ANTI-SLAVERY CONVENTION IN FRANKLIN COUNTY.
In accordance with a public invitation to the people of Franklin County from
a Committee of 12 gentlemen appointed for the purpose by Franklin Association
of Ministers, to convene for the formation of a County Anti-Slavery Society,
an assembly was convened in the Methodist Church in Greenfield, on Thursday,
the 8th inst. The call of the convention.
was read by GEORGE T. DAVIS, and the convention was organized by the choice
of WILLIAM WHITAKER as moderator, and GEORGE T. DAVIS and T. PACKARD, JR. as
secretaries. The meeting was then opened with prayer, by REV. ASA RAND.
A Committee consisting of T. PACKARD, JR. G. T. DAVIS and A. HOWLAND, was appointed
to report a Constitution for a County Anti-Slavery Society.
A Committee to arrange the business for the meeting was appointed, consisting
of W. TILESTON, C.P. GROSVENOR, and R. RANSOM.
Voted, That the following gentlemen, viz. Rev. Asa Rand, Rev/ Cyrus Grosvenor,
Mr. Henry B. Stanton, Mr. Abner B. Warner, and Mr. Amos Dresser, agents of the
American Anti-Slavery Society , be invited to take a part in the meeting.
Several resolutions, hereafter named, were offered and supported by different
gentlemen, and finally adopted.
The Committees appointed for the purpose, reported a Constitution, which was
under discussion, when it was voted to adjourn till two o'clock P.M.
Convention met according to adjournment. After some discussion, the following
Constitution and Preamble were adopted, viz.
PREAMBLE.
Whereas, The essential principle of Slave-holding consists in man's assuming
to hold his fellow man as property, and must be unjust to the Slave, inconsistent
with our free Republican Government, detrimental to our highest national prosperity,
and highly criminal in the sight of Heaven; and,
"Whereas, There are two and a half millions of slaves in our nation, and
they are held by half the states in the Union, and by the District of Columbia
over which Congress has exclusive power to legislate, and the Domestic Slave
Trade is carried on in the District under the sanction of National Law; and,
Whereas, The Number of slaves in the United States, during forty years, from
the census of 1790 to the census of 1830, had increased from less than 700,000
to more than 2,000,000; and the danger of servile insurrections previous to
the late movements of abolitionists, had been increasing, and the slave-laws
had been increasing in severity, and no evidence appeared that slave holders
were taking effectual measures to abolish slavery: and,
Whereas Every citizen in the nation has an interest in its general welfare,
and has a right and is bound to employ lawful measures to remove national evils;
and,
Whereas, Public sentiment, arguments, and facts, when arrayed against national
sins, are well calculated to enlighten, convince, and persuade men to abandon
their errors and crimes;
We are therefore induced to unite in a Society, and adopt the following
CONSTITUTION.
Art. 1. This Society shall be called the Anti-Slavery Society of Franklin County,
Mass. and shall be auxiliary to the Massachusetts Anti Slavery Society.
Art. II. The ultimate object of this Society shall be the entire removal of
Slavery from the United States.
Art. III. While this Society admits, that each State has the exclusive rights
to legislate in regard to Slavery within it s own limits, it will aim to shew
the sinfulness of slaveholding by arguments, addressed to the understanding
and conscience of the slaveholder. It will labor for the abolition of Slavery
in the District of Columbia and in the Territories of the Union, -by all constitutional
means; and it will also endeavor to promote the moral and intellectual improvements
of the colored population at home, and to remove the public prejudice which
opposes alike the elevation of the colored people and the emancipation of the
enslaved.
|
Send an e-Postcard of this object
