Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-11-15
SPEECH OF GERRIT SMITH
at tile Jerry Rescue Celebration, October lst, Isl

My friend Frederick Douglass, referred to my
often expressed opinion, that American Slavery
must end in blood. 1t is true that for many years.
have we'll nigh despaired of its peaceful termina
ton; and that, of late have come totally to des-
pair of it. But trust that he did not convey the
idea to any mind-I am sure he did not intend to
that desire a bloody end for slavery. Earnest
ly do deprecate it. Deeply do dread it, have
done what | could to prevent it. For twenty years
have been entreating my corntrymen to put away
slavery by political action. But they would not.
And now it is too late to hope for it. There is no
longer ray of such hope upon all the black ho
rizon, which bounds my sight.
| was happy to hear Mr.. Douglass say, that he
would not press the passage of the Resolutions of
which he is the author. They are the natural out
burst of heart. which has felt the iron of slavery
Nevertheless think, that the Convention should
refuse to adopt them.
The great doctrine taught in the rescue of Jerry
IS that slavery is to be resisted, and that law
for it is to be acknowledged. Whether the resis.
tance shall be by moral influence or by deadly
weapons or by BOTH is for each individual to de-
eide for himself. Let but 4 man resist slavery,
and pour utter contempt upon all author ty in the
shape Of Constitutions, or Statutes or judicial or
ecclesiastical decisions and we Jcrry-rescuers will
not quarrel with him because his resistance is
moral or because il is physical. The rescue of
Jerry carried forward by both moral and
ph ysical resistants. 1t certainly could not have
been accomplished without the latter; and it might
not have been accomplished without the influence
exered by the former. In that memorable meet
ing, which the rescue was decided on. my Speech
opposed the use of deadly weapons. 1t does not
follow, that my Speech did not contribute to the
rescue. Authoritative voices in the Church assure
them that slavery is divine institution. The
leaders of the political parties-o of the Republican
rs we'll as of Others-acknowedge that the infer
nal illumination is law. Thus, mighty powers are
at work all over the North as well as all over the
South, to make the shareholders believe lie-the
| lie that destroys them.
! We begin at the wrong end when we so immeas-
urably and SYSTEMATICALLY denounce the slave
holders. We should begin at the other end. Near
home is first work. especially With the reli-
gionsts and politicians about us-if not indeed,
with our ourselves.
This guilty nation can be saved only as guilty
individual can be saved that is by repentance.
The conditions of salvation are the same in both
cases. The North and the South must both re-
pent, and the natural order in this case is fol the
! North to repent first. Bnt see signs of repen-
tance even at the North-and hence | see no signs
of the salvation of the nation The North is will
ling to do any other anti-sayery work rather than
that of repenting of her pro-slavery. In my
speech in Congress on the Nebraska Bill, took
occasion to say that in none of the innumerable
Anti-Nebraska Meetings, and in none of the innu-
merable AntNebraska presses, did see any re-
pentance. There was enough of indignation and
resentment-but Indignation and resentment are
not repentance. As it was then with those Meet
ings and those presses, just so is it now with the
Republican Meetings and Republican presses
Fremont has my best wishes in his race with Bu-
chanan and Fillmore. But | am yet to see the
first sign, that his party will the nation-be.
cause am yet to see the first sign Of repentance
in that party. OF course, no one looks for repen
lance in either Of the other parties.
Those noble men, Giddngs, Seward, and Chase
would contribute a thousand fold more than by
all their Speeches toward freeing the slave and
saving their country, were they to confess tseil
own great sin against the black man. lnfnitely J
more good would our beloved Sumner have ac
complshed than by his splendid Speech, which
brought down upon him the brutality of Brooks
had he but risen in the Senate Chamber, and sim
ply said: II am verify guilty concerning my
brother, in that | saw the anguish of his soul
when he besought me not to recognize the legality
OF his slavery, and would not hear"
have indicated the sin, of which these great
and GOOD men are guilty. 1t is their acknowledg
ment of law-of the obligation and sacredness OF
law for the enslavement of their black brother
They would have no such acknowledgment made
in their own case, were they themselves slaves
And speedy termination would 1t be to all
their official honors, they to declare that they
would respect and obey legislation for the enslaye
ment of Ango-Saxons.
hope shat this platform will always be free tC
all kinds of earnest resistsnts to Slavery, who
trample under foot all possible legislation for sla
very. Let Garrison and May be as much encour
aged as Douglass and Loguen TO accupy it. Lei