Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-10-18
FOR ONCE LEAD AND CEASE 10 BE LED
REASONS FOR VOTING FOR GERRiT
SMITH.

FKiEND EDITOR: AS no other one has, please al
low n very brief sketch of reasons for voting the
Radical Political Abolition Sentiment at the COM
ing election. My first reason, then is, that upon
whether this sentiment shall be sustained at the
coming election, or abandoned, emphuticaliy de-
ponds the future position Of the Republican patty
as regards the question of slavery. And every
days conversation with friends both at home and
abroad, brings 10 us fresh evidenced that a large
part Ct the voters in both the contending parties
are dissatisfied with their present ioc POSITION
They are daily heard to express themselves so.
Those of the Republicans feel that their position
viii prove a failure-that the time for this purely
defensive doctrine is past. Yet for the reason that
Gerrit Smith tho Candidate and exponent Of this
sentiment "it is known cannot now be elected" it
is feared that Il large class of the advance guard
of Anti-Slavery will be lost, as it has been at each
past election by being led to vote inst this once
more;' a halfway compromising measure.
My dear Sirs--have we not pursued this policy
already too long in the hope that The progress If
the political element would, by this time, have
led to the adoption of our cherished sentiments?
Our hope has, and ever will he vain, for the fol-
lowing and many other reasons. The political
"'cire- pullcrs," depend upon it have their eye upon
the sentiment Of the people in the choice of candi.
dates aud adoption Of principles ard platforms
1t is also supposed as a basis from which to reckon,
that each voter casts his vote in conformity to his
cherished sentiments-and that what you and |
have abandoned in the past, we can De led in the
usual way TO abandon again for the same reasons.
When then, better than now can we put an end to
this foolish system of compromise And can
stronger inducements be offered, or stronger neces-
sity presented Who but knows that the plat
forms of the two parties are vastly inferior to what
they were four years ago? The Democratic plat
form has, if IL were but to deceive, till this present,
always maintained one, at least one, anti.slavery
idea. Now 1t has not one. In conformity with
what is above suggested, at the death of the Old
Wing party the more servile Of this and its %coequal
party from their natural affinity joined; and this
accounts for the fact that the so-called Democracy,
more than ever before, are intorlinked and consol-
idated with the South. Then again, since the sig
nal blunder of the '.tision" of the more advance
guard of the Wing party with the Free Soil party,
the Free Soil party has lost all its former identity
as far as its vote is concerned. Will-can any
one doubt this?
Graded in all the invective and abuse once heap.
ed upon this party before it arose to distinction,
but to be thus led astray, o, say, can it be that
they have voluntarily given over their former opin-
ions, for those of the compromising Wing party,
lor 1t is conceded that the present and the Clay
platforms are identical). No. the evidence to
the contrary is too plain to be mistaken, that the
main body of this party still hold advance views
tn what tbav tlnp 6id and tho e,p,a ;e t,,o oC
thousands of others. Yes, thousands of us to-day
ale conscious that the PRONUNCIATION of principles
by this fusion party, instead of being too high, are
in reality too low for the minds of the people. In
stead of being in advance of the people, are be-
hind the people both in point Of Judgment and
moral progress.
Let us for a moment see. The only plank in
the Republican platform that is hinged upon, is the
one that declares that Congress has supreme pow
er over Slavery in the Territories. But will they
live up to this declaration No, never. 1t is on
ly a farce. On the very face of it, it unfolds its
self Like the Indian who .old his white comrade
to take to himself, either the Turkey or Pigeon
which they held as joint stock, and he would be
content with the balance; they have it distinctly
understood that the Turkey is theirs. Says the
Indian "~but-mind in this divide that you don't
take the Turkey, or l will cut you down with my
Ratchet. So say the Republicans. Congress has
the supreme power over Slavery in the Terrific
ries;-but-but-they have no power to put it in,
it is distinctly understood that they shall Legislate
it out. Sirs, it is a hard and bitter pill, but as far
as consistency of argument goes, the Democracy
have it. For they profess to leave it for the people
to decide, "T popular SOrereignty." This is
Democratic doctrine C)
But now, let me say what | fear not may be con-
tradicted. The Smithsonian party are the only
ones that dare say that Congress has Constitutions.
al power over slavery in the Territories. The only
anti-slavery party in the Union who dare utter
such a sentiment with their other avowed priuci
pies. And why? because it is the only party that
holds Slavery to be unconstitutional any where
every where.
Then may | not ask all who believe the Corsti.
Sution to be anti-slavery to say so in your votes :
Who believe the,s is no iaw for slacery-who go
for the repudiating of all enactments thar would
20 for ~Slavery-who would be true advocates Of
law-who would 20 for the abolition" instead of
the WORKOUT policy of its 'limitatiun'--who
would ask as n condition Of membership that the
fifteen Slave States should change their Constitu-
ton and governments to that of a Republican
who would go for putting down instructions be-
tween the masters and slaves by putting down the
masters-who would free Kansas by
freeing. Virginia and the Carolinas- who would
be consistent and therefore uccesslul-who would
do away with the only potent cause Of all this
vacilatiug and lodging in parties-this Ices of
bookhone in memhers of our ConqraSs. 40. BE. |
Let US vote our own minds, all this is necessary to