Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-06-16
THE FUSION MOVEMENT.

The Wilmington Independent, gives expression
to the honest and earnest anti-slavery sentiment
Of its editor in the following paragraphs relative
to the character of the political action necessary to
make the north free. 1t is, in fact to give Fl eedom
10 the slave. The position is a true and sensible
one and we commend it to to the attention Of our
readers who are now exercised about "union" and
Success"
We attended the State Convention held at Co.
luntbus on the 18th of July last as a delegate, with
an ardent desire that the Anti Slavery elements Of
all the political parties might unite on a thorough
and uucompromising Anti-Slaycry basis. We
were then in favor of a fusion, not Of discordant
elements, in Ohio, whatever might have been their
former political associations. We did hope
that that Convention would have taken the position
that the inhuman, anti-rcputlican and atheistical
Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 should be Immediately
and Internationally repealed. aud that Congress
should abolish slavery whenever it has jurisdic-
ton over it. This hope was inspired in our Dos
ON by a belief that the great masses Of the people
of Ohio demanded the repeal Of this atrocious act,
and the standardization of Slavery. We hoped
for, and desired to see such n concentration of
the Anti-Slavery influence aud power of Ohio.
But alas our hopes were blasted. That great
Convention gave evidence Of its basely pro-slavery
character and evinccd a timidity unworthy the
spirit of Ohio Freemcn. Ii manifested q want OF
moral courage, as well as moral honesty, which
was degrading to enlightened humanity. 1t mere
ly expressed its opposition to the further extension
of slavery, and the admission Of any more slave
States into the Union.
We were grieved ard disguised at the pusallan-
unity of that Convention. We returned home
feeling no interest in the movement. We then
said, and we maintain the same position now that
a mere defensive position in regard to slavery will
not suffice; that we must he aggressive in our
movements in regard to this evil. We must en-
list in an uncom promising crusade against the
existence of slavery. 1t is 4 crime against God
and humanity therefore should be destroyed. We
have no right to proclaim an armistlce with IT.
and it is cUwardly for any Convention Of a pro-
fessedly Anti-Slavery character, to refuse to pass
resolutions condemnatory of the existence of o
crime of so great magnitude as that of slavery
Slavery is aggressive upon freedom. 1t has al
ready enslavcd three millions Of Americans, and
twenty millions more are in process of becoming
enslayed, and unnumbered future generations mas
be enslaved unless slavery itself be destroyed,
We do not wish to be considered identified with any
political movement which does not contemplate
the entire and immediate enforcement of theGenera
Government from the existence of slavery. We
would rejoice to SEQ the Anti-Slavery voters Of
Ohio without regard to their political differences
unite in n thorough and harmonious party of Free
dom, and triumph over slaveocracy in Ohio. Blu
such n result as this, need not, and cannot be ex
pected from n fusion OF such elements ms composed
the State Convention of July last. You can NJ
more unite the architects Of the Baltimore Platform
with those of the Pittsburgh, than you can unit
oil and water, they have no afinity-they arr
emphatically amtipodeS. But there is an afinit,
existing between true Anti-Slavery men every
where, and we nope they will not let their infu
ence be weakened by divisions in their ranks, o
by afiliating with a set Of Whig-Knuw-N othin,
political wire workers who care no more abou
the triumph of freedom, or the redemption of tn
slave, than they care about justice and truth.