Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-07-09
SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

BARNsrABLr, Mass, June 20, 1859.
To THE EDITOR Some persons think my view
of the present condition and prospects of the Anti
Slavery cause. most unwarrantably dark and dis
couraging. IL may be so. But dismal as are nv
prophecies and expectations, the events are almost
invariably more melancholy than my fears.
Northern Ohio has just furnished an example in
point. While Mr.. Giddings was in Congress, |
expected no more from him than we saw. But
after he burst those bands of death and hell, my
hopes were high that now indeed, he would show
himself q mana man to be sure, raised from
The dead" but q man, now, at last alive, and able
to give the world assurance of a man.
The Oberlin Rescue Case" seemed almost n
PRovIDENTIAL CALL, for him to buckle on his ar
NOR for the conflict. For a time he seemed to heed
the heavenly voice. Some of his speeches and
other demonstrations seemed as though uttered by
lips that had been touched with live Goals from of
the altar of freedom.
When the constitutional authorities had exhaus.
ted their powers, or proved incapable or too COW.
ardly to cope with the foe, then | locked for al
least as revolutionary a measure, as had twice
availed in Visions n to secure the ends of Justice
and Liberty, In defiance of Law. Day after day,
we waited for the telegraph to tell how Giddings
and hisIthousands of friends had heleaguered thai
Cleveland Jail and tumbled it into ruins for thu
deliyerance OF the righteous men incarcerated
there. Did not his words give promise of such
result? And might not that glorious deed have
been done even more easily than in Wisconsin
two years ago? And according to the declaration!
of Mr.. Giddings himself in the Cleveland Conyen
ton and elsewhere, should it not have been done
at all hazards, and all costs? And on every priu
ciple of the philosophy of l776y would not tb,
deed have been jusiifable, even had a torrent o
blood baptized and sealed it? So it now seems Il
mel and so l was ready to take Mr.. Giddinss AMI
others there at their word. And had they faller
in tho strife, | would have hallowed their memory
more a thousand times, than that Of any Warrer
or Washington, OF whom the country boasts.
Would that even now, a step so righteous as wei
as revolutionary, might be taken! Are not som,
of the sons Of Ohio brave enough to attemnt il
do not believe one hair of their head, vo,,
perish. But since the State Republican Copvep
ton at Columbus, my hopes for Ohio are dark an,
drear as my friends say they are, as to the Who'll
country, now, and at all times. Why may one no
despair after such a demonstration? Desna;r.
mean, of human aid. aud from political sourcas
In the general conflict, know no despair, no dir
couragement. The undermining of the Almighty,
throne. is not frmer than my hope. NAY, God
assurance of his right to reign. is not greater tina
Is mine Of his power aud purpose TO ayenpe ever
wrong, to arrest every evil. and TO make truth an
liberty at las. triumphant.
But still. the surrender Of the Western Ressry
in the Columbus Convention ingloriously led in St
disgrace and shame by such a man as Joshua r
Giddings. was a spectacle to make the angels weeu
Only such an Offering however can give promis
Of a Presidential success 10 1860, and it must b
made!i
The party has already given terrible signs, o
rather assurances. that 10 the coming Presidential
contest all it's faith, virtue, honor. honesty. every