The Buchanan County guardian., 1863-12-22
Increase Of Anti-siavery Sentiments.

.
that be was opposed to slavery. 1t was
regarded by nearly all as a divine insti-
tuition, and the few who did dare to ques-
ton it's principles, were looked upon as
set Of crazy fanatics, who were entitled
to no respect or confidence whatever.
We can all remember when WIN. LorD
GARR1sos was dragged through the
streets of Boston by an infuriated mob,
for daring to assert his belief in the
equality ofrights, and conditions OF all
men |; and when an,i-Abolition riots dis
graced the city Of New York, in 1884,
during which, the house Of LEWIS TAP
PAN, a prominent anti slavery man, was
sacked and reduced to ashes. These
first champions in the cause of human
liberty, were forcel to endure great tri.
ais and tribulations. Their meetings
were broken up, their presses thrown in
to rivers, and their orators and editors
brutally murdered or imprisoned. But
in the face of all these obstacles they ad
hered to their faith, with "a persisting
and courage equal to the early christ
ians. and in a few years the hated sect
Abollionists had gained in moral. polit-
ical and numerical power, until twas i'm
possible to keep them silent. Societies
were organized IN every town and vii
lage in the Northern States. whose mem
bers were numbered by scores, and who,
no matter how violent the opposition,
were perfectly bold and fearless in
spreading their doctrine. Agents, in
spired with more enthusiasm than ever
coursed the veins Of Peter, the Her
mit." travelled over the country dissem-
insting anti-slavsry tracts, and giving
vent TO Abolition speeches from every
log school house. In the path of these,
conservatives Of a future day millennium
newspapers sprang up, and societies were
formed, whose first, chief and only OBJ
ject. was uncompromising hostility to
slavery. A steady increase of numbers
gave confidence to the wavering, and
Congress was finally boldly petitioned
to grant immediate emancipation, while
their power began to exert sensible in.
fuence upon the ballot box, by bring
ing out champions Of their own. Even
the church began to be infected with
their principles. and half of the religious
denominations in the country, were split
up and divided on the question. and in
stead Of conten,ing themselves with the
discussion Of dry theological tenets, were
prone to raise up the vexed ghost Of sla-
very. Turn which way they would,
there the problem still remained unsalis
fed and unsolved. gaining ground in
feeling, growing in intensity, broader
and more comprehensive 10 principles,
until the best minds OF the age were per-
picked, and unable to form reasonable
solution.
Ifany sect or party can claim pre- EN-
inence over another in prophecy, and de
6ning future events, il certainly is the
Aboitionists. For years before this re.
bellion broke out. their editors, orators
and writers. had predicted it, with full
ness Of effect and practical outline tha,
is now surprising. They anticipated
the acts of lawless violence which the
votaries Of slavery were aboutto commit
they foresaw the plans OF the Southern
conspirators-they portrayed the effects
ofciyil war-.hey showed forth the false
and fallacious doctrine Of State rights,
in speeches and arguments Of great viv
idness and power, which have since
proved to be literally true. Even their
most inyeterate enemies, must at least,
award them the praise Of consistency,
for their course and aim has been CEN
tered upon one object. the exlingush.
ment OF slavery, and where once you
could only count now and then an Abol-
itionist, they exist by thousands. Their
minds are progressive-lheir aread pro
gressiye and looking at the abolition
record, which the recent elections spread
all over the Northern States, we think
that even the hardest Democrats will be
constrained to admi. that the most ultra
part of their doctrine is progressive, too.
The Copperheads and Southern sympa
thizers, in cur midst, are in the habit of
noting every political SUCCESS Of the Un-
iopists as an Abolition triumph. II this
is %, then we should say that the North
ern States are pretty well abolitionised.
judging from the fruits Of the fall cam
paign, and, that a last. long. fond adieu,