Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-07-28
Che Antt- 9Iapcrp Bllolc.
From the New York Evening Post,
NOW AND THEN.


whoso yellow and Ssded leaves and antique typo
otesttts age and the rudeness of the typographical
arts in ante-revoutionary times, the title of which
runs as fellows:
" Extract from the Votes and Proceedings of the
Amefican Continental Congress, held at Phila-
teiphia on the 5th of September, IVA, contain
tirg the Bill of Rights, q List of Grievances,
Occasional Resolves, the Association, an Address
to the People of Great Britain, and Memorial
to the Inhabitants Of the British American Col
onies. Published by Order of the Congress-.
Philadelphia, Printed: Boston, Reprinted: And
sold by John Boyle, in Marlborough ST. and
Mills and Hicks, in School St., l774."
From this venerable document we fcol tempted to
select several passages, which are in marked contrast
to present ideas, and exhibit at once the lbcrality
Of sentiment and the patriotism and primitive sim
plicty Characteristic Of the time.
Some of the contents of the volume are too we'll
known, or ought to be, to require quotation here;
but the articles of Association" SO called are
probably less familiar to readers. This asso-
citation was composed of all the Delegates to tho
Continental Congress. The preamble to the docu-
ment which bears date October 20, 1774, after
avowing the undiminishcd allegiance of its sub
scribers to the sovereign of Great Britain, and
regard fol their fellow-subccts at home and else
whero, and after rcciting their anxiety and appre
hensiOn at the grievances under which the colonies
are suffering, and to which they have given their
most serious attention. announces that tho present
unhappy state of affairs is occasiOnedlby the runous
system Of Colony Administration adopted by the
British Ministry in the year l7G3 Then follows
a recital of tho evils resulting from this system,
among which are enumerated the rojcct for rails
ing a revenue in America for dcprivng American
sub, ,ccts, in many instances, of the constitutional
trial by jury, and compelling those accused of
crimes, alleged to have been committed in America
to be illegally tried for them beyond tho seas: the
oppressive acts passed respecting the town of Bos
ton and the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, and the
establishment of an arbitrary government in the
Province of Quebec, as barrier against the pro-
gress of free principles.
As means of obtaining redress for these gricv-
ancos, the delegates are of opinion that non-im-
portation, non-consumption and non-exportation
agreement, faithfully adhered to, will prove the
readiest measure, and, accordingly, for themselves
and the several colonies whom they represent they
firmly agree and associate, under sacred ties of
virtue, honor and love of country" to carry the
same into effect.
1t is refreshing, if occasionally it should provoke
a smile, to read these records Of the sturdy self
denial which our fathers imposed upon themselves
in that troubled era, for wo know that it was an
honest assembly which uttered these sentiments,
whose intentions sincere their words.
AS curious instance of this liberaty Of senti-
mcnt on much-ycxed question, of which VIC re-
grct to say the present age can scarcely find q
parallel, we quote the second OF tbesc articles of
association, which reads as follows:
purchase any slave imported after the first day of
December next; after which time We will wholly
discontinue the slave trade, and will neither be
concerned in it ourselves, will we hire our YES
sells, nor sell our commodities or manufactures to
those who are concerned in it,"
This is bold and noble language for the era Of
IVA, when the slave trade was not only legalzcd
traffic, in which any one might embark with honor
and safety, but source of profit to many; and
the fortunes of not few Of those who signed this
article were bound up in slave property.
Slavery, though yet tolerated in some of the
northern States, had already begun to retire. as an
institution, to the neighborhood of its present linz
its, and the feelings of northern and southern
upon the subject, if not openly expressed, were
still decided enough to discountenance the idea
that common sentiment on the question of slavery
prevailed throughout the country. Hence the
action of the southern delegates in this instance
comprising such men as Poyton Randolph Presi-
dent of the Congress Lee, Washington and Henry
of Virginia; Gadslcn and tho Rutledgcs of South
Carolina, large Shareholders and possibly impor-
tors of slaves, exhibit patriotism and conscicn
tiousness with which the conduct of some of their
descendants is in strange contrast.
We find the names of delegates from five Of the
present slave States affixed to this instrument. We
quote them in full for the benefit of their poster
ity:
Caesar Rodney, Thomas McKeen,
George Read.
MARYLAND.
Matthew Tilghman, Thomas johnson,
William Paca, Samuel Chace.
Richard Henry Lee, George Washington,
p. Henry, Jr., Richard Bland,
Benz Harrison, Edmund Pendeton.
NORTH CAROLINA.
William Hooper, Joseph IIews,
II. Caswell.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Henry Middleton, Thomas Lynch,
Christopher Gadsden, John Rutledge,
Edward Rutlcdge.
AS the objects contemplated by tho association
would necessarily impoverish the country to no
inconsiderable extent, it was indispensable that
habits of frugality should be encouraged and all
unnecessary expenditure be discountenanced by
all classes of society and we accordingly find the
ueiegates adopting article to that effect, which,
while exhibiting their willingness to endure priya-
lion Tor principles sake, gives quaint picture
OF the customs and propreties of the olden times,
IT - as follows;
"E;ga.M.,. Resolved, That we will, in our several
Citations, encourage frugality economy and indus
:. and promote agriculture, arts, and the manu-.
eyth,ro of this country, especially that of wool
d ,r;i ds, Nuntenance and discourage every spe.
ces of extravaga,ro and dissipation, especially all
r EorsCracing % and all h,nds of gaming Ockhghtng
exhibitions of shows plays ana other expensive
Of onv relation or friend, of u.s. or any of our
G,n;Hss ~ will 60 into any further mourning dress
iami'S Iaot -.ue or ribbon on the arm or hat fol-
caatlsmen au and black r4hhon and neokaCe s O iOi
ladies, and we will discontinue the b e''N' e'''''
or scarfs at funerals"
If the minuteness of detail in describing these
latter articles of luxury should provoke smile, II
is necessary to remember tnaV tue vv...,,
cumstance which our ancestors bestowed on rtIno
raj celebrations vas often carried to an eAton un
common In modern times and it was to check any
useless manifestation of this wellknown species Of
'ion, that this provision was inserted '''''N