Our flesh and blood too long have been

A staple of their food,

And now 'tis time that we begin

To seek each other's good;

To rescue from the iron heel

Of tyranny our brothers,
To make our vile oppressors feel
That we are good as others.

For this most holy cause we're met,

In this secluded place,

To take some measures requisite

To guard our injured race.

These ugly, sprawling monsters weave
Their webs in every hole,

Where they suspect or half believe
A fly is like to crawl;

Then in some corner lie in wait,

Till one comes peeping in,

When, oh! 'tis horrid to relate,

The bloody monsters spin
Their tangled webs around him fast,
Regardless of his groans;

Then with a fiendish grin at last,

They pick his quivering bones.
Arise ye patriots, break your chains,
And say we will be free!

A vict'ry shall reward our pains;

To arms 'tis fate's decree!"

The stamping of countless feet declar'd

That willing hearts were found,

While a wondrous buzzing fill'd the air
For many rods around.

Speaker. "They say they have a natural right

To trap the thievish fly,

That justice, always yields to might:

(A voice.) "The villains lie."

Speaker. "They say we're all such pilfering things,
That mankind think us asses,

Because we dip our filthy wings,"
"In their molasses."

(A voice.)

Speaker. "They say the Fates did not design
That we should e'er be free,

That they have organs more refined,
And whiter blood than we.

They think us low and worthless curs,

Not worth an altercation:

Brothers, my blood with anger stirs,

And fury's indignation.

Their boasts are all a pack of lies,
And most consummate knavery;
With death, we will not compromise,
Nor covenant with slavery.

Therefore, I offer, noble sirs,

A list of resolutions,

With which my heart in full concurs,
But wait your wise conclusions:"

"PREAMBLE.

"Inasmuch as liberty is not an especial but common right, Not an inheritance, but a universal birth-right,Neither a creature of chance, nor confer'd by fate

Since from man to the beetle, and from the cricket to the mite,
All living things 'neath the sun, and the twinkling eyes of

night,

Are made of the same free elements increate.
Therefore, resolved, that the fly shall be free
To roam where he pleases, o'er land and sea;
To sport on the beams of the common sun,
Or on the lake's bright mirror'd bosom to run.
Second, resolved, that each flower and tree,
Was made for the spider, as well as the bee;-
That insects should feed on the green leaves of wood,
And not slay each other, for pleasure or food.

Thirdly and lastly, resolved, that we force
Our blood-thirsty tyrants to this wise resource;
To spend the bright summer on some cool, green tree,
And through the cold winter, lie torpid like we."

Once more the pattering of countless feet
And general acclamation,

Declared all plans were now complete,
And met with approbation.

At this, a troop of dragon-flies,
With loud vociferation,

Arose, and looking wondrous wise,

Denounced all agitation.

"We may not hope to change," said they,
"What nature hath decreed,

That some were formed for slavery,

Is evidenced indeed."

Another gang, with galaxies

Of eyes like constellations,
Stook up and said: "'tis better, sirs,
To stop these agitations.

They'll only lead to civil strife,

And more insidious trappings,
By which we'll lose more precious life,
Than years of such kidnapping.

Besides, 'tis not the better class,
Whose natural rights are questioned,
But only a low, ignoble race,
Who were for this predestin'd.
However much we may abhor
This barbarous institution,
We shudder at the thought of war,
And dread of dissolution.

We, therefore, cannot recommend

So hazardous a position;

Our boast of equal rights would end
At last in tame submission.

The weak should always yield to might,

The simple to the wise,

The spider, therefore, deems it right

To trap defenseless flies.

Let those whoin nature's hand hath fitted,

To serve this humble end,

Be not by fiery zealots pitted;

To impiously contend

Against ther fate, in bold defiance
Of nature and her laws;

Worthies refrain from all alliance
With so unjust a cause.
Philanthropists should never aim,
By hostile demonstration,
To add fresh fuel to a flame,
In view of amelioration.
The end can never sanctify
Unholy means employed,
The law embraces man and fly,
And naught can make it void.
We, therefore, totally deprecate
All forms of intervention;
No allied powers can baffle fate,
Or thwart her fix'd intention.
Once more, we would reiterate
Our dragon friends' suggestion,
Let no one dare to agitate
Again this dangerous question.
May gentle peace, while yonder sun
Brings life and warmth with day,
Shine o'er our paths, where'er we run,
And rule our destiny."

Thus spake this cow'ring, servile crew,
'Gainst freedom's holy cause;

And then exultingly withdrew,
'Mid rapturous applause.
Resistless roll'd this mighty flood
Of suasive eloquence,

While from the assembled multitude,

Arose the meek response:

May gentle peace, while yonder sun,
Brings life and warmth with day,
Shine o'er our paths, where'er we run,
And rule our destiny.

'Twas plain the wind had tuned her pipes,

To quite a different air;

And they who would not dance to stripes,

Must follow the tune, 'twas clear.

E'en liberty's most ardent friends,
Seem'd favorably impressed,
And at last, to gain some private end,
Most cordially acquiesced.

"The public weal demands," said they,

"Some honorable concession:

Let's give at least to tyranny
A peaceable possession.

Our only sacrifice will be

A weak and worthless tribe,
And by this compromise, you see,
Her boundaries we'll prescribe.
We hate these mad enthusiasts,
Who urge emancipation,
Without respect to grade or caste :
Away with agitation.

Its tendency has ever been,

The captive's bonds to tighten.
By precept we may hope to win,—
Example may enlighten.

Let each discordant note be tuned,

And let this strife be ended;

Time oft hath healed a deeper wound,

A wider breach hath mended.

Let every web that spiders spin,
To trap their harmless neighbor,
Be shunned as their besetting sin,
And drive these knaves to labor."