Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-10-17
LETTER FROM JUDGE JAY-THE NORTH.
ERN CONVENTION,
BEDFORD, IN. W Sept. "a, 1857.

BEDFORD, IN. ~ Sept. "a, 1851.
GsNTLENEN: l have been favored with your let
ter, inviting me to add my nams to a Call for n
Convention Of citizens Of the free States, to con-
sider the practica bility, probability and e~xpedien-
cy OF q separation botween the Free and Slave
States
The subject you propose for consideration has
long been to me one of deep and painful interest.
Although fully aware Of the many social, com.
mercial aud political advantages resulting from
the Federal Union, | am nevertheless convinced
that 1t is at present u most grevious moral curse to
the American people. To the people OF the South
1t is a curse, by fostering, strengthening and ex-
tending an Ubiquitous and baneful institution. To
the millions among us Of African decent, it is a
curse, by riveting the chains Of the bondman
and deepening the degradation of the freeman. To
the people Of the Free States it is a curse. by
temp;ing them to trample under foot the obliga
tions Of truth, justice and humanity, for those
wages of iniquity with which the Federal Govern
ment so abundantly rewards apostates to liberty
and righteousness.
In my opinion. while the Union continues to
be thus n curse, it will be indissoluble and that
should it ever cease to be n curse, it will be n bless
ing. Allow me to trespass n little upon your pa
thence in explaining the grounds of this opinion.
An aristocracy, few in numbers, and scattered
ovor an immense region, but from common int.
rest acting AS a unit--an aristocracy, not of birth,
nor Of education, but solely of wealth in land. and
the bodies and souls Of men-now governs with
hcViVhb u hiDlNlut1 sway IWcHly 'UNe HlllllUuS VI
people. This united nristocracy, acting in con-
cert with almost any political party at the North,
can WELD the vast and increasing patronage of the
General Government. Northern Democrats have
deemed it expedient to form with these lords OF
the lash q most Intimate and submissive alliance:
and scorninS and repudiating the sentiments of
Jefferson on human rights, these pretended friends
of liberty and equality are now tho hum bic and
willing instruments of a crushing aud loath so IN e
despotism. The seductions of the Federal Govern.
mani nrtIIarpH thpnpuh tho friap1a Of lnrnr
have converted the Northern Democracy iuto u
stupendous organized LIE a party with liberty
ever on its lips, and human bondage in its heart
a party always ready DIT the bidding Of its patrons
TO sacrifice liberty of speech, of the press, of legis-
lative debate, of petition, and even of the pulpit,
itself, on the alter of the Southern Moloch. dis
cardlng alike the deductions Of reason and the
Inonitions of conscience, this party adopts, with
the unhesitatiDg faith of a votary of an ~infallibie
Church, every doctrine, whether constitutional or
political, which it may be the policy of the slave
holders to propoun1. Now, surely it is not to be
expected that q party that lives and moves and
has its being in its union with shareholders, will
aid you in dlssolving that Union.
The Shareholders, in concert with their North
ern allies, have established the trade of UNION
SAVING, a trade exceedingly convenient to each
party concerned. Whenever a new aggression ia to
be made on the rights Of the North, or q new out-
rage on humanity to be perpetrated, awful threats
are Illuminated from the South, that the Union
bhhh S9H'AS az bAppN HiiSo NV w "ii
to the new demand. Instantly the Union-savers
begin their work. They warn the people of their
dependence on the South, and Of the horrors of
the impending civil war, and they insist on the
reasonableness OF the new claims. A panic is soon
manufactured. Politicians become uneasy about
the next election the merchants are fearful lest
grass will grow in our streets, if not tro9den by
Southern customers; and our cotton parsons
pray and preach about the preservation of the
Union and the peace of the Church. The result
M tha nhnftnnnnaa ! O n trtno H,hpntoatOn > n h
mandates of the slaveho lders, under the term of
q COMPROMISE the Union is saved for a while, and
the farce ends with paying some of the savers, and
leaving more to look for their reward the next time,
The Democratic party, although wholly conse-
Grated to slavery, does not embrace all the pro-
slavery of the North. In every party there are
individuals who occasionally deem it prudent to
bow down before the dark Idol. In general, the
homage of all bat Democrats is distrusted, is cold
ly received, and but poorly rewarded. Still
adventures from all parties are continually inves-
ting capital in the Union-saving trade. The pain
fui experience of Mr.. Webster seems to have
proved al UNDECIDED lesson. His audacious olea
for throwing open the new territories to slavery,
that 'The law of the formation Of the earth settled
forever, with a strength beyond all terms of
human enactments, that slavery cannot exist in
California and New Mexico was received by
those for whose favor he sacrificed himself with
silent contempt; while even Southern jurists
revolted from his hideous doctrine, that the rescue
VI u fugitive Sid'0 iTOU tue cOStOuy vi III Omcer,
by unarmed men, was a leuying Of tDar against
the United States, an act of high treason, to be
punished with death
A late occurrence in Boston may satisfy you, that
while 90 many Northern men are willing to pay
obsequious court to shareholders however person
ally odious, there can be little disposition at the
North to part the chain which binds it to the
slave region.
In June last was celebrated the anniversary Of
the battle Of Bunker Hill, connected with the 'in'
auguration' of a statue to Warren. Wonderful as
1t may seem, pains were taken TO make this Gel.
ebration a demonstration of respect for human
bondage, and of insult to the champions ofhuman
rights. The notorious James NJ. Mason received,
as he himself asserted, a gracious invitation
from the Gentlemen Of the Bunker Hill Associ.
ton, to witness the spectacle. A distinguished
gentleman Of b 1ston, not protesting to be a demo.
crat, addressed the assembly, telling them-'The
State of Virginia is represented here to-day by Il
Senator in Congress, whom 1t has been my priri
fege to know personally in a sphere of common
duty, whose name has been noted for more than
one generation for services in State and national
councils, and whom | take pleasure in Welcoming
here on his first visit TO New England soil and
the Virginian, we are told by the papers, was
received with loud applause
That the full significance of the gracious in
vitation, the complimentary Introduction, and the
applause of the crowd may be understood, it mus
be reoolected that all this incense was offerd t.
the author Of the Fugiftre Act, that accursed
outrage on the rules of evidence and the precepts Of
Justice aud humanity of that act which was mos
justly strigmatized by an eminent English jurist
(Dr. Lushington,) as "a measure as cruel and I'm
christian as ever disgraced any country Thi'
vile ststute, Boston gentlemen of property anG
standing had enforced by municipal and military
rover they had permitted The very door of theil
courthouse, in which WAS detained a fugitive
slave, to be fenced with chains, so that their
judges, on entering the temple of justice, were
REQUIRED 10 do ODelsanco to that mower which
~tramples on all justice. by STOPPING beneath the
emblems of its tyranny.
But James NJ. Mason had higher claims to the
symrathics of a certain class than has authorship
of the Fugitive Act. The Legislature of Massa.
chusetts had resolved, that We have received
with deep concern information of the recent VIC
lent assault committed in the. Senate Chamber a
Washington upon the person of the Hon
Chssiss Sumner, one of our representatives il
Congress, by Preston s. Brooks, a member of th,