Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-02-09
PLAN OF EMANCIPATION.

The sub bject of negro Slavery is one which has
assumed characted OF fearful portent to people of
the United States. If we inquire into the origin
of the difficulties attendant upon the legis-
latlon of our Government, still led back
to the subject of negro Slavery. The controversy
which, five or six years ago. ordng to the test-
mony of many Of politicians, so seriously
threatened the permaneuce of the Union arose en-
trey from the opposition Of interest opinion in
relation to this alabsorbing question. The Mis-
souri, Compromise itself the fruit of q contest
between Slavery and Freedom and it's recent re-
peal was measure dictated entirely by the slave
holding interest. The present disturbed condition
OF Kansas Territory is the result of an effort ON
one eide to people that Territory wholly with free-
men, and, on the other, to render it the habtation
OF Shareholders and slaves. Why the usual
operatio ms of Congress suspended by the difficulty
OF choosing aSpeaker, but because the conflicting in
terests of Slavery and Freedom have arrayed tho
opinions and choice Of the members in opposition
each othert Now We may seriously inquire, and the
inquiry is An Important one, whether the opposing
interests, from which such controversies have
arisen, are real or imaginary? Are the advocates
of UNIVERSAL emancipation actually array ed against
the interests Of slaveholding States? Does negro
Slavery, whore it is established by law, and sop
ported in practice, promote the prosperity OF the
people, even of the magisterial CLASSY Do the slave
ho ldng States possess in higher degree than the
free onesan OF tire elements of greatness of
the ingredients present and permanent ha2pinessf
If the presence of Slavery does not increase tho
wealth, the peace, the virtue, the happiness Of
the people by whom it is supported, then it is not
the interest of the superior class that the system
should be maintained and perpetuated. Without
attempting an estimate, by actual observation,
of the relative tendencies Of Freedom and Slavery
to promote the happiness Of a nation. We might
justly inquire whether any system which IL radi-
caly unjust can be productive of permanent pros
perity and happiness. To this inquiry, but enc
! swer can be given. Experience concurs with tho
sacred volume in declaring that it is righteousness
which exalteth nation. Whatever excuses may
be formed for its continuance. no'argumeRs esn 10
required to prove that negro Slavery 10 founded IN
violence and wrong We all know that negro Sla~
in this country is traced Immediately TO the Afri-
can slave Iade-a trade considered rs pirsti-
cal by the most enlightened nations OF Christendom
Including own. More than thirty years have
passed since the American Government denounced
the punishment of death upon any American eiti-
zen, or any foreigner employed on beard On Ameri-
can vessel, engaged in that traffic; and yet tho
essence of the crime TO which this awful punish
ment is awarded, consists in reducing the natives
of Africa to Slavery, What then, is the retaining
Of them in that condition after reaching our shores
and Of their sterity after them, but the perpetu-
alton Of the offence emphatiealy eOndemnedf
Surely, il would be nugatory TO inquire whether q
system thus originating can be consistent with uni
versal righteousness.
If we observe the relative condition of the free
and slave States, we I'm ample confirmation Of the
conclusion to which theory would lead us, in the
growth and osperity of the one eontrasted with
the poverty and decline of the other. Facts con-
irmng this view pentiiuly exhibited by al
most every part of the statistics OF the United
States The ststistcs of other slaveholdng com.
munities have confirmed ths same conclusion, as
might, if necessary, be easily shown.
From this brief view of the subject one impap.
tant conclusion evidently arises that whatever