, Sweden, and all the countries
Of Europe-and | might throw Algiers in the
bargain--have got rid of Chattel Slavery. They
still retain their aristocratc institutions; not one
man in ten can vote the press is not free reli-
gon is not freely tolerated. and there is no Democ-
racy; Still, Chatel Slavery has disappeared. II
Is the tendency of the Nineteenth Century, judged
by all Christendom (cheers). This is the great
current of the ageit tends to breaking the shacke
France, Denmark or what not, are all free wher-
ever their laws go. England may proudly boast
that whether upon her African Colonies or her
West India or East India possessions, wherever
her flag floats, 1t melts the shackle (cheers). Now
want you TO bear that picture in mind, and then
come homo with me. Let us paint ourselves
For seventy years we too have had II Constitution
and o Government which we BOASTS the freest and
most perfect in the world. Well has il proved
itself in certain great respects. IL has advanced
Democratic IDEAS, Our constant tendency has
been TO the elevatian Of tho masses, and to trust
the people more and more. Our whole tendency
has been TO raise up the masses, to abolish every
barrier and to break down every shadow of any
thing that seemed to say we cannot trust man
with himself. There is one exception 10 this pic
ture, and only one-bear in mind the current
abroad--bear in mind the general current at home
There is only one exception, and that is Slavery
We teach everybody we let everybody vote
we tolerate eyerybodys religion; we choose oul
judges and in every other respect white men
cannot be trusted too much Slavery, instead
of growing weaker, is growing stronger. In
stead of growing narrower, it is broader In
stead Of growing less numerous, it is qaudrr
pie. Instead of growing more modest, it is more
bold-faced than ever. Instead Of having 100000
slaves we have over three million. Instead o
having qualified pro-slaycry sentiment, we hay'
q furious and rsmorseless one. Instead of having
small corner of the country practically weddet
TO Slavery she stretches her hands over half ofou
dominion, and strides into Congress and demand