Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-11-21
From the Liberator.
CONVENTION AT CLEVELAND.

cOhsluer inc expectancy oil a separation between
the Free and Slave States, a Convention was held
at Cleveland, Ohio, on the 23th, and Doth ultimo,
(the time and place originally selected for the for
mer) which appears to have been a highly inter-
esting and spirited gathering-delesates from In
diana, Michigan, southern Ohio, western Pcnnsyl-
vania, and other States, being in attendance, in
considerable plumbers. Among the resolutions
adopted, there were two, rejecting with ONE Sc.
verify upon the Committed of Arrangements,
though mot questioning tbeir motives or inten.
tons for having made the postponement afore.
said-douying them the possession of any delega-
ted or moral power to assume such responsibility
land insisting on the duty of holding o Conven-
ton at that time, as n matter of selfrespect, and
of good faith towards the public for the promo.
ton of the objects contemp plated in the original
call. We are somewhat at u loss to determine
whether the parties to this censure means to have
their gathering considered as only informal, or is
The Convention proper nor do we know how the
Committee os arrangements will regard it. As d
member Of that Committee, we beg leave to offer
a few words in self.defence,
l. To the complaint, that the Call was sudden.
lly and unex pectedly countermanded,' we reply,
that not less sudden and unexpected was the par.
alytic shock which was given to the whole country,
in all financial and business matters, producing n
state Of things unparalleled since the formation of
tho government; which made it certain that no
adequate representation of Northern sentiment,
favorable to Disunion, could be secured under
SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES anu WHICH, tnHTelOTe, luuuC'
cd the Committee to come to the conclusion, las
they did with great reluctance that it would be a
truly wise act to postpone the contemp plated meet
ing. And we submit to the candor of all concern
ed, that it wae doing an act of palpable injustice
to the Committee, to omit from the resolutions Of
censure. all reference TO The ground on irhich they
deemedM lie postpoaement justitdJie. As those reso.
!utiOns stand recorded, the Committee are inleren-
TALLY held up as acting capriciously, and W ithout
offering any reason for their conduct. or this they
have, in their turn, a right to complain.
2. 1t is said that some persons, not knowing Of
the posiponement, came long distances, at much
cost of time and money, TO attend the Conven.
ton. This, Of course, was to be regretted, though
such cases could not have been numerous. ~ I'm.
fortunately, a telegraphic despatch, announcing
the final decision of the Committee. never reached
our faithful coadjutor, MARIUs r. ROBINSON, editor
Of the Ohio anti .Slacery BHgte, to whom it was
addressed and he was informed of it only by n
letter written at the same time, but which vas
four days on the way. A delay Of four days, at
so late an hour, was a great misfortune, and one
which could not have been ioreseen by the Com.
mittee. The notice, too, in the New York Tribune,
was not inserted in the manner or with the prom t
ness anticipated. Though the Chairman of the
Committee (Mr. Higginson) exerted himself. by
the use OF the telegraph in various directions, ana
by extensive correspondence, to give the necessary
Information, it seems his assiduous efforts were, to
some extent, counteracted by causes over which
he had no control. Hence the misapprehension
which followed, and which none regret more deep,
y than the Committee.
3. The Committee did not suppose that they
were assuming powers which did not belong to
them, ~ but concluded, as q state Of public af
fairs had suddenly taken place which precluded
the possibility Of obtaining a calm and sober popc'
lar consideration Of the Disunion question for the
time being, and forbade q reasonable hope of Sc
curing n suitable representation from the free
States, that those who signed the Call would
cheerfully acquiesce in their judgment, notwith
standing the lateness of the hour, and the disap
pointment which might be felt in individual eases
They still believe that they were justified in the
course they pursued. AT the worst, their error
was one of jud gement, nothing more.
4. AS nearly all the anti.slavery agents were ir
the section of country in which the Convention
was called, it was quite natural that they lin com
mon with our Ohio friends generality should fee
greatly disappointed at the postpOnenent, as they
might not again be so favorably circumstanced to
be present at a similar gathering; ~ but as the
notice of postponement, in their judgment camC
too late materially to affect the general attend
ance-(4) six consecutive public meetings Tor dis
cussion were held at Cleveland-and MS it was the
opinion of all who attended that u noble work was
done in the cause of freedom, by the powerful ties
timonies recorded and the eloquent speeches made
on the occasi0n-we trust they will be reconciled
to the result, even If not convinced of the wisdom
OF the decision arrived at by the mmit Of
arrangements. we SnOuiu ike 10 KNOW, however
whether the Convention that was held claimed to
DC the one originally called, Notwithstanding the
action of the Committee, or only q local gathering,
IL the former, then the Committee are to be con.
sidered as discharged from any further response.
bility touching another Convention if not, then
we conceive that they were not properly amanable
to such a body for the conclusion to which they
came, and no condemnatory resolutions should
have been adopted.
5. 1t is due to the committee to state, that while
they were considering the expediency Of postpone.
ment and anxiously endeavoring 20 arrive at a
sound conclusion, it was agreed to send a tele
graphic despatch to the Editor Of the Bugle, Civ
ing their impressions, and asking for guidance in
that direction, before making any public announce
ment. The reply was, Rather than have a local
Convention. and PHILLIPs not present, postpone.
This was interpreted to mean, that in view Of all
the circumstances. postponemens was advisable,
and hence, tho decision Of the Committee. As
our estimable friend, the Editor of the Bugle, pre-
sided at the Cleveland Convention, we hope he did
not allow the Committee to he censured without
stating the facts in the case. ~
And now, a word as to the treatment of the Con
%vention that was actually held, by tho Cleveland
press. The Leader (Repubiicau) acted in fair and
honorable manner, saving. The Convention has
men of very fine talents and great ability among
its members, wEo are influenced in their movement
by n feeling Of u1cOm promising hostility to slavery
and who have devoted the greater part Of their
lives in showing an and exposing tue iniquities oil
the system, and thar, too, 10 the most effective man
ner'; yet expressing its regret that they should be
laboring to bring about that STATE of things, which
tor the sake Of the dJwn.trOdden slaves. we trus,
will never happen,-a dissolution If the Union,
aud advising them to resort to the ballot-box, and
make tho non.extension of slavery the gsea. object
OF their solicitule They are in the right. and
tho Leader is in the wrong. It's advice is unphilo-
%soplical and irrational. lleslst tho extension OF
the kingdom Of darkness, but make no direct assault
upon the kingdom itself. Protest against the lux
uliIut growth e the upas tree, bat do not lay the
axe at its root, Make slavery constitutional in
Carolina, and surround il vilh constitutional safe
guards; bu. brand it as dia5olical in Kansas =