Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-07-21
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BY THE hon. C.. W. JULIAN.

Hi. IfHttciV Ni'd GtitrW tUtScHS'
confess to some degree of embarrassment in
approaching the discussion Of the Slavery question
at this ciisis in its history 1t has assumed an at
titude SO novel and peculiar in its relations to
American Politics, and is so complicated with
strange and alien elements, that | can scarcely
hope to present my views Of present duty without
giving offence to some, and perhaps arousing Il
certain antagonism among those who have hereto
fore walked together as brethren. My task is q
delicate one, and | regret, sincerely, the causes
that have made it 50. shall, however, in the ex-
ercse of free speech, and with that plaiuness
which am accustomed to employ, give utterance
to my own deliberate convictions, holding no man
or party responsible for them, and only asking, in
their behalf, such consideration as they may be
entitled to receive at our hands.
desire to address myself to-day, to Anti-Sla-
very men; and ] begin by rcmarkng that the
grand obstacle to the spread of free principles is
the lack Of ust comprehension of our movement.
1t is not only grossly misconceived by the great
body of the people, but many, fear, who are set
apart by common consent as its peculiar friends,
either do not understand, perceive but dimly, its
real magnitude. The cause of Human Rights is
not one to be dragged down to the level of our
current politics, and cOnOunded with the strife of
parties and the schemes of placo-hunters. 1t is
not to lie hawEed about in the political market
and advocated with zeal which instantly OK pires
Wien the temporary occasion Of it has disappeared
We dishonor the cause, and bring our own integ-
llty llJO QUESTION, MHCu We SuACT III 10 Dp 1llCSu
alongside of the comparatively trifing and cphem-
era questions of the day, and to be dealt with as
such, instead of eevating it to the dignity of
great moral enterprise, to be steadily prosecuted
whether honor, advantage, and immediate success
on the one hand or obloquy suffering, and present
defeat, on the other shall be the result Of our f.
deity. The question of Human Freedom is not
question of one nation, or one race but of all ma
tons, and all races. Ours is pre-emnentv
Christian movement. Its grand idea, its central,
lle-givng principle is the equal brotherhood of all
men before their common Father in Heaven and
its mission is the practical vndication of this
truth. We are to make it the animating spirit of
the religion, the morality, and the politics Of this
nation. We are to rescue the doctrine of COM
mon brotherhood from the limbo of unmeaning alb
stractions, and make it incarnate in the popular
heart. Zone God, one Humanity one Love from
All for AlP'-this is the platform of the Abolition
is and this is the platform of the Christian. The
work VIC are striving 20 accomplish, therefore, CO.
incides with Christianity itself The obstacles
which oppose the liberation of three and q hall
millions of American slaves, are the obstacles
which oppose every enterprise looking to the reigr
of ''peace on earth and good will to men," Con
tempt for humanity is the foundation of Slavery,
and of every species of oppression and wrong
respect for humanity is the foundation of Free
dem, and the grand condition of the worlds ad-
vancement Abrogate the infdel law of Hate
which regards man as a child of the devil and en-
throne in its stead the Christian law Of Love
which reverences him as the child and moral like
ness of his Maker, and not only viii! the chains of
the slave fall asunder, but the curses of land
monopoly, the cruel exRctions OF capital over
labor, the cold-blooded rapacity of avaricc, and
every other form of "man's inhumanity to
man." will be sent bowling from the face of the
earth.
Here, Mr. Chairman, on the great Rock Of
Christianity. and on no narrower Trailer found.
alton, should we erect the altar of Freedom and
here SlOull Otfpr S0crifpnS This ic
the only true standpoint for the Anti-Slavery
party in the United Satcs and We should reso-
lutely and untedly maintain it in the face of all
opposition. Principles and policy alike require
that we stand on Christian ground, and on nc ac-
count should we iOrego position which alone
can render our cause impregnable and which is so
much needed to cheer under the many discour
Iagements to which it is perpetually subjected
We are branded as infdels Let us say to the
world that wage war against Slavery Jccause iuc
are Christians, and that to rghtfully belongs
the prerogative of sitting in Judgment upon the
popular religion of the country, and pronounc-
ing upon it according to its fidelity or infdelity
to the great doctrine of human brotherhood. We
are upbraided with having but zone idea" Let
US reply, that VIC borrowed it from the New Tcsta-
ment in which we find it appealing to us as the
zone idea" Of the Founder of our religion, and
That that idea is large enough to comprehend the
moral universe. We are charged with an undue
measure of zeal in the advocacy of cause
Let us answer, that the system of American Sla
very is the hugest and most frightful denial OF
| the central truth Of our religious faith, the most
atrocous libel upon Justice and Humanity, that
now confronts Heaven on any part Of our globe
We are reproached with our weakness party,
and sometimes our own doubling hearts whisper
| to us that our struggles have proved but so many
failures Let remcmbeg, that so holy an en-
terprisc must necessarily Encounter every form OF
human scllishness, and be subject to those con-
dtions by whch every other good work has been
retarded: that, in the nature of things, it can
only keep pace with the gradual but slow pro-
gress OF Christian principles in the community
and while we thus learn lesson OF patience,
let us ever bear in mind that Heaven itself is
pledged to the ultimate success OF our sincere en-
ldeayOrs.
That our movement is not understood, not uni
formy referred to the grand principle which un-
derlies it, seems quite evident from the want Of
any deep and pervadng condition of the wrong
fuiaoss OF Slavery, among the people oe the free
States Our adherence OF the institution is from
the lips and not from the heart. We do not hate
it with an earnest and robust hatred that goes out
into deeds, but with sickly and superficial aver
sion, that yields no result, unless it be to debauch
the conscionce. We hate the negro with practi-
cal vengeance. 1t is no counterfeit, no mere dis
guise, but blightinG scathing, ever-present ha-
tred under which the cOlored race withers and is
consumed in our midst Ask The people of Indi-
ana if they haeiSlayoryand they will point you to
their Constitution and laws iorbidding colored
lncn from coming into the State, denying those
who are in, the right of suffrage, taxing them to
support tho Government whilst refusing them any
share in the school fund forbiddng them to testify
in our courts, and even questioning their right tc
travel on railways Ask the people OF Illinois
the question, and they will point to still 6lackcl
code than that Of their adjoining neighbcr. Dc
the people of Ohio hate Shycry2 The Genera
School Board of the chief city Of the State recent
ly sanctioned the exclusion of l0hiie lad from