Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-07-19
For the Anti-Slavery Bugle.
TO TIE MEMBERS AND FRIENDS or TIE
WESTERN ANTI-SLAVERY SOCIETY.

The time is near at hand when we shall be call
ed together in Annual meeting, to take counsel
upon the measures to lie pursued in the advance
ment Of our enterprise for the overthrow of slavery,
and tie procurement of means II, cessary tn carry
forward those measures. The fact may neither lie
disguised nor concealed, that orr operations are
languishing, and must eventually cease unless
some mcthud may be discovered to infuse a new
lite and energy into those who support them. For
the last two years the contributions to the cause
have been extremely limited, and have little more
than Suficed 30 sustain the Bugie in existence, and
this by the assistance of means which Injured to
the Society through the influence of former efforts.
These reserved means are in the process OF rapid
exhaustion. and we are approaching the alternative
Of an increased activity OF effort. and liberality,
upon the part of the we'll wishers of our cause, or
a suspension Of the proceedings of the Society.
The causes which have produced the present con-
diton of things are the natural outgrowth of the
circumstances under which we have labored. Prom,
inent among them may be reckoned the alienation
of feeling in many. who have heretofore supported
our operations, produced by the faithful ~aprlica-
ton Of the same rcbukes to the pro.slavcry posi-
ton Of the Free Soil and Republican parties, which
at nm earlier day were so irritating to profess,d
Anti-Slavery Wings. Bat whatever may DO the
cause of the Withdrawal OF 2ecuniary support from
cur Society. it will be for you 10 decide the ques.
ti"n Of its continued existence, and usefulness, OF
its decline. Now is the appropriate time fog
each individual well-wisher of the movement t.
give tie sutjecta careful consideration, and to lie
gin to act Immediately in accordance with the con.
| .lusinps "a ySIich NAV a,riva In lapa1f al
he slave | most earnestly ontreat you to examine
at once into the present means, and future pros
poets of the Socie., including your own individual
responsibility towards it, aud towards the cause o.
the millions in bondage.
One of the first subjects which might be suggest
ed for your examination, is the doinss Of the Tx
ecutiye Committee, to whom you have entrusted
the ex expenditure OF the means contributed. See tt
it that The funds you appropriate to a cause Sc
sacred are iudiciously and economically employed
You should not feel that your responsibilities arr
ut an end when you have selected persons to carry
forward the operations of tho Society for n year
without further consultation and adviscment witt
them. The members of this Committee give theil
labors gratuitouslI, and at some expense to them
selves, of time and money, and il will be no more
than JUST, &c to them. as well as to the Society, and
the slave, to supervise their action carefully, and
assist them in making sure the most is effected fol
the cause of which the meaEs are capable.
But the really important question for you to con,
slider is what are your individual responsibilities
in The premises. If the Executive Committee OF
other agents you employ, are careless, or uniaith'
lul, you can remedy that by II change at the end
of their year Of service. For the lack OF individ
unl elfoIt and liberality, there is no remedy out
side Of yourselves. In you. as iittle springs flow
together to form at length a mighty river. resides
the power which slone is capable Of continuing
that agitation which is needed to brig abou
emancipation. Political action under the govern
ment you are aware was formerly proposed, anc
relied ON, as a means for the abolition of Slavery
but that idea has been totally abandoned except by
the few who term themselves Radical Abolition
ists, SO few in fact, as scarcely to form an ex"ep
ton. Opposition is no Ion ger attempted political
ly to the existence of slavery, save by the revOlu
tiunaIy measures of the Disuniunists. The Re
publican party, in which is merged nearly all 0
those who once sought the overthrow Of the sys
TEN by political action, not only does not avow tr'
intention to overthrow Slavery, but is solemnly ant
publicly pledged to uphold and perpetuate it, anC
offers an opposition to THO extension of Slavery in
to Kansas, and the Territories. rs the extrem,
limit Of its Anti Slavery cndeavors. If a publ,
sentiment (which shall become competent tt
strike the bonds from the American Slave is evel
to come into existence, it is ~palpahly clear it must bt
created by the Efforts Of The non-voting Abolition
lists, including all Of the Anti-Slavery women
What part Of this labor deyolves properly upon
you who shall read this appeal? Ask yoursol
this question. under a sense Of the responsibility,
you owe to God and Humanity. Ask yonr neigh
Dor to think seriously of what portion OF it belong
to him, If every individual who cannot but know
that the whole movement for the overthrow o
Slavery, whGteyer the shape which action has MS
lsumed in the progress Of time, mud pnier the guild