Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-11-15

SO
safety, to commence Immediately the measure of
emancipation.
/ That these are the consequences which may
nationally We anticipated from tho event Of dissO.
/ luton, we are assured by the save.owners them.
solved, when terrifying in their lucid moments.
| "A dissolution Of the Union would be dissolution
of slavery and any sensible man can see it. was
/ the assertion of member OF the Slave Power,
upon the floor of Congress. By pledging the
whole physical force of the Union to put down
domestic Instructions and against foreign inva.
sons the Constitution has placed the slave beyond
the reach Of assistance by the political action oi
! friends within the nation, and rendered him hope
less of aid from without, and made it impossible
that more than two parties upon the question o
freedom can ever subsst under the Government
however numerous may be the factions into whicl
one of these may divide. In the one will be tounc
the slaves and the ALolitionists, who are disiran
chised for conscience sake, and in the other Tho
several divisions of a party. which, differing in
detail, is ever unit in the absolute support ol
slavery. Democrats, Americans and Republicans,
alike pledged to the master against the slave,
and, while loyal to the Government, must aid to
continue his bonds. A right comprehension OF
the spirit and intent of the Government and of
the facts which have transpired under its oper.
alton, can leave no dJubt in the mind OF any that
only by the power thus pledged and exercised in
behalf of the oppressor, has it been possible to
perpetuate slavery until this day. A rehearsal OF
all the facts in connection with attempted slave in
surrections, if it could be truly given, would snb
stantiate this view. A few only OF these may
here be offered. In 1884, few ignorant and
badly armed negroes, for time placed the whole
power Of Virginia at defiance, and were only sub
dued by the interpostion of the Federal forces
Trivial as was this affair, in Southampton, under
the leadership of Nat Turner, so far as the num-
bers engaged, and the preparations entered into
were concerned, its immediate effect was to bring
tho proud State of Virginia to the very verge of
emancipation as all may be satisfied the effect
who will refer to the debates in the Legislature of
the State, in 1882, the ensuing year. And had it
not been for the pledge to the slaveOwners of the
whole power of the Union in their behalf, and the
example of its exercise in that instance, it is
reasonable to believe that even Nat Turner's i'll
conceived outbreak, would have sdficed to work
the overthrow of slavery in Virginia at that time,
and, as consequence, in all the other slave States
also.
What is there impracticable in attempting a dis
sOlutio by the mode thus shadowed out? Is the
obstacle to be apprehended in the opposition
indifference of the people Fathom the senti-
ments of those politically opposed to the extension
of slavery, and, as individuals except the aspi
rants for place and power no objection will be
found to exist TO the measure. 1t is only par
tsans and not through any principle the people
oppose. Influential political leaders, and inhuen.
tia presses constitute the real and serious oppo.
sition to be overcome, and they, by tn arguments
Wnlcn antl-SaVery progress mas maQe necessary 10
their position, are continually aiding in the over
throw of their own influence upon this question.
Rapid change has been effected in this regard in
the past few years. and the causes of this change
are acting with constantly increasing momen
tum. The labor of preparing the people for the
rece ptOn of the idea will be nothing, when
fairly taken in hand, compared with that which it
has required to overcome their original indifference
to the question There are ten men, who might
be named in Ohio, with the assistance of five
presses, including the New York Tribune, who
might, if they gave their influence to it, carry
majority of her voters for the measure of secess-
ion within three years. 1t will take long time,
of course, with the influence OF all these i'll oppo-
ston. Yet the result is sure to come at no
distant day, if the effort be wisely and persistent
ly made. Whatever preparation for it has yet
been wrought has been chiefly incidental, and is
not the effect Of direct labor towards that object.
The demand which is coming up from the people
for some plan of acting against the institution of
slavery ITSELF instead of the tedious and uncertain
process of waiting for it to die out, after limiting
its extension, will compel the Aboli,onists to pro-
pose it to them in some FORM 1t is easy to CON
vince them that it only through the power of the
Union that slavery can bo upheld, or has been con-
tinued thus long, and that when this Union shall
he severed it must OF necessity come TO an end.
1t is as easy satisfy them that by reliance upon
their State government alone, they incur no risk
of anarchy, but will continue in possession of all
the advantages they expect or require from govern
ment The danger Of Interference with State
possessed of the power of Ohio, New York or
Massachusetts, simply because she refuses longer
to be an accomp plice in the guilt of slaveholding,
will readily be seen to be imaginary. Concert
of action by those who advocate dissolution, and
directed chiefly upon of the best prepared or
best situated States, say Massachusetts or Ohio
will rot be long in demonstrating the practicabity
of the scheme, and with one important State
taking the lead, the whole of the free States will
not be slow to follow. These suggestions are
drown out less as an answer to the question
of r. D. Webb than provocative to thought
and discussion by others.