The Express.
London, England, 1862-11-18 00:00:00

THE CRISIS IN THE UNITED STATES.

ADDRESS Or 1116 COMMITTIF OF Mt BRITISH AIM

VOLUM( Ann-suvay BOCIZTT.

The Committee of the British and Foreign Anti-
Slavery Society having observed with the deepest sorrow
the efforts which are being made to infuse into the minds of
the people of this countif sentiments friendly to slavery,
feel it to be their duty to reiterate, and to commend to the
serious consideration of their fellow-countrymen, the funda-
mental principle of the anti-slavery movement in England,
that " slaveholding is a .in and a crime before God, ' and
therefore that unconditional emancipation wherever slavery
is maintained is alone consistent with the Divine law, and
with the requirements of justice and humanity.
While the committee believe that the efforts referred to
have not yet 'pervaded the community at large, the tone
and spirit of certain articles in a portion of the public press,
the misrepresentation and perversion of facts, the biassed
addresses of ninny men of influence, all with the manifest
tendency to bespeak favour for those who are contending
for the extension and consolidation of slavery, and to dis-
parage and discourage all efforts directed to its ettioction,
Impress the committee with the painful conviction that, in
some quarters, a demoralising effect has been produced.
The committee deplore and regard with profound grief
the fratricidal conflict between the two sections oft he
American Union, but, while anxious to avoid expressing
any opinion likely to be construed into an approval of a
war policy, they regard it as established beyond disproof
that the South was not only the , but &signedly pro-
s yoked an armed contest with the United States government
with the expense sole object of founding a confederacy to
perpetuate slavery. On the other hand, the United States
government, embracing the political anti-slavery party of
the North—commonly called the republican party—has
initiated and carried into effect measures in furtherance of
, negro emancipation which intitlo it to the sympathy of all
, true friends of freedom. It has enforced the statutes

against slave trading which former administrations, being
pro-slavery had allowed to become inoperative, and has
prosecuted 'slave traders to conviction and punishment
has entered into a new anti-slave tradlo treaty with Grearßri-
tain conceding right of search, which former government.,
ove;ruled by the Southern party, had steadfastly refused.
To promote the speedy settlement of the territories by •
nonaLaveholding population, it has enacted • Homestead
Bill, giving 160 aerator land to everyininitgrant, irrespective
of his national origin ; and moreover, carrying into effect the
' policy of Jefferson, ratified by act of Congress in
1789, it has prohibited slavery for ever in those territories,
upon which issue alone the Southern candidate for the pre-
sidency wu defeated at the election which immediately pre-
ceded the present rebellion ; it has also abolished slavery
from the district of Columbia ; has virtually repealed

the Fugitive Slave Act by piohibiting the rendition of
slave' escaping from the rebel States to the lines of the
United States army, providing compensation on account of
such as may belong to loyal citizens ; it has recognised and
entered into diplomatic relations with the negro republics
of Liberia and Haiti ; by the Confiscation Bill—consider-
ately made non-retrospective—it, in effect, proclaimed
emancipation to the slaves in the rebel States within a speci-
fied period ; a majority in congress has ratified the Presi-
dent's plan of compensated emancipation for such slave
states as may elect to take advantage of it, and only re-
cently the President has announced that the details of the
measure will be submitted to the next congress, with a view
to its immediate practical application.
Lastly, the President has lately Wood a proclamation,
declaring absolutely and for ever free all the slaves in those
States which shall be in rebellion on the let of January
next, and pointing to the measures in progress for the abo-
lition of slavery in the loyal States, upon the principle of
indemnification. . . .

While the committee deprecate a resort to arms, even
with the avowed purpose of promoting the extinction of
de, ery, they reiterate the opinion that the friends of the
slave in the United States, under wbataoever designation,
have established a just claim upon the sympathy of the
fnenda of freedom throughout Europe.
In this spirit, and with the object of evoking such an ex-
pression of sympathy as shall encourage the emancipation
party in the United States, in their most difficult position,
to persevere in their endeavours to obtain justice for the
slave, the committee issue the present address, earnestly
commending it to the favourable consideration of their fel-
low.countrymen, and to the friends of humanity in all lands.
On behalf of the committee.
THOMAB SIVI4B, OW/Irian.
S. A. CHAKEIIOI72OII, Secretary.
27, New Brosd-street, EC., Loodww, Nov. 17. •