Newspaper Page Text
Hint they ought nnt to rrerdst it.' See .Mr.
Phillip's hltef of .Ipril 7th.
U'liy ilxi ho not nppcml ttiia lnnt nrticln an
po:ri.t or codicil to ttm pntitntt itsolf?
It mich are his opinions, ' should lie no! havo
plainly said so'? Was Ui.to no Inc;k of
Irnnhtiess Imro? Did lio not 'smother hi
conviction.' at nil, ami piny nt 'Compromise
with tho 'American Devil '? Mad lie or lioil
tie not tlio sntno mrntnl reservations, ntilli
y io x his ptirposo nml stultifying himsclfi
svhon lin ' hrseiged the donrnf the Legisla
ture,' or petitioned tho Boston Ahler'neti lor
tlionsoof I 'ii uenil Hull, or Congress on tlin
subject of slarsry, or signed tlio ' innmmotli
Latimer petition' ? Doc not this present llio
subject of tho Kight of Petition in somewhat
'f a naw light? Was it tlio object of IkiUi
Ifovernmcm, State ami National, to sertiro
by constitutional guaranties tlio ritit to peti
tion, not for what tho pooplo do wnnt, Imt for
what thoy do not, for what they despise,
rcrrato, and believe, n soul-destroying sin.
Kcally, on those principles, what we thought
the over-exccrnhln Twenty-first Kule' was
not so tind a Ktilo alter nil. It only saved
iipnnl.i frmn !,,.,i i,, it. ,...,., t.u. i.im ....I
dunces. .
Hut this docs not exhaust tlio rnso. Mr.
Phillips enn l) terse ns well as terrible. Ill
InM column of Ins last letter, within l.'.o
sntico of fire consccutivo lines, he tins theso
three pn..osiliii:-l.Tl.o.o,.r,i of the
right to vote is no niti.' V. ' The exercise of ,
that right is.' I). 'Many will vote,' tlmt is
many women will vot if invested with tlio !
Oirist said, in tho wisest prayer
ever tuntlu, ' Lend im not into temptation, i
Mr. I'liillips digs n pitCill of tnrnptiitiun for
II tho women of Massachusetts to full into
tmy, pushes them into it ; nlid yet, ho has
. ., responsibility -ony more Hum Cnpharl. j
;!) does not send Willis to tiondnuu i lie only I
-.:.) tho money, to save half per cent of
'His. llo .loes not brum all the mothers nml
-."(rs of tho' Stato into it condition wliero '
'hny ore under an express or implied oath to !
catch fugitive, slaves ; ho only gets the ,
..,,., . ,u osm ru g . ,e., ,v .no
nf vilid importance to ihn well'uro nml pro
gress of tho r?tnti), ami one of ' Ihu most iin
jiortnnt of civil rrfnriiia'!
Hut perhaps Mr. I'liillips w ill say that wo
men may vnto, notwithstanding this ' express
or implied oiith,' and still do itJiTonseienlioiisly;
ninl then, to them, it will tin ' no sin.' If so,
then do not nil his accusations ngnins; I'reo
toilers (nil to tho ground ?
Itut thero is n graver view of tlio subject
than any yet taken. 1 am willing to supposo
hat hideous wrongs may ho done, yet tinder
rMinon, mat nicy involve no moral gmir. iut ;
though tlio amr should stntiil exeulpateil,yet
nil tho natural consequences of the wrotiff
will ho visited, upon tho world. And as nil
wron; violates tho moral order of the uni
rte, it must result in sulb'-ririg and loss, just
us certainly as contact with lire brings pnin.
So Mr. I'liillips pr.iys that women inny he
allowed to vote; knows that they will violnto
their express or implied oath to tho Constitu
tion if they do not vote, and commit 'sin II
thoy do; knows tlmt 'tunny will vote;' nml ,
evctl stipi'osmg thai some cm vote titnler snrli ,
as will not Incut' 'Cloi'l
yet ho also Knows that tlio inevitable
natural consepieneeB of their wroni; doitiif
wilt he visited . non themselves ,! the world
ipon l
tor ever! Now, this is not AVAiVt hut IHa
billies, I must have, u now word for a new
iniquity! Mr. I'liillips said, n littlu heliiro
this, tint ho claimed ' to know right from
wrong.' And ho odors this 'Theory nml
1'rarlico of ' lh'nhuliaiti' in proof.
Itut now look nt tho I.oj,'io hy which ho
defends his hnrriblo doctrines. 1 will refer,
though with condensation, to every onn of
liis arguments and analogies, llo would du
feud Daniel Webatcr't right to speak, and
Orville llowe.y'i right to lecture, and the col
ored mail's right lo enlist in the militia, and
ntiy man's right to hclong to any religious
dononiinution, and lo worship in any church,
though he would not ' lor all Cnlilornia' do
the things that Inivo been done under these
rights, liut is it possible he can bo so blind
us not to sen tlmt the right to speak, lo lec
ture, to defend one's country or keep tho
peuee, to iuyeslignto nml cliooeo ones relig
ious tiiith, anil to worship find, tire, evurv
ono of them, rights lo do right things, mhut
to no HioiiT Tin.vus, J repeat? Itut if voting
under our government be n Viii' mid non-voting,
for tho voter, ho porjury, then voting, in
nil liirms und under any conceivable circutn
htuticcH, is wrong. There is no wny lo vole
without incurring cither moral evil or uiitu
ri.l evil, generiilly lioth, iilwuys tlio hitler.
Mr. I'liillips, therefore, petitions to have oil
women ollenders. . It is n thousand limes
worsu than the old I'opish doctrino of Indul
gences. Thero they i-old indulgences to
commit in only to customers who applied,
end hud the money to pny. Mere, hu Ibrccs
the iudtilge.nccs upon till women, whether
eoughl for or not, and gives them grutis.
There isor lately was, n sect of religion
ists in India ended Thugs, who trnvmseil thu
country horn eldo to side, decoved strangers
to travel with them, hy showing nil nets of
nppnrcnt Mmdness nml courtesy, then loll
upon them and murdered and rohbud them.
Hhotild Mr. ' riiil!ijs petition tlio lvist India
Company to rnuke Thuggery hiwlul, llirough-
out all its dominions, knowing that nony
itoultl become Thug, and that all who did no'.
Iiorome so .would violate some 'express or
implied oath,' he would havo a cose exactly
parallel to the onn he now defends, for can
Thuggery itself ho nny worse than a 'cove
nant .with Death and nn agreement with
1 loll" Itut this must enllice lor this time.
Mr. l'Milor, this controversy has been em
inently p.'iiulul lo mi', and, I fenr, not useful
to the public. respect the talents nml .en I
of my opponent in the noble cause of Human
Freedom, nud 1 honor iho sell-denial of any
man, who, at great sacrifices, subjects his lilii
to his convictions of duty, liut this contro
versy has 4'(,i protracted, 1 suppose, fur be
yond what cither of Ihn parties lo it origin
nlly expected.' According to nil rules, ns 1
am the party assailed, tho closing word lie
iotigs to me. Thuro are grcnt questions
between tho mitt-slavery voieri and non-vo-
u is, which 1 should be willing lo discuss j
for I bays lung witihed that we might have
their co-operniion at the mIIs. I ilierelbre
pnqioso to Mr. I'liillips, again and fur the third
time, that our . discussion, if more discussion
ilioru is to he, shall be so directed as to iiinko
.political principles more luminous, instead of
politic.nl chuiacturslessesiiiiiiibln As neither
..f us isf. enjulidnto for any public ollico, we
ih tiol come within that great morul rule
which jiidlilies the publio discussion of pri
vices or
HORACE MANN.
QL)t 2Uitt-S!aucri) Bugle.
8ALF.il, OniO, MAY 14, 1853.
Exsoctivb Committeb meets June 4.
To a Few of Our Subscribers.
)ill were sent a fow weeks since, to such
subscriber as wcro in arrears for ono yoor.
Mnny of them have promptly responded. A
fow have not. At the request of the Publish
ing Agent, we stato, that unless remittances
aro immediately made, their pnpers w ill be dis
continued. Bend on fund", don't stop your
papers and especially don't compel us to stop
thorn without pay fur what you havo received
The Visitor and the Infidels.
founding and perplexing to some folks now is
i tho infidel question. Tho last Visiter, how.
Crer, settles it by advising believers and urbo
tho , y hereafter. It ho. come to
... , . ' , , , . .
,h" conclusion from tho fact that .omeof tho
,ruo fn'l got alarmed at tho hirsute, and horny
appearance of tho goats, in tho Into Convention
at Cincinnati, and precipitately made their cs
mnvcr. cnpc, Wo give the article entire,
Week before la.t Tho Visiter pulished ono of
Mr. Oorrison's speeches, prefacing it with tho
following paragraph. Wo give the speech of
Mr. Garrison in justice to him, for though wo
.... ..... . . ,, ,
1,,r"r ,,h h,m m"t""il'y respects, wo
oto Jo'npcllcd '". that few men have been
more grossly misrepresented." This was just
ar.d magnanimous, But in this article, tho Vis
help :,cr rentes and extends this misreprentation, in
Eliur Wright once exclaimed against this
confounded woman Question." Not less con-
ri,garJ , Mr (.,ltri,0 ,, M wh comdj0
with him in measures and action.
From the Saturday Visitor.
CINCINNATI CONVENTION.
homcutly than tho old pro-slavery organiza
circumstunc.es tions ; and tho powder expended on true, carn
guilt, ;,ica(U of ,ho ,,aT0 b thcit ,nti.voting
j. , . , . , , . , , ,
WcnrtS n.ijbt blow up a Whole army ot slave-
"A friend who attended this Convention in
forms us thro was ery generol dissatisfaction
with the course of Mr. Garrison on tho Bible
question. Mnny staunch friends of the slave,
who had como from a distance to bo present,
left the Convention and refuted to enter it again,
becauso they could not unito in, or in any way
t(.)p n, t
Wotd of Clod.
"Wo ennnot help thinking that Mr. (iarrion
and those who agree with him aro wrong in
their efforts to saddlo tho onti-sluvery cause
w ith their peculiar views on tho IKblc question.
Certainly it is very unwiso for thnso who differ
so widely, with no hopo or wish for agreement,
to attempt holding conventions together. Tho
(larrisoninns appear to disliko and nppnso tho
free Democratic Tarty more carncjtly and vc-
holders if expended upon them. Wo havo no
patience with tho Kilkenny Cat war of Anti
Slavery men, and think they might bo better
employed than in devouring ono another.
'Moreover, it is strange to us, that such earn
est friends of the rlaro as Mr. (iarrison and his
followers cannot seo that tho most direct moans
lo break his chain is tho Iliblo belief and Chris
tian hopo of mankind. If nothing else had
taught them this, tho history of " Unelo Tom's
Cabin" might. It is sn almost universally ac
knowledged fact that tho evangelical faith of
that book is ono most important reason of its
success'. An InCdcl Undo Tom never could
have been pouted to touch tho hearts of man
kind as docs the Christian hero of tho tulo, and
as a matter of cxpcdicnco wo think his friends
should let his simplo faith plead for his race,
without w aging their strength an.l his, io vain
efforts to prove thnt his hope and the bond o;
sympathy between him and his kind, is nothing
but an invention of priestcraft.
"Any one who feels in duty bound to carry on
a eruHado against Iliblcs and churches, ought
to do so in some other conncctiun than that of
Auti-Sluvery, and at tho expenso of soino
one bolter ablo to bear it than is tho poor slave.
"It is not justico to him to defer tho day of
his redemption until the timo of genornl
emancipation of everybody from ovorything
they may think opprossivc, and even supposing
Uiblca and churches are human inventions and
great impositions, would it not bo good policy
to turn all tho availablo forces to getting tho
slave an acknowledgement of his legal right to
his own bones, beforo emancipating him and
others from tho oppression of paying pew rent ?
"Wo wish our Uarrisoniun friends would tuko
tho matter into consideration, and admit tho
possibility of a doubt that they might bo wrong
in the leal with which they get up family quar
rels in the anti-slavery rnrka."
It may be that the Visiter is right in its facts,
liut wo aro compelled to think its stutcinonbi,
in souio particulars, apouhryphal. Wo cannot
say that Mr. Garrison did not make such a dec
laration, though we heard most that he said in
the Convention, and havo no recollection of iu
We do distinctly recollect his declaration that
he would not enter upon theological topics. It
is true thut in tho course of discussion there
were opinions expressed by him which the more
orthodox fell themselves bound to disclaim, lest
they should be thought to bo identified with
them. One thought that especially culled forth
these disclaimers, was, that belief in the llililo
was no test of character.. A very obviuus truth
as it seomod to us, and yet it was one in which
others saw rank infidelity. Wo also distinctly
recollect, that Iter. Messrs. Uankin, Worth,
Lew is, ond Judge Stephens very emphatically
& repeatedly announced their creed, but wo hoard
of no " staunch friend (it tho slave" of oppsito
views who left the Convention on that account.
The Visiter must permit us to doubt the staunch
nets ot that friendship tot the slave which
would permit any man to leave the Convention
for such a cause. Huch persons aro staunch
enough in their friendship to their religious
opinions, but according to the Visiter's own
showing, friendship to the slnvo is but secon
dary consideration. And wo havo had sufficient
experience with such porsons, to believe that if
put to some other teats, their friendship would
be found something less than even of secondary
importance.
Wo mingled freely with tho members of the
Convention, orthodox and hcritic, and this is
the first intimation wo have ever had, of any
such flight.of " many," or even one " staunch
friend of tho slave." If there wcro any who
fled, wo feci well assured they must havo been
of tho samo stamp as tho Ucv. Iloynton, who
predicted the infidel chnractct of tho Conven
tion proponed a catechism to Mr. Garrison to
draw him out on theological questions and
would have been glad to have had him avowod
the most infidel opinions, that he might havo
had tho pleasure of saying, I told you so."
(We think this conclusion justified by his courso
in the premises).
Wo ask only for fair play in this matter. If
it be truo that " thnso who feel bound to carry
on a crusade against Iliblcs nndchurchcs,should
do so in some other than anti-slavery connec
tion," it is equnlly truo that thoso who would
carry on a crusade in favor of Uibles and chur
ches should a'.soscek somo other than anti-slavery
connection for so doing. If, as tho Visiter
affirms, it is not right for the infidel to defer tho
day of the slave's redemption till his peculiar
views aro triumphant, (and in this wo agree
with our neighbor), it is equally unjust to tlio
slave for tho church member to defer it, lilt tho
church is triumphant in its plans and purponcs.
Wo arc willing tho world andthe slave should
decide who mot hold thoir opinions in'abeyauco
to justico and.tho interest of the slave. Those
who willjeavo an antl-slaveryjeonventioii for
such reasons es tho Visiter justifies, or those
who can tolrrato tho utterance of opinions con
flicting with their own, and labor on, hand to
hand, and shoulder to shoulder with them, for
tho slave's redemption. Thero wcro thnso in
the Cincinnati Convention both orlhoiiox and
heretic, who were ablo to do it. - All honor to
them. And shumo to tho cowardly sectarians
who iled. They went to their own place, and
there they will doubtless remain, from them
the slave has nothing to hope.
Ono other error wo must oorrect. It is one
into which tho Visitor seems to have fallen In
company with our correspondent, Mr. Johnson,
and n multitude of others of tlio sumo class.
They rocm to suppnso that the nonvoting abol
itionists aro of necessity infidels, whilst the
voting anti-sluvery men sro good orthodox, pi
ous Christians. Tho fact is, this stigma of infi
delity, it stigma it be, pertains to all classes of
antislavcry men. There aro all grades of infi
delity to bo found among fll elapses. And if
tho Visiter and tho pious fugitives to whom it
refer, cannot hold conventions with such, they I
will even havo to quit tho Free Soil and Liberty
pnrty as well as the Garrisontnn, and should
they conclude for this cause to abandon all an-rV-i.'untiy,
Ibey will not mend it among pro-slavery
men) fur these, too, number inlidcls in
their ranks as well s Doctors of Divinity, and
most devout believers.
Tho Into Bible Convention, which has created
so much disturbance of lato, and which Is niodo
the occasion of serious complaint against non
voting abolitionists, as though thej had thorcby
identified anti-slavery with inlidulity, affords a
good illustration of the foots on this subject, as
tho whole community stands connected there
with' Wo rcfor to it only fur illustration of
this ono point. Thero wero ten persons who
prominently participated in tho discussions of
that convention, five of them advocated the di
vino authority and origin of tho Bible, and Cvo
opposod that view Of tho firo affirmatives, one
of thcui has perhaps exerted somo anti-slavery
influence in tho church, but has, we believe,
never given eountcnanco or aid to tho distinct
ti.'O d'i'.i-slavery inovemont. At least we
havo never heard of his doing so. Of two
others, wo know nC'Ung except thut they aro
ministers. They live in Columbiana county,
but wo havo never heard of their doing any anti-
slavory work, cither in tho church or out of it. '
Though wo did hear them justifly Mosaic servi
tude One of tho remaining two once held a
discussion in this rogion in which his object
was to justify American slavery from tho Iliblo,
whilo the remaining advocate is known through j
this wholo region, for bis unscrupulous and ex
terminating hostility to anti-slavcry.of every
grade and phase. Neither tho Editor of tho
Visitcr.nor Mr. Johnson would find inoro favor
with him than Mr. Garrison, unless it was that
he should think them less anti-slavery.
Of the five individuals who presented tho .
other sido of tho question, one, wo believe, lias !
never particularly identified himself with any
anti-slavery organization, though he has written
and spoken fearlessly against slavery. Oiu, ard .
only out was a non-voting abolitionist. The
three remaining ones are earnest anti-slavery '
mon, who aro in favor of voting under tho con- I
titution, and ono of them wos the Free Boil
i i .. r r. t i. i . . ... . '
canmuuie lor iuiigrcn in ins uisirici ai tne last
election.
Thoodoro Farkor is known the world over as
the prince of heretics. Tho Visiter would think
it " unwise," therefore, to attempt to hold con
vention with him, though he is a Froo Soilcr.
I.ysander Bpoonur, to whom more than anybody
clso our anti-slavery men are indebted for a
justification in voting under this government, is
a thorough disbeliever, and his work entitled
the "Deists llcply to the alleged Supernatural 1
Evidences of Christianity," contains, what to '
the orthodox would be the most startling and
objectionable positions of infidelity.
Bo that It ! not Garrisonians that are to be ;
charged with any monopoly of infidelity, and
there is but one alternative for our correspon
dent and tho Visitor. If they carry out their
principles, they must abandon every oxisting
anti-slavery organization, and if they still feel
any anti-slavery affinities, they will know how
' to sjamjurtldeo rUh tho gaoat MtasTlb iun
ln moit distressing perplexity, ho exclaimed
" Where thatl I go."
But our friends aro wrong. There are bonds
of humanity and love love of freedom love
of our fellows, which alike hind believer and
unbeliever to the anti-slavery ranse. To regard
these bonds, and labor in harmony on common
ground, Is neither untriM.as the Visiter declares,
nor unprincipled, as our correspondent teaches.
It Is a matter of imperative necessity, if ws
would secure combination of effort. The only
thing we see to regret, is, that as yet, there are
some subjects whose bearing on this common
question, we may not canvass with freedom.
We make no such restrictions for oursclf. We
submit to them for tho snko of others, hope
ing the time may speedily como when our love
and confidence in truth shall 1 s r.ui-h that none
shall strive to screen any sul joet or opinion from
invest Igation.
Several, other thoughts were suggested by the
Visitor, for which wo have not room.
Oi n Parr.H has perhaps to some of our read
ers presented less than ordinary interest becauso
of tho long articles with which we have felt
ourselves compelled to (ill it. lly tho publica
tion of the Discussion betwtcn Mers. Mnnn
and Phillip, somo of our leudirs who take tho
Eastern Anti-Slavery papers, have in this had
but a reprint of thoso papers, but wo hopo they
wi.l indulge us in this. It seemed to us Impor
tant mtu mo oiiicrcncc on incse points between
anti-slavery men should bo compared in tho
most able manner j and we certainly could not
havo seleeteu two mon who would bo likely to
do this work moro ably and efficiently than
these. Wo have, threfore, at tho expense of
our variety and many other iinpmtant matters,
given it to our readers. Wo havo felt tho moro
disposed to do this, a; so fur as we have noticed,
not one of tho Free S.iil papers at tho West has
published tho discussion or nny port of it, nor
have they hardly ref trod to its existence. Wo
think nothing can bo lost to good fi cling or to
truth, by a comparison of views on this or any
other subject.
I
Young People's Convention.
A committee appointed for the purpose, havo
called a Convention under the above title, to be
held at Cokxkautvim.b, CnawFoitn Co., Fa.,
on the 10th and llrA of June. Its object is tho
promotion of the intellectual progress of soci
oty and gencrnlly, tho advancement of tho
reformatory movements of tlio day.
All who feel an Interest in the movement,
ministers or laymen, of whatsoever sect oi
party, or doctrino they may be, arc invited to
be present at tho Convention, and take part;
and especially is the invitation extendi' I to tho
young men and women of tlio county.
It may be added that speakers from a dist
anco will bo present to address the Convention
otho topics which may conic up for conside
ration. Mil. IIauvi.y of Massillnn, delivered a leu
tnro on Union Schools, in alem, on Friday
ovening last. The audieneo was small the
notice being limited, but tliey remained inte
rested in tho ili.scua.sinn, till a lato hour. Sat
urday is tho time of deciding the question in
tho village. Some of our citizens are very en
ergetic in opposition. It is a measure of vast
importance, and wo hopo it may succeed.
Mtss Antoinktts Beows. This lady spends
a couple ot weeks in this part of tho state, lec
turing, previous to the Ilavcnns convention.
Bhe was to have commenced her labors nt Jef
ferson, on Wednesday Inst. For her subsequent
meetings, seo her appointments in another col
umn. Will tho friends in thoso places sco to
it, that ampin notice is given, and other provis
ions mado for good meetings, flic is nn effi
cient and eloquent advocate of the eauno.
it
is
Mrs Stowe—Professor Stowe.
Mrs. Stowe has been most warmly welcomed
in Edinburgh, and other places she has viaitod
In Great Britian, Her preaenco has been the
occasion of much oloqU?nt anti-slavery speak
ing, and we doubt not the influence will be to
deepen and extend tho anti-slavery influence
in that country. Mrs. Btowo's health is feeble.
l'rofcssor Stowe, from li relation to tho au
thor of Uncle Tom's Cabin, has a sort of anti
sluvery notoriety in Scotland. It is a reputa
tion, however, which ho has done nothing to
earn, from the day ho consented to tho expul
sion of the Lano Seminary students, to tho
time of his present voyage. A passago across
the Atlautio has wonderful effect upon tho
entl-slavery of the voyagers. Professor Stowe
nover mado an anti-slavery speech in this coun
try, but ho has hardly landed on British soil,
beforo he makes one. It was a necessity of his
position. Wo aro glad of that, and only hope
that the samo necessity may compel rmti-slav-ory
action after his return. For like Paul, we
do and will rejoice, if the gospel of freedom bo
preached, though it should bo from strife or
contention, or necessity of position. Wo would
that our wholo people felt the constraining no
cessitv of similar circumstances to comnol from
them tho avowal aft practice of anti-alavory
truth.
Wo are ourinus to hear whether tho Reve
rends Prime, Spring and Parker, will have any
ami-slavery words forced out of them, by the
pressure of British publio sentiment. It will
bo a hard aquceio, that does that.
A communication from Mrs. Ernst, camo to
hand to lato for this paper. It will appear
next week.
Unolo Tom has boon played this week to
good audiences, in tho Clovcland Theatre
The Democrat sayst "Tho theatre is doing
tor morals and religion,, what somo orthodox
'iKHrn haasa XiOt the ootiHuiO to do.
it
a
For the Anti-Slavery Bugle.
The Bugle and the Bible Question.
Ma. Editor. : For several months psst I have
been a constant reader of your paper, and think
dorivo somo valuablo information from it. I
agree with somo of Its positions that distinguish
it from Frce-Soilism, and from Libcrty-Paity-ism,
though sympathizing strongly with those
struggling politically against the tyrant, slavo
ry, especially with thoe in the ranks of Gcrrit
8mith, and Wm, Goodcll. But whilst I find
somo things In your paper to interest and profit
me, I find other things that occasion deep re
gret. In tho first place, 1 do exceedingly regret to
perceivo indubitablo evidenco that you and
many of your correspondents reject tho divino
authority of tho Bible. As professed anti
slavery men, I wonder at you ; as claiming to
be intelligent, candid, honest seekers after
truth, and friends of right, I marvel at your
course and your conclusions. Professing to be
children of the day and lovers of light, you
propose to dispenso with the sun, and depend
upon the stars for light. Having secured tho
advantages resulting from tho general diffusion
of tho light of Christianity, you are now wil
ling to verify Dr. Franklin's similo of the
overgrown naughty boy, v. ho beats and abuses
bis mother. But I must not "discuss" this
subject, as such discussion could not bo admit
ted into your columns.
This last remark brings mo to speak of an
other thing that I seo with regret in your po
por. In the number for April 2nd, you tell us
" tho general subject (tho question of tho di
vine authority of tho Iliblo,) is ono prohibited
in your columns." Oliver Johnson when Ed
itor, claimed, if I remember rightly, tho same
thing. And yet you enmmonted somewhat
freely on tho discussion at tho late Bible Con
vention, and that too, in such a way as to
strongly favor ono side at tho expense of tho
other, (1) and nnt only so, but you are ever
and anon throwing out such things as the fol
lowing, which is in your last No. "Tho Bible
whether protcstant or catholic, has no business
schools. Its science belongs to tho age of
Joshua the aon of Nun. The morality it teach
es is too much in conflict with itself. Its value
as a text book for teaching puro English classic
stylo or good reading, ia just as valuabls as tho
hornbooks or novels of King James' day, when
was written."
You havo no room in your columns for a
full and fair discussion of tho claims of tho
Bible to a divine origin, but can find, now and
then, room for such assertions as tho above,
and other innuondns, which are calculated to
blind and prejudice the minds of the unwary
and tho corrupt, against the Bible. Now, is
this treating the claims of the Bible, or your
numerous reader who regard its claims as val
id, and only wish they m.iy havo lair pluy
shown them, in tin impartial acd honor. ible
manner f
Your course reminds me, (it I may compare
smaller things v. ith larger,) of tho course nt
ono of our Missionary Boards, tho A. It. C. F.
M., when tho subject of slavery, and tho con
nection of its missionaries and churches with
elavcholding, was pressed upon the attention of
that Board, its ready reply was, "Tho Board
not an ecclesiastical body has no disciplin
ary powers; tho subject urged upon us, be
longs to tho Presbyteries, the Associations ;
wO havo other work to do, and cannot attend
to.it." Yet this same Board could promptly
dismiss from its employ some of its missiona
ries, becauso of a chango (not regarded as fun
damental) in their views of christian doctrine.
So with tho Bugle. From the pen of II. C.
Wright, Mr. Walker, and others, many things
havo been admitted into its columns, calculated
to bear against the divino origin of tho Bible,
and when aggrcived anti-slavery men havo pro
posed to reply to theso charges and insinuations
against the Bible, they have been told, " tho
general subject is ono prohibited in our col
umns." Tho American Board had disciplining
power whonovcr it suited its purposo to havo
such power. The Bugle has room in its col
umns tor tho discussion of tho Biblo question
for certain of its correspondents, and for its
own editorial aasscrtions on the subject ; but to
thoso who would fully discuss the subject, why,
" is one prohibited in our columns." (2)
Another thing I havo rcgrottod to too in tho
Buglo. Sometime since, N.N. Sclby wrote
an excellent and important letter, as I deem it,
certain members of tho " Biblo Convention,"
disapproving their course, disclaiming all fel
lowship with thorn in it, and taking such a
position in rcforenco to them as profossed anti
slavery agitators, as ho deemed necessary to
avoid compromising his Christianity. To his
communication, II. C. Wright, Mr. Walker, P.
Pillsbury, and perhaps others have given cither
diroct reply, or at least a side-thrust. Mr.
Walker in his reply, seemed to think Mr. Sol-
by's lottor savored of narrow, soctarian preju
dice and bigotry. Ho supposod Mr. Sclby,
though a christian, could unito with rejecters
of tho Bible, in promoting tho causo of anti
slavery, and this I believe has bcon the avowed
doctrine of the Buglo, and its Irionds. Now
Mr. Walkor must know that Mr. Bclby, if a
sincere christian, believes the saying of Christ,
" Ho that is not with me is against me, and he
that gathcreth not with mo scattorcth abroad."
Ono that rejects tho divine authority of the
Bible, is not " with Christ," but " against him."
Christ said to the Jows, " Had ye belioved
Moses, ye would havo bcleivod me ; but if ye
bolieve not his writings, how should ye believe
my words " John fi, 40, 47. Also, verse 39.
"Search the Scriptures," &o., &c. I have re
ferred to those fow passages out of many, bo
cause I am aware that infidel professed reform
ers often at this day, claim to be "with Christ,"
and yet reject tho Bible ; as gross hypocrisy as
ever was practised.
Now Christ is tho embodiment and repre
sentative of all moral good. To be with him
is to bo on tho side of right universal right'
To bo against Christ, is to bo against right
So the Bible teaohes so the christian believes,
aud he can no more unite with tho infidel In
any moral enterprise, than he can unite with
the slaveholder in church fellowship, however
xealoua that slaveholder may be in his profes
sions, and seeming practice of soma duties of
Christianity. Neither Christianity nor anti-slavery
ia a point to be carried, no matter how,
Wut a great principle to bo consistently and
universally illustrated and maintained. The
Bugle's standing motto is, "No union with
slaveholders." On the same principle, the
christian's motto is, " No union with infidels."
The " union' is as sinful and corrupting In tho
latter as in tho former case. This view which
tho christian takes of this matter, Mr. Walker
must certainly understand. And yet, so little?
respect had he for it, and for the vory principle?
too, on which ho professes to act in regard to
slnvcholding, that he urges Mr. Sclby, and that
too, under tlio lash of the cfiargo of bigotry, to
co-operate, though a believer in Christianity,,
with abolitionists, even though they are infidols.
Ho is witling Mr. S. should hold on to his
Christianity, but wants his union and co-operation
with such abolitionists as II. C. W., and
himself. (1)
Now it seems to mo that Mr. Walker and his
friends who agree with him in this thing, (and
I believe tho Buglo and its particular friends
generally, agree w ith him on this point,) act
very much like the pro-slavery churches, and)
Missionary Boards of our country. These
Churches and Boards have had many anti-slavery
members, and they were in some senso
willing to have theso members enjoy their own
opinions in the case, provided they would bo
pretty still about it, but insisted that theso
members shnuM nnt ccccde, but continue their
union and co-operation with thorn as thoy had
done. They wanted " union," and the control
of ntiiiAsrs and fundi, even at tho. expenso of
principle. I regret to sec such like things. (4)
One word of explanation here. Several Nos.
of the Buglo containing the articles to which I
have referred, arc lent to friends at a distance,
aud I could not consult them, nor quoto tho
language of the writers. But I havo endeav
ored, in tho substance and spirit of the charges
I have preferred, to keep within the record.
If in any thing I am in error, I wish to bo cor
rected. If I am substantially right, I wish to
havo tho Bujde and its friends stand corrected,
and hereafter do the right and fair thing in tha
W. JOHNSON.
SHARON, C., April 12th, 1853.
NOTES.
(1) Wo stated facts. It was not our business
to inquire which sido they favored.
(2) V'e have never professed to exclude from
our columns, everything calculated to bear ci
ther against or in favor of tho divino authority
of the ltible. What we have said, is that the
question of the divine authority of tho Bible,
is not ono tlmt we can directly or at largo dis
cuss in our columns. Wo admit tho discission
incidentally, so far as the question of slavery is
concerned. When we admit this discuision or
stato facts in regard to the book, or tho discussion
of its claims, wo do not stop to inquire wheth
er it will sustain or oppose tho cluims of the
Bible, tho Church, the Ministry or tho Govern
ment Nor do we intend over to institute such
inquiries, though our correspondent and nu
merous readers may be grieved that we do not.
As to tho charge that " aggrieved anti-slavery
men" havo been excluded from our columns,
it is not true, within our knowledge. Who
theso oggrioved men arc, our correspondent
docs not say, and wo havo novcr heard of them.
Wo havo excluded communications from both
sides, and havo also published declarations of
opinion from both Mr. Sclby, Mrs. Wilson, and
Messrs. Wright and Barker.
(3) Tho narrowness and sectism expressed
in this and tho subsequent paragraph, is too
obvious to need any formal exposure from usv
" Stand by thyself, I am holier than thou," is
its language. Mr. Walker and tho Editor of
tho Bugle aro of opinion, that tho enslavers of
men, women and childron, aro gross and hoin
ous offenders against justice and thnt morality
which Jesus taught and practiced, and heneo
thoy propose to separate themselves from thorn,
that they bo nnt partnkcra of their sins. But
a belief or disbolicf in tho divinity of tho Bible,
depends upon tho evidenco pertaining to tho
question, as presented to tho mind of each in
dividual, and is ncithor sinful or holy. It is
an inevitable necessity, and has nothing to do.
with moral character, and hence all who, diffes
ing on this point, agree to labor together in fa
vor of frocdom, compromise nothing by the
union. (4) Tho regret of our correspondent cannot,
execod our own, that principle should bo ever
sacrificed for numbers or funds. Tho Bugle
we think has sacrificed nothing in either of
these directions. Had it appeared on the pop
ular side, there might have been somo ground
for tho charge. Though wo think in that esse,
our friend would not have made tho charge
against us.
We receive a great doal of good advice, as to
the manner in which our paper should be con
ducted, for all of which wo aro duly thankful,
and by whioh wo will try to profit Wo hopo
our friends will not be discouraged, however,
if we do not always adopt their opinions, or
reduce thoir advice to practice. Wo think they
would excuse us for using our own judgment
and conscience if they could only seo how
conflicting is that judgment and conscionoe so
kindly sent us "Ay mail," or otherwise.
PllKSllYTEUIANISM IN N. OttLBANS. Tb.0 TrUs)
Democrat loams by a private letter from Now
Orleans,that a $23,000 fund has boen subscribed
for the erection of a house and the establish
ment of a dopot for Presbyterian Publications
In that city. Query, Will slavery gain sanoti.
flcation or PresbyterianUra loose it, by this
now effort of piety, . j ..
