State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-05-24
WARRINGTON co. ABOLITION
CONV u NTLAN

pelier, Mortified, Plainfeld, Stow, Water
bury, Waitsfeld, Worcester, & Woodbury..
Rev. Benjamin Page of Calais called to
order, and
! On motion of DIR Jonathan Webster of
Middlesex,
Col. Orson Skinner of Waitsfcld was
chosen President pro tenn. and C.. L.Knapp,
Secretary pro tenn.
Prayer was offered by the Rev. Chester
Wright.
On motion of Rev. Mr. Wooster of Plain
field
Resolved, That we proceed to form a
County Anti-Slavery Society, auxiliary to
the State Society.
The following committees were appoint
cd:
Mr. Knapp, Rev. Mr.. Beckloy of North
field, and Rev. MIR Putnam of Middlesex,
to prepare form ola Constitution.
Dea. N. Rubce, of Montpelier, Dea. f.
rastus Parker of Waterbury, Mr.Thompson
of Barre, Col. Miller and Alexander Parker
of Montpelier, to nominate officers.
Rev. Chester Wright ofMontpclier, Rev.
Aaron Angler Of Waterbury, Rev. George
Putnam of Barre, Ezra p. Butler, Esq. of
Waterbury, Rev. MIR Wooster of Planfield,
Clark Stevens of Montpelier, and Doct.
Smith of Waitsficld, to prepare resolu-
tons.
The following Preamble and Constitu-
ton were then presented and adopted.
PREAMBLE. The most high God hath
made Of one blood all the families of man
TO dwell on the face of all the earth, and
hath endowed all alike with the same in
alienable rights, in which are life, liberty,
and the pursuit ofhappiness; yet there are
now in this land, more than two millions
of human beings, possessed of the same
deathess spirits, and heirs to the same inn
mortal hopes ind destinies, with ourselves,
who are nevertheless deprived of these,
their sacred rights, and kept in cruel and
ahject bondage; bondage under which
human beings ure bred and fattened for
the market, and then, bought, sold, mort
gagged, leased, bartered, tettered, tasked,
scourged, beaten, hunted, killed, even like
the veriest brutes,-nay, made often the
unwilling victims of ungodly lust, while,
at the same time, their minds are by law
and custom, generally shut out from all
access to letters, and in various other WAYS
all their upward tendencies are repressed
and crushed, so as TO make their ''moral and
religious condition such that they may Just
ly be considered the heather of this coun-
try;" and since we regard such oppression
as one of the greatest wrongs that man can
commit against his fellow and existing,
as it does, and tolerated as it is, under this
( free and Christian Government, sap ing its
foundation, bringing its institutions into
contempt among other nations, thus re-
tarding the march of freedom and religion
and strengthening the hands of despotism
aud irreligion throughout the world and
since we deem il duty to ourselves, TO our
government, to the world, to the oppressed
and to God, to do all we can to end this
oppression, and to secure an immediate
and entire emancipation Of the oppressed !;
and believe we can act most efficiently i'm
the case in the way of combined and Or
ganized action: Therefore. we the under
signed, do form ourselves into society for
the purpose, and adopt the following
CONSTITUTION.
| Article /. This Society shall be called the
WASHINGTON COUNTY ABOLITION SoCIE-
TY, auxiliary to the Vermont Anti-Slayery
Society.
Art. 2. The object of this Society shall
be the abolition of Slavery in the United
States, and the improvement of the mental,
moral and political condition of the colored
population.
Art. 3. In pursuing its enterprise, this
Society asks no physical interference with
slavery on the part of the free States, nor
Of the general government nor will it
make any appeal to excite slaves to insur-
rection; nor will it use any unlawful or
unchrlstian measures but it will seek the
overthrow of slavery by clearly and fear
lessly exposing the guilt aud danger of
holding men as property-by rebuking sin
and calling for lis immediate relnquish-
ment--by appeals to the understanding and
conscience-by the power of the pul pit and
the prcss-by petitioning Congress TO use
its constitutional powers for the SUPPRESSION
of the American slave trade, and the aboli-
ton of slavery in these Territories under
its jurisdiction-by addressing consdera-
tions OF interest," safety aud economy to tho
people of the slavehoding States-by ex-
horIing the people of the free States, in
view OF their confederation, and consequent
participation with the South, TO use all law
full and peaceable means for the rcnova! of
the common eyil-and by kindly, frankly,
yet boldly holding truth before the public
mind; and inviting all to join in forming
and expressing IA public sentiment which
shall be eitectual in its determination.
Art. 4. Any person, who consents 10 the
principles OF this constitution, may be n
member of this Society, and shall be enti-
tied to vote at its meetings.
Art. 5. The officers of this Society shall
be President. two Vice Presidents Re-