Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-12-03


Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Amenp
LYDIA MARIA CHILD's REPLY TO Gov.
WISE. So
In your civil but very diplomatic reply to my,
letter, you inform me that have constitutional
right to visit Virginia. for peaceful purposes, ia
common with every citizen of the United States.
] was perfectly well aware that such was the thea-a
ry of constitutional obligation in the Slave States
but was also of what you omit to mention.
viz that the Constitution has in reality. been
completely and systematically nullifed whenever
it suited the convenience the policy OF tho
Slave Power. Your constitutional obligation, for
which you profess so much respect. has never
proved any protection to cisens ofthe Free States
who happen to have black, brown, or yellow com.
plexion nor 10 any white citizen whom you even
suspect of entertaining opinions opposite to your
own, on question Of vast importance to the tenn
poral welfare and moral example of oul oommvu
country. This total disregard of constitutional
obligation has been manifested not merely by the
Ly nch law OF mobs in the Slave States. but by tho
deliberate action Of magistrates aud legislators.
What regard was paid to constitutional obligation
in South Carolina, when Massachusetts sent the
Hon. Mr.. Hoar there as an envoy, on a purely 10.
gal errand Mr.. Hedrick. Professor of Political
Economy IN the University of North Carolina. had
a constitutional right 20 reside in that State What
regard was paid to that right, when he was driven
from his home, merely because he considered Sla-
very an impoiiic system uurious to the prospsri.
ty of the Statesf What respect for constitutional
rights ives .mnnifssted by sAIabams, when . book
seller in Mobile was compelled 10 Aee'ior his lifs
because he had, the special request of some OF
the citizens, imported few copies Of q novel thai
every body was curious to read Your own citi,
zen, Mr.. Underwood, had constitutional right To-
live in Virginia. and vote for whomsoever he plsas-
ed Wha. regard was paid to his righss, when he
was driven from your State for declaring himself
in favor of the election of Fremont? With thsss. .
and multitude of other examples before your
eyes, it would seem as if the less said about
fect for constitutional obligation at the South,
the better. Slavery is, in fact. an infringement Of
all law, and adhsres to no law, save for its axa
purposes Of oppression. 4.gs sat.iog
You accuse Capt. John Brown Of "whessiug
knives of butchery for the mothers, sisters daugh
ters, and babies" Of Virginia and you inform
me Of the well.known fact that he iis. ''arraigu-
ed for the crimes of murder robbery and treasop."
will not here stop to explain why l believe that
old hero to be no criminal, but martyr to princi-
pie which he sought to advance by methods sane
toned by his own religious views, though not by
mine. Allowing that Capt. Brown did attezaps
scheme in which murder, robbery, and treason
were, to his own consciousness, involved, do not
see how Gov. Wise can consistently arraign him
for crimes lie has himself commended. You have
threatened to trample On the Constitution, and
break the Union if majority of tie legal voters
in these Coufederated Sta dared to elect Pres
dent unfavorable to the extension Of Slavery. Is
not such declaration proof of p.enedssted treas
on In the Spring Of 1912, you made Q speech
: in Congress, from which copy the following:
"Onee set before the people of the Great Valley
the conquest of the rich Mexican Province and you
might as we'll try to stop the wind. This Govern
, ment night send its troops. but they would run
r over them like herd Of Buffalo. Let the work
once begin, and do not know that this House
would hold me very long. Give me i've mlliona
of dollars, and l would undertake it myself Al
though do not understand how to set single
squadron in the field, could find men to do it.
Slavery should pour itself abroad without res
train and find no limit but the Southern Ocean.
The Camanches should no longer hold the richest
2 mines OF meXlco Livery Roiueh image WHICH,
had received the proclamation Of a false worship,
should soon be melted down into good American
eagles. would cause as much gold to cross the
Rio del Norte as the mules Of Mexico could carry;
ave, and would make better use of it, too. than
any lazy bgoted priesthood Under heaven" s
When you thus boasted that you and your ''boot-
ed loafers" would overfuh the troops Of the Unit
ed States 'like herd of buffalo," h the Gov
ernment sent them to arrest your invasion Of .
neighbofing nation. ut peace with the United
States. did you not pledge yourself to commit
treason. Was it not by the murder Of uuofeud-
ing Mexicaps that you expected 10 advance those
schemes of avariee and ambtons What human.
ity had you for Mexican "mothers and babes"
whom you proposed to make chdess and father
less And for what purpose was this Wholesale
, massacre to take place. Not TO right the wrongs
Of any oppressed elass; not to sustain any great
principles Of justice. or Of freedom; but merely
to enable "slavsry to pour itself forth without
restraint" ~ PSI
|, Even il Captain Brown were as bad a. yop PAINT