Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-09-10
SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
EX. Committee Of The Western Anti.Slavery Society

We presented our last years report in a des-
ponding spirit. We were disheartened at the
many adverse circumstances attending the opera
tions of the Society. We have, perhaps, no more
cause to be hopeful now than we had then, the OBJ
stacles in our path are no less, the prospects no
brighter. Still, when we remember how promptly
the true friends Of the slave responded then to the
cal. for aid, how willingly they replenished the
treasury, and relieved the society of embarrassment,
how self-sacrifcing was their spirit, how firm their
determination to sustain the movement the coming
year. we cannot but feel q strong reliance upon the
integrity and the devotion OF these friends, believ-
ing that as in times past, SO now, each will put
his shoulder to the wheel, and give such aid as his
ability and his conscience may dictate.
The presence and labors Of VIM. Lloyd Garrison
at our last Anniversary were highly gratifying to
the a5olitionsts. They we're glad to meet again the
pioneer in this enterprise, they were cheered BY
his counsel, and strengthened by his devotion to
the great interests for which he has SO long and SO
faithfully labored.
Frances Ellen Watkins, who attended orr An.
nual gathering for the first time added much TO the
interest of the occasion. She subsequently labor
ed in this State many months, and was well
coined in nearly every place where she went both
by the friends, and the foes of our movement
She has recently visited Indiana and labored with
similar success there to what she hasbad~ elsewhere.
1t will be remembered that a meeting was held
of the friends of the Bugle, during our last Ami
versary, who recommended a plan of action for
the support of that paper, which was adopted by
,La yaort,,a N,,c;tto I'D .a al:k1
taken to carry it into execution. More than a
hundred letters were sent abroad asking for a
contribution Of five dollars, and agreeing to send
two copies Of the paper to ron-subscribers for each
donation when received. Most of those who re-
sponded to these letters gave a favorable reply,
and considerable was realized in this way.
There being a large. and constantly accumulate
ing amount of Indebtedness from subscribers, who
from inability, though,lessness or dishonesty suf
fered 'heir accounts to remain unsettled, causing,
not only pecuniary embarrassment to the Commit
tee. but oftentimes creating unpleasant and vexO-
tious feelings, your Committee resolved to adopt,
with the commencement of the present volume,
the system of prepayment, trusting that the true
friends of the cause will cheerfully cooperate with
them, not only in carrying it out so far as their
own subscriptions are concerned, but will exert
themselves in obtaining reliable cash subscribers
in place of the unpaying patrons who have
heretofore absorbed to so large an amount the re-
sources of the Society.
That the nominal subscriptir n list of the Bugle
will, for a time be diminished by adopting the pre-
payment system, is what your Committee expected,
but inasmuch as it is the non-paying subscribers
that are stricken of, we apprehend that the actual
receipts on the paper will not, thereby, be mater
tally diminished and without increasing our ex-
penditures we are enabled to send gratuitous copies
to such persons as we believe will be benefited
by its reception. The number now sent is over
60. and the work they are doing may not be made
manifest this year or next, but we believe they
will ultimately enhance the cause of freedom.
In the latter part of the winter, Marius R. Rob
inson-the editor of the B~ugle-was induced by
private considerations to retire from the Of
fetal position which for eight years he had
so faithfully and so acceptably filled. l need
not tell you how deeply your Committee re-
GREETED his retirement. how dark was the hour,
how discouraging the circumstances that then sur
rounded us for these things can be understood
only by those upon whom are largely imposed, or
who take upon themselves the burdens and respon-
sibilities of an arduous enterprise.
Still, we recognized Mr.. Robinson's right to
choose his own position upon the battlefield, and
parted with him under the strong conviction that
in whatever department of labor he might engage,
he would be in future. as he has been in time past,
true to his highest convictions of right, and that
he would earnestly pursue that course. which he
believed would best promote the interests Of the
race.
The successor to Mr.. Robinson-Benj. g.. Jones
is, as you are we'll aware. one of the editors un-
der whose management theBugle was published for
the first four years of it's existence. During that
time you had ample opportunity to become &C.
quaiatsd With his ability as an editor, and his in
tegrity as an abolitionist.