Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-10-25
From the New York Tribune
SLAVERY IN OREGON.
SAN Francisco, Sept. 10, 1856.

A friend Of mine, for many years q resident on
this coast, is now travelling in Oregon. lie has
written me a letter which | have just received CON
tanning information SO important and even start.
ling il its character, that l am constrained to copy
parts Of it for you. lie writes, alter having trav-
eled extensively in that Territory, and having at.
tended a large meeting Of Christians of one o!
the leading denominations, in which there were
representatives from all parts Of the country.
From information which was presented at that
meeting, and from that which he gained by his
own observation, he writes as follows:
Ozark clouds hang over Oregon. The danger is
from far, from beyond the desert, even from Mis.
souri,. and the lands of Slavery to the east and
south. Yes, it is the same storm that from the
borders Of the Mississippi has swept westward
over Misunderstanding alike the homes and the
affairs of freedom
The '~rufians' are not here, nor United States
troops to force their votes upon the people. But
emigrants enough are here from the rufian State,
and Atchisons and Stringfellows enough are here
to lead them on TO slavery. And these plotters
against the liberty Of the Territory only await
their time! They feel certain Of victory. They
say nothing openly, j. g.. the papers do not as yet
openly advocate it, hut they are ready to do SO as
soon as the time shall come. This may seem to be
a needless alarm, but the danger is real and immi
nent, and / am forced to believe ii. against all my
inclinations. ! contested, step by step, the con
~victiIns of it's truth, as they were forced upon me.
| groan in spirit under them, as the prospect he
fore me darkens in these beautiful valleys and on
these forest shores.
1.-THE rescue of Kansas and tho repeal of the
Nebraska bill, under an Administration that re-
spects both national faith and the rights of free.
men. can alone save them from the ~blighting curse
uf this great sin. This unwelcOme impression
was made upon me during tho meetings Of. the
Association. Among many other resolutions on
important subjects, wero some on the subject Of
| Sln ynru Thoaa Aran forth tho hnst and mast
lengthy discussion during the session. Daring
this debate, par: icipated in by members, delegates
and corresponding members from different parts
of the Territory came out the facts that nstonished
and panied all persons. They were facts such as
various members had gathered in their intercourse
with the people. both in public and in private
facts of the nature of private conversation, public
political addresses. and evon (so-called) religious
harangues. u cannot repeat them, but in the
minds of men who have all along looked upon the
bright side of the Territory. and have hlbitually
laughed ut the suggestion OF possible danger to It's
liberties, they were of such a nature as to prove
beyond a doubt that the majority of the people
were in favor of Slavery, and that if an election
were to be now held, with this as the Issue, the
system with all it's evils would be at once entailed
upon the State. The facts went further. and
proved that the Democratic party. which has always
been the dominant party. wds prepared 10 pntMdf
plank into its platform, and so make it n plain issue
before the people. Whenever their Delegate at
Washington should have secured the passage of
the Oregon State bill through Congress. More
over, they threw tho grave suspicion over that well
known Pro. Slavery Delegate and over the party he
represents. that he uses the Pro Slavery prospects
of this Terditory, among the Southern Members
in both Houses, rs the strongest reason for the i'm
mediate passage of the bill
''To all the friends of civil and religious liberty
in tile North and East. and 10 all who dare to speak
and vote righteonsly in Congress, this is the very
reason why, of all others, that bill should be de-
feated. For let that bill pass, and let this Terrific
ry with her present population, mostly Missourian
and South-W estern, vote Slavery in Oregon, and
we may we'll despair both of our national liberty
and OF free speech. For the loss of Oregon
to Freedom would be more than the loss of Kansas.
1t would be an encrOachment Of the Slave Pow or
upon territory indisputably belonging to the
North, and would be a victory of oppression over
liberty that would embolden it to subdue and en-.
E slave the whole Pacific coast And yet they who
have travelled most over Oregon, aud know the
: people best, most fear this fatal result. Should
t this great calamity befsll Oregon, a still greater
would naturally and necessarily follow it. Liberty
I of speech and Of press would at once be crushed.
, "The outrages of Kansas and of the western
frontier would be re-enactei. Every editor tina
} should dare to speak for freedom would be mob
! bed. hs life endangered, his press broken, and hi
! house leyeled and burned over his head. Every
minister Of the Gospel who could not be bought N
Foullled into silence would be bound and RATED
down these rivers or otherwise driven from tn
! Territory. But there are those here prepared t
leave. and will leave or die for Freedom on the spot
] before they will consent to be silent, or to suppress
the truths of this giant system Of iniquity. An,
they would be put to the test, should that even
: happen. Not until now have these v~igilant friend
Q of Freedom felt the necessity of combining ant
preventing if possible the introduction of thi
m0nstrous system upon the shores of the Pacific
: $ Never before were their eyes SO opened to the i'm
/ pending nature Of the peril. What steps the,
: may now take is uncertain 10 fact they hesitate
what course 70 pursue. But one thing is certain
they will not sleep over the subject, nor be silent
They know and feel the vital Importance of III,
d issue to Oregon, and will meet IL like men. In tn