Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-03-03
THE CONSTITUTION.

o, this American Union, falsely so called =
what q sham, what q snare, what a curse it has
been from tie beginning, and how entirely one
sided and sectional! There is no North said
Mr.. Webster, and the declaration still remains
true. Tell me not that the Constitution Of the
United States is An Anti-Slavery instrument-tha
it was made to subservt the purposes of liberty,
as against all injustice. l know the history OF
this country; | know the American people; and ]
know that they never did make, nor intend to
make, a Constitution whereby they rendered slave
ry unlawful in our country. know that they
agreed, in yelled phraseOiogy which all under
stood, that the piratical foreign slave-trade should
be prosecuted Under our national flag for a score
of years, which agreement was fulfilled TO the let
ter. l know that, in veiled phraseology, they pro-
vided for a slave representation in Congress; and
it is enjoyed to this hour. know that in yelled
phraseology, they provided for the hunting and
seizures of runaway slaves ID every part of our
broad domains; and this is still conceded to the
South. And l know that, in very plain phrase.
ology, they pledged the whole strength of the coun-
try to put down every resurrection in the land; and
it was this strength that put John Brown and his
associates into the murderous hands Of Virginia.
Now. if this is not "a covenant with death, and an
agreement with hell what is it ? Make yourselves
the victims of it, Is there a man here who would
stand by this Government, lift should turn him
into a chattle, or take from him his wife or his
children 7 No never!
Our fathers were verify guilty in trying to as
simulate elements essentially end eternally antag.
onistical. But l have q thousand more reasons
for denouncing those who uphold the Constitution
at this hour, than I have for deuouncing the fra
mers of it; for while the latter were without ex-
tuse. they did not clearly see the end from the be.
ginning, as we now see it. They had not the
terrible experiment fairly wrought obt,so that they
could understand exactly tho consequences thai
would inevitably grow out of it. But, to us, oil
is open, palpable as a mountain and we are
left without defence or apology. The people are
rendered po%erless in the presence of slavery, by
the compromises of the Constitution. If it had
not beeu for these compromises, neither Thomas
Simus nor Anthony Burns would have been car
ried from Boston, back to chains and stripes. II
the presence of those dreadful scenes men stoOt
paralyzed, because Of their admitted constitutions
obligations. Hence, ] say ACCUSED BE TIL
CONSTITUTION OF TIE UNITED STATES loud DIP
plause) If however, any man can make odt thu
Constitution to be anti-slavery, honestly and con
scientiouslt to himselfi let him do SO; but let hin
take care that he votes for no party that does no
agree with him in regard to the instrument. IRE
hewed applause.)
Let him take care that he does Hot, in onl
breath, say it is anti-slavery, and in the next &C
knowledge it to be pro-slavery, by voting for
mao who does no. believe Il word that he says OF
that point. If any man can scare up an Anti
Slavery party in this country, under the Constitu
ton; / have no objection to it, but tell him, before
hand, he has got to begin by converting the people
of the United States to his opinion, daughter and
applause which is tantamountt to an entire revo'
luton Of sentiment and feeling throughout the
nation. - Wnt. Lloyd Garrison