Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-01-10
CIR Anti glaperp Bnole.
SALEM, ONO, JANUARY 10, 1857.
ADDRESS To THE PEOPLE OF OHIO.

selves arrayed against each other in n costly and
exciting political contest, in which you have
believed the question of the existence of human
Slavery in our land was deeply involved. No
intelligent, and virtuous man, in either of the
political combinations existing in Ohio, actually
desires the perpetuation of the system of human
bondage, but every such person earnestly wishes
to sec a speedy termination Of the woes, and
crimes, Of which it is the prolific parent. Now
that the conflict of interests, opinions and passions.
consequent upon the late election is for the present
ended, we, the representatives of the Western
Anti Slavery Society, desire to approach you with
suggestions that We cannot but hope will be enter.
tanned, and maturely considered by every reflect
ing mind.
To the dispassionate observer uninfuenced by
partisan feelings, it has been most apparent that
the whole OF the recent struggle has been in respect
to effects, the causes Of which have not been aimed
to be disturbed by any of the contestants. In
trenlity, 50 far as the existence and rerpetuity Of
Slavery is concerned, there has been, and can be,
but one party politically, ~ of loyal citizens, and
this includes the great body of American voters.
The strife between you has not been for the over
throw of the most guilty, appalling. and powerful
dcspotism, the world has ever seen, but merely
about the regulation Of its details, by those who
all agree, and pledge themselves, that it shall be
continued and supported. and who differ only upon
the policy which shall control It.
We invite your cooperation in en- attempt to
remove the o~fending cause which has produced
such vast disturbance in the body polite, whilst
the amount of misery and degradation it %infiats
,,., IT,. ;,,,oJi,.o ,;,t;,,, :, ,4t,.I. .l,-,u:l.Ilo
We ask you first to inquire where the siaveholding
power is located. and Of what forces it is com.
posed. Taking the last census tables rs our guide,
we find it probable there are now fully four
millions of human beings held as chattels in the
United States, and claimed as property. by less
than four hundred thousand persons. The common
sense of every individual teaches him that these
victims of arbitrary power are not retained by the
unassisted force of those who claim them. With
out aid from others, who do not assume to have
a right of property in them, it is obviously imfpos.
sible that they should he held in seryitude. A
part of the power employed is to be found in the
governments of the slave.owning States. But with
no other assistance than th,sc,the claimants OF the
bodies and souls of their equal fellow beings
would be unable to retain them, and therefore. in
the construction of the Federal Union, they have
cunningly contrived to array the whole physical,
= pecuniary and moral power, of the people of all
The States, through the provisions Of the Constitu'
{ ton Of the United States, on the side of tho OPP
pressor and against the slaves. 1t is in the gov
I crrment of the United States then that the real
: slayeho'ding power is 10 bo found. You are a
part Of it and if there be shame and guilt in
, coercing men and women into the condition oil
~chattels, and upon a level with brutes, you, who
f sustain and take part in the operations of that
government, are voluntary participants in that
Z guilt. And further, so completely have you been
u outwitted aud entangled, no action Of yours how
g ever well intended, can ever bring to an end thi.
Y system of crime and unutterabls horror, or relieve
d you from your share of its responsibility, whilst
you continue loyal subjects of the general govern
+ ment, and thus through it, lend your influence tc
2 the support and perpetuation of Slavery.
We beseech you then to re-examine the whole
I SUBJECT to inquire what are the advantages you
n really obtainGy an adherence to this conlederacv
t Which Of you does it protect in person or property
), and to what extent? To secure this protection
for themselves, and to aid in extending it to others
are the motives which induce intelligent person.
= p-S'tSi 'OihbtaiiiS VI iN'h III EINNIItltllll
d associations. Now if you find, as we aver vol
U will upon careful investigation, that you receive nj
= protection really from the general governmental but
o if this Union were dissolved and your State organ
ization left undisturbed, you would still posses,
all the political advantages you seek or desire, yor
will have no motive to continue your present rela
C tons. We solicit you to consider seriously tn,
d proposition of a withdrawal of the sovereign Stat,
q of Ohio. from a eonfederacy which involves he
citizens in heinous crime, covering them witt
0 guilt and shame, whilst it procures for them n,
y advantages which an inscriptions people nigh
s 5e supposed to Acoopt as a compensation for tn,
wicked conniyance.
We are aware, a majority of you believe 70,
n have been and are engaged in political operations
designed and calculated to overthrow Slavery, bu
Al in this you are deceived. There is no proposition
10 susceptible of more complete demonstration, thai
That the slave o~ligarchy is secure Of perpetual
e dominion, so long as a large majority of the people
A continue loyal to the Constitution, as its provision
we're intended to be understood by those wh,
framed it, and as they have always been construe,
l, by all parties since its adoption. This security i
a insured by the invinciLlc physical power of tn
@ nation, when united, enabling this oligarchy b.
e tho forces of the government, to subduo al
at empts of the entlaved to achieve their own de
liverancc, and to repel any assistance which nigh
! he proffered them from abroad. The moral in
s fdence of the confederacy is such that fo.eig
e nations have never even yentured to attempt t
= ameliorate the wretched condition of the America
Slave, much less to secure his freedom, by dipll
macy, though active in their efforts Of philar
Ilhropy with less powerful States. And howeye
ardently you may desire, and diligently labor, 70
the overthrow of Slavery you can never accom-
plish it by efforts confined within tho limits of tn
Constitution. The form Of our government ha
become destructive Of the ends Il was estahlishc'