Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-04-17
which money could enlist has remained unem-

which money could enlist has remained unem-
plOyed.
The suggestions of friends and the censures of
enemies have alike been weighed and turned to
account Whenever an individual, whether of
the North or South, conspicuous or obscure, has
been known to be at all disposed to consider the
subject candidly, suitable publications have been
dispatched to win. him to the cause of the
slave. Numberless private letters have been ad-
dressed to ministers editors statesmen, and other
influential classes of citizens in all parts of the
country, in order to acquaipt them with the prin-
ciples of the Anti slavery Society, and to impress
them with conviction of their own obligations.
The principles, measures and objects of the So
ciety have ever been open to the inspection of
all; and it has repeatedly solicited investigation
into them, both from individuals and bodies of
men. They have formally and earnestly solic-
tied an examination by the National Congress of
fering to submit for inspection all their records,
proceedings and measures The only step APP
proximating to a compliance with these solicita-
tons, was letter of inquiry into the operation
and extent of the American Anti-slavery Society,
addressed to James G.. Birney, ESQ.,, one of the
Society's secretaries, and by the Hon. +. h.
Elmore, member of Congress from South Caro-
lima. This letter was most cordially received,
and elected an extended reply. The entire cor
respondence was embodied in a pamphlet, and
very widely circulated.
The Society has ever maintained the same tes-
timony against slavery, as sin-against gradual
ISM as sin-against compensation, sin-against
repatriation, as sin-against Southern defenses
and Northern apologies for slavery, as sin; and
in favor of immediate emancipation, as duty,
safety and policy
That such Society should have been popular at
a time when slavery had become the idol of the
nation, not to be expected; but equally far
was il from rational anticipation, that il would
have encountered such lawless and ferocious OPP
position. No preceding reform had excited a
hundredth part of the popular odium which this
incurred; though several refOrmatlOns not dissim-
liar in principle had arisen in this country before
it. 1t might have been supposed that these
would have so habituated the public mind to
moral agitations, and so thoroughly established
the right of free discussion, that the car OF Abo-
lition would have encountered in its progress no
very serious distractions. But the trumpet of
immediate emancipation was no sooner sounded
than the blast of broke from the South,
and reverberated through the nation. w AR! WAR;
was the universal outcry. All, everywhere, wer
ready to put doUn the "fanaticsm." The alarm
ing conspiracy must be arrested, peaceabIy il pos
sible, but forcibly if necessary.
For the first time in the history of our Govern
ment an emergency arose so critical and immi-
nent that the arm of IaU could not be relied
upon for protection; that alarming emergency
was the discussion of slavery. For the first time
it was deliberately resolved to abandon the sacred
agis of LAW, and invoke the aid of the mob
demon. Reason and argument likewise retired
from the field, and committed the defense OF the
"patriarchal institution" to this Goliath. AT
every turn and step. Abolition was confronted by
this omnipresent monster. Especially during the
early efforts in the nt-slavery cause, furious
mobs were encountered in every place. There is
a. Oso@. .l.r~r <lro
ject has been at all agtated in which there have
not been most frightful scenes of violence. And
not only have cities been disgraced with these
lawless outrages, but obscure villages and farm
ing districts in every section of the country have
been convused by them. The whole number of
pro-slavery mobs in the free States within the
last seven years, if it were accurately stated,
would almost exceed belief. For many months
they were an almost daily occurrence. Every
newspaper recorded some fresh instance OF these
popular outbreaks.
In speaking of the opposition which the anti
slavery society has encountered, it is almost need
less 10 allude to any other than mobs. Revi
lings, Misrepresentation, and abusive epithets
were abundant indeed, but these only seemed in
tended as so many excitants to the grand extin
guisher-the mob. Great +" Indignation meet
ings" were held in the principal cities at the
North, in which speeches were made and resolu
tons passed, denouncing the incendiary aboli
ti0nists." These, also, were only means to the
end, and that end was to embolden the mob. The
press Numbered its anathemas against the :" IA
natics and traitors !" but this was only to call out
the vengeance of the mob. Governors gravely
recommended to the Legislatures of free States
to enact laws making it penal to discuss the ques-
ton of slavery but this was to give the high
sanction of gubernatorial authority to the more
efficient enginery of the mob. Whatever else
was done said. it is notorious that the great re-
lance among the enemies of abolition was the
MOB. The result has proved how vain was the
reliance.
The repeated outbreaks Of popular fury have
indeed shaken most fearfully the pillars of the
government, but they have given no shock to the
cause of Abolition, they have covered the Amer
lean name with dishonor, but they have only fur
thered the progress of the anti slavery reforma-
ton: they have exposed the weakness of slavery
which has no better arguments to support it, but
but they have only developed the ndomitable
energy and inextinguishable vitality of imme-
date emancipation.
This document, protracted as it is, would still
be deficient if it were concluded without adverting
to the effects which the abolition movement has
already produced That its influence must have
bee, far from insignificant may be inferred from
the rapidity with which il has attracted to its
standard vast numbers of every rank and calling.
As no benevolent society in the land had ever be
fore suffered so much persecution, so none ever
made such rapid progress.
In the commencement of 1892 the first anti
slavery society was formed at Boston, in Massa-
chusetts, and called the New England Anti Slave
~ Society il consisted of but twelve members.
In 1888, the American Anti Slavery Society was
formed. In MAY, 1885, there were Dos auxilia-
RES In May, 1886, 527. In MAY, 1887, I COG.
in May, 1898, ,346. In May, 1899, $50. The
auxiliaries average not less than eighty members
each, making an aggregate of one hundred and
thirty t,co thousand members.
But the number of auxliaries and members
gives by no means an adequate idea of the prev
alence Of anti slavery principles In various de-
grees, they have found response in the minds of
multitudes beyond the limits of an organization.
Nearly all these acquisitions from tho twelve
members in 1882 to the scores Of thousands in
1889, and the hundreds of thousands who are be-
ginning to favor our views. have been made out
of original opposers, revilers and prosecutors.
We will now glance at some of the principal eff
fects which have been produced by the abolition
movement.
L. 1t has broken up the apathy which has pre-
vailed throughout the free States. The absurd
notion that the South is alone responsible for
slavery il has exploded, and furnished an answer
to the question-What has the North to do with
slavery The abolitionists have shifted the bur-
then of the responsibility, and placed it where it
beOngs-upOn Northern, shoulders
2 The abotionsts have exposed the bound
less PARTICIPATION of the North in the guilt of
Southern slavery.
The people of the free States, indeed, abolition
lists themselves have been astounded at the extent
of Northern implication in slaveholding and slave
trading; and vet these shocking disclosures are
only beginning to open upon us.
g. The anti-savery movements have served to
arouse large numbers of ministers and Christians
in the free States, to feel pray, and act for the
oppressed. Ecclesiastical bodies in increasing
numbers, have spoken out in strong condemnation
of slavery, and have repeatedly addressed letters
to similar bodies in the South filed with faithful
remonstrance. The influence of the Northern
church is gradually but surely shifting ground
from the side of the oppressor to that othe slaves
vet even now, it must be confessed that professed
ministers of the gospel in the free States is the
great obstacle to the progress of the anti-slavery
cause.
4. Another result of the ant-slavery effort has
been the awakening both of the religious and secu
uar press, to the advocacy of human rights. In
addition to the numerous papers devoted entirely
IL =. Al.