Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-08-16
ArwATER, Aug. 5, 1856.


For the Buslc.
The sentiment of Political justice is manifestly
active in the minds of the people of the North;
and we may add, is the predominant sentiment az
far as sentiment is concerned. But it is only with
the few most literally developed, leading minds,
that this is allowed the controlling influence, in
action; or has reached above the neutralizing ele-
ment of compromise. With the mass of voters it
is only yet found to be, on a fair trial, a feeble sem
timentality, unable to CONTROL the will, or redeem
their own actions from sclf-reprehension.
1t has long since died out in the South; perhaps
seventy years since, with the Yankee improvement
in spinning cotton. To entertain, or express its
like now makes n man subject to genera. derision.
lie is a mad man there, classed with those who be.
lieve in Woman's Rights, Spirit Rappings. &C., as
the most unmitigated of humbugs. The days #
witchery are over, or they would doubtless share
the fate of sorcereIs a century since.
1t must be obvious to every one that the Radical
Abolition sentiment pre-includes the non-extension
of slavery. 1t must be as obvious to every one,
that the 'limitation" policy never will, or can, eff
feet, either the limitation, or abolition of slavery,
if we are to draw our conclusions from the past.
The aggressive measures of slavery have been
eeNSSooiui III cNeIy tuu III our history, anu
have been multiplied in accelerated ratio upon us.
No available Anti Slavery party has ever sprung
up in the, say, eighty years of the history of the
Government whose manifesto has dared to reach a
peg higher than "Himitation, non-ertention." To-
day, the Census figures show slavery to have in
creased upon us, in round numbers, sesen .fdi.-
And to-day we find, as though the past contained
no lessons of Experience-the same feebly defen-
sive party, calling on the world to witness, that
they disciaim all thoughts Of aggression. That in
candor, they only intend as the highest bid of de-
votion for freedom to act on the defensive in the
point of ne,c territory. That we do not aspire to
ask that Slavery be abolished; that the interstate
slave trade be abandoned. That we will render
obedience to all national enaotments though it be
blasphemy to call them laws: and we pledge obe-
dience to the fugitive slave law, even if it amount
to delivering our own mothers up to Slavery
Yes this is the tune and we are denounced as "fa
natics, if we don't dance to it, in order to make
Kansas a free State;"as though Kansas is the only
field over which The slave power may ask to extend
her dominions. Indeed we are told as in '52, as, IA,
&C., that as the scale turns 'this once" so is our
die cast for freedom or despotism! And strange.
this system of fiat humbuggery is licked up from
nc DeHlaS pSueS lis u ulSn OF rare MERIT.
Is this purely defensive doctrine said to be urg-
ed upon pure principles of Justice, or is it only
urged as a contest, or scramble for territory? If
for justice the laws of the human mind must be
abolished before such Il system of cajolery, can,
in sober moments inspire intelligent lovers of free
dom with a consciousness of duty; or with conf
dence of success-can it with any other than o,
feeling of shame? Is it urged that it can be any,
worse to drive slaves in Kansas, than in Virginia.
or Carolina? In either case when an army acts,
only on the defensive it naturally invites agrees.
sion and becomes the object of sanguine and Wig.
orous pursuit. Battling only for self preservation,
the slave power can loose nothing, by defeat, and,
ultimate conquest of Free Territory becomes GER.
tain.
Who ever dreamed of the like of it being dis.
puted, whether freedom is constitutional in q.
Democratic Republic! Yet how long since a pro-.
tracted and violent debate ensued on the question,
whether "a free State is entitled to be admitted in
to the Union;" and to-day Kansas is refused, can't
be admitted upon the same ground, because she
can be admitted only as free, and though her pres
ent population more than entities her to admission
by former precedents. How long since the States.
of New York and Ohio were mmoned before the.
Supreme Court, upon the Irrigated point ,ohether-
they hare a Constitutional right to reject slavery
Judging by the past, Ohio and the nominally free
States have no better security of remaining free,
than that of the grant of new Territory to slavery.
California was admitted as free, in opposition to,
the action of the Government. very nearly amount
ing to her exclusion from the Union. Nor was
her freedom permitted but with the grant on the
part of the Government that the gates OF all the
virgin soil of the whole Nation should be thrown
open to slavery. Yes, and more still, and that
the Month should become the servile hounds Of the
fugitive slave hunt.
Can it be possible that persons can, fail to see
the tendency of these things, or to trace out the
legitimate cause. And if comprehendod, why not
cast cur vote accordingly, if at all, If we regard
our Constitution or laws as of any consequence to
us as defences Of our rights, then preserve them,
by act, and in the only way that Constitutions or
laws can be preserved, and that is by the impair.