Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-05-12
SLAVERY IN THE TRACT SOCIETY.

1t is well known that while the publications
OF the American Tract Society condemn card
playing, dancing, uovel-reading, tho amusements
OF the circus and theatre, and the like, they are
utterly silent III regard to the Nominations of
American Slavery. Millions of our own country
men are, by law, prevented from reading the
Scriptures-are denied the conjugal and parental
relat OBS are sold in the market with brutes, and
are, with their posterity, doomed to vice, igno-
rance and depreciation. Yet, this religious So
ciety, which raises its voice against the iniquity
OF the ballroom, utters not a murmur against any
one OF these outrages against justice, mercy,
decency and Christianity. Nay, it would appear,
from its multitudinous publications, that it is
utterly unconscious Of the very existency of Anne
rican slavery.
Ministers, churches and religious periodicals
are protesting against the pro-slavery policy of
this Society but all in vain. Its press holds the
even tenor OF its way, rebuking all sins, great
ana little, except such as ARE committed against
men with dark skins; thus giving its silent, but
powerful, influence in behalf of slavery and its
indefinite extension. But whence is it that a
powerful religious institution, embracing among
its members multides who believe, with the
father Of methodism, that American slavery lis
the sum OF all v!llainies," is. nevertheless, thus de-
voted to the support of a system of cruelty and
practical heathenism? Whence is it that a So.
ciety mainly supported by the contributions Of
Northern Christians tits income the last year from
donations and legacies was $l56, 033, 48, of which
the slave States and TerritOr. es contributed only
S22,6 S3, 4Ol, carefully expurgates from its English
reprints every sentence that can, in any degree,
be distasteful to slaye-breedcrs, slaye-traders or
slave-tatchers?
The answer to these questions is to be found in
the Constitution of the Society. The members
who assemble at the annual meeting nominally
elect a Board Of t~hirty-six Directors. The annual
meeting is a promiscuous multitude, collected to
hear speeches.. AT the conclusion of the exer-
cises, and amid the hum and hustle of departure
a list Of Directors for the ensuing year, previously
prepared, is proposed for adoption. No ballots
given, no scrutiny is made of the persons present
entitled TO vote. To the list proposed a unani-
nous AYE" is responded, as a matter of course.
To give Il color OF nationality to the Society.
these Directors are selected from different parts
of the Union from Maine TO Louisiana, and even
California. Twelve form a quorum, and this
quorum is, Of course, taken from this city and
vicinity, and represents the commercial influence
of the Metropolis. The Directors have nothing 10
do directly with the selection of books and tracts
to be Published, but indirectly they render
the press as much subservient TO slavery as if il
were under the supervision of She New York Union
Safety Committee.
By the Constitution, the Directors appoint a
publishing Committee of no. less than three nor
more than six; and each member of this Com
mittee has an absolute, unqualified veto on every
tract proposed for publication. Latterly, as we
all know, the pro-slavery policy of the Society,
and the official declaration of the Secretary that
its present policy would not he changed, have ex-
cited much public animadversion, and the All.
tation is increasing. If complaint is made to any
Of the Directors, or other officers Of the Society
they may tell you that they are not responsible
FOR tho itsges Of the p'essi nay, hat even the