Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-10-06

tint of Progressive Friends to that Of Friends Of
Human Progress.
The following resolutions, in regard to the i'm
%prisonmcnt OF our brother, Passmore Williamson,
were unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That we regard the Imprisonment Of
Passmore Williamson by Judge Kane MS a gross
outrage, and an act of absolute despotism' which
is q dark stain upon the character OF n nation
that processes to be governed by Christian and
Democratic principles.
Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with our
imprisoned brother, and would encourage him to
bear with n martyrs spirit the trials to which he
is subjected, believing that his incarceration is
arousipg the North to a perception of the wrong
which slavery is visiting upon its citizens, which
will in time lead them to feel so deep an interest
in the cause of our three millions of chattel slaves
as will induce them to labor for their emancipa-
ton.
The following letter to Judge Kane was adop-
ted:
From The Ohio Yearly Meeting Of Friends Of
Human Progress, noe in session in Salem, Ohio
to Judge Kane, Of Philadelphia:
JUDGE KANE: Your decision in the case of
PAssMorE WILLIAMSON, and your Imprisonment of
him for an alleged contempt of court, excited in
us feelings of mingled shame and indignation,
which the lapse of time has only deepened. Though
your official course for years past has been such rs
to merit and receive from the slave power the praise
which it bestows upon its faithful servants, the
imprisonment referred to indicated a depth of
moral depravity and subserviency to the odious
oligarchy which rules our land, which was to us
unexpected, and which, we rejoice to add, is as
rare as the deeds which made JcGrios' name a
stain upon the page of English history.
The theory of law is, that it is made for the pro-
lection of society-is designed as a terror to the
evil door, and not to the worker of righteousness.
But you appear to regard as true the converse of
this proposition, and by a perversion of law and
of fact, have converted the writ of habeas corpus
the great safeguard of liberty-into an instru-
ment of oppression, and by an exercise of power,
the legality of which is denied by many able ju-
rists, you imprisoned PAssMoRE WILLIAMSON for
truthfully responding ia the service of such a writ,
and called that truth contempt of COURT
Some have apologized for your conduct, deeming
it less an error of the heart than of the hea6-a
view which would seem more plausible, were it
not for the accumulated evidence of the past few
weeks. Jane johnson, in her testimony before a
legal tribunal in your own city, has most emphati-
cally shown that the return of the respondent was
true, and your assumption as wholly false; and
yet you have manifested no disposition to make
amends for the gross injustice you have done, no
wish to wipe from your name the stigma which
your official conduct has cast upon it.
In the excess of your zeal for the interests of
the slave power, you appear to have lost sight of
all Pennsylvania enactments in reference to slavery
within its borders, and have shown a determine
ton to construe all laws, State or National, not to
favor human liberty, but to strengthen human
bondage. By so doing, you have not simply
stricken down the rights of a citizen of Pennsyl-
vania, not merely brought disgrace upon a single
State of the Confederacy, but you have struck a
blow at human liberty the world over, and have
deepened the adherence which every true man
wherever he liyes-must feel Tor a government 50
false to its professions as the one you represent.
The liberalists Of Europe will mourn in deepest
sadness for the influence which your official course
has exerted against their cause, while its tyrants
will exult that you have so successfully laborcd for
the establishment of despotic power, for the
strengthening Of the bands of their oppression.
JUDGE KANE: We have no desire to regard you
as wholly destitute of moral feeling, and should
FJNNNNt ~ ~ ''S' "N hNNlJ w OViiOi III 1Ou SOllt
manifestations of a repentant spirit. We cannot, we
will not believe that your conscience is at case; that
you behold unmoved the rising waves of popular in
iignation which are even now surging at your very
feet; that the vision which nightly comes before
you of an imprisoned brother, and his sorrowing
wife, with their little ones pining for q fathers
love, makes no impression upon you that the con-
that the inheritance you will leave YOUR
children is a name which is spoken by all good
men only to be execrated, excites no emotion ; and
we adjure you for your own sake, for the sake of
your own household, for the sake of the great bro
therhood of man, to throw off the corrupting in
fuence which has brought you to your present de-
graded position, and by repairing the wrong you
have done while it is in your power, place yourself.
in an attitude alike honorable to yourself aud to
your country, whose ermine has been stained by
the infamy of your official course.
On behalf, and by direction of the meeting
ai0resaiu' Isaac PRESCOTT Clerks.
ESTHER HARRIS, OiofAs'
The following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved, That genuine anti-slayery consists in
laboring for the destruction of slavery wherever it
may exist, regardless whether it be within consti-
tutional limits, or without them; and for the en-.
tire reconstruction or abolition of all organizations,
institutions, laws or constitutions which sustain it
and for any abolitionist to aim at less than this is
to fritter away his strength and retard the coming
of the slaves deliyerance.
Resolved, That the standing committee be in
structed to prepare and forward to the Legislature
of this State, a petition, signed by as many women
and men as possible, praying such a change in the
laws of the State, as will secure to woman equal
tights with man.
Resolved, That the old method of teaching the
English language is an unphilosophical and absurd
one and that the method based upon the phonetic
system is vastly superior, and claims the attention
of all classes, especially OF those engaged in the
work of education.
The meeting adjourned to meet next year, at the
call of the committee on correspondence, &c.
ISAAC PRESCOTT