Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-11-21

versy, would have been our civilization and chris
tianity we should have been savage and heather
still. Where professionalism, where tho American
revolution bu: for theological and political contro.
vcrsy? Where would those fashionable institu-
tions, criticising have got their stock in trade
wherewith to carry on business, but for this very
controversy they disallow The books for their
libraries, the newspapers for their reading rooms,
the intellect for their lectures the science they af
feet patronise the very buildings in which they
are comfortably accommodated, their furnishing
and warming, and lighting, for all they are in.
debted to thought, free pioneer thought and which
is not free but its utterance gains freedom for
speech is the compliment Of thought, free speech
of free thought. as necessary the to the other
as the outlet of river to the continued flow of its
current Liberty is the foundation of every ed
fee of use and beauty, an the life of every thing
that hath ife
Who are entitled to partake of this ample feast
but the lovers of freedom Who would presume
to do il, who could sit easy on the most luxurant
seats or pace to and fro with comfort on the rich
est carpets,o exchange smiles and congratulations
as the guests assembled, when it was understood
that Liberty, the owner and pyovider Of oil was
elected and disowned, denied admission as a
guest even, who but impu5ent and hearlless in
CRATES.
In pleading for this largest liberty of thought
and speech | not pleading for licence for every
public speaker to run muck with every opinion
that does not square with his own 1t bccometh
reformers to bo courteous to excite no antagonisrn
they can avoid to make all proper allowances for
the errors they would correct to be imbued with the
charity which thnketh no evil and which reioic
eth in the good. But TO give up, to sell for any
consideration, the liberty of orticsing, of exam
ing at discretion whatever comes in our way, and
of saying what we think Of it as we see occasion,
can serve nothing that is good In the treatment
of every subject, however far removed from the
the region of controversy as well as those on
which there are still differences of opinion, and
the agitation of which excites the bad passions Of
the dishonest the fearful and the unbeeving, this
liberty as n matter Of honor and morality must
be kept intact To the exercise of it it we owe it
that those questions which are now so plain have
been brought out of confusion and darkness and
only baseness would ever attempt to avail itself
of the benefits thereof, without honoring and
guarding the liberty so essential to the right treat
ment of all questions controverted. If we
would have the stream Of knowledge we must let
the fountain flow, if we would not die Of famine,
if we would not lack the bread of life, we must
sow rs the genial seasons come round--the seed
But not alone for our future. for those that
come after us, is this freedom Of thought and
speech indispensable, but now. while eating the
substantial food which our fathers through con-
troversy and blood have provided for us, we can
not assimulate it, incorporate it into our organ.
ism, but through the exercise and the atmosphere
of liberty in that of slavery the most wholesome
food becomes putrid and vel rmin, breeding The use
to which the bible is put by minds ensaved is a
case in point.
1n saying what | am now saying on this subject
| am but in substance repeating what l have here
tofOre said in reference to the like restrictions on
free speech imposed by 50 called anti-savery or
ganzations But these protests need to be repeat,
ed till liberty, in theory and in practice has its
due, or till it is discovered that slavery and not
liberty is the normal condition of humanity.
Yours ever truly, GEO. SUMTER.