Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-11-28
Report of Speeches and Discussions at the
Cleveland DiSuniOn Convention.
(~Conctuded)
SECOND pAY-AFTERNooN SESSION.

W. y. WATKi Ms, OF lochester, new i"tk'
first addressed the Convention. He said he had
heard a mar say, at a previous session of this con-
vention, that he had attended it to CRAFTY his Gu.
riosity. lie hoped there were none such in attend.
ance this afternoon; this is no time for the gratif-
cation Of idle curiosity. Slavery lives, breathes and
governs in this professedly free land. 1t stands
forth in tho noon OF day, ns well rs Of night, and
challenges us all, in the free states, to a contest,
which is fraught with the most solemn and tire.
mendous issues. The stakeholder has planted
himself in every nook and corner Of the land,
and threatens the destruction, not of slavery, but
OF liberty. throughout the Republic. The object
Of our Government is the extension and p%erpetui'
ty Of human chattelism. The decalogue Of slave
ry is written all over the land; and it is not only
urinen but obcyed. Cabinets, legislatures, chur-
ches all bow before it like willow branches lie.
fore the storm. The present, then, is no hour for
the qualification of idle curiosity. When the land
lie rocked as in the arms of an oarthquake,-when
liberty and slavery are struggling for the mastery
if any man in this audience, or out OF it. is de-
void Of interest in the question: his apathy de-
serves the deepest condemnation. For one | feel
an intense interest in every phase of this move
ment.
But l am no advocate for a dissolution Of the
American Union; on tho contrary i am opposed
to it; not because l love the union, for | am sick.
ensd and disguised with all this adulation OF 1t;
but because l do not believe in the prac,icability
of the movement. And I regret also that the dis
cussion of the constitutional question has been con-
demned and repudiated here, rs | would have ilk-
ed to base my argument on the unconstitutionaiity
of slavery; for / think that question has a decided
fearing in deciding the question of dissolution
The American Union is not, as it is at present, a
perfect union. But the constitution was ordain-
ed to establish Justice. and that the union has
not carried out this provision, is no reason for its
destruction. The Garrisonian party might succeed
in dissolving the present compact, and form a new
one, and this new union might be imperfect, like
the present one. oppose dissolution, because !
believe more good will come to the anti. slavery
cause by laboring to place good men at the helm
Of the government. than is promised by the Ires,
ent gloomy prospect Of abolishing it. The agita.
ton Of this disuniOn question, now, is calculated
to put lar off the day of the slaves deliverance.-
Take the constitution as we find it, and we have
no legal right,-still less any moral right,--to find
any thing in it in favor of slavery.
1t is the assumption of the pro.slavery character
of the constitution that gives the disunion move
ment its vitality. And it is here that l tuke issue
with the Garrisonians. They charge the constl
triton with sins Of the government. | admit tina
: slavery exists in the country, under the Sanction
q of the government, but it is in utter violation o
e the Constitution Of the United States. Those VIII
: framed that instrument, designed it to secure tn
+ blessings of liberty, to themselves and their POI
tevity. l know some people try to rule those
is my complexion out of this protection. My irien
Remond considers himself ruled out. But loo
e at the terms of the preamble to the constitution
and the general tenor of the instrument. TIT
there were no colored people in the convontio
Is that framed the constitution, but it was the Peep
to who voted for it that adopted it; and in several
the states colored men were allowed to vote, an
did vote, for its adoption. And then again,
to a very large majority of cases, we are the poster
ty of the ,ehite men, who, as all agree, were !
su cluded in the phrase 1--WE the people," an cons
., auently we can come in" on that ground ais
de 1t is unjust, then, to Genounce the constitution.
,s, account of the sins of those who have trampl'
r. upon it's Just provisions. If we wish to denoun
- the government let US do so. / hate this occurs
We despotism--the United States Government. I
nd union, as at present existing and carried out
on abhor. But the union which the constitution n
vides for, is in favor of liberty and justice.
ast am not n disunionist, because slavery can
Mt. better abolished under the constitution, than
Vi trying to bring the people up to the disunion sta
. dard. IF four millions Of slaves are to clank tn
~ chains till a dissolution of the union comes, tn
as have a long journey to travel yet, before tn
g a reach the promised land Of Freedom. Their pr
nj pect could not be gloomier than it ISL this is In
Nv only hope. l speak of things as they are. and
mn as they oughs to be. The religion of The lana
ere no better than its politics-not so good, all thir
rye considered. / have no faith in the religion of
ION country. / have seen too much of your churcl
ion to have any confidence in them. ] have been d'
un- EN- from their sacramentnl tables, turned out
ing their meetirg-houses, because would not so i
en- o Jim Crow"ipew;-I am, in short. two well
p quainte5 with American religion to view it W
the any favor or any hope. The church, then, v
not help you to dissolve the union, to free the sla
oil for it would rather give it's aid to strengthen
letters than to break them.
Again, suppose the constitution were what
the think it, pro-slavery. Still you need not dissc
ken the union. For the Government is, End will
ody Just what the people will it. While the pee
ga are pro-slavery, the institution will exist, whate
of the constitution may. fairly interpreted, requ
ose When the people learn to be antislavery the
the %stitu,ion, if p-o.slavery, will be amended to
their views. The people of 1857, are response
ked for the slavery of 1857. and be is q coward,
i q unfaithful to freedom. who attempts to throw
enr the responsibility of its existance. to-day, on
in. example or teachings of George Washington
Oily those who aided him in forming the governm'
Gun If Washington was a villain, that is no reason
we interpreting the United States constitution, tod
age against the protection Of that liberty which It
her clares it to lie its purpose to secure.
1 am opposed to DISSOLUTION because | believ
use would not effect emancipation. know slaveh
BUR ers say otherwise. but l do not take their testi