Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-04-06
PHILOSOPHY OF THE SECESSION MOVE
MEET.

The political philosophy which undeilies the
Secession movement is we'll expressed by the late
Mr.. I. s. GourdiD, Of Florida, Editor Of tho
Southern Confederacy, one Of the ables. writer's
Of the new nation:
"with the formation Of the Confederate States Of
America, new era in civilization has commen-
ced-an era in which, If We hope to gain the re-
spect Of the civilized world, VIC must abandon the
old idea of forefathers that all men we're born
free and equal and teach the doctrine of the d.
versity OF the races, and of the supremacy of the
Anglo-Saxon RAGS over all others. We must take
the ground never dreamed Of by the men Of '76,
that African Slavery is right in ITSELF and, there
FORE. should be preserved. African Slavery is
either morally right, or 1t is morally wrong. If
wrong excuse will suffice, in the eyes of the
Almighty, for its continuance. He is perfect,
and cannot tolerate iniquity. The same moral
ane physical laws which in the beginning (of this
oar,h) he laid down for the government of this
world in which we live, we're, are, and will be
right, yesterday, to-day, and forever. Earthly
legislators may change their laws to suit the emer
geneies Of the times-fOr they falible; but the
Almighty-that great Being, whom the heavens
of heavens cannot contain, never. If, there
fore, we, after due Investigation Of tho subject,
honestly come to the conclusion that slavery per
Sc is morally wrong. let us, as honest men and
christians, abolish il at once, without regard &C
cost. There can be no such things ac a necessary
evil.' Evil is the misapploation or perversion o
what is good. But If, on the other hand, we be
lieve slavery to he morally right, and, in add
ton thereto find it to our interest to keep mp th
institution let us be manly enough to maintain
our principles in opposition to the rest of th'
1 world. But, for Gods sake, and the sake of CON
s;stency, do not let us form Union for the ex
African Slavery, and then, as the Southern Con-
gress has done, confess our error by enacting q
constitutional provision abOlishing the African
slave-trade. The opening of the African slave
trade is mere question Of expediency, to be de-
termined by legislative enactment hereafter, but
not by constitutional provision.
"The fact Of the matter is this All these erro
neous ideas of the rights of man and the equality
Of the races, we derive from our ancestors of the
Revelation. We blame them not for the ideas
which they entertained we honor them for the
valiant manner in which they contended for what
they believed to be the truth. But, it does not
follow that because our ancestors entertained
fought and bled, for certain principles, we, their
descendants should be compelled to entertain,
4 feht and bleed, for the same principles. No!
far from it Our ancestors claimed the privilege
Of thinking and acting for themselves, without re-
gard to the opinions Of their forefathers. We,
their descendants, claim the same privilege"
This is all fair and sbove-board. Having un-
dertnken to destroy the Constitution formed by
the men of the Revolution. it only proves the con-
sistency and good sense Of the Southern leaders
that they should throw overheard the principles
of Democracy, and all the ideas OF the rights of
man which have hitherto bsen cherished and de-
Tended by the American people.-2fibune.