Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-01-26
For the Bugle.
CONVENTIONS IN ILLINOIS.
ELMwooD, PEORIA Co., ILL.,, |
January Is, 1861. J

CNhNJ ~ 1890
Mr.. EDITOR Within the past two weeks the
beautiful Rock River country, in Wbiteside and
Lee counties in this State, has been refreshed and
made glad by q series Of anti-slavery meetings Of
more than usual interest and Significance. Parker
P~illsbury, always truest among tho true, and the
principal speaker at these meetings, doing himself
honor, and the good cause efficient service. The
first meeting of tho series was held in Dixon, Lee
county, and addressed by Mr.. Pillsbury, and A..
]. Grover, Esq, Of this State. The fine large hall
10 which the meeting was held, was closely pack
ed in every part, and the people seemed to hear
the word gladly.
On Saturday, Jan. 9th, q Convention was organ
lied in Sterling, Wbiteside county, of which |
would be glad to give you q particular account,
but in these stirring times, when notable events
c,me in troops, aud red-letter days it seoms to me
are multiplying, we must study brevity in our
newspaper communications
The speakers at Sterling were Parker Pillsbury,
a. j. Grover, E. r. Brown of this State, aud B.
II. Morgan and L.. Taylor of Wisconsin. The in
terest increased and d~eepened from session to ses-
sion, from the commencement TO the close. The
Convention was to have been brought 20 a close on
Sunday evening, but the deep and unusual inter
est induced the holding of an additional session on
Monday evening. There was eager and earnest
attention throughout, but more especially on Sun
day evening when Mr.. Pillsbury was in his hap
piest vein, lifting his audience up, up, out Of all
theological, political and social slave pens, and
soaring with them 70 that serene Empyrean where
man appears in his true relation to the Divine, and
= oil paltry accidents Of birthplace, color or creed,
are forgotten.
Our Wisconsin friends, who took a sleigh ride
of seventy-fve miles to attend this Convention, re-
turned home on Monday, as did also our earnest
and able friend A. j. Grover, who did valuable
service both at Dixon and Sterling.
The Business Committee of the Convention re-
ported at the second session, the following series
= of resolutions; which passed unanimously at the
closing session.
. RESOLUTIONS.
Resolved, That in the present distractions and
anarchy OF American politics and parties, we see
the fatal and inevitable result Of attempting to
6 found a government on concession and compromise.
. at the sacrifice of justice, liberty, AID the Higher
. Law.
. Resolved, That now is the time (it may be the
, last) for the North to absolve itself forever from
such 7unrighteous coniederarion-and while the
h slave States are retiring from the Union, and de;
handing still more outrageous CONCESSIONS and
i, guarantees to slavery than now exist, they, should
g be taken at their word, aud the present confedera.
cy ended, never more to be reconstructed, except
on condition of immediate emancipation of every
. slave; and if the consequence should be, the re-en.
u actment of the scenes of St. Domingo on every
plantation 10 the South, there would at least be &
u Eroo Mo,Jbar, Doo,IJ;c ,rbora l;Jort, ond tbo ~
pressed people of all nations, could find an asylum
and q home.
Is Resolved, That We have sent no Senators o.
! Representatives to Congress to pledge us to the re
peal of personal Liberty Bills in any Of tn
States, and much less, to the execution of tn
present infamous Fugitive Slave Law, or to max
any concessions whatever, to the slave power; an,
we hereby assure not only Congress, but the Sout
u more especially, that we will never execute an,
Fugitive Slave Law. And should there be upri.
ing for freedom among the slaves, We will hal
ne and honor their chieftains as other Washington
and Garibaldis, and. will pray and labor for thei
of success, in the same spirit. if not by the sam
to measures, of Gen. Lafayette, of the former, an
in of Capt. John Brown; of the latter Revolution.
D. Resolved, That the black laws of Illinois, whic
impose upon the colored population taxation with
NJ out representation, by denying them the right
to suffrage, and the enjoyment of schools which the
ot own money supports, compelling obedience to, an
is furnishing the violation Of laws, in the making
a, which they have no voice; forbiding them to 6
30, on juries,Or even 10 testify in courts-amoug 9th,
Oh prescriptions equally cruel aad unjust-were O
he placed on our statute book at the dictation Of Il
is slave power, as safeguards to the Internal syste
he Of chattelizing humanity, and are a disgrat
ed to the State, and to civilization generally, al
should be at once aud forever repealed.
err Resolved, That the churches of the slave Stat
that permit members, and even ministers, to bree
vo- buy, sell or hold human beings in chattel bondag
Sc denying them the Bible and all other books, tram
ling down marriage, and herding them 10 beast
re- prostitution, are the synagogues and emissaries
al, Satan; and any Northern Presbyterian, Bapti
Methodist, Congregationalist, or other denomin
ton, that f~ellowships such as Christians, is an q
he complete IN their crimes and denominations, ar
ler should be alike Stunned as the worst foes Of a pu
The and undefled religion.
as
of Our next meeting was at Pfairieville. We coul
a full house, including a plentifulsprinklinS of
certain sort Of young men, who have been taught
OF their masters that free speech is a nuisance. The
to fellows entered with more zeal than wisdom, in
an attempt to break up the meeting by insultil
ne. remarks, Kissing, hooting, cat calls, sereamin
&c., and the attempt was repeated several tint
in but Mr., Pillsbury-wilh whose happy faculty
,is- making the wrath of rowdios work to the form
ely ton of free thought and free speech, aud to t
The up-building Of anti-slavery, you are doubtle
i've well ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the opportunity
ro- WE'LL that before the close of the meeting the pc
he misguided disturbers were melted and conquere
see and at the close they went quietly away vi
ply grave and thoughtful faces.
be From Prairieville we journeyed over she spar
its ling snow in a keen, braeing air to nickor, Gro
There we had two good aud profitable meeting
The first was addressed by Mr.. Pillsbury vi