Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-05-04
LETTER FROM MARLBORO.

Sluce the financial necessities Of the Western
Anti-Slayery Society compel its Executive Com
.mittee to suspend The publication of the Bugle, |
desire in THE, its last issue, to put upon record nv
Testimony to the fidelity with which it has adhered
to the cause of the slave throughout its whole exis-
Itence, and under the management of each of its
several Editors. Indeed, to this fidelity alone il
TO be attributed the necessity which ~enforces lis
discontinusnce. True to the cause OF its clients
whoever else proved faithless, Jealous and active
whoeVer might be lukewarm and Indifferent, un-
compromising in rebuke OF sect or party, where
these failed in duty towards the oppressed, it has
preferred to die that the Truth may live. For none
can doubt that the Intellectual ability with which
it has been conducted. might readily have achieved
for it popularity, pecuniary support, and long life,
if these, instead of faith'olness to the cause Of
Human rights, had been the objects at which it
aimed.
Ii Is not to be supposed that the labors Of those
who have co-operated together to effect a great
Object, making the Bugle their chief organ, will
teel themselves atliberty to cease or even to abate
their iabors on account of its discontinuance.-
The wonderful change in the circumstances which
surround US within the last few mouths, admGnish
us'of the necessity for a corresponding change in
the direction to which we give our labors. AS a
consequence in part of the efforts we have given
towards the liberation of the slave, we now find
ourselves surrounded by hurried preparations for
bloody war. Many of us l hope and believe in
sentiment and act are non-resistants. Forbidden
by our principles to take the sword and unite in
the onset upon the slave owners, and rend by VIC
lence their victims from their grasp, equally fOi-
hidden by our duty to our oppressed brethren to
fold our hands in quiet and make no further strug-
gle for their rlieef, we have now each 10 choose as
individuals what direction we shall give to our
lators.
We are not in the beginning of the war. Ever
since the first slaves were landed upon this CONT
nent, civil war has been in progress among The
American people. Since the National govern
ment was formed until the present day, all thu
people who have participated in it have beer
Raring upon the slaves. Now the oppressors are
about throttle each other, Believing that the sin,
Of the people are so atrocious that present retribu
ton is unavoidable and the only means by which
they can rise. 10 a condition wherein reform il
practicable. l rejoice that it is so. Reform il
possible only by the abolition of slavery as tht
first step. Tue moral principle of those about tc
engage actively in this war will never lead then
to seek the abolition Of slavery, but it is highl,
probable that its events may be such as to maks
emancipation a political, and military necessity
Like the publication of the physical atmosphere
by hurricane and storm, this war may sweep on
Of existence the chief obstacle to our peoples pro
gress in better things. And now is the time t,
endeavor to give such direction to The public mint
as will secure this object. Now is the time to en-
deayor to make it apparent to all, and particular,
to all public men, the inherent weakness as we'll a
the inconsistency of a national policy requiring tn
coerced obedience of four millions of slaves uzs,
the one hand, and at the same moment of reduc
ing to subsection their rebellious masters upon tn
other.
Without the adoption of a policy which thought
ful men can sanction, the present warlike enthusi
asm will necessarily DO short lived and abortive
and afford to its leaders no permanent popularity
and strength. Bet by the adoption Of The con
struction of the Constitution given by John Quin
eey Adams, that the condition OF war gives 10 thu
government a constitutional power 20 abolish sla
very, it may speedily DO brought to a "triumphan
close. those participating in it in the meanwhile
preserving their seltrespect aud securing the APP
probation and assistance of all cLristendom DO
sides. Non r~esistants cannot join in the violence
Of these. But that violence which they are impo
tent to- restrain or prevent, it is their duty TO en-
deaVor to divert go far as possible into the leas
harmful channels. To me it seems to be the dut.
of every individual, be the influence which h
exercise little or much, to give the whole of IT nov
in the atseApt to secure the adoption Of auch
policy by the government.
Many who may read this could have IN inar
ence upon their members in Congress, the men
! bers Of the Cabinet, and other leading mer
: should they chose to correspond with them. An
. the united influence of all the antis,avcry men i
: the nation who desire just such a policy in th
government, if brought to bear upon it just at thi
E j~uncturs, | verify believe would accomplish II.
rp A, Brooke.
BANlB9No April Goth, 1861,