Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-11-29
Gbe Anti 5laperp Bliole.
Prom the London Anttslsvery Advocate.
HOW COULD A DISSOLUTION OF THE
UNION BE EFFECTED2

q q
that paper, in which, while declaring his adhesion
to the deWand of the American Anti Slavery So
ciety for the dissolution of the Union, the only
means of clearing the free States from the burden
and the guilt of slavery, the writer asks for an
opinion as to the IedSibtig of the project. What
oyer ought to be done can be done, but there are
serious difficulties in the way of many a noble
plan, and 80 long AS the Union Is the object OF
idolatrous yeneration by an overwhelming MAORI
ty of the American peoples so long as the Free
States regard it essential to the national strength
wealth and greatness; and the south view 1t TO be,
ma indeed it is the bulwark of their darling insti
tuition. so long, too, the social, religious. and
commercial bonds which unite the States on both
sides of Mason and Dxon's Line are so powerful,
it will be easy matter to bring about dissolu'
tion of the dublin Correspondent, his object was
simply to invite attention to this subject; not to
imply that the thing could not be done but to ask
how it was likely to be effected We still think
the question worthy of more notice than it has yet
received.
The abolitionists are often called fanatical and
impractica6le sometimes because, III their over
whelming sense of the importance of their great
object, they appear to take little heed of impedi-
ments in its way, which, to the great mass of the
American people, seem insurmountable; and in
the necessity of convincing their countrymen that
in order to get rid of slavery the Union must be
dissolved, they do not sufficiently endenvor to show
them how it is to Re effected. To most Americans it
would appear as absurd TO talk OF establishing u
republic in Constantinople as of dissolving their
Union. People may theorise as much as they
please but until they show that project is not
alone desirable and profitable, but that it may be
brought to bear, they will not gain adherents
amongst men of the world those by whom the
actual work Of the world is done. The Non-ress-
tants, for example, are very small body and are
likely to remain so, until they can show how the
community are to get along without the coercion
OF authority backed by force to carry out its de-
crees. And until the Peace Society, too can make
it clear that national aggression may be resisted,
and internal enemies kept down without a resort
to armed force, they are not likely to include q
very large influential part of the empire. When
some years ago an immense though not the most
intelligent portion OF the Irish people clam
oring fora repeal of the legislative union with
Great Britain, attempt at an outline OF the prob
able means by which this repeal was proposed to
be carried out was ever vouchsafed to the public.
No wonder, then that the repealers had no euccess
The project was regarded as impractcable; the
: whole agitation melted away like snow before the
sun, and repeal of the union is now as little
thought of in Ireland restoration of the origi-
nal Pentarchy into which the Island was divided
before the English invasion
Viewing the enterprise of the abolitionists as
the very noblest in which a human being could be
engaged at the present time, we are far from re-
garding them or their measures as fanatical. i'm
practicable, or unreasonable. But anx-
ious that they should not be regarded by others,
and that whatever explanation be given by
them of the feasibility of their remedies, should
be laid before the world without delay. In an ox-
tract from the London Spectator, which will be
found in our present number (page 409) it is con-
ceded in the course of q review of American par
ties, that the abolitioniss alone are "armed with
the force of principle" but it is objected that
they 'impracticablo." Now there can be no
ground for this imputation unless it be an idea in
the mind of the writer that the remedy they pro
pose is impossible. 1t is admitted all hands
that the Union is the bulwark of slavery, and that
so long as the Union exists, with the consent Oi
the Free States, it is utterly Improbable that any
steps for the abolition of slavery will be taken by
the Shareholders. On the other hand, if the Free
States can be convinced of the fact that they are
sufferers from their union with the slave states, to
a far greater degree than they or do benefit by
the connection, they will either dissolve the Union
peaceably, or abo slavery by an overwhelming
application of force. The former would be the
easier, it would be the more peaceabe, and per-
haps the more efectual remedy. 1t would be bet
ter that the South should be obliged to renqush
their execrable system through sheer inability to
retain it, than from what they would regard as an
unjust and tyrannical pressure from without If
the Union be dissolved, there will be no talk of
compensation slavery will fall to the ground from
mere weakness: and the Shareholders will become
the laughing stock, they are already the execra-
tion of the world. Their whole power and influence
would be AT an end-since it is only the counte-
nance and aid of the Northeren States that give
them importance.
We think it, therefore, of great consequence
that no pains should be spared by American
friends to show their coun!rymen that their at
tachment to the Union is a mischievous supersti-
tion; that the true greatness OF the Free States,
their wealth, reputation and power, their moral,
social, commercial and political inteies would be
rest consulted by u separation. They should show
how easily this can be eferted, and how little the
arrangements of the country the post-ofice the
traffic by the railways, the canals, and the great
ri hn Hiotu had. md hou tba hon
might be SO managed that, on the whole, although
some inconvenience must ensue, the balance of ad-
vantages would be greatly on the side of peace
ful dissolution of the costly bonds which now tie
them neck and neck to the corrupt and fostering
body polite of the Slave States.
At no former time since the American Revolu-
ton has the condition of the great republic attrac-
ted so much attention in England. The assault on
Mr.. Summer and the affairs of Kansas have etfec-
tually reused us from state Of chronic apathy
to the internal affairs of other countries. This is
amply shown in the great number; ability, and
comprehensiveness of the articles on American
affairs which fill the columns of our principal jour
mails. A friend of GUYS who is intimately connec-
ted with the press tells us that he has within
very short time seen upwards of one hundred able
articles on this subject in the English provincial
papers alone. In our present number will be found
specimens of articles from the London press which
show how fully alive the leaders of public opinion
are to the Importance of the present crisis to the
welfare of the American people. That in p. 4OS,
from the Economist, one of the most influential
weekly journals is the first we have seen in the
English papers in which the dissolution of the
Union is recommended as the remedy. We give
another from the Morning Star, an able and wide
ly circulated cheap paper, in which a similar view
is advocated We also reprint articles from the
Spectator and Saturday Review, very able weekly
papers, which indicate a remarkable acquaintance
with American affairs, and are the more valuable
as the editors have never synpathised with the
abotionists and in any admission they make as
TO the intolerable character of slavery, there is
generally an understood protest against any con-