Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-04-26


colored population, whether bond or free, that it
never designed to secure to them equal rights and
privileges with the whtes-we are compelled, by
stern inexorable moral necessity, and by fidelity
to the oppressed to denounce the American Con
stitution as n covenant with death, and an agree
ment with hell and to declare that when judg-
ment is laid to the line, and righteousness to the
plummet' then the hail shall sweep away the re-
fuge of lies and the waters shall overflow the hid
ing place: and this covenant with deoth shall be
annullcd and this agreement with hell shall not
stand Is this to be true to the glorious cause
Of impartial liberty Is it not to remember those
who are in bonds as being bound with them? And
if spurning whatever fayors, or honors, or emolu-
ments, We might secure by unfolding such an in
strument the right hand is cheerlully cut off, and
the right eye is willingly plucked out, is the sac
rifce to be charged to fanatical spirit or held
up rs one which is wholly super tluous to make?
Will any man claiming to be governed by moral
principle, tell US how much sin may be embodied
in a written compact, without yiating its charac-
ter and making it criminal to maintain it as it is?
And if the Constitution is dripping with the blood
Of four millions of slaves if it prevents them from
obtaining their freedom, either by fight or insur
rection; If it requires every voter to acknowledge
the legality of slavery, and makes him party to
its contnuan &c; is it not as morally incumbent
upon any man to refuse to commit highway rob
berry and murder? We wish definite answer to
these questions. 1t is true, Mr., Parker says,
There are things in that document that are bad
things, which | would tread under my foot BY
bad things he must mean cruel ard wicked
things, and therefore he ramples them in the dust.
But how can he do this, in consistency with his
oath? No part of the Constitution is to be repudi-
ated by him who swears to support 1t without mod
iicati0n or abrdgement. However repulsive may
be Of its features, or affecting some OF its re
quirements he is bound to abide by it until it is
legally amended else to refuse to promise allie
glance. There is no other alternative. All men
t,l
all talk of chosng what is good and rejecting the
bad, is reducing things to state OF anarchy. II
the Constitution is a nose of wax, that any one
may shape to his own TASTE or a standard that may
be made to qua rate with the neral condition OF
any voter, it il useless as n rule of government.
But it is not so; there are bad things in it-very
bad, horribly iniquitous--these we have already
specified. But the oath to uphold it knows moth
ing of them, as such, and includes whatever is
herein--'goOd, bad, and Indifferent
g. In generous compliment to us, in the face of
the popular opprobrium we have encountered, Mr..
Parker says MIR Garrison is in favor of the dis
solution Of the Union-I do not agree with him
and here he leaves the matter We wish he had done
us the Justice to state to those whom he addressed,
the reasons weufferfor occupying re'.iy'si
sition. H. may have supposed this to be unnec-
essary; but views are so constantly mlsrepre-
sented by those who hate the anti-slavery cause,
and clearly understood by so small number even
Ut tnOSe WIO are lficHulY W II, tidt u
tation Of them. on that occasion, would not have
been an act of sHpererogation. If, therefore, he
had said, Mr.. Garrison is in favor OF the dlssolu-
ton of the Union-irst, because the entire military
power thereof is pledged to keep the slaves IN
their chains: second because slave representa-
ton is provided for in Congress- third, because on
no part of the American soil can fugitive slave
find constitutional protection against his MASTER;
fourth because, he who abets oppression shares
the crme:' fifth, because this make the guilt and
danger Of slavery universal and renders 1t easy
for the Slave Power to mould the politics. religion
and government of the country to its own purpose;
and, finally, because he believes what eminent
Southern Shareholders have declared, again and
again, on the floor of Congress and elsewhere,
that the dissolution of the Union will Ge followed
by the abolition of slavery; and that the south
will be as powerless an unweaned babe, II lett
to herself;'-ii Mr.. Parker had made this expana-
ton, he might have added, Il do not agree with
him, but his dissent would have sounded strange
| IL to some ears, taking the Constitution as he
does in its uniform Interpretation on this SUBJECT
! 4. Mr.. Parker says-It would not be right for
US to dissolve the Union, and leave four millions of
our brethren in bondage Give would not do II
| if they were white and ought not to do it be-
cause they are black But this is to disregard all
the moral objections urged against the Union, in
consequence of its sinful compromises. Besides,
how does it follow, that refusal to strike hands
with thieves and u withdrawal from their company
will enable them to plunder all the more success
| fully? The idea is an absurdity. Who among
the DisuniOnsts talks or dreams OF tearing four
millions of our brethren in bondage? Are they
surpassed by any Unionlsts In vigilance zeal
fidelity, courage, or liberality? Are they not the
'disturbers of the peace prominently by their
! incessant moral agitation? Do they propose to
leave the slaves, or THE SHAREHOLDERS, by secess-
ion? Only the latter; and because to aid and abet
them in their villainy is to incur the guilt thereof
and to stimulate them to persevere in rob0ng the
poor and needy. Well said an apostle of old, 'Ie
cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup Of
devils: We cannot be partakers of the Lords table
and of the table of devils And most pertinent
was his inquiry, What ellowship hath righteous
ness with unrighteousness and what communlor
hath light with darkness? and what concord hati
Christ with Belial?' This is precisely the issue
we present to the people OF the North. In order
that their garments may not be stained with pollu
u ton, and their hands defed with bloOd-that the
power of the STAKEHOLDER over his victims may bt
crushed, and immediate emancipation rendered
possible-we beseech them to withdraw from the
guilty comulicty with the South. And are we Il
be told that this will be leaving the slaves in bon
dagc-that they way to help them is to stand witt
their lorGly masters upon their necks, to threaeI
them with instant death if they dare to strike {
blow for their freedom, and to warn them that OIL
no foot Of tie republic shall they be permitted t
find safety in flight! Disunion with the slavehold
separation from the Others just concord will
Christ is discord with 3elial. What the result o
a separation would be to the tyrants of the South
let Lieut. Governor Ford, (Republican,) OF Ohio
testify. In recent speech, referring to tkeil
threa.s to dissolve the Union, he said:
! Dissolve the Union I should like to see then
attempt to dissolve the Union. Why, this sill,
cry reminds me of an lrishman who went dowI
into we'll to clean it out. When he was through
he made the signal to be hauled up. His compan
ions who were determined to have joke at hi'
expense, hauled him up about half way, and ther
stopped. There he hung-no way to get up-nC
safe way to get down, if that we're desirable. HI
begged and entreated; but it was of no use. Ill
stormed and raved, but it did no good. AT last HI
sung out "Haul me out, ye spalpeens, or, by th'
piper that played before Noses, III be afther cut
ting the rope" Let them cut the rope if the,
like the plunge was Ford's application OF th'
story