Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-02-05

1t is certain that our principles were p'omulgat
cd in the Declaration of Independence that the
sieners Of that first charter, of American liberty
declared that all men are endowed by their Crea |
tor with the unalneatle, the abstract right TO en- |
joy ife liberty, and happiness and that the
trainers of the Constitution, recognizing this pri'
nal doctrine, ordained "that no person shall be
deprived of life, liberty, property, without due
process ef law" Our doctrine seems to have met
with universal approval, except by the Tories OIL
that day, up to the year 1871 and the first den.
al of il by any Whig was published by Thomas
Paine, in his essay upon "the Rights of Man"
wherein he declares that "whatever whole nation
chooses to do, it has right to do" No person
can fail to the identity Of this doctrine with
that now proclaimed by the Democratic party, al
eging that the people of a Territory, in framing
Pa Constitution, may without injustice authorize
Slavery if they choose. The doctrines of Paine
and of the Democratic party are identical in deny
ing that human Governments are limited by the
law of eternal right and wrong. They agree that
the people off nation State may, if they choose
authorize murder, robbery, and piracy for all
these are embraced in the term Slavery"
But the doctrine of Paine would pr robably have
cept for tacit approval by Mr.. Jefferson, who
carelessly expressed desire that the work might
be reprinted. The approval. however, referred
to the work as a WHOLE and not to this particular
dogma. But this circumstance called out John
; Quincy Adams, at that time young lawyer of
Boston, who, in a series of well considered arti
ces exposed the error of Paine, and clearly DEM
onstraed the limited power of human Govern
ments-showing their inability to change the nat
ural or mate character of any act that murder,
or piracy, or robbery, is inherently wicked and
criminal rendered so by the Creator, by the i'm.
mutable law Of right and wrong, and must retain
their inherent wickedness, though ten thousand
human statutes pronounce them just, and author
zo their commission that the legitimate powers
of government are limited to the protection, and
do not extend to the destruction, of mans inaline.
y able rights. This vindicaton of the self.evident
truths promulgated in the Declaration of Inde-
u pendence, and repeated in the Constitution, was
published while most of the sgners of that great
charter of Liberty and most of the trainers of the
). Constitution were living. 1t emanated from the
u son Of Of the most distinguished of those pat
u riots 1t attracted the attention of Gen era Wash
n ington, then the President of the United States
u who after rendered to young Adams q foreign
,, mission, Every person will the perfect ideni
q ty of tho views proclaimed by Mr.. Adams ant
i those avowed by the Republican party.
- The institution of Slavery was then acknowedg
ed to be wrong. In the language'o of Henry Clay
> it was "looked upon as q curse-a curse to tht
y, MASTER" crime which they were constrained t.
o. tolerate, but could not justify.
:, The people of the free States regarded it as
relic of tho more barbarous ages unsuited tt
= Christian civilization, and they repudiated ant
abolished it.
But the Southern States suffered it to remain
undisurbed until it became chronic, and men be
) gan to look round for arguments in favor of it,
continuance. Those of more des 2erate character
began to deal in slaves, making merchandise il
human flesh their regular vocation. Planters be
gan to look upon these crimes as common, became
,s familiar with them and eventually justified the
Il preparation by what they termed the necessity
% of surrounding circumstances. OF course. they
viewed Northern men, who advocated universal
.. freedom and justice to ALL with dstrust, and soor
If after with determined opposition. This feeling
q became so strong to defeat the election of Mr.
a Adams to the Presidency in 1923, although his
% previous administration had been able, pure, and
~ patriotic.
= 1t was the good fortune of that renowned state:
r. man to have lived at the time when the Declara
\. ton of Independence was promulgated. lie had
mingled freely with the patriots who devoted thei
y, lives to the support Of its "sefevident truths ;
n he had drank deeply at the fountains of Liberty
he had fully imbibed the spirit of that heroic age
b. Soon after his defeat in the Presidential campaign
- he became member of this body +; and while herr
4 he adhered most strictly to the doctrines of h,
Revolution, and strove to develop the real ssu
=, which then existed between slave and free labor
a. While the Slave Power was constantly persecut
,r ing him, endeavorng to PROSTATE his influence, h
g. was laboring to bring out to the public view th
O. secret doctrines and motives which controlled it
advocates. If gentlemen will consult the debate
,r of this body during the time he served here, hi
=. biography, they will find that he constant
,d endeavoring to develop tho precise issue now ex
=. istiug between the Republican and Democrat
40 parties. l may be permitted to cite an instance
ho In 1914, the Legislature of Massachusetts, sent
of this Heuse q memorial, asking an amendment O
. the Constitution, to apportion the representa-
o ton in Congress according to the free population
&c of the several States. 1t referred to selec
:, committee of nine members, some Of whom wer
o. regarded as among the atlest statesmen OF tn
~ South. As chairman, Mr. Adams drew up a re
bs port. 1t based upon the self evident truths
that all have equal rights to life, to that lib
ot erty which is necessary to acquire knowledge an
q. attain happiness. 1t was read to the committee
II and considered maturely. Of the eight members
of besides himself, alone signed this report but
=. Que denied its doctrines He and had hoped tha
rs Governor Gilmer, of Virginia, and other Souther
members, would have had the moral courage t
,e admit or deny its principles, but they EVIDENT
ss feared to do 80.
lh l will give another instance, illustrating hi
le confidence in the truths of that instrument. Whe