Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-11-25
From the Anti slavery Standard
THE WESTERN FIELD--LETTER FROM
MR.. F0SS.
BATTLE CREEK, Calhoun Co., Mich,
November !, 1854.

BATTLE CREEK, Calhoun Co., Mich,
November :, 1854.
DEAR FRIENDS EDIroRs: Permit me to say
through the STANDARD a word to the friends Of the
anti-slavery cause, in reference to the prospects Of
success in this Western field. ! have now been
some five weeks in Northern Indiana and Michi-
gan, and have spoken nearly every day, and fire.
quently twice in the same day, generally to large
and earnestly attentive audiences.
l have given five lecturers in Lima, two in On
tario, four in G~eenfeld, one at Lagrange Centre,
two in Brushy Prairie, Ind, attended the annual
meeting of the Michigan Anti Slavery Society,
and, in connection with the excellent and able
advocates of our cause, C. S. S. and Josephine
S. Griiing, held Eve meetings in Angola, one in
Brookyille and three in Orlard and have now just
closed, with the above named friends and Charles
sBurleigh, as interesting a Convention in this place
o as | ever witnessed.
In all our meetings we have sought to keep
prominently before the people the true issue, "No
Union with Shareholders" We have criticised
the doings of the ecclesiastical bodies of the land
with freedom and fidelity. We have held up the
epro-slavery character of the Constitution eff the
United States to the contempt and shame of the
assembled people. We have accused the political
parties of subseryiency to the Slave Power, and
we have net failed to prove the charge. Some
defence of the Church was attempted by a Bap-
fist minister, at Angola and BrOokyillc, but it
ended in bis own confusion and shame.
The adherents to the Church are now mostly
convinced that the position Of the Church is en-
tireiy indefensible, and few will venture the
attempt at this ungodly and satanic work. Very
many have said to us, Il know that your charges
are true | know and deplore the pro-slavery
character Of the Church and her ministry. but ]
feel that / can do more good to remain in her con-
.%nection than | could if | separated myself from
o her, | once thought so too and, for more than
twenty years Of the best of my days, wasted my
strength in the fruitless attempt to reform the
3 Church and turn her great influence into the cause
Of God and humanity. What a miserable and
foolish philosophy is this that Il can do more
good By occupying a rroAg position than by stand
ing in atrtght one" The most ~effaGtual testimony
which we can bear against any wrong ard sinful
body is in separating from it. Indeed, this is the
only e~tfe;tual testimony we can bear. The politi-
clans have learned their philosophy from the
Church. But they acknowledge, as many have
done within a few days past, that we are right,
that their action cannot be defended on eternal
principles, but yet they think they can ''do more
glol' by remaining in the political parties for
the present.
To-day rs you are aware, is the annual election
in this State, as well as in ,ur own, and in lii
, nois. An immense excitement prevails. Last
Saturday evening, Senator Stuart lecturcd here in
defence of his course in voting for the Kansas
and Nebraska ill. Mr.. Colfax, member Of Con-
gress elect from Indiana la Fusionist), had spoken
q during the afternoon. As Mr.. Burleigh was II
d deliver an, address on Womar's Rights, it was
4 proposed by the Fusioris,s that | should attend
the meeting Of Senator Stuart, and be called olr
~ the clo OF h's speech for a reply. By the adj
vice of the friends, l consented when, however
the call was made, Charles Burleigh having en-
tered the Hall fifteen minutes before, | resigned
in his favor, by stating that rs the Senator hac
only repeated what had been said for the hun
dredth time by others, Mr.. B. would therefore BE-
nearly as well prepared to reply as if he hac
heard the Senator.
uid, Mr.. Stuart left the Hall, and his friends, to til,
y number Of about ten. rushed after him to the entry
sat the head Of the stairs, where they fingered
I spell-bOund aud mad, till the end.
- Burie;gh poured out a torront Of oloquenc,
b such as none but he can do, demolishing not onl,
the positions of tho Senator and his party, bu
u equally those of the Fusionists themselves. 0
81 il was rich To. hear these Fusionists shouting anC
bustamping, ina perfect tornado of enthusiasm, a
the demolition of their enemies, while they them
.k~selyes Jared not a whit lett r. As | had taker
!, pretty ~sc22i'uS notes Of Stuart's speech, it wa'
,sproposel that | should make a more formal reply
on ipday evening, whijhI was nothing loatli t
do. The niecting was crowded to the fall extent
OF the Hall, and we had a lively time.