Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-03-10
q o TT III II II 6 .


WORCESTER, Feb. 25, 1860.
FRIEND JONES I thank you for your notice of
my recent conversion to the doctrine Of an anti
slavery Interpretation Of the u. S. Constitution,
as it may seem, to SOM extent, to call the atten-
ton OF other minds to the subject, for an impor-
tant change in the views of any individual, how
ever humble or obscure, cannot be without its in.
auence. But had you called to mind the fact that
though acting with the American Auti-Slavery
Society; l have always differed with i, in relation
to some of its important doctrines, you would have
spared the necessity of much of your criticism Of
my past course.
l was for many years an agent of the 4. A. S.
Society it is true, but never a "Disunion ~anti-sla-
very lecturer" in your sense of the term; and this
the under whose auspices l acted, we'll
knew. | never advocated nor favored the dismem.
berment Of the nation, or the establishment Of a
Northern Confederacy; but have always discouu-
tenanced that scheme. whenever it has come across
my path; though I have not felt called upon to de.
vote to it any active opposition. My motto has
been Revolution, not Dissolution ; and if at any
time have employed the term Disunionist as np.
plicable to myself, it has been in the sense of sep.
%aration from the existing government, not of sep.
%aratiOn from the South.
l have as much reason for separation from
Mass, or Ohio, as from South Carolina. NV thee.
ry has ever been, a union of all the friends of free.
dom both North and South, against all the friends
and supporters of slavery whether North or South,
But as the line Of argument BY which these diff.
erent theories are sustained lies in the main, il
the same direction, it is not surprising that you
should have forgotten that our positions were not
identical, especially as | have not always thought
twise, in my public Giscourses, to occupy time in
making the distinction.
The "no-voting theory" CT the American A. S.
Society is another point at which | have always
been at variance with my associates, although |
have frequently defended it as preferable to modes
OF action which involved the sacrifice of principle.
But whenever tho subject of the best method of
opposition to slavery, has been under considera-
ton, l have advocated the duty Of believers in a
government of force to carry the question to the
polls by such a process as when successful, would
be certain to secure to the slaves the same legal
protection as they demanded for themselves.
As to my previous knowledge Of the Constitu-
ton, which you seem to think culpably defective,
for one in my position, 1 can only say that when
| accepted an agency at tho hands of tho American
AnIi-Slavery Society, | was not aware that it was
expected OF me, as any part Of my official duty, to
expound Constitutional law; otherwise should,
most certainly, have declined that honor; for /
was conscious OF having a very meager knowledge
of the various matters involved in that department
nf science. / then supposed that all that would
be required Of me in that direction, would be to
examine in tho light of our Anti-slavsry prinoi-
pIes,t the various theories Of constitutional interpre-
%tatiOu which the different political parties might,
from time to iine. present, and pass u cment up.