Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-03-22
LETTER FROM REV. R. FULLER, D. D.
ANGOLA, Feb, 1856,

"A correspondent Baltimore requested the
Rev Richard Fuller D. D. to inform the public whether his views
able discussion of the subject with Dr. Wayiand late number
Of tho Union has Dr. fuliers answerI
| reply at once to your query proposed 70 me in
the last True Union; not only because the kind
sentiments of your note call for acknowledge
ment, but because you say that some persons will
be "inAuenced by the authority Of my opinion"
and am anxious that no influence Of mine shall
ever to favor the perpetuation of slavery.
Nothing is more rare than spirit which, in earn
est discussion, seeks only TRUTH and cares nothing
about victory. In the correspondence with DR..
Wayland to which you refer, l hope my desires
were pure, yet, with such deep interest involved
any man ought to be jealous of himself After
all however, | still think that the position then
assumed by me is fully maintained by Scripture
and reason.
Rn. !c no one regard me as an advocate of sla
very. l deeply regret its existence and though
| it would reduce me to comparative poverty,
would be relieved of burden upon my CON
science, if the slaves i'll my possession could en-
10y, the blessings Of freedom. Considered SIM
ply as an abstract question, the matter admits of
discussion. If any right be inconestible, it is
that of n human being to his own flesh and bones
and slnews
But the subject of African slavery in this coun-
try is not an abstraction TIE evil is 80 rooted in
the social system, it is so interviewer with the en-
tire civil and domestic economy, that its removal
presents most difficult problem defying my
thoughts, and those Of the wisest men in the land
with whom have conyersed.
The guilt of enslavng those Africans rest not
upon The only responsibility is our present
duty, as to which it becomes us to implore earn
estly the Divine guidance and follow it.
For myself am too conscious of interest and the
prc cudces of education, to confGe implicitly to my
own Judgement. l confess, too, that my opinion
has, at different times oscillated
| never visit the South, and see the comfort and
happiness and piety of the slaves, and recall the
sufferings and extremities and vices which have
witnessed in our large cities, without doubling if
any sudden change can benefit the the negro. And
/, then,s am reconciled to leaving the system to
those Gospel influences which are, gradually but
constantly, altering, mitigating and eevating the
relation between master and slave
On returning home, however, and rejecting on
the matter in my study, ] have lost confidence in
my convictions and resolved to emancipate the
slaves own in my own right. But no sooner
have thus determined than found myself utterly
battied. For what is to be done? Shall those
people be retromitted to Africa? They would not
go. If carried, is it certain that q removal would
be blessing for them? In short cannot expend
TIE large sums necessary for this purpose-l can
not afford this, is there any sort of obligation
on me to do II.
The same answers apply with reference otrans-
porting them to some free State The only course
then left is 10 set them free where they are. But
to this there are obstacles even insuporable.
a. The law-IawS passed TO protect The Slares-
forbid this abandonment of them. (2.) The peace
and safety of tho white population woulG be
endangered, if many of these people in their
present condition were turned loose, to become
vagabonds, having no homes tampering with
the slaves, setting them examples of idleness
and living by plunder. lie who should thus set
his slaves free would incur responsibility. (3):
will only add, that such STEP if permitted by
law, ght be- | fear would be, fatal to the negroes
themselves. Forsaken by their guardian, driven
from the plantation they once occupied, objects of
suspicion to all other masters, prosecuted by evil
men, cut OF from redress for injuries to their
/ rights without aud or house or home, they would
ehs. supplicats permission to return TO their for