Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-02-07
WHOLE NO. 591.


ourselves and the slave under the Constitution
will thank any man to show me how and when
this be done believe the reverse Of this to
be the exact truth.
/ For one am here to say, that I am for no un-
ion with Shareholders. No union with them in
the Church. none 10 the State but eternal di-
yorce from them, while they remain Shareholders.
What is the American Union Has it form
and substance, or is it something which belongs to
the imagination-a mere piece of dough, which
every man may mould and fashion as he thinks
proper without regard to its original design or
positive provisions Men talk of interpreting
the Constitution they understand it. Does il
never occur to them that this is game at which
I two can play2 If they may interpret it dd Lbit-
am, so may the shareholders. Now, sir, l assume
that have such n thing as the American Union;
that it has height and breadth and exact dimen-
sUus; that the nation understands what il is, and
has been from its origin, in regard to its slavehold-
ing conditions Now let us see who are for it's
perpstuity | turn to the Southern shareholders,
and ask. Are you for a dissolution of the Union p
and they are for hanging me up by the neck for
raising the question! (Laushter.) True, they
threaten, in certain things shall be dOne thss
they will seperate from us but, mark you they
are in favor of perpetuating the Union it is,'
ard as cur fathers made it, turn to all that re-
mains of the Whig party, and ask, Are you in fa
yor of preseTvn the Unionr and they exclsim,
Yes, C the end Of .imeP turn to the Democrat
ic party, and ask Are you in favor of preserving
thG Illl0u anu lueS TSpJ AcCuTsbu DO ne WIN
is notv l turn to the American party, and ask
Are you for this glorious Union ?? Yes. until
the crack of DOOM Finally turn to the Repu5l
lican party, and say--'And you, also 20 for the
UniOup And they make the lou1est noise, and
throw up their caps the highest in its behalf.
Now, either these parties mean by Union the
same thing or they do not. Henry Wilson, when
he says, / am for perpetuating the Uuion means
/ by 1t what the South means, or he does not. All
these parties mean the same thing, they do not.
Tr A -. A. 4
four millions of slaves, who lie crushed and bleed
/ ing beneath the Union. II they do not, then !
say, there is treachery somewhere; because they
are using the word, representing the old
iea 0f the Union, as understood and carried out
by our fathers. Who is it that is playing falselyf
Ny reasons for leaving the Union are, first, be.
cause Of the nature Of the bond. l would NOT
stand here moment, were 1t not that this is with
me question of absolute mOrallty-Of obedience
to the higher law By all that is just and holy,
it is not optional whethOr you or | shall occupy
the ground of Disun.on 1t is not a matter OF po-
itical ezpediency or policy even Of ncongruity
Of interests between the North and South. IL
strikes deeper, it rises higher than that This 10
the question Are of the North not bound in .
Union with shareholders, whereby they enabled
10 hold four millions Of countrymen in bond
age. with all safety and impunity2 Is not Masss-
i chnseIts in alliance with Soath Carolina, Rhode
A Island with Georgia, Maine with Alabama, YER
mont with Mississippi, giving the strength OF
'nlo ih!ioH 10 inc slus Ut III Nebu
My difficulty. therefore. is moral one. The Un-
ion was formed at the expense of the slave pOpu.
iatiUu Ut the land. cannot swear to uphold it
As understand it, they who ask me to do go, ask
me TO 10 an immoral act-to stain my conscience
to sin against God. How can | do this7 /
care not what consequences may be predicted
lt Is sin to strike hands with thieves, and con-
sent with adulterers' | aver that the compact
made by fathers, in relation 10 ia slave holding
guarantees. is a compact more wicked than was
ever made since the world began.
press it upon theconsciences of all who hear
me-'You claim to he moral, humane, Christian
men. Tell me, what is the Constitution of the
United States, which you swear 20 uphold! What
is this boasted Union, which you are determined
to perpetnateH Does it not provide that there
shall be a Slave Oiigsrchy in Congress, represent
ing three fths of the slave population' Is there
not provision for hunting fugitive slaves every
where through the land 10 not the entire power
Of the nation pledged to keep the slaves in their
chains by suppressing all insurrecti0nsf If these
things lie 20, / ask you, as humane nen, how, in
the name of God is it possible for you to support
such an agreement with hell. for one hour. end
then wipe your lips and say, We are guilty Of no
sin ,? IL may be that you feed and clothe the
fugitive, and help him on his way; you generous
iy contribute 20 the snti-savery cause, and active
iy resist the extension Of slavery All this shsll
be put down to your credit. But do you not rec
! ollect the case of the young man who came to
Jesus. and asked what good thing he might do
that he might have eternal life? Jesus said,
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not kill, Do
not steal Do not bear false witness All these
have kept from my youth up tho eIulting
reply. But Jesus sad-'lf thou Vit bs perfect,
go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor,
and then shalt thou have treasure in heaven, and
come and follow me- And he went away soProw-
tul for he had great possessions 1t is precisely
SO here. You have performed many commendsbls
deeds still, one thing is lacking you have not
ceased to strike hands with the ensavers Of your
fellow men, under the Constitution Of the United
States.
Sir, this is wonderful book that hold in my
hand referring to the Bible) While l reject
; the absurd idea Of its plenary inspiration End
o 20 much truth in it, so much of the prophetic
spirit in il, such burning denuncstons of Oppress-
= . ion in il, that my pulses thrill when | read its
: solemn warnings and stern rebukes. IL seems %
= if ihe prophet lssish must have foreseen the time
- whon the trainers of the American Constitution
y came together 20 form this government for how
: truly has ne described the spirit Of the American
: people and the horrible compact into which they
! entered at that time How applicable are both
,c his description and reproof to us as nation i
k "Wherefore bear the word of the LORD, ,ye scorn-
J. ru, men that rule this people. Because We have
said we have made covenant with death, and
with hell are we at agreement; when the over
flowing scourge shall pass through, il shall not
!, come unto us; for we have made lies our refuge.
and under falsehoOd have we hid ourselves. There
fore thus saith she Lord God: Judgement also will
lay the line, and righteousness to the plummet;
;, and the hail shall sweep away the refuge Of lies
and the waters shall overflow the hiding place
Aud your covenant with death shall bs disannullsd
: and your agreement with hell shall not stand
s when the ove.howing scourge shall pass through
l. then ye shall be trodden down by it. From ths
= time that it goeth forth it shall take you fol
morning by morning shall i, pass over. by day sud
" by night; and it shall be vexation only to under
"a stand the reYnrt. For the bed is shorter than tha
~ stretch himself on il; and the covering
~ narrower than that he wrap himself in it."
This Describes in the most graphic manner, th,
~ character of the American Union,and the Language
~ of the people concerning it. They make lies thsl
er refuge. and imagine themselves safe. But judge
en- ment shall yet be executed and He who sits il
nd the heavens will rend assunder the fabric q
or proudly reared by our fathers, leaving noe oss