Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-06-23
WHOLE NO. 767.

and sparingly, but directly, openly and tAosopEh7
y. 1t must be exhibited ga - Is; alike IN Its IN
luence and in its animating character, that Rot
only its outside but its inside may be seen.
On former occasions | have discussed Slavery
only inciUenehy az, in unloldRG the principal
that Slavery is sectional and Freedom national; in
exposing the unconstilutionahty Of the Fugitive
Slave bill; in yipdicntng the prohibition Of Slave
ry in the Missouri Territory in exhibiting the
imbecili,y throughout the Resolutop of the Slave
States, aud especially of South Caaolisss and
lastly, in unmasking the crimo against Kansas,
On all these occasions, where | have spoken at
length have said too little of the character Of
Slavery partly because other topics were presep,
ted, and partly from disinclination which have
always felt to press the argument against those
whoEA knew to have all the sensi:iveness Of
sick man. But. God be praised, this time haa
passed, and the debate is now lifted frora detaila
to principles Grander debate has not occurred
in our historyi rarely in any history; poF can tha
debate close subsids except with the triumph Of
Freedom.
First assumption OF course begin with the
assumption of fact. 1t was the often-quoted re-
mark Of John Wesley, who knew well how to use
words, as also how TO touch hearts, that Slavery
was the sum Of all yiGinies.' The phrase is ppp-
gent but it would be rash in any Of US to criticss
the testimony of that illustrous founder Of Meth
odism, whose ample experience tt Slavery ia
Georgia and the Carolinas seems to have been all
condensed in this sententious Judgment, Ian.
guage is feeble to express oil the eno7TitJ Of this
institution whioh is now vaunted in itself q
form of civilization, 'cnnobling' at least to the
master il not the slave. Look a it in whatever
light you WILL and it is always the scab, the can4
ker, the bare bones and the shame Of the coUn-
try; wrong not merely ia the abstract, Ga IL often
admitted by its apologsts, but wrong in tho con-
crete also, and possessing single element Of
right. Look at it in the light Of principles. and
it is nothing less than huge iRsurreotioR agGipat
the eternal law of God, involving in its pretensions
the denial Of all human rights, and also tho de'
NAL of that divine law in which God himself is,
manifest, thus being pract; eally the grossest lie
and the grossest Atheism. Founded in violence,
sustained only by violence, such wrong must, by
sure law Of compensation, blast the master
we'll as the slave blast the lands on
which they live; blast the community of whiOh
thew are parts blast the Government which
does not forbid the outrage; and the logger u e4
lists, and The more completely it prevails. must it's
tenn. Burbarous in origin barbarOus In its lawi
Sar5arous in all its pretensions; barbarous in the
instruments it employs; harbarous in consequent
ces; barbarous in spirit; barbarors wherever IL
shows itself Slavery must breed barbariana
while it develops everywhere. alike in the individ-
ual and in the society of which he fIrms part,
the essential elements Of barbarism. ln this cher-
Gcter it is now conspicuous before the world, In
undertaking now TO expose the barbarism OF Sla-
very, the whole broad field ia open before me
There is nothing in its character, it's manifold
wrong, it's wreched results, and especially in its
influence on the class who claim TO be 'ennobled
by il, that viii not fall naturally under considers
alton.
after quoting the definitions of slavery as civ,
en- by the slave code. Mr.. Sumner proceeds.
Out of this definition, as from solitary germ
which in its pettiness might be crushed by the
hand, towers Our pas tree and Gil its gigantic
poison. Study it, and you will comprehedD the
whole morstrous growth
Sir look at its plain import, and the relation
which i. establishes. The slave is held smply for
the use of his master, to whose behests his life.
liberty aud happiness arc deyoted, and by whom
he may be bartered leased, mortgaged, bequeath-
ed, invoiOed, shipped rs cargo, stored as goods,
sold on execution, Knocked of at public auction,
and even staAed at the gaming table on the baz-
ard of card OF a die; all according to law, Nor
is there anything within the limit of life, inflicted
on q beast which may not be inflicted on the slave,
lie may be marked like hog, branded like q
mule, yoked like OK, hobbled like horse, driy-
en- like an ass, sheared like sheep MANNED like
cur, and constantly beaten like brute all sc7
cording to law. And should life itself be tAksn,
what is the remedy The law Of Slavery, imita-
ting that rule of evidence which, in barbarous
days and barbarous countries, prevented q Chris
tim from testifying against MahQmedan opep-
ly pronounces the ineompetency Of tae whole Afri-
can race-whether bond or free to testify ip any
case against white man, and, thus having already
surrendered the slave to all possible outrage.
crowns its tyranny by excluding tho very testimO-
nv through which the bloody cruelty of the slave
master might be exposed Thus in its law doea
Slavery paint ITSELF but i, is only when we look at
details and detect its essential elements--6ve ia
number--all inspired by single motive, thA. i.a
character becomes completely manifest. sai
Foremost of course, in these clements, is The
impossible pretension, where birberism is lost in
impiety, by which man claims property in man.
Against such arrogance the argument is brief.--- b
According 10 the laws of nature, written by tha
same hand that placed the planets in their oIbits;
and like them constituting part of the eternal G
system o fthe universe, every human being has q
complete title to himself direct from the Almighty.
Naked he is born but the birthrigh, 10 ipsppAra.
ble from the human form. man may be poor
in this worlds goods, but he owns himself No
war or robbery, anciep; or recent no middle pas
sage no change of Cline no capture, no purchase
money, no transmission from hand to hand, no
matter how many times, aud 20 matter at what
price, can defeat this rdefeasible GOd-gven fran
ehise. And Divine mandate, strong as that
which guards life, guards liberty also Even At
the very morning of creation, when God said lev