Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-12-22
CIRCULAR AND PORTIONS.

The following C,toular aud Petitions have been
by the tx. Coamjsee Of the Western y.
5. Society and are now being sent abroad On their
mission.
SALEM, ONO, Dec. 1860.
DEAR FRIEND; We beg you to circulate the ac-
companying Petitions extensively and thoroughly,
for the following, among other reasons:
First, for the honor Of our State.
Can we decline to put forth our most earnest ef
forts to relieve our beloved Commonwealth from
the just eensures Of she wise and good, and bitter
taunts of malicious enemies, for her hypocritical
professions to liberty and equality, while she is
guilty of nhuman class legislation?
Shall we remain passive and see her impose on
a portion Of her people an oppression, which near
ly a century ago, our fathers repealed by the swordH
"It taxation without representative" twas too
hateful a despotism to be tolerated in a King, shall
lite black shadow be allowed to darken our State
Sovereignty
Ayel more-Shall there longer res! on her the
foul dishonor Of building up her boosted free
schools by taxation imposed on tho colored man,
while his children may be shut out into degrading
ignorance2
Worse still-Shall she be known among her sis
ter states and among foreign nations for cruelty
in robbing the colored man in the days of his
wealth and prosperity, to build alms-houses, from
which he may be driven in the days of his poverty
and misfortune, 20 beg or to starye9
Again, we ask you to circulate these petitions
for your own sake.
While we allow any member of the body polite
to be deprived Of his rights, we trust our own lib
III, o.. A. II e IL. -...n4 .,,l,;tnIn
or to the frauds Of designing and ambitious dema-
gugues. Let US remembcr that no mans liberty
has any secure basis, except it be laid in the i'm
mutabl5 principles Of natural justice which per
tain to universal man. Ii the liberty of the black
man may be sacrificed today, the liberty Of the
white man may be sacrificed tomorrow. For the
principle that \ men are cIeated equal and en-
dowed by their Creator, with inalienable rights"
is set aside, whenever from the meanest citizen the
least OF his natural rights is withheld, Hence, it
we would secure to ourselves and transmit to our
children real liberty, instead Of adventurous ad-
vantages, we must see to it that equal and exact
justice be secured to all our people.
Lastly, we implore you to circulate these petit
tions for the sake of the colored man.
Frustrated under our iron heel, We have been
accustomed to look on him in his degradation with
contempt and disgust, to regard him as belonging
to a race inferior to our own, whereas, we should
regard ourselves with shame and remorse as the
authors of this terrible ruin. We shut him from
our colleges, our academies and our public schools,
and then insult him for his ignorance. We will
not tolerate him in lucrative employments, and
yet we reproach him for his poverty. We deny
him political elevation, and then despise him for a
want of selfrespect.
But let us remember that, Notwithstanding all
the obstacles which we have put in the way of this
much injured people, not a few have shown q bet
ter title to consideration and respect than have
those of any other class. By unwonted e~xertions
they have achieved handsome fortunes, liberal
education, large culture, exalted moral refinement
and unblemished honor.
If, amid snch dreadful impediments, some have
been able to distance in the race of improvement
and elevation, multitudes Of the highly favored
class, what may we not realize when these impe-
diments shall be removed and equal advantages
shall be afforded them? We entreat you, whose eye
now rests on this sheet, to see to it that no person
within your vicinity, be left without an opportuni-
ty to sign his or her name to these petitions.
Eds~The political and legal disabilities Of the
cOlored people of Ohio are,
First, Exclusion by the Constitution from all
political lranchises.-Stat Constitution, Art. Y.
Section l.
Second, Exclusion from the Common Public
Schools, at the option of any resident of the school
district.-Swan'S ReviSed Statutes, T. s44.
Third, Exclusion from the alms-houses, at the
discretion of the Trustees. -SUan's Revigc& Stat
uteS, p. Gil.
be- Will you please circulate the accompanying
petitions without delay! Send them on or before
the lst of February, to the Senator or Representa-
tive from your District, if you believe he will pre-
sent them promptly; other wise forward to CHARLES
IL, LANGsToN, Columbus.
Do not attach another sheet to your petition
when filled, but if you need more space, copy the
petition, or send to the Office of the Anti Slavery
Bugle, in Salem, ana procure one.
To tie General assembly Of the State Of Ohio:
The memorial of the undersigned, citizens of
- County, Ohio, respectfully requests you to
obliterate from the Laws of he State all distinc-
tiOns based upon complexion.
To the General Assembly Of the State of Ohio:
The memorial Of the undersigned, citizens of
- County, Ohio, respectfully requests you 20
take measures to so amend the Constitution and
Laws Of the State as to obliterate th%erefrom all
distinctions based upon complexion.