Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-04-20

w steady growth OF consciousness OF strength In
II the North, and determination not to surrende,
:. all its rights 70 the Slave Power.
l. From retrospect Of the long struggle between
the contending forces Of liberty and slavery in
% this nation, and from the developments Of the
present hour, the question arises in every thought
ful mind, What is to be predicted of coun,ry's
future y Amid the s.rifes Of hostile political par
ties the rendpg asunder Of ecclesiastical bodies;
' tbe contest of various factions vieing with one
another to suppress the rising rebellion of anti
+ slavery thought aud speech and the upheavng Of
the foundations Of institutions which seemed as
immutable as the everlasting hills the Abolition
lists bave kept their eyes constantly fixed upon one
result which they knew must come at last tbrou ugh
|, the wbirlwind and storm Of the conflict, namely,
the abolition Of American slavery. For this re-
suit they have steadily labored, refusing to be
turned from their purpose by any aide issues,
n or to compromise their demand for any lower aim
We now see that this end draweth nigh. II 10
not to the new administration Of our Federal gov
ernment that we look for the inauguration Of the
/, reign of liberty Very efficient service in the
anti-slavery cause cannot be reasonably expected
Of President who avows his intention Of res.or
ing the fugitive slave to bis master; who tells the
nation that though he believes that Congress pos.
sesses constitutional power to abolish slavery in
: the District Of Columbia be should not favor their
abolition of il, except with the consent Of large
number of the shareholders Of the District and
who says that il be should be of the opinion that
8 Congress possesses the constitutional power to
e abolish the slave trade betwe n the States, he
IL =
powef unless upon some conservative principle akin
to the condition which he suggests relative to the
abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia-
d Nor can much moro be expected from a party in
8 power, which, when on. Of power, pledged itself,
q through it's accredited organs, 60 en- force the com
promises of our Federal Constitution. But the
8 heart OF the Northern people is slowly and ire
> vocably decreeing the doom of slavery. Their po-
litca leaders may refuse to this fact the rep
resentatives Of their commerce may loudly deny IT,
but the South inssinctyely knows it, and, there
fore refuses to accept the peaoe-oferings present
ed 60 her by Northern politicians Herein is hopel
for the siaye. For tho modification Of seeing pu-
silanimous party leaders offering TO sell the peo-
plss brthrght for mess Of pottage, there is the
consolation Of believing that the offer will be re-
eoted, and, ultimately, the treacherous lrafckers
only be sacrificed thereby. ..ssr
Whatever course the maddened South or the
aflighted North may now take, one thing is GER
sain-the abolition Of slavery has been greatly
fastened by the events Of tie last three months
If the South maintains its defiant position and es-
tablishes an Independent Confederacy, the slaves
will settle for themselves the question Of
their freedom if, fearful of this result the revolt
ing States return to the protection of the Federal
government they will rcunite themselves TO peo-
pie who have occupied the period of their absence
in learning new and thorough lessons in the CON-
parative strength Of the North and the South, and
in unconscously acquiring u deeper hatred OF
slavery from the illustrations of it's character re-
Gently exhibited in the arrogant and despoc bear
ing of Shareholders.
While We hail with joy and thanksgiving the
approach Of the final triumph of our cause we
are aware that the work Of the Abotionists is not
yet done, The earnest reiteration of the princi-
pie which has guided our enterprise from the be.
ginning, and sustained through all its vicissi
tudes, viz that the absolute right is always to be
obeyed, and is always the highest expediency, is
especially needed in this mOmentous national cri-
sis. Protesting to believe in natural justice and
ton, assembled in Legislatures and Conventions.
are seriously celebrating 10 order to ascertain how
much of essential right it is expedient to ssc-
ri6ce for the sake Of peace, and what degree Of
wrong may be wisely perpetrated upon the weak
and defencelsss for the advantage Of the stronger
party. All appliances which can be used tol
strengthen their confidence in the right, to deepen
their hatred of injustice, inspire them with true
manly courage, are needed now. If they, who,
in these conclaves, represent the North, can be
convinced that the Northern heart and conscience
will sustain them only in course of honor and
rectitude the nation may yet be saved, 10 the true
sense Of that often perverted word. Otherwise,
they may rs-enAct the folly Of their fathers, and
striVe to reconstruct Union between the border
slave States and the free States cementing il with
the same compromises Of principle that the found
ere of our government made for the sake Of Union,
and trusting. with the mistaken faith, thai
the slavery within their borders will soon die
from inherent weakness. The voice which frs.
awakened this nation from it's profound sumbsr,
aud summoned it to repentance for the sin Of en-
Shaving men, should. surely. ring in it's ears, TO-
day all prophet warnings, all brotherly entreaties,
ell faithful exhor.ations 20 heed we'll the golden
opportunities Of this hour when tho angel of God's
providence is Offering to ii momentous alterua-
tive Of good or evil, and awaiting the choice
which shall exAlt it in glory before heaven and
earth, or sink it in deeper infamy.
The yet urbrokon chains Of the slavs, orr coun-
my's imminent peril, the achievements Of the
past and our faith in the irvincible power oil
truth, are our incentives TO continue our Iabors
with undminished zeal and industry. And the
AdmonisiOn, "work while the day las!s." sounds
in our ears, to-day, from lips which. though dead
yet speak to us in the memories of their fidelity
during all the years through which, hand in hsDd
and heart TO heart with US, they shared this toll
and conflict. A vacan, seat, hers, to-day, re-
minds Us that the passing year has bersavsd this