Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-03-27
SOUTHERN RIGHTS AND SLAVE TRAD
ING.

The extremists of the South are adding another
plank TO their platform. As boldly av0weh by their
leading organ, the New Orleans Delta, 10 an article
which we quoted yesterday, they not only insist on
the revival of the African Slave Trade, "Sjuth.
ern Right" but actually boast of having secured
their object. This traffic is only recommended.
but in suc manner. it is insOlentIy asserted that
it cannot be put down. The matter is not minced
in the least We treated to all the details.
What II slave costs on the African coast, and the
fluctuations in price, are carefully noted. The i'm
mense profits Of the trade are paraded and gorled
in There is a bold and defiant communicative
ness on tho whole subject, which seems expressly
intended to dare the Government to interfere with
this business.
1t Is not necessary for us to repeat here the real
nature and name OF the nhumun crime thus av0w-
ed and exulted in. Cold -bluoded murder, commit
ted for money is certainly not more deserving of
the summary nhcton of capital punishment than
this wholesale robbery and humicide, on large
scale for like purpose. A large proportion of
the miserable victims of this infamous trade
who, though savages, are nevertheless men-persh
IN the way by the most cruel tortures Those who
survive, live for what? And by what right. under
what excuse are they reduced to cbauel state,
ana sniJeced to the caprice of whoever chances
to get possession of them? Simply the right Of
the stronger. the same plea that would justify
robbery, murder, piracy of any sort and the ex,
euse that money can be made by the operation.
W e are 40 advocates of mob violence, yet an ebul
htion of popular fury that should abate such n
nuisance as newspaper which sustains, in the
face of the civilized world aud in defiance of the
universal sense of Justice traffic 80 criminal and
abominable. would be readily pardoned, wherever
civilization has any representatives.
We hear much from these same sources, about
Constitutional rights and Constitutional obligations
The general want of alacrity at the North in asss
ting to return fugitive slaves is censured hy these
patriotic people, lack Of fidelity TO the Federal
Constitution. The persons who are adding piracy
TO their g Southern Rights" platform, point tr'
umphantly to provision in the Constitution which
allows masters 10 pursue and recapture fugtives
rom service or labor, and to the law enacted by
Congress Pursuant to this provision and demand
ready obedience to iIs requirements as n test of
good citizenship-what. then. shall we say of the
law passed in accordance with the clause Of the
Constitution which contemplates the suppression of
the African Slave Trade? To violate the forme-
law, constitutes misdemeanur. Transgression
against the latter is q felony. One is an offence
against the law of bondage, and in obedience to
the natural sympathies of men on the side of lib
ertyl The other is a crime of the deepest dye
abhorent to every humane feeling and ranked
throughout the civilized world, as no better than
treason. robbery and murder. If to violate the
laws in respect to fugitive slaves therefore ought
to be denounced as grave offence, what can the