The North Star (Rochester)/1848/01/07/Fourth Annual Meeting of the Western New York Anti-Slavery Society
Fourth Annual Meeting of the Western New York Anti-Slavery Society.
Pursuant to notice, the Society convened at Minerva Hall, in Rochester, on Monday, December 12th, Joseph C. Hathaway in the Chair—Wm. C. Nell appointed Secretary pro tem.
On motion, committees were chosen as follows, viz:
ON BUSINESS.
Frederick Douglass, Sarah D. Fish, Nelson Bostwick, Mary Hallowell, R. G. Murray, Phebe Hathaway, Charles L. Remond.
ON FINANCE.
Wm. R. Hallowell, Lewis Burtis, Henry Bush, Giles B. Stebbins.
ON NOMINATION.
Benjamin Fish, Sarah Burtis, Eliza Parker, G. B. Stebbins, Isaac Post—who reported the following list of officers, which was unanimously adopted:
PRESIDENT.
Joseph C. Hathaway, Farmington.
VICE-PRESIDENTS.
Henry Bush, Rochester.
Wm. G. Parker, West Walworth.
A. L. Peet, Victor.
Elias L. Platt, Bath.
Thos. McClintock, Waterloo.
Nathan Marvel, Port Byron.
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY.
Giles B. Stebbins, Rochester.
RECORDING SECRETARY.
William C. Nell, Rochester.
TREASURER.
Henry Bush, Rochester.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
|
Wm, R. Hallowell, |
Daniel Anthony, |
|
The following resolutions were then submitted by the Business Committee:
Resolved, That as the members of this society, we return our sincere gratitude to the God of the oppressed for the cheering success with which He has crowned our humble efforts during the year now coming to a close; and that we pledge ourselves to a more faithful and persevering application of our energies to the slave the ensuing year.
Resolved, That the zeal, perseverance and fidelity with which the agents of the American Anti-Slavery Society have prosecuted their labors in this State, during the last year and a half, have been well calculated to secure the confidence and approbation of every friend of the slave, and to impress upon the public mind the fact, that that society is the legitimate and true representative, in its principles and measures, of genuine and uncompromising Anti-Slavery.
Resolved, That the National Anti-Slavery Standard, the organ of the American Anti-Slavery Society, by its open and uncompromising course, the smallness of its price, as well as its high literary character, commends itself to the favorable consideration of all persons; and each individual is earnestly desired to use his exertions to extend its circulation in their respective neighborhoods.
Resolved, That we most cordially welcome our distinguished friends and well tried fellow laborers, Frederick Douglass, M. R. Delany and Wm. C. Nell, editors and publisher of the "North Star," and pledge them our co-operation, aid and support during the war.
Resolved, That we hail with joy the appearance ol the "NORTH STAR", trusting that in its light many a bondman shall find his liberty; and that its rays will even pierce the prison-house, exposing to the gaze of the world, the dark and damning deeds which are there committed, until not a slave shall be found upon American soil.
Resolved, That we learn with the highest gratification, that the American Slave System is on the eve of receiving a most powerful, if not fatal blow, from the cultivation of free grown cotton on the fertile soil of British India, and that we extend our most cordial acknowledgements to George Thompson, for his recent eloquent and able effort before his constituency, to awaken an interest throughout England and the world, in this noble and praiseworthy enterprise; and that we pledge to him our warmest sympathy in the great work he has so boldly and successfully commenced.
Resolved, That the recent demonstration of American sympathy in the city of New York, with Pope Pius IX, in his noble efforts to extend constitutional liberty to the people of Italy, while we are carrying on an extensive system of butchery in Mexico for her subversion, is the enactment of another disgusting manœuvre for the purpose of turning off attention from the slaughter of Mexican Catholics, by a show of sympathy with the Catholics of Italy: and that America will never be in a reasonable position to sympathise with the oppressed, or to denounce and rebuke oppression of foreign lands, while under the star-spangled banner three millions of her people pine in hopeless bondage, and our national capital is a revolting slave market.
Resolved, That we sincerely mourn the death of Rev. Charles Van Loon, whose rare talents, unbending integrity and generous affections were cheerfully dedicated to the cause of the poor and oppressed, and gave promise of usefulness to man and glory to God. His memory is deeply enshrined in the hearts of many who survive him, inciting them to virtuous deeds, and the blessings of those that were ready to perish have gone with him to that other land.
Resolved, That in the death of James C. Fuller the slave has lost a friend whose voice, whose pen, whose time and whose money were freely and liberally given to his redemption and we are admonished to do quickly what we have to do; for to-morrow we die.
Resolved, That the late message of the President of the United States ts a tissue of falsehoods,—the assertion that our country was invaded by the army of Mexico, a wanton and deliberate lie, and is known to be such by every intelligent citizen; indeed, it is known that the object for which the war was declared is, the extension of slavery; and that portion relating to the Amistad captives is but another of the many commands of the South to bow down to the image.
Resolved, That we are convinced by every developement and demonstration of slavery daily coming under our observation, that the only way by which we can faithfully and fully maintain our fidelity to the slave and the God of the slave, is to re-affirm and carry out the doctrine of No union with Slaveholders, and seek, by all rightful means, to bring about, as soon as possible, the rejection of the Constitution of the United States, on account of its slaveholding character,—the dissolution of the American Union,—the separation of the non-slaveholding from the slaveholding States, and the establishment of a Republic in which there shall be neither a tyrant nor a slave.
The above resolutions were ably discussed by various speakers.
Charles Lennox Remond eloquently depicted the slavery which, even in the free North, hunts the man whose only sin is the "texture of hair and hue of his skin;" which denies him, in many instances, the common civilities of life; deprives him, in the Empire State, from the elective franchise, unless worth two hundred and fifty dollars in real estate; consigns his child to a prescribed school; subjecting him to all the disadvantages consequent upon an isolated position in society. He also commented with much force upon the late recommendation of Governor Smith, of Virginia, to expel the free colored inhabitants from the State; together with the infamous clause in the President's recent message relative to an appropriation to the Spanish government for the Amistad captives.
Frederick Douglass, in advocacy of the resolutions, alluded to the first principles of anti-slavery; the opposition they had encountered to the present moment; the influence that American religion had volunteered in aid of the inhuman man-stealer; for, said he, while America is printing tracts and Bibles, sending missionaries abroad to convert the heathen, expending her money in various ways for the promotion of the Gospel in foreign lands, the slave not only lies forgotten—uncared for, but is trampled under foot by the very churches of the land. What have we in America? Why, we have slavery made part of the religion of the land. Yes, the pulpit there stands up as the great defender of this cursed institution, as it is called. Ministers of religion come forward and torture the hallowed pages of inspired wisdom to sanction the bloody deed. They stand forth as the foremost, the strongest defenders of this "institution." As a proof of this, I need not do morethan state the general fact, that slavery has existed under the droppings of the sanctuary of the south, for the last two hundred years, and there has not been any war between the religion and the slavery of the south. Whips, chains, gags, and thumbscrews have all lain under the droppings of the sanctuary, and instead of rusting from off the limbs of the bondman, those droppings have served to preserve them in all their strength. Instead of preaching the Gospel against this tyranny and rebuking this wrong, ministers of religion have sought, by all and every means, to throw in the background whatever in the Bible could be construed into opposition to slavery, and to bring forward that which they could torture into its support. This I conceive to be the darkest feature of slavery, and the most difficult to attack, because it is identified with religion, and exposes those who denounce it to the charge of infidelity. And Northern churches, ministers and professors were in good fellowship with—nay, more, in many instances defenders of—the great abomination. A glance was directed to the late demonstration of American sympathy with Pope Pius IX, in his efforts for Catholic emancipation, showing it to be inconsistent, while we are yet a nation of slaveholders, to express sincere sympathy for the oppressed of other lands. Well might the rebuke be given—
"Go loose your fettered slaves at home,
Then turn and ask the like of us."
A well merited and glowing tribute was rendered George Thompson, the new member of Parliament for the Tower Hamlets, for his unceasing efforts to promote the East India cotton reform, and, through that, the abolition of American Slavery.
The Mexican war; the pro-slavery position of political parties; our responsibilities in the slavery question now being agitated and affecting all phases of society, North and South—these and other kindred topics served as fruitful themes for the several speakers, keeping the audience in close attention, save when they felt free to manifest their loud and earnest approval of the eloquent outbursts and indignant utterings, the usual characteristics of an anti-slavery meeting.
The resolutions were adopted at a late hour. Three cheers for liberty were proposed and heartily given, when the large concourse separated. We trust each member resolved to do what in him lay for the downfall of tyranny in this otherwise happy republic.
Wm. C. Nell, Sec'y.