Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-03-23
Che Anti 9Iaperp Busle.
A oRTHERN PLEA
FOR THE
RIGHT OF SECESSION
BIT GEO. ". BAssETr, OTTAWA. ILLINOIS.

BIT GEO, W. BAssETT, OTTAWA, ILLINOIS.
The great event Of the day and Of the world, is
the formal dissolution Of the American Union.
Bot secession, the exciting phenomenon, is only
the fatal issue Of chronic disease as old as the
nation. The seeds of dissolution we're planted in
the American Government at it's formation.
Long before the South Carolina ordinance Of Sc
cession, was this Union Of States destroyed in
spirit and in practice. The laws which oblgate
shs Ssstes and their citizens to each other, have
been practically nullifed for years. While citi-
zen Of Massachusetts,. or of any other Northern
State, can traverse the whole wide extent of the
British Empire, and. whatever his color. creed OF
condition at home, his natural rights be as firmly
protected as those of the Queen on her throne; the
moment be crosses the line which divides the slave
from the uon-saye States, he is subject to indigni
ties aud lawless outrage, unsurpassed BY the sci
fish cruelty Of the most wild and inhospiable bar
baIians. ....
1t is q humiliating thought that there is no
power in the civilized world that could protect the
life Of the President elect, though unchanged with
civil crime, were he now to attempt to pass
through the Slave States of this Republic.
The mere ordinance of misguided State. there
fore, is not the cause Of tho dissolution of the
american UuiOn. A moro potent agency has long
since wrought the fatal work, beyond the remedy
of civil or military power.
But the forma separation Of the States, so long
increasingly probable, has at length become o
matter of history. The spirited State of South
Carolina has led the way, and by the highest act
of popular sovereignty. formally repealed the or
dinance of 1885, whereby the Constitution Of the
United States Of America was ratified, and has
thus dissolved her Union with the other States of
. this Confederacy.
One STAR followed by another and another
and others still. have aed from the American
galaxy.
Whether there is any legitimate or illegitimate
power able to seize and replace them again, and
bind them in their former end formal courses of
reluctant submission, is the question of the times
1t is to the candid aud deliberate consideration
Of this question, that now ask attention.
An exigency has occurred in the history of our
country, which requires the guidance Of funda-
mental principles and the promptngs of mag
unanimous spirit. Without original and profound
views Of the principles Of government, we shall
find ourselves bewildered at every point Nay we
may fancy that we are incidentally advancing the
cause of freedom, when, in fact, by obeying the
dictates of prejudice and following the precedents
of the past, We may be forging chains for our
selves, and strengthening those which have SO
long bound the Negro slave.
1t may be thought strange thai, with my we'll
known hostility to American Slavery, together with
the almost unanimous ans-seeession feeling of the
North, should, in this specific controversy, take
the side Of the South.
Bat il is no. in the enslayement Of her poor
that side with her; out in her inaIisnable righ
of national sovereignty.
The greater question of the existence of slavery
isa distinct matter, and if involved at all, very
differently, in my apprehension, from that Of tb,
popular mind generally at the North Nor have
failed to give due consideration to that creates.
political problems.
Ea TIE QUESTION STATED.
The specific question is, "Ras any one of III
Un1fsd States right 10 seeede from The Union a
her oon option |"
This should not be confounded with other collat
era' or incidental questions. such as, whether Their
Is sufficient cause for secession or whether Il i
e1pedlens for the seeding States or bss. for th
other Statesf
propose to discuss the absolute and snouo,;f.
right Of The people Of any State 70 dissolps t1e, ~
Iie0I connection soits the 6saeyay ouern,,,,, ,oSs
srer they choose. go ~ ers 81. i !"
The right Of secession implies, Of course, III