Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-05-19

hS oiNth pIohcUteut u WHAt extent, VI any, sllul
onmpensatiOn be allowed to the slavo-mastcrs
Clearly, it tho point be determined hy absolute
Jusftcc, not the masters, but the slaves, VIII be en-
titled to compensation for it ia the slaves who,
throughout weary generations, have been deprived
Of their toll and all its fruits, which won't to enrich
their masters. Besides, it seems hardly reason
able to pay for tho relinqnishnient ot those DISCUS
ting abuses" which, IN their aggregation, consti
tute the bundle of Slavery. Pray, Sir, 10y what
tariff. price curront, or principle Of equation, shall
their several values he estimated What sum shall
DO counted out rs the proper price for the abandon.
ment OF that pretehsiOn-nUre indecent than the
jus prime noctiS Of the feudal age which leaves
woman, whether in the arms Of master or slave,
always q concubinD1 What bribe shall be pofered
for the restoration of G~od-given parental rights ?
What money shall be paid for taking off the pad.
lock by which souls are fastened down in darkness?
How much for n quit-claim to labor now meanly
cxacted by the strong from the weuk2 And what
compensation shall be awarded for the surrender
of that e%gregious assumption, condemned by reason
and abhorred by piety, which changes q man into
a thingr l put these questions without underta-
king to pass upon them. Shrinking instinctively
from any recognition OK rights founded on ucIoRgS,
l find myself shrinking also from any austore YER
diet, which shall deny the means necessary to the
great We seek. Our fathers. under
Washington, did not hesitate, by Act of Congress-,
to appropriate largely for the ransom Of white
fellow-citizens cnslaved by Algerine corsaiIs; and,
following this example, l am disposed to consider
the question of compensation as one of espcdicncy,
TO be determined by the ~exigency of the hour and
the constitutional powers Of the Government
though such is my desire to see the foul fend of
Slavery in fight. that | could not hesitate to bri'i
even a bridge OF gold, if necessary, to promote his
escape.
The Practcdbaity Of tho Anti.Slsvery Enter
prise has been constantly questioned, often so
specifically as to be answered at once. l shall
not take time to consider the allegation, founded
on considerations of economy, which audaciously
assumn that Slave Labor 10 mara ndvoutuUanus
than Free LabOr-that Slavery is more profit.
able than Freedom for this is all exploded by
the official tables Of the census nor that other
futile argument, that the slaves are not prepared
for Freedom, and, therefore, should not be precip-
itated into this condition--for that is no better
than the ancient Greek folly, where the anxious
mother would not allow her son to go into the
water until he had first learned to swim. But as
against the Necessity of the Anti-Siavery Enter
prise, there were two chief objections. SO, also,
against its Practicability are there two the first
founded on its alleged danger to the master; and
the second, on its alleged damage to the slave
himself.
/. The first objection, founded on the alleged
danger TO the master, most generally takes the ex-
travagant form, that the slave, it released from
his present condition, would cut his masters throat.
Here is a blatant paradox, which can pass for rea-
son only among those who have lost their reason.
With an absurdity which finds no parallel except
in the defences Of Slavery, it assumes that the
African, when treated justly, will show a vindica-
tiveness which he does not exhibit when treated
u%njustly that when elevated by the blessings of
Freedom, he will develop an appetite for blood
which he manifested when crushed by the curse of
bondage. AT present, the slave sees his wife raw
ishol from his arms- sees his infant swept away
to tho auction biock-Sees the heavenly gate Of
knowledge shat anon him-Sees his industry and
all its fruits unjustiy clutched by aaother-sees
himself and offspring doomed to II servitude from
which there is no redemption and still his master
sleeps SECURE. Will the master sleep less secure
when the slave no longer smarts under these revol-
ting atrocitiess | will not trilie with your inteil;-
gencs. or with the quick-passing hour, BY arguing
this question.
But there is a lofty example, Frightening the
historic page, by which the seal of experience is
affixed to tne conclusion Of reason and you would
hardly pardon me it l fiicd to adducc it. BY
virtue OF 4 single Act Of Pertinent, the slaves Of
British West inl!eS we're changed ut once 10 freed
men aai tins great transition WAS accomplished
abso!u.ciy without personal danger OF amy kind to
,he master. And yet the ciance of danger there
Nhs greater Tar Than among us. In our broad
eoanlry, tue slaves are oversradowed by more than
sik.iold white population. Only in two States
oIush . sroiitl and Mis,issippi--do the slaves out
number Tie whites. and there but slightly while
Ii tao entire Slave SiatcS, tho whites outnunbcr
the slaves By many millions. But it WAS otherwise
III he British West Indies, where the whites were
Overshadowci by Il more than slX-ioId slave pOpu-
lttlon. The slaves were 100000. while the whites
numbered only l3l 900, distributed IN different por-
tons on tho different ISLANDS, And TINS disprUppr-
ton has since Increased rather than diminished.
always without d anger to The wh,Ics. In JamaiGa,
the largest of these possessions, there are moss up
wards Of 100000 Africans, and only 1000 whites
in Barbados, the next largest possessions there
are 10000 Africans, and only 10000 wliitesI III
ST. Lucia, 10, 800 Africa ms, and only 600 whites:
in Tpoago. Il 900 Africans, and only GOO whites
in Montserrat, 5000 Africans and only $50 whites :;
and in the Grenadines, upwards of 1000 Africans
and less than so whites. And yet, in all these
places, the authorities attest the good behavior of
the Africans. Sir Lionel Smith, the Governor Of
Jamaica, in his speech to the Assembly, declared
shat their conduct proves how well they deserved
the boon Of Freedom" Another Governor Of an
other island dwells on the peculiar rare instances
OF the commission of grave or sauguinary crimes
among the emanripated pOrtioa Of these islands :"
and the Queen If England, in Il speech from the
throne has announce that the complete aud final
emancipation of the Africans had taken place
without any disturbance Ut public order and tran
guilty" In this example | hail new confirmation
Of the rule that the highest safety is in doing right;
and thus do | dismiss the objection founded on the
alleged dangers to the master.
2. And | am now brought to the second ohjec-
ton, founded on the alleged damage TO tic stare. 1t
is common among tho partisans of Slavery, to assert
that our Enterprise has actually retarded tho very
cause It sacks to promote; and this paradoxical
accusation, which might naturally show itself
among the rank weeds Of the South, is cherished
here on our Northern soil, by those who anxiCusly
look for any is-leaf with which to cover their indii-
ference or regeneration.
This peculiar form of complaint is an old device,
which has been instinctively employed on other
occasions until it has ceased to be even plausible.
Thus, throughout all times, has every good cause
been encountered. The Saviour was nailed to the
cross with n crown of thorns on his head, as n dis
turber of that peace on earth which he came to de
clare. The disciples, while preaching the Gospel
Of forgiveness and good will, we're stoned as
preachers of sedition and discord The reforners,
who sought to establish a higher piety and faith,
were burnt at the stake as blasphemors and inf
'dels. Patriots, in all ages, who have striven for
their ~countyr's good, have been doomed to the
scsfold or to exile,even as their c%ountry's enemies,
And those brave Englishmen. WHO, at home. under