Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-03-17
CORRESPONDENCE FROM INDIANA.
AsepbA, Stuben Co, Indiana, |
March Cd. 1855,

10 ne Editor o. hs Bugfe: The safneness oil
description, necessarily given of Anti-Slavert Ia
bor urou new ground has Of late deferred me
from ~inHicting communications Ct this character
upon your readers, hoping thereby to give place
~ something more in conformity to The tastes and
demands Of the people. But when | remember
the oft-repoated tales, and truths, that have for
centuries stood sentinel to genius and to worth,
thrilling some new cord Of being, by ever varied
account, and still forever new, to fresh existences,
and ever growing with recipient form and beauty,
l sind some slight apology for saying ''in a solemn
way" the very things you knew before.
And first of all you should soc the people Of tho
far of west-who bear in their relation to the
east, the poets personifcation Of 'the thirsty soul,
painting for the cooling water-brooks"--mado glad
and trusting, by the practical demonstration Of
rebellion to the slave power, from the pop ular vice
of Massachusetts, which but a few months ago came
near extinguishing the pickering hopes of millions
Of the north, who hung upon her action, the des
tiny Of human freedom, the glory of the world.
The election to the U. S. Senate of a man from
among the people, d man Of bone and muscle. and
Of healthy, vigorous conscience little
episode in Legislative Hall, where liberty in chains
struck out a march, that slavery fifty strong could
not DOGGY, or follow-Those baskets of petitions,
God speed their echo, frori the Pilgrim land, on
70 the broad lakes and prairies of the west, wher-
ever freedom lives and Slavery hunts its crouching
victims, with or without federal law. God save
the widows and orphans from the Judge whose
charity for a Stakeholder, fills heaven and earth
with worse than widows walls, or injured orphdhs
signs. The popular Anti Slavery lecturer admin
istered 80 we'll, and ~skillfully to New York and
Boston, not in infnitesimal pills, that neither kill
nor cure, but in broad ocean baths, with cores
ponding friction, which Mrs. Stowe so beautifully
tells, unfolded to the light of day, truths hidden
being, from the hearts of startled thousands.
There are signs, of great significance to those,
and they are many, who are sure, that something
amt right no how" but have no definite idea of
whore the wrong can end, or right begin, or which
side up the world would be-, if such q change should
come.
And here / cannot fail to no tice that bold, vel.
. come universal traveller the New York Tribune,
whose unwearied, dauntless footsteps we have
traced alike to homes of afluence and want. Homes
in the deep, dark forest. Cabins, where the light
of sun, and stars, enjoy their pristine freedom,
mingling their lessons with that weekly" orb
whose revolution brings the light and warmth that
DurbtS II Ciay-DOuHu eOut anu bnOOts III tcnQeT
blade a living thing, to bud and blossom and to
scatter golden seed, whose fruit shall heal the
nations.
The reports of those prime Anti-Slavery lectures
of Phillips, Emerson and Parker, before the cas-.
tern lyceums have been read, not only with avidity
and profoundest admiration, but with enthusi-
asiie hope and the deep, great heart of the people
west, throbs out q loud response to freedoms pulses
in the East, even though it be mo union with
slaveholding."
Here are however a great number, (which no
man can number" and when only greatness con-
sists in this, who are 'as much as ever" opposed
to agitation Of this question, among which are the
Methodist, Baptist aud Presbyterian demonstra-
lions. of which this new country is prolific. / say
this is their only greatness, because true greatness
has its foundation and validity in goodness.
Rev. James Smylie of the Amity Presbytery
Miss. in a pamphlet written in defence of Slave
holding ~alluding to the charges of Abolitionists.
admits the facts adduced by them, but denies their
criminality. lie says if Slavery be n sin, and
advertising and experimenting slaves with a view
to restore them to their masters, is a direct viola
ton of the divine law, and if the buying and sell
ing, and holding a slave for the sake Of gain, is a
heinous sin, and scandal, then verify, three JourthS
of all the Episcopalians, Methodists, Baptists, and
Presbyterians in eleven States of this union are OF
the Devil. And Bishop Soule in debate before the
General Conference of NJ. +. Church in 1914, ad-
mitting facts alledged of Slavery in the Methodist
Church, but not their criminality, said 'f Slavery
be such an evil our only alternative is, the re-or-
ganization of the Church or withdrawal from it, as
soon as possible" AS an apology for this great
evil, Bishop Soule read an extract form the ad.
dress Of the general superintendent of the NJ. 4.
Church, at their last session in 1910, from which
the following is an extract. Can we at this
evsntful time, render q better service to our coun,
try, than by laying aside all Interference with re
lations authorised and established by the civilians
and applying ourselves wholly and faithfully tc
what pertains to our high and holy calling, tc
teach and enforce the moral obligations of the Cos
pol, in application to all the duties growing out Of
all the relations in Society? By q dilligent devo
ton to this evangelical employment with humble
aud steadfast reliance upon the aid of divine in
Auence, the number of believing masters ant
servants, may be constantly increased, the kindes
sentiments and affections cultivated, domestic bur
dcns l~ightened, mutual confidence cherished, ant
tho peace and happiness of society be promoted
While on the other hand, if past history affords VI
any correct rules of judgement, there is mucl
cause to fear that the influence of our sacred Office
if employed in interference with the relation ii
sell, and consequently with the civil institutions o
the country will rather tend to prevent, than t.
accomplish these desirable ends" To this docu
ment said Bishop Soule (of which l have copieC
but q part) l desire that my name may be attached
till ] sleep in death. i desire to leaveit as q legac,
to my childrens children, even to the latest gener
alton and if ! could do it, / would leave it as
legacy to the Church. as a rule of action on thi
subject, when I shall be no more. This doctrine
Of no interference with the relation itself,
Bishop Soule and other Bishops of the NJ. E
Church, first eliminated in the General Confer
II 1909 l. .A.AlnA.A. .an.aI L. IlaI LII