Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-05-29
Qbe Bnale
SALEM, OHIO MAY 20, 1858.
May 3. 1858.

TIE AMERICAN TRACT Soc1ETY.-This society,
which processes to be composed of members Of
the evangelical sects of this country, is a true and
fair representative Of the religion and morality OF
those sects which make up the popular religion
of the land. This Society is under the direction
of the popular, conservative thcologians of tho
country, and from The beginning has ministered
faithfully and unsworvingly to the support of sla-
very. No power of moral truth brought to bear
upon it no efforts of anti-slavery associations or
churches which have told so effectively upon soul,
less and unprincipled political parties, has even
been able to wiring from it one solitary concession
of the moral wrong of slavery or of the duty and
Importance of emancipation. All along from its
first organization to its last anniversary at New
York, it has recognized slavery as an institution
having the Divine sanction and practical slavehold-
ers and slave, Aders as the true incarnato repre-
se%ntatives of the spirit and gospel of Jesus Christ.
Such, in q word is its history, and such its char
acter. And such is one Of the influential and
and popular religious organizations of tho land.
On it for the Sc many years the religious men and
women of the country have lavished their eulogies,
their prayers and their contributions.
To make the actual present position of the So
ciety ineligible to all, we will present its more
recent action on this subject.
Until quite recently it has been in the habit of
taking the works of distinguished christian wri'
tiers, and after expurgating any condemnatory
reference they might incidentally contain, to the
question of slavery, publish the mutilated work
without notice of the fact, as the work of the au-
thor whom il thus falsely represented as dumb
and heartless as itself on this question. Finally
the scorn Of all christendom concentrated upon
it for the cowardly meanness of this misrepre.
~sentation of popular authors, extorted from it
the pledge to avoid this practice in future, by
declining to publish any work however valuable,
which contained any, even the slightest condem-
nation of slave.holding.
While thus refusing to publish anything in con,
demnation of slavery, the Society has published
and is now circulating a tract called Sambo and
Toney, which instructs servants in their du:y and
bids them "obey their masters in all things" A
motion was mads at the last anniversary to stop
the circulation of this tract. By an overwhelm.
0 ing majority this motion was laid on the table
At its Anniversary last year a resolution was
;, adopted instructing the publishing committee etc
e publish upon the moral duties which grow out o.
& the existence of slavery. and the moral evils and
vices which 1t is known to PROMOTE" The publish
i ing Committee refused to obey this instruction
although tracts, well prepared, approved, and
u heartily recommended by distinguished ministers
q were offered them.
AT the meeting this year, the Society refused
IS to re.afirm this resolution and by a largo vote
approved the publishing committees disregard Of
a its own Instructions.
"a neo1,t,n, oToroI H. Iolr T- n. IL.
y moth ing published by this Society shall counte
h nance the idea that the Scriptures sanction tn,
lawlessness of slavery was also laid on the tabl,
g by a large minority"
" This was designed as an assurance to evangeli
cal Shareholders that slave.holding is Sanctioned
by the scriptures. So it will be interpreted y,
those for whom it was designed. Thus it, vii
:, be seen that there is and can be no association
more!positiyely and persistently the friend and sur
PORTER of slavery than this protessedly religious
!, society. Its spirit and purpose will be found, wei
o illustrated in an extract from its proceedings il
n a preceding column.
e We have thus far been speaking Of the control
n ing majority of this body. The minority calm.
IF itself anti-slavery, has proved itself compromisin,
time'serving and cowardly in its feeble i~esistanc,
to this, policy of the society. Of course therefor,
it has not been nor can it hope to be successful il
resisting those acts which it processes to deplore
We observe. that several of the influential DO
IS political papers of the West though approving thu
, purposes and objects Of the society very decidedly
IS denounce its pro-slavery policy as re.afirmed a
the anniversary. Though compromisers, them
10 selves, they were not prepared to witness 81
y shameless a submission to slave drivers az thu
= American Tract Society furnished at its last ON
nual meeting.
Thus the Pitsburg Gazette, has the following
paragraph
Later advices by telegraph show that the Execu
tive Committee have triumphed in not only disre
,e garding the solemn resolution of the Society O
er last year, but in inducing it to reverse its action
Its present position is one OF submission to tn
n. Slavery Aristocracy, unworthy of its antecedent
1t and professions. Plain people will not fail t
Ii inquire why the Society can condemn Dancing
and dare not say that it is wrong to punish a maj
ar or woman for ~teashing a human being to read tn
is Bible-why it should illuminate against swearing
ir and dare not advocate the golden rule, edo unit
of others as ye would that others should do unto you
" why il should denounce sabbath breaking
and refuse to condemn oppression. The Societ
Is shows itself a respecter of persons or classes, an
lie and virtually exempts the slaveholding class fror
ye rebuke. 1t declines to instruct them in the dutie
they owe TO tnote dependent upon tnem' ana W
are amazed that this conclusion should be reache
by the able men who attended its anniversary
Its action Indicates a timid policy which cannc
result in good. We spprebend that its member
who condemn this policy will take measures to e.
tablish a new society whose action will be MOI
d. in accordance with their views of practical RICH
al eOusnest.
of -
of CONG Wisconsin has taken
lie stem back towards barbarism, and a long stem To,
20 70 We are sorry to say. Hitherto capital punishmer
a has been prohibited in the State. The logislatul
Ike which recently adjourned has re'establishe
the vcngeful practice Of blood, for blood and Il
n divine institution of hanging, will now have o,
oe portunity to regenerato the society and impro,
the morals Of that young state.