Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-09-24
Ibe Auti- 9laperp Buole.
LETTER FROM GgRRIT SMITH.

-..tT-. PRTEBoRo August 81 1859.
JOHN THOMAS, Esq, Syracuse, Chairman OF the
Jerry Rescue Committee.
My DEAR SIR: have this day received your
letter inviting me to preside at the approaching
anniversary of the Rescue of jerry, and to pre-
pare the papers for it. Thankful for this honor
as l truly am, nevertheless am constrained to de-
cline it. l have presided at all the anniversaries
of this important event, and written the address
adopted at each of them. But my interest in them
has declined greatly for the last two or three years;
and am now decidedly of the opinion that " as
unci,e TO continue to repeat the farce any longer.
VI The Rescue of Jerry great and glorious
event. Would to God that it had been duly i'm
proved + But those who achieved it, and include
In this number all who cbeered ii on and rejoiced
in every step of its progress have with lew ex-
ceptious, proved themselves unworthy of the work
of their own hands. We delivered Jerry in the
face Of the authority of Congress and courts; and,
as most of US believe, in contempt also OF pro-
vision of the Constitution ITSELF We delivered
him, believing that there was no law and could be
no law for slavery. On that occasion our humani-
{, was up and in vain would all the authorities
on earth, even the Bible itself included, have bid
brother and SO did it cling to him, that oil the
wealth OF the world would not have suthced to
buy it f. or tempt ii to ignore and betray him.
Oh, had the thousands who, on that memorable
night, crowded the streets of Syracu;e. but main
tained that sublime elevation to which the spirit
of the night exalted them, what force for the
= overthrow of slavery would they nothave accumu-
lated by this time! But they soon fell from it,
They soon sunk down to the low level OF their
political aud church parties. Jerry was forgotten
Their humanity was dead-for these parties are
the graves of humanity. In proportion as man
becomes partisan is his manhood lost-for in
that proportion is he untrue to himself, to his
brother aud to God. That day, alas how distant !
when every one shall be held, and be willing to
be held to his individuality, shall witness an un-
speakaby better condition of things than does this
in which ZEN act in parties and stand in the
strength Of parties; and in which the vaguely and
and feebly felt responsibilities Of party take the
place of the definite aud deeply conscious respon-
sibilities of the individual. When our country
men shall have risen to this higher plane of char
acter there yill be Christians instead of Baptsts.
Methodists and Presbyterians and Patriots in
stead of Republicans, Democrats and Native Ame-
ricans.
OF the thousands who, on the glorious night to
which we have referred were actuated by JUS
tice and mercy, probably not less than nineteen
twentieths fell, Immediately after, under those &C.
clesiastcal or political party influences which had
previously swayed and shriyelled them. Of the
thousands whose motto that glorious night was
''No law for slavery" perhaps not dozen have
called on their churches to adopt it, and not fifty
have perseverngly refused to vote for men who
recognize law for slavery. At each of our an
niyersaries the resolutions and addresses and tho
discussion upon them have been in harmony with
the high and holy principle upon which Jerry was
rescued. Nevertheless, the vast majority Gf those
who enjoyed the anniversaries returned home to
act with their pro-slavery parties in Church and
Z State. 1a s1
O. ''Jerry Rescuers" voting for men who acknowl.
edge law for slavery l see not but what they
are as basely inconsistent as are our Temperance
Societies, forty-nine fftieths of the members Of
which, while prating for protection "vote for
didates who oppose it. Indeed. always excepting
an anniversary OF the New York State Temper
ance Society, do not know greater or more
shameless or more pernicious hypocrisy than an
anniversary of the Rescue Of Jerry.
BY the way, / see that gentleman with fine tai
ents and high culture, and marked ability as a
writer, is called on to write the history of the
Temperance reformation For my own part tt had
far rather this history were hidden than publish
ed. For if truly written, what is the great fact
it will perpetuate what but the infinitely dis
graceful one that the temperance men, though
very ready 10 talk up and write up their cause,