Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-01-16
Ibe Anti 6lauerp Buole.
SLAVERY AGITATION.
HOW MISSOURI is TO BECOME A FIRE E
STATE

Prom speech delivered in the Hall of the House Of Repre-
,.naves City, Missouri by James Gardenbire
President of the JeIe son City Land CompanyI
Much of the evil of Slavery agitation has result
ed from erroneous positions assumed in the South.
Some of these propose to consider. When
right at bome the North has never failed to sus-
tain US, and sometimes even when we are wrong
If we would take just positions at home, and
maintain them through our Representatives in Con-
gress, the food of agitation would be consumed,
and the dangerous occupation of sectional agita
tors would be gone. Extremes might do their
worst, but none would fear for the Union, or
dread the terrible scourse of civil strife.
The first of these errors1 shall notice, is one
advocated here by Mr.. Green the other night, that
Slavery is q moral, social, political and religious
blessing, and to be treated as such. doctrine
50 utterly at war with humanity, and with the
opinions of our most eminent statesmen, invites
refutation, especially when the pref udic's it en-
genders are turned to political account, at the
sacrifice of individual enterprise and social pro-
gress.
Slavery existed, IL is said, when Saviour was
upon earth. and lie did not condemn it. What
sort of Slavery? Negro Slavery? Say3 The
argument proves too much. 1t enslaves the white
man as we'll as the negro. The Slavery then
existing was of the white man-the vanquished,
the victim of superior force, OF conquest OF war.
If the argument is right, the freedom of the white
man is left to the mercy of the strong. But. with
out troubling you with theology. will add that it
has been thought our Saviour did condemn Slave
ry, when he said, "All things whatsoever ye
would that men should do to you do ye even so
to them" A broad rule and applied to Slavery,
means, if yon catch ana enslave other men, you
must let other men catch and ensave you. Mr..
Jefferson may have been thinking of some such
Just rule when he said, as heretofore quoted, that
an exchange of situations was among possible
events, and might become probable by supernatu-
raj interference and that the Almighty had no
attrihute which cOu.d take side with us in such q
contest.
It's also said that our slaves are better fed and
clothed and cared for than the white laborers of
the North This argument, also, proves too
much and enslaves the white man. If true and,
being true Slavery is therefore right, these poor
laborers ought to Se caught and enslaved, and
comfortably fed and clothed and cared for, as
slaves are. The poor fellows could hardly be
made to appreciate the advantages of the change
without the unans~erable Portuguese argument
brute force--wbich convinced the African at the
beginning of the slave trade.
1t is again said that we enslave our children
and apprentices, until twenty.one years DID, and
tho right to do this includes the right to enslave
the negro. This argument is of the same class
with the others. and affects the white in the
same way. The right to enslave one race includes
the right to enslave all races, and the right to
enslave all races includes the right to ensave any
individual Of any race. This rule would get us
to catching and enslaving one another, and force
alone, as between the Portuguese and African,
could determine who should be the master and
who shall be the slave, reducing Slavery to its
known origin and argument-brute force.
The civil law defines Slavery thus Slavery is
an institution, by the laws of nations, by which
one man is subjected to another man. as master,
contrary to nature" And Chief-J ustce Marshall,
sxpounding this says: THAT Slavery is contrary
TO the laws of nature, will scarcely be denied
shat every man has right to the fruits of his own
labor, 10 generally admitted; and that person
can rightfully deprive him of these fruits. and
result of that admission"
It is we'll known historical fact that the Bar.
barry States, commanding the navigation of the
Mediterranean, we're in the constant habit of
catching and enslaviDg Christians. Treaty stipu-
lations, and the combined efforts of civilized
Europe, were not sufficient to prevent il. To pro-
tect our citizens from the Barbary argument
which always convinced when presented by the
orators of the Mediterranean-the Algerine
pirates-the United States, in 1915, sent out a
squadron under Decatur, and by his bombard
ment of Algiers. he convinced them that the
question Of Slavery was debatabe, and that he
was in favor of agitation.
Now, however plausible the argument in favor
OF Negro Slavery, submitted to us the other night
I have much better one in favor of enslavng
Christians, made hundred and seventy years ago,
BY Sdi Mehemet lbrahim, member Of the Diyan
Of Algiers, and which may be seen in Martins
account Of his consulship, 1857. 1t was
against granting the petition of the sect called
Erikd. or Pursts, who prayed for the abolition of
piracy and Slavery as being unjust. The Afri-
cans speech, as translated, is as follows:
."Allah Bsmillah &c. God ia great and Ma
homet is his prohpet.
Have these Erika considered the conscqu
Of granting their petion1 If we cease our cruis' |