Newspaper Page Text
o "iVo Union with Slarelwltlt-rs.'1'' VOL. I. NEW-LISHON, OHIO, FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 1815. NO. 3. PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY THE OHIO AMERICAN ANTISLAVERY SOCIETY, At one dollar and fifty cents a yea in advance, or two dol lars if not paid withi n six months. From the Anti-Slavery Standard. Political Aspect of the United States. respecting Slavery. Dark as tho prospects of our cause may seem lo those who look upon the da shing of ihe political bil lows, without properly appreciating Ihe healthlulness of the moral agitation which has raised the iBging tempect, yet, to tnnse who, like the members and friends of the American Aoli Slavery Society, have long been laboring to break the pestilential calm of sixty years, the present hour seems full of promise and of cheer. Apaihy can no longer exist. Ignorance begins to be dispelled. States are beginning lo feel and to dread tho pro slavery currents that have been so long hearing them silently onward towards political sub jugalion. Legislatures have been convulsed by ihe first dawnings of a conjecture, that no compromises, however cunning, no surrender of rights, however limilod and guarded, can secure to Freedom any ad vantage from the existence of Slavery. And it is a proof of the degradation to which Slavery had re dnced ihig nation, that a truth to obvious, a fact so indisputable that to deny it were folly, now gives to the Legislatures and statesmen, who begin to per ceive it, a claim for drplhand originality. Ideas on human rights, duties, uovernments, nnd constitutions, which Abolitionists have for years held up to Ihe community, are now blazoned forth under Legist a live sanction as new discoveries. Wo rejoice that here and there throughout the country, men called wise are coming more or less rapidly to the same conclusions, for ihe adaption of which Ihe American i Society has been branded its iocendiniy, fanatical, and 'dangerous; and that too at no distant period nf the past. Tho wise and prudent, "the right sort ot men1' are now groping blindly for Ihe way, bs one of political expediency, which, (because guided by the moral right the principle of freedom,) Ihe way faring Abolitionist;, though aocounted fools, did not err in. The Annexation of Texas, ihe admission of Flori- da, the expulsion of the officials of free Slates from the territory of slave States, the disgrace of the na tion in foreign courts bv a new display of the slavery tainted character of her diplomacy, Ihe imprison ment, (and in one instance the capita! trial, sentence and conviction,) of citizens of the free Slates in the jail of slave States for acts wfeich, in any other land on earth, would entitle them to reward and honor; all these things have given tho people a shock of awakoning. We do not fear that they will ver again recover their guilty rest. We owe much to Ihe co-operation and r ympathy of British Abolitionists, in tho direction which they have labored to give tho public mind in the cases of John L. Crown, Jonathan Walker, and others. Without political interference, without individual fHcio'Jsnes!, without a deed, of which the law of nations could take cognizance, or one which the law of love could condemn, the prompt expression of feeling on Ihe part of British Abolitionists in the case of John L. Brown, was of avail to nullify the bloody sentonce ol the South Carolina Judge, and set the victim of the slave law free. This is the efficacy of well-directed opinion. God bless the Abolitionists of Great Bri tain, and make them strong to utter tho words of truth in behalf of Freedom, in ihe hearing of every Amer icun State nnd every American citizen! May no temptation of worldly interest, though clothed in the livery of heaven, ever prevail with them, (as in the case of Dr. Burns, Cunningham, &c. of the Scotch Free Church.) lo keep silence when it concerns the cause of human freedom that they should speak. The near approach of Texas to our political union, fixes all eyes upon the subject of Slavery. That movement is seen of all lo be Ihe last hope of the South for '.he perpetuation of her system. Notwith standing ihe constitutional limitations on the power, granted for the admission of new Stales, to (ho terri tories belonging to Ihe United Stales: notwithstanding that Ihe power lo admit it among (he reserved rights of the several Slates; notwithstanding that the prov ince proposed for admission is one justly claimed by a foreign and a friendly power, (though ns proclama lion of unconditional emancipation in 1820, makes the slave power account it a foe;) notwithstanding that its own consent and acquiescence have never been thought of; notwithstanding the destruction of all uniformity in Ihe United States naturalization laws which would ensue; notwithstanding that Annexation might bring a war with Mexico and England, and the Indian tribes in its train; notwithstanding the equal want of a constitutional rightor actual precedent, Ihe slave power has demanded, and hag obtained the ad mission to Ihe United States of upwards of 300,000 square miles of foreign territory, equal to forty-three such Slates as Massachusetts, or seven of the size of Pennsylvania. The American Anti-Slavery Society lias no parti san purposes. It is neither the defender of the Con stitution with one party, nor the flatterer of the peo ple with the other. It notices these unconstitutional proceedings as proofs of the folly of the idea that lawless, merciless, tyrannical system, such as Slave ry, can be restrained by compacts, codes, or compro mises. "Canst thou draw out Leviathan with a hook? Will he make a covenant with ttiee! Wilt thou take him for a servant forever! do so no more! behold ihe bope of him is in vain." If the slave system be not paramount, it is paralysed. Henee the energy of its a supporters, to prostrate the smallest remainder of the rights guarantied to the free Stales, for Ihe purpose of immediately extending the domain of Slavery to the Northern Irop'c, and thus perpetuating the pres ent disgraceful subjugation of the North lo the Smth. On tho 27th of February the bill for the annexation of Texas received the sanction of the Houe of Representatives, amid disgraceful howling and bullying, with threats and exhibitions of fists and bowie knives, on the part of the Southerners, by one hundred and thirty two yeas to twenty t.x oays. On the 37th of February it passed the Senate by 27 to 25. The Democratic party, the dominant one of the country, went almost unanimously for it; as the administration party in the nature of things al ways must, even for the most diabolical feature of the present state of things, for it holds its dominion by means of in detestable adherence lo Slavery. One noble exception, John P. Hale, of New Hamp shire, deserves honorable mention. "Among the the faithless, faithful onlv he." The whigs redeemed their party from the disgrace of this act, by throwing Iheir majority, alas an in itifficient one, ngainat its perpetration In Massa rhusotts they cilled a Convention for the Oth day of February, before ihe bill reached the Senate, !o pro test against so atrocious a deed on the pa it ol a Christian and Republican nation, as the extension and perpetuation of Slavery by the Annexation of 1 exas They wished not lomake it a party movement. They invited and entreated all opposed lo Annexation to assist. If ihey were left alone, in what distant be holders and future times will call their glory, it was not through Whig intolerance, but by means of Dam ocratic servility to Slavery. They did, and are do ing, all thai Whigs, at such, under oath to the pro slavery Constitution of the United States, can do. May a sense of their miserable weakness, crushed as they are between the upper and the nether millstone of their distressing position, show them the only true way. Politiciai.s, as they glory in culling them' selves, lot them take ihe only political course that re mains to them. Lot them proclaim that the Annex lion of Texas is not onlv unconstitutional and in itself a dissolution of the Union, but in regard to its mo mentous consequencos, as being the last of a long sa ries of aggressions and usurpations on (he part of the fouth, and evidence ot a studied and systematic at tempt to pervert, to the support of Slavery, all the power and influence of the National Government such Annexation makes it the duty of the Northern State, by all they owe to Liberty and Justice, and themselves, immediately to call conventions fur (be organization of a new National Government. The consideration that hinders them from taking any effectual stand to save themselves from extinction, and the causo of Liberty and their country from de struction, is in pari, doubtless, their perception that the progress of ihe lexan plot, and the feebleness with which it has been resisted by any but ourselves, clearly proves that the whole Northern mind is swal lowed up and corrupted by party interests and party ambition, and that no efficient political action what ever, could at present be tnken by tho free States; that nothing is to be hoped for from the North, for freedom, while the public opinion continues chilled and tainted by me influence of thisUmoo: and yet their love ol freedom and haired of slavery and po litical subjugation, is not strung enough to prompt them to j'lin us in ihe rightoous and indispensable war cry of NO UNION WITH SLAVEHOLDERS! that only spell of virtue to make the slave power quail. The Union is more than half dead. Like gangrened limb, the longer continuance of Slavery as a part of ihe body politic, will insure the speedy death of the whole. The Union must be severed. "Oh throw away the worser half of it. And live tho purer with the other half." They owe it not only to their country and iheir age ss men, but to themselves as keen witted, astute poll (icians, to be not only almost, but altogether such as we are. The course may be fatal to the political in dividuals who lead the van; but no other course worth even the name of policy, provided they are re ally seeking, as they say, ihe interests of the country. The American Anti-Slavery Society has been false, ly accused of repelling, by the severity of its judg ment and the keenness of itf analysis of motives, 'hose who were really its helpers. Those who said know not whereof they affirmed. The sincere always possess, in their very sincerity, the touch stone that reveals the hypocrite. We know what helps or hin ders us; and we give or deny the corresponding cred it. We' recognize in the movements of the Northern Whigs, as a body, a feeble desire to aid onr ctuse it is not to cost loo much a stronger desire louse than to serve it a minority feeling of helplessness which leads to seek Ihe alliance of all Toes tu tho ad ministration; which Abo!i;ionis;s must, in the nature of the caso always be, of which party soever it con sists. For the function of an administration necessa rily is to keep things as they are, and to go no farther than it is pushed The attitude of the South, (as represented by South Carolina and Louisiana,) is the next feature in political aspect ol our causa that demands our altea lion. The recent outrages on the free States, in the per son of the Hon. Samuel Hoar, of Massachusetts, are the last of a series of attempts on the part of slave Stales to avert ihe danger with which they are threatened by a single free black in Iheir territory. The danger seems trifling to the unphilosophical and inexperienced. But the old in tyranny know thai the presence of a single representative of Freedom (he midst of slaves, is of mors efficacy in favor of the cause of human rights than all their legalized wrong nd spontaneous cruelty can be for Slavery; the con tact of ihe free black with slaves, is like the touch of Ihe imperceptible spark to powder. The universe in arms cannot prevent the consequent explosion Hence, Ihe preventive policy pursued by South Carolina, while the civilized world stands aghast at her barbarity, and our sufferance. She has no other course to preserve her existence as a slaveholuing Slate; so dangerous is this deadly sin. It is fur this tiiat she violates every natural right, outrages every constitutional obligation, and overleaps every consti tutional provision, for the protection of such a sys tem. It is fur this that she assumes, in behalf of the South t A right to discriminate between 'ho innocent mem bers making up the crews of ships of other States, for ihe purpose of seizing and imprisoning whom she thinks proper; A right to lash at pleasure, citi zens of other States, solely because they may bo found in the ships of those Stales a second time in her harbors.- A right lo sell them into Slavery : A right to expel from her territory, citizens of oth er States, seeking to appeal to the courts of the Union for support against ihe cruelly of her laws, even though clothed with official powers ns tho representa tives of their free Stale severeignty: A right to punish by fine aud imprisonment, any individual from another State who dares within her territory lo question her right lo imprison, to lash, and to sell whom she pleases, without hearing or trial. i lorida, immediately after Ihe passage of the An nexation bill, was admitted to the Union as a slave Slate. The following extract from her Constitution shows oui character as a slaveholding nation. ARTICLE XVI. General Provisions. is if H the in I. The General Assembly shall have no power to pass laws for the emancipation of slaves. 3. They shall have no power to prevent emi grants to this State from bringing with them such persons as may be deemed slaves, by ihe laws of any one of the United Slates, provided, they shall have power-to enact laws to prevent the introduction of any slaves who may have committed crimes in other States. 3. Tho General Assembly shall have power to pass laws lo prevent free negroes, mulattoes, and oth er persons of color from emigrating to this State, or from being diicharged from on board any vessel in any ot the pats of h lorida. We trust thotime is at hand when the word will go forth Irom the North, that shall slay this moral pesti lence, so that w? may r.o longei stand "a wonder a marvel to men," linked, as we allow ourselves as States to be, with the body of that moral death, of which the infection ravages the fairest spots on earth, and blasts the dearest hopes of humanity from the discovery of this new world. But there is nothing (hat should discourage us as Abolitionists in all Ihis. On the contrary, there is hops from (he very gross ness of each succeeding outrage, (hat a people who have closed tbeir ears and refused to hear, will be obliged, in their own despite, to feel their danger and their shame. Let us rejoice that the laws by which we may promulgate moral principle, are more rapid in their operation than tho progress of population. While Mexico has been slowly dismembered, and Texas, by the aid of our refuse people and our slave lod soldiery, stayed up on either side as an indepen dent province, whilo slaveholders have, by bullying, and by cunning, and by force, by pushing, by par rying us as the case demanded, succeeded In bringing in their plan for the extension and perpetuation of slavery, Abolitionists have so far converted whole States to the principles of Freedom, that they protest with one voice against the deed. Spread every sail, then, to catch the breath nf reaction which this nefa rious prnjei'l will raise. Light at first it may be, but it will not subside, as after the introduction of Mis souri as n slave State. The circumstances are dif ferent. There was then, no organized opposition, no embodied hostility to Slavery. Now, the American Anti Slavery Society exists, to fan (his flame of Free dom for which the South furnishes the fuel. So vast ly is the disproportion between moral power and phy sical force in favor of the former, that all past expe rieace shows us how the Lord can save a land for fen' sake only, who put tbeir trust in right. We sail upon all who bale the wrong, to unite with us for its extinction. "They are not yet quite ready 1" Go to work, then, members and friends of the American Anti-Slavery Society! servants of the slave; and make Ihem ready. Spare neither time, nor money, nor labor, nor life, if the times noed them all. Preach this gospel of doliverance as it were a cru sade! let each man see its cross pinned to your shoulder. Is this a time to add house to house, and field to field! to calculate the farthing on cotton freighting, or speculate in factory stocks! Is this a time to linger round the Capitol for official spoils! Is this a time, men of America, to sit at ease in your ceiled bouses! Be covetous, indolent, meanly ambi tious no longer! Leave party spite on one hand, and sectional prejudice on the other, and unite juat where (hey now stand, with the only body in your country that occupies the true position the only individuals who care enough for Freedom to have identified them selves with her. You must come to them, for to you the exact right forbids them to return. "But they are few!" Amen. Let your adhesion to their cause help to amend that. "But Ihey are so weak!" Amen. Is not their hope of right the stronger because their ranks, tried so as by tire, are incumbered with no thing neutral and balf-hearted, delayed by no bur d wealth, or office, or honors! "For whom Hath he who shakes the mighty with a breath. From ihi high places made ihe majesty And ever wakeful presence of his power, To Ihe pale startled ear'h most manifest. But for the weakt Was't for the helmed and'erown ed That suns were staved at noon day stormy seas As a rill parted? Mailed archangels sent To wither up the strength 'of kings with death! I tell you if these marvels have been dune, 'Twas for the weak and the oppressed. They needed such ! and generous faith of men hath, By her prevailing spirit, even yet power to work Deliverancejwhose tale shall livo with those Of the groat elder lime!" "Too late," is it? No'wonder you think so, but it is not yet too late. Yuuee things through ihe mis' of wasted years. Wuke lo (he work even now, tho twelfth hour though it be! join yourselves even now, to those already "in harness on the bight:" for onlv so did he youjmake your example as a man, and your worship ns a God, deem it "becoming" "to fulfil righteousness." "Why hath heaven poured forih courage bs a fUmtt, Wasting these offered hearts which must be stilled The sooner for that swift consuming brightness, If not to quell your doubt anJ your despair. And your soul's torpor! yet arise and arm It shall Lot be too late!" This is your only wiidom as well as your only du ty to join (yourselves lo uhen who have mado straight your way before you! Isl by having lain stone still and stupid all these idle years, lhat men think to have got the wisdom the prudence the en ergy to accomplish them for such an hour as (his? They mistake in thinking so. Let them not think it shame to learn of us, humble though we individual ly ere. It is to our lofty moral position; to our en nobling and exalting cause that we invite vou; lo tho adoptioo of our holy principles; to the use of our simple but effectual measures that we urge you. Wo warn you against holding back, because we have taken Ihe lead of the advance. The members of tha American Anti-Slavery Society, seeing the onlv course, had no choice in thts matter. They must ha faithful to the right, and so ought you to be. Reject not tho advice which watching and working, while you slept, qualifios us to give. Do as common senso dictates to yon in your business relations. When you find them used to your destruction when you see your funds diverted against your will, to nefarious purposes, and your names used to strengthen base- ness, do you then fail of knowing what course to lake? Never. Yo dissolve the Usiox What else is left for you now ! To what purpose denounce, with the lip, the sin the right band upholds! What right have you, man ot Ihe north, to complbin of the An nexation of Texas, as extending the area of Slavery, who Bre at this hour under oath, and under arms too. to hold the planter's slaves for him, within the consti tutional limits of the United Slates? What more would you wail for ! Have not the free States, in the person of Massachusetts, undergone what should be the severing blow the last possible indignity; & wrong that would have driven a declaration of war even from between the slow-moving valves of tho slowest European Cabinet door, as a ball is sent from the cannon mouth! and yet hear ihe noblest man of his State, Cassius M. Clay, of Kectucky, talk of con slilulional abolition, while the discharge of artillery announces the annexation of Texas! That act leaves the Constitution a broken wreck upon the political ocsan ! Those sounds are the signal gum of tho part ing vessel: and oh, that they might waken Ihe dead heaits of Northern statesmen to becoming action. The American Anti-Slavery Society cannol, dare not assist any such paraly zing process as "constitutional abolition,1', and it calls upon all who have the souls of men left within them, lo peril all things even tha miserable lingering hope of popularity with a degrad ed people, for the glorious hope of our country's salva tion. The American Anti-Slavery Society adjures every awakening statesman to urge onward the inev itable revolution; to announce it as bis immutable de termination lo restore the desecrated principles of our political and religious faith. But it seems the way of Providence, that "the wile shall be taken in iheir craftiness," that "their eyes shall bo bolden that they shall not see" the dangers of delay. Oh! that Ihey kctw in thie their day, the things lhat belong to statesmanship, manliness, and honor. They would rally (he people on every hill side, and in every valley. They would turn their faces from the South as from the wasting pestilence. One short year, well employed by them, would show the world a renovated nation. Judge by Ihe wretched drivelling with which this hour's stern work is met, whether they ere likely to rise to Ihe height nf its demands. See them standing still to be manacled, and venturing only feeble sugges tions on Ihe fashion of the fetters. "Bind us not y resolution, but by treaty" they cry! "Shame! shame!" is the response of just indignant re proba tion, such as it is Ihe duty of man to feel ! The peo ple of the free States have been over and over again sold in (he market. Will they stay sold! The American Society makes its appeal to the peo. pie in confidence, that they will not sanction their own bondage though Ihey have basely covenanted for lhat of the slave. May we not rely upon the lin gering remnants of hurain character that makes tha fugitive turn his face northward? If we may, now is the hour fo- their exhibition, Legislatively Eccle- "Jesus lo John at his baptism.