Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-06-02
ANTI-SLAVERY BUGLE.
SPEECHES
ArT THE
ANNIVERSARY OF THE
AMERICAN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY.
SPEECHES
MR. GARRISoN'S SPEECH.

MR. GARRISON'S SPEECH.
am almost totally at variance with the slave.
holding portion of this great nation but in one
thing | am at entire agreement with them
agree entirely with the declaration of the Richmond
Examiner, to this effect;
There is no intelligent man, Of anv party or
soction Of the United States, who does not know
and feel that the question of Slavery is the vital
question of this Republic-more important in its
bearings upon the destiny of the American people
than all other questions, moral, POLITICAL and re-
gious, combined. Politicians may cry pcsce; but
there is no peace for the Shareholder"
endorse this statement as true in every partic-
ular There is but one great issue before this ma
ton; there is but one issue; and that pertains to
the triumph either of liberty or slaverv-ether to
the salvation or to the overthrow of our republic
1t is also true that there is peace for tho slave
holder; and while there lives on the American
soil one human being in whose bosom there is a
spark of liberty left alive. there shall be no peace
to the STAKEHOLDER until he epents. tapplause)
In the year 1882 1 went from the Oil Bay State
to the city of Baltimore for the purpose of editing
an anti-slavery journal, with design expressly
and exclusively to seek the liberation of two mil
lions of slaves at that period held in bondage,
whose complexion differed from my own. Little
did dream ut that hour that it not simply
the cause of the black that I went there to
plead, but the cause Of every nj IN living in this
co,ntry; that it vas n question wide as the whole
world in the settlement of which there is na-
ton or people not directly interested. Little did
think that went there to seek the liberty of white
men. What had to desire at that time? ? | was
nm American citizen, recognised such; the star
spanged banner waved over my head trump phant-
ly; had my constitutional rights guaranteed To
me; the whole land was my country; whereve
might choose to 60, | could travel safely; whenever
wished t, speak. | could give free utteranee to
my thought So 1t seemed to me then; 50 then
verify Supposed and in that respect 1t was Il work
of dlsinterestcd philanthropy seek the deliver
ance Of those who had flag waving over their
heads to protect sthem, 80 constitutional cuaran-
ties whereby their rights could he protected, nu
country which they could call their own. Bat in
all this found, at last, that was entirely miSl-
ken only, ut that time, saw 'men rs trees walk
ing'-only the black man; but now | see the
the white mani sec all men in this country, and
SO far as this country has any influence upon the
destinies of the world see all mankind embraced
in this great question, directly or indirectly. III
regard to constitutional rights, | stand here not
having forfeited my right to 90 where please IN
the United States have right to speak where
please and rs L please; but you all know thar foi
me there Is NJ country that can call my own
that in two-thirds of the territory OF thus nation
may not venture, except ut the peril Of my iic -
My crime IL. that jelieve in the Declaration ..
American Independence. and in its being carried
out impirtaily towards al ilnmuH beings CAi,tiu-
on American soil. M milu complains of me tina
mans detrimcnt and | have endeavured u II,
humbly what might to aid and to bless the Ian,
OF my birth. But am an outlaw to-day Ther,
is constitution for me- there is no Iation tor me
there is no law to protect me AS an American uu
zen; and so the struggle has become struggle tu
all men who desire to possess liberty III their owl
persons and to see liberty prevail throughout til,
earth. My case is singular only because uthe
men have not borne their testimony against th
sum of all yillanies. No matter who the man mU'
be VIII, shall desire 10 arraign slavery sill
against GJd and an outrage upon our common hu
manitv no matter where the man may stand, %
what mty be his present popularity, or what ma.
be the uu.nDer of his friends the moment he shai
dare to cali in question the divinity of slavery an,
its right to exist our SOIL the moment lie shal
say that it ought tu be abolished SON etme or 9th
er, Il little while at least before the day of Judg
ment if he says no more than that, he shall fin,
that he can no longer travel safely in the Southern
States, and that he is to that extent an outlaw ii
that portion of the country.
/ wish to give little documentary evidence "a
it respects the of the friends of freedom
at the South. Let me give you what receJeH'
conference.-the Rev. Mr.. Brnwnlow-says ough
TO be the treatment of all those found the Sout
who have IN their hearts any opposition To the hoF
ribe system Of slavery. In his paper he says;
1.-The true-hearted citizens Of East Tennessee
and property holders, ought to enter into ieagtes
and whip, black and ride on rail, irrespective .
age, calling or FAM associations, every preacher
citizen traveller who dares to utter word il
opposition to slavery, or who is found in posses
sion of an Abolition document. These are ou
sc ailments, and we are willing and ready to he'll
others to carry them out"
This Is II specimen of Southern piety; it is
reCerend gentleman who says this-that ever
preacher who dares to utter a single word agains
slavery ought to be tarred and teathered, ana rid
den ON a rail, and otherwise despitetuily used AN
i'll treated, because of his opposition to slavery
and he says he is quite ready for one, to help pu
on the tar and hold the rail.
Not long since, u man had to flee for his lif
from Missouri; what account? He had sal
nothing there against slavery; the accusation
not that he undertook to meddle with the slav
question the soil Of Missouri. What did he d
that made it necessary for him finally to flee to
his life? lie wrote letter to friend in Me-
Hampshire the State from which he came. Ii
was a school-tcacher in Mis- ouri, and the lette
accidentally, or by design, got opened at the pos
oihce, and he was detected in having written to hi
friend in New Hampshire these sentiments,
"For Southern men, born and nurtured in III
mids' OF slavery. and even taught to believe it
ritbt al to upholdit, have the deepest sympath
and respeo..: hut for that Northern man whose &c
ucation, conscience ana experience all teach hi
better and vet who comes here and becomes til
anolocist tor and uses his influence in favour 1
slavery have the most unmitgated contempt
is the basest sacrifice of principle to selfish eDd
and proving recreant to that which every Norther
freeman especially must feel and know is the V
tally Of our Republic, the safeguard to societ,
the element of national prosperity in every inst
tuition that tends 10 elevate and dignity man."
s. That was all that he did. lie had respect an
sympathy for southern shareholders born and nu
tured in the midst of sla9erY aud surrounded L
that institution, but for northern men Sho wei
South and became Shareholders. and the worst d
feRders Of the system, he had nothing but eo
tempt. lie pat these sentiments on paper, III
letter intended ts be seen by no other person tha
the one To whom it was addressed in the State
New Hampahire; and yet, as soon as it was know
what he had written, he bad to fee for bis life.
will give you what the editor Of the Mississirpi'
tays0n the subject;