Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-07-01
TO THE PEOPLE OF OHIO

TO THE PEOPLE OF OHIO.
FELLOW CITIZENS: The co~nsummation Of the
first great act of the stupendous scheme for the
extension of Slavery, and the establishment of the
Slave Dominion over the North American CONT
nent by the repeal Of the Missouri Prohibition,
and other threatened future acts, part and parcel
of the same scheme, such as the proposed expend-
iture Of millions i'll the purchase of territory from
Mexico, utterly worthless, except as a basis for the
operations of the Slave interest, and the proposed
waste of millions upon millions more in the ro-cs-
adjustment CT Slavery in Cuba, in case of the en-
reimbursement Of the bondmen of that Island by
its present government, call loudly upon all true
patriots tc forcgo past political differences, and
unite as a band Of brother freemen in defence Of
their own rights and the rights Of human nature.
God forbid that our country should alone, among
the nations Of the earth; take upon herself the
hateful reproach of Slavery Propagandism
But if this odium is TO be avertcdj the People
must themselves take the matter in hand. Let it
ever he remembered that while the contest between
Freedom and Slayery-betwcen the advocates of a
great public wrong and the maintainers of Public
Faith was going on in Washington, not a word Of
remonstrance against the meditatcd iniquity was
uttered by either branch of the Legislature recent
ly m at Columbus. The p%artizans of the
existing National Administration, ayailing them
selves Of their majority in the Legislature, not
only thwarted every effort to express the honest
indignation of the people Of the State against the
wrong, but elected to the Senate Of the United
States a known supporter of the repeal of the
Missouri Prohibition, thus placing the moral weight
Of Ohio in the scale of Slavery Extension.
We, by no means. charge the members of the
old Democratic Party with approval Of this con-
duct: but we earnestly invite them to consider
whether there is any mode of manifesting their
just Indignation in view of these great wrongs, ex-
cept by rcpudiating the present National Admins
tration, and the Political Leaders through whose
influence these shameful results have been accom-
pllshed. AT all events, it cannot be doubted that
these things demand the promptest Intervention OF
the WHOLE PEOPLE and not these things only, but
many other matters, both of National and State
%cdtcern.
The time has passed for halfway measures il
respect TO Slavery. The repeal of the Missouri
Prohibition has demonstrated the utter futility o
all legislative compromises. 1t is necessary nov
to rccur to the Constitution. In that instrument i
will be vain to seek for any recognition of Slatery
even as o fact, outside of Slave States, or for an
power given to Congress to legislate in its behalf
Outside of Slave States, then, there must be n
~Slavcry-thero must be no slave-selling, slave
catching, or slave-holding, under National legisla
ton. The slave Power must be overthrow, an,
the influence Of the National Government must b.
placed on the side of Freedom.
The patronage Of the President-that fatal en-
CINE of Corruption and Despotism-must be cur
tailed. The People must demand and obtain {
more direct influence upon the practical working,
of the Government. For the propagandism Of
Slavery, in our intercourse with Foreign Nations
there must be substituted Il great American Infiu.
cncc in favor of Universal NATURALIZATION, Re.
form, and Progress, must be the watchwords d
the People.
In our own State. many things require attention.
The disposition and management of the public
works; the districting of the State; the laws reg
ulating the imposition and collection of taxes, and
other matters, demand the consideration and judg
rhent of the People.
In view of these things, We invite our fellow
citizens, who, without regard to former party dis
t~inctions, aro willing to unite in the organization
of a Democracy Of the People, against the support
ers of Slavery and unjust and unequal laws, By
whatever name they may call themselves, to as
semble in Convention, at Columbus, on the 18th
day Of July, 1854, the anniversary Of the Ordin-
ance of l7S7, for the purpose of consultation upon
the momentous aspects Of public affairs, and Of
taking such action as circumstances require. With
this view, we recommend that the people of each
county forthwith assemble, appoint one delegate
for every five thousand Inhabitants, no county
however, appointing less than two, to represent
them at Columbus, in a Delegate Convention and
we recommend, also, that there be held, at the
same time and place, a Mass Convention of the
People, to sustain the Delegate Convention by theii
presence, to aid them by their counsel, and to ex
press, in the most emphatic manner, the cherished
sentiments and fixed resolves of the people o.
Ohio, in language becoming the demands of thu
crisis.