Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-04-23
THE sACREDNEss OF AN OATH.
BY TILL P

$50, you vote, do your" said I to a friend som.
few weeks since.
20. yes! can't get along very vol without. II
We don't vote, we shall have to step out of the pov.
eminent entirely, and leave it in the hands II
those who would administer it in the worst man.
nsr." replied my friend.
But you admit the Constitution to be ORC. slave.
~" said 1.
10, certainly I don't deny tina. !"
"Then in voting, or holding office under il. Won
swear to give it your support.-don't you ?"
asked.
"But do not do that" said my friend 4! II only
vote for State officers" D
"No diference-you swear to the same, vhetb.r
you are a State officer, or q United State officer"
"No, not exactly" said my friend slowly.
"What how is that? You must bav. ,om. ,.-
theory, by which to dodge the responsibility of an
OATH"
THAT part Of the State officers oath, which
binds hin to support the Constitution of the Unit.
ed States" said my friend, vehemently, els q
farce-is of no account"
How do you make that appear - asked.
"You admit" said he, "that a State officer. has
nothing to do with the executing of United Sta.o,'
laws.
Certainly ] will make that admission p
"Then." continued my friend. you must see IN
q moment, that that part of the State officers oath
is a mere form for inasmuch as no State of6csr.
is bound to execute any United States law, nor il
in any way, officially connected with tho general
Government. the oath is a nudity. The Govern.
ment requires Of you, as well az me. that you will
do nothing to prevent the owner Of q slave from
recapturing him."
Every well. 1 will admit that the demand il tbs
same-the requirements the same upoI. both but
the obligation is not. You have sworn, that when
the slave hunter comes to take back bis eso.nsd
bondman, that you would stand quietly by while
he, without warrant. binds and fs,ters him.
and takes him back into hopeless bondage.
!. upon the other hand, have not sworn, so to do .
and am left free to aid the fugitive, without viol.s-
ing q sacred OATH"
well, look here, "said my friend. with the air
of q man who has just laid down every dollar. and
was determined to win. or loose all, with tho mex,
throw Of the dice, ''supposing that no one should
vote for a United States officer, only for State Of.
fcers, the General Government would cease 10 be.
in four years"
"True," replied, "but, by your oath, you are
bound not to let the wheels of the General Gov.
ernment stop you are bound 80 render what sup,
port is within your power and you can do IL. no
more efectually, than by voting. Your oath
would still bind you, though your connection with
the General Government. were dissolved, to stand
by and see the master capture his slave"
"Dont believe il Wouldn't do il, any how II
exclaimed my friend decidedly.
During this conversation between myself and
friend, bis little boy. about nine or ten years old;
stood quietly, and attentively listening. to what
We were saying. As my friend finished the last
quoted sentence, his little girl, of about six on
seven summers, came running towards US, calling
to her brother, to come with her down to the brook
about twenty rods from the house.
Mother says We may 60" cried tho little girl,
~clapping her hands.
MAY / 20. father?" asked the little boy.
Certainly, my son." replied the father 'but
don't DO gone a great while, Ella, don't DO gone
long" ~ m
I'VE won's replied tho children in chorus and
they scampered. in childish innocence and
glso. to play upon the banks Of the roaming
brook. -a... ,-f t.--r .
Ny friend and self, continued our conversation