Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-06-02
SPEECH OF ]. ELIZABETH JONES.
At the NEW YORK ANNIVERSARY.

upon whose platform | now stand was organ
for the specific and sole purpose of waging a
Of determination against chastel slavery
The position it then assumed it maintains now.
The doctrines it proclaimed in 1888 it enforces in
1850. They are the same because human rights
are the sane, human duties are the same.
Its founders we're not superficial thinkers.
They looked into the philosophy Of life, into the
nature Of man, and the purposes of his Creator.
The cause they knew not they searched out. Hav-
ing ascertained the character of slavery, the Path
of duty was plain. The Interchangeable principles
upon which their enterprise was based attest
alike the wisdom of the founders and the ultimate
triumph Of their cause. Like the Great Teacher
who condensed his whole system Of ethics into
two commandments, so they reduced this subject
to the simplest propositions. First, the slave has
a right to freedom; second, it lie the duty of the
master to emsncipate him, Immediately; third, it is
our right and our duty to oppose every institution,
every organization, every measure of policy, every
expression Of opinion that tends to delay the peri.
cd Of the slaves deliversnce. We stand here
then, to-day, making direct issue with The Slave
Power. We know its strength. We know that
the wealth, politics, literature and religion of the
country are the four corner-stones on which it
rests. And yet we are here to ~reiterate these SIM
pie truths. The truth is mighty and will prevail.
We are told that the slaves are we'll fed and
well clothed. That is nothing to our argument
But they are happy! So much the worse for the
master. If he has obliterated the line between
the man and the brute, 1 should rather not stand
in his place when be goes to judgement. Slavery
cannot DO covered up with broadcloth or bandan-
ma. 1t cannot be made respectable, net even
with the cast-off clothing Of the master. Gilt but
tons and gold chains don't help it. These things
subser7e two purposes only, they crafty the van
ity of the master, and befOol Northern divines
who go down there for South side views. ZAP
plause.)
1t is chattelism that we war With. 1t is the
bringing into subservience one man to the will Of
another, working him for another's benefit, using
him for another's pleasure, and convenience, and
interest, against which we enter our protest. The
question is not the color of his coat or the kind,
but the color of the statute under which he is en-
shaved. The question is not what he eats, or how
much money shall be spent upon him, but it is
this, Shall he be recognized as a man We make
no issues with the abuses of power, with the Incl
dents of the system or any fits natural results
We have no contest with whips and gags, and
chains, and thumbscrews, but with that organized
and legalized power that tears away the crown OF
manhood. and brands the human being as a brute.
Hence, all the representations of Northern apollo.
gists, of Union-saVing partisans, that the slaves
are fat and sleek, contented and happy, fall to the
ground. They have no bearing upon the ques.
ton.
Mr.. President, the Americans are full of sym
patty fer the oppressed Of other lands. l an
glad that it is 80. When Greece shook off the dus
of her degradation, and went forth to battle will
the Moslem host, the sympathy of our people wa
there, their aid was there. When Poland sirucl
t for freedom, and, single-handed and alone, stool
3 ur against the legiOns of the North. the prayer o
3 this nation went up as from one man. "GOd saw
0 the land of Kosciusko !" Aye, the Offering Of tn
J, friends of Italy in this city is yet fresh upon tn
0 altar. When Garibaldi needed arms, arms wer
sent him, and a thousand generous wishes be
= sides.
: But, ladies and gentleman, among those WHOM
we now seek to deliver there are no cultivated intel
lects, no men Of position or influence, no mani
Pole or noble Greek, no Mazzini, no Kossuth, Blu
only ignorant, degraded American slaves. W
think this fact places US under far greater obligG
tion to labor in their behalf. We are responsible
in q great measure, for their oppression. W
c have mada them what they are, and it is the pal
n of common justice to try to repair the injury "
have done. The benevolence of the age, th
Christ of the present. teaches us that because ii
10 slaves are poor, and ignorant, and degraded, an
coarse, and repulsiye, We should humble ourselvt
in the dust, and beg them to forgive the unmes
ured wrongs we have heaped upon their race.
N The question arises, Why do the people of tn
country sustain s~laveryf They do not thin
it right. They do not think it God-ordained.
would imply too much spiritual degradation
suppose that they believe any such thing. Cha
n 0'COnor may believe it, and Benjamin Brewste
and a few Others--just enough to prove that tot
~depravity is a sound point in our orthodox cree
Loud Cheers)
But why do thousands and tens of thousand
thus direct their influence, when they know tn
the system is q curse to the master, a grievo,
wrong to the slave, as Jefferson said 1t is d
icult to tell though we see in one case that Il
success Of party seems TO require it. The pea
aud prosperity of Zion are supposed TO demal
a. the sacrifice. The cloud that hangs over sOuthe
K trade must be swept away, or show a silver liniu
a Social position requires such concession, perha
mt "a compromise of principle whose lubricatiO
In will prevent the jar of discord, and thus preser
U the harmony of each particular sphere.
~ There is a large class who are neglectf
4" thoughtiess-don'. care anything about the slav
wish they were all in Guinea, or in Central A
erica, perhaps-for they are tired of this neg
question. These are generally people of good i
pulses, but have nc judgment nor reflection.
They desire what is right in the main, though
ew desire is not sufficiently strong to put forth an
to fort for its accomplishment. They would like
or have the kingdom OF heaven come them, /
be they can't take the trouble to 90 to it. Like Il
is low order Of animals that are attached to a r.
IN 10 The water, they receive simply what the curr,
brings within their grasp. They hope that tn