Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-02-24

Hon. Chas. Z. Adams delivered the eighth lee
ture OF the Anti-Slayery course, at the City Hail.
on Thursday evening last
After few appropriate remarks, in which he
regretted that there had been so much violence in
the agitation of the Slavery question, though he
did not know as it could have been avoided, and
saying that Slavery mover could be extnguished
by invective, he proposed to consider
i. What makes the question of Slavery Ma
tional question
2. How shall it be treated by the people?
Slavery, he said, exists in at least fifteen of
tl;e,thirty-one States of our Union. The number
of Slaves in these states exceeds Three Millions
q number greater than the entire population of
the Colonies at the time of the Revolution. If
for the next eighty years we allow the same pro-
portionate increase of population that we have had
for the last eighty years, may safely conclude
that in that time the number of slaves will exceed
the entire population at the present time. Think
of Twenty-Six Millions of human beings reduced
to all the cruelties Of Savery-bought and sold
and whipped Can it be maintained for moment
that our relations to such fact should not be q
subject of anxiety for all ?
We are told that Slavcryi is confined 70 the states
which foster it, and that we have nothing to do
with it, But is it true that such prod gous mum
Der of men be kept in state of ignorance and
degradation, and effect only so small proportion?
The Shareholders can have as much effect on the
legislation Of the country as we ourselves and
and they will be sure so to WELD it as to involve US
in the consequences of this oppression Ii then,
am asked what makes this question OF n2tonai
concern. / answer: there is an oyerpowering ne
cessty which makes it such.
1t has been custom to charge the excitement
of this question to few individuals. But this
is the device of the defenders Of Slavery, who
shut their eyes, and blame others whodo see. Let
me ask if it be granted that ut some time the
Der of slaves will make this national question:
what matter tchen it is so regarded? Instead Of
those yyho started the anitation of this nupStiOu
being fanatics and ncondaries, they were faith
full to wise and honest convictions of duty. The
time had come in Gods providence for this question
to become a national question. The anti-slavery
interest is not mere local interest. 1t has both
deep root and widespread branches. The root is
deeply embedded in Christian hearts its branches
are as wide spread as Christian hopes and aspira-
tions. When the Great Teacher on earth he
told of the sower who went cut to scatter soed-
Some fell by the -side-some stony places,
and some on good SOIL which sprung up and bore
fruit The truth of this parable has been verified
for nearly two thousand years a truth has nev-
er been exterminaed. The circumstances of its
success have often changed, but it has never been
blotted out. In some unexpected moment some
germ will spring up and expand into the air, and
live in the light. When the auti-savery seed was
first scattered, it seemed to fall on stony ground.
Even the Puritans of Massachusetts had recorded
that no slave should be baptized, lest the baptism
should set him free. But ever since the time it
was promul gated, it has been gaining ground
and seeking its natural home, the altar of the
church. 1t is a religious sentiment. With poll
ties, such it has nothing to do; and hence 1t
is useless to expect to get rid of the question
After brief Indifference. few hearts began to
swell under the CONSCIOUSNESS Of neglected duty.
There were more than few. They were from!
the level Of community, without a hard to guide
their endeavors. Their voice as the voice oi
one crying in the wilderness, with but few to lis
ten. They were mostly women. They understood
that great sin existed in the land, and that they
were called upon to raise the cry and help to arouse
the Nation to sense of its guilt and without
the study and consideration Of cunning politicians,
they commenced their task.
The organization of the Female nti-Slavery
Society of Boston, was the beginning cf the great
struggle with slavery. it consisted of twelve
members Perhaps this was fanaticism 1t was
enthusiasm, to say the least; but how could II
have been avoided? Their creed contained the
single doctrine that slavery wrong, and there
fore ought to be abolished. Yet they specified
no means for the accomplishment Of the work.
Indeed it is probable that they did not CON-
prehend the Importance of the movement, nor un-
derstand the means by which their wishes could
be realized.
The women composing this society having no
fear of politicians nor respect Of persons, invited
George Thompson distinguished British Abo-
litionist to address them. Had they been as wise
as politicians, they would have forseen the hand
ling that would be made of this. And yet it does
not seem that speech from foreigner need to
have been regarded as such an offence. Kossuth
certainly deserved much censure in this respect
rs George Thompson. Yet the citizens were infu-
rated and gathering of respectable well dressed
gentlemen rushed to the building where the meet
ing was to be held, and not finding the object of
their wrath, wreaked their vengeance upon the
old sign which toldth world that the Female Anti
Slavery Society met there. Would they had stop
ped there. But threats were made, which had
they been executed, would have stained the
n Massachusetts n
ker Hill nor Plymouth rock could ever wipe out.
they attempted to wreak their vengeance upon
William Lloyd Garrison, but the Mayor sue
ceeded in protecting him from the fury of the
mob, by confning him with meleiactors in
Jail.
These events altered the character of the Sla
very issue. 1t now became a question whether
men and women should be allowed to discuss the
sublect,an give free utterance to their conviction:
of right; those women were made heroines by the
acts of their prosecutors
Let it not be said that these were local outrages
and did not involve the nation at large
A few weeks before this event, at meeting o.
the citizens of Boston, q resolution was adopted
suggesting, if not recommending, the passage o.
"a law which should suppress the agitation OF th'
slavery question. Soon after the Legislature
Massachusetts, met, and the executive message
was submitted, suggesting that the authorities b'
enlisted in suppressing all agitation of the sub
iect Yet these women did continue to hold meet
ings in spite of the storm of opposition raised
against them.
Had their opponents taken wise course, anC
not raised this stormy opposition, the movemen
might have been confined to few persons, an(
those such were lily calculated to do serious
injury to the slave power, as it appears they hav
since misapprehend the nature and design of th
movement lPhianthropic, they are yet denunca
tory and intoerant to those who differ with them il
opinion. Religious they yet associate and cooper
nte with those who disregard all religion Pat
riotc, they yet 60 with those who tread closely OF
the confines Of treason.