The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1861-04-02

resident property holders, and il lso
the best medium for Advertisers.
Have VIC an .Aboiitionist among us!
GE- The precise definition ofthe word
4" Abolitionist as applied to slavery,
has never been fully settled. For long
series of years past therehas been much
agitation Of the question, what consti-
tutes an abolitionist 90 In some quar-
tiers it has been understood to mean one
who desired the immediate abolition Of
slavery, without regard to consequences,
oraxioms ofpoli,ical economy. In 9th
err quarters, it has been supposed to
mean, one who thinks slavery is wrong.
and should be SO treated that it might
gradually become extinct. Others still
have contended that an abolitionist ;"
is one who refuses to recognize slavery
ms hum anizing and outstanding in
stitulon, designed to ameliorate the con-
dition of the colored race, and TO restore
society to its proper equilibrium. 1t has
ever been a perplex;ng question, and
seemed incapable of such a definition as
would be satisfactory ON all hands, and
forever put the matter at rest. In the
midst of the dilemma, and at a time when
every good citizen desires to know his
proper status the Southern Literary Mes
Senger,-an authority in such matters,
which will not for moment be disputed
comes to our relief, and gives its def
milton Of an abolitionist." Here it
is -
I" An Abolitonist is any man who does not
love SlayeryIor its own sake, as divine IN
stitution who does not worship it as the cor
nerstonc of civil liberty /; who does not adore
it ~ the only possible social condition on which
IL permanent republican government can be
e:ected and who docs not III his utmost soul,
desire to see it extended and perpetuatcd over
the whole earth, as means of b unlan refornia-
zion second in dignity, Importance and sacred
ness alone to the Christian religion, be who
does NOT love African Slavery with this love is
an Abolitionist."
We have known many persons, VINO
were by no means friendly to slavery,
almost shudder at the thought of being
considered an abolitionist, and who,
from this morbid fear, have even stilled
their honest convictions, and hel ped the
slave oligarchy into power. We hope
any such will not shrink back with hor-
ror when they view their natural faces
in the glass of the Literary Messenger.
The issue seems to be fully made up,
and All who will not bow down and wor
ship slavery, must be content to bear the
hated name Of " aboltionist." Even our
neighbor of The Civilian, and Lorenzo"
and "R " and the Col.," with an in
definite number of the "small fry !"
among the Democracy of Buchanan
County will have TO class themselves as
q abolilionists, unless, indeed, some OF
them should throw off the mask, and
give the lie % their professions. No
longer will it be their privilege to de-
nounee Republicans, and make capital
Tor try to) against the m, by calling them
abolitionists. Even this poor priv.
leye is ruthlessly cut off, by the cruel
edct Of their Southern +" brethren ]"
Tighter and tighter have the lines been
DRAWN. between the Northern and
Southern Democracy, until now at one
fell swoop, nearly the entire Northern
portion Of that unhappy family, are cast
CIT Of the fold, and left to the tender
mercies Of those whom they have hith-
erto supposed TO be the only abolition.
lists
We welcome you to the told, gentle
men. and together we will accept the is.
sue thus made, and henceforth our war
cry shall be. uboiitionism las defined
by The Soathern Literary Messenger)
forever and forever !"