Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-02-07
Communications.
For the Bugle.
PETITIONS.

Our Disunion Petition is now before the people
and wherever pressed upon their attention by
working abolitionists, is producing the salutary
excitement with its attendant investigation and
discipline which is needed to e~nlighten their un.
derstandings and arouse their zeal to q thorough
and effective warfare upon Slavery. Are our
friends in the various parts of the State improving
the occasion to sow the good seed, now, whilst the
soil is comparatively fallow, and unoccupied by
the weeds of partizanship? But a short time will
be allowed US to labor, and all diligence should be
exercised in improving it. No one who has not
tested the matter by experiment, can have an ade'
quate conception Of the change which public sen.
timent has undergone in regard to the attachment
of individuals to the Federal Union. In the Re
publican party, in this region office holders, and
the aspirants to please, from the humblest State
Offices upward. remain stationary, perhaps uncon-
scious themselves Of the influence which restraints
them from taking a holder attitude of defiance to
the slave power. But the disinterested masses,
although the larger number of them decline to
give their names in aid of the specific action pro-
posed in our petition. almost without exception,
express themselves in favor of dissolution in some
form. This is very encouraging, and proves that
we have only to keep the arguments before the
public until they are sufficiently investigated to be
perfectly comprehended, to obtain the concurrence
Of the intelligent and conscientious among them,
and as in other instances, we shall have the coop
GRAFTON of political aspirants Ms soon, perhaps fast
er than they can be of any service tc the move
ment. The labor Of canvassing for names is
largely repaid by the advance in public sentiment
necessarily consequent upon the discussion osprin-
ciple it is sure to provoke. The objections offered
to the movement are as various as the classes Of
individuals from whom they proceed. A veteran
Of the old Liberty party guard in Ohio, refused me
his name 'because it would do no good" l won
dered if it would be possible to calculate how Otter
he had listened to the same objection to his early
efforts in the anti-slavery cause, from Wing and
Democrat. A venerable clergyman in the Presby
! terrain Church, admitted the proslavery character
of the government, but argued it would be unsafe
and unwise to "cease to DO evil" by ceasing to sup
port it. When reminded that this was not the
doctrine he usually preached, he replied that i
WINS; that circumstances compelled US to do things
we would not wish to do. His good lady looked
r upon Disunion as a most dangerous measure anG
E believed the President had power enough to march
an army here, and compel us back into the Union
, or butcher every map in Ohio. She said lit was 6
: solemn thing to run the risk of a bloody war
which was admitted, with the remark that it wal
= also q solemn thing to persevere in the war upor
four millions of slaves, in which our people hav;
. been engaged through their government ever sine;
it had an existence. Others are deferred from
u signing by the fear the British will march straigh
pom us and reduce us to the condition Of colonislt
again, if we forfeit the protection of the Union.-
s The most sensible objection l have we: received
, he's come from several who express the desire fol-
some plan which shall seek the cooperative actor
1 of all the Free States. To these the reply il, pro
y duce your plan and if unohjectionable I will cir
) culate your petition or aid in whatever way l may
in forwarding it.
An interchange of opinions and experience
o through the Bugle, of those engaged in the cause
will have a tendency to promote efficient individua
action. To solicit this and to urge all of our friends
to immediate and active effort is the object fol
0 which this communication has been penned.
A. BROOKE.
P. S. If any individual should think his opin,
n ions or positions misrepresented in the above, ]
i hope he will avail himself of the columns of the
d Bugle to correct any error, as | have no wish tc
misrepresent. A. Z.