The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-09-04
MEETING OF THE VERMONT ANTI SLAVE
RY SOCIETY,"


! Pursuant to previous appointment, the VT. A. S.
Society held It's Quarterly Convention at Danvie
on the ODD and Odd inst The President and Sec
Rotary being absent, Col J. p. MILLER of Montpei-
Ter, called TO the chair, and r. C. BENTON OF
Waterford, offciated as Sec'ry. The several meet
ings ofthe Convention were opened with prayer by
the following Rev. gentlemen, viz. MIR Jones of
Danville, Mr. Wilson of Crallsbury, Mr. Angler of
Waterbury, Mr. Scales eff Lyndon, and MIR Bur-
roughs of Barnet Messrs Knapp, Migan, Beck
ley, Barber, Chandler and Carpenter, were appoint
ed a committee to bring before the Convention such
subjects for its consideration rs they should deem
proper for the occasion. The chairman Of this
committee reported, during the several sittings of
the Convention, the following preamble and reso-
lutions; which, after having been severaly discuss
ed in very able and interesting manner by Messrs
Milligan, Barber, Knapp, Becl,Iey, Bell, Wilson,
Angler, Miller, Scales, Chandler, Jones, Kelley
urry7 b
Being assembled in the character of a State Anti
Slavery Convention, we deem it propcr At tins time,
as we'll as all suitable occasions, frankly to de
clare our principles AbulitionistS:; the sentiments
by which are acuated in our enterprise against
Slavery and the measures which we intend TO pur-
for its extinction. We therefore adopt the fol-
lowing resolutions.
Ist Resolved, That we recognize in their fullest
extent and not as a rhetorical flourish the
selr.evdent truths, that all men are created equal
that tlcy are endowed by their Creator with certain
inaenube rights; that among these are LIFE, LIB
ERrY and the PURSUIT of HAPPINESS; that to secure
these rights Governments are instituted amongst
men deriving no just powers bnt from me consent
declaration that Good hath made OF one blood all
nations of men to dwell on all tho face of the earth
Cd. Resolved, Therefore, that for one man or a.
ny class of calling themselves masters, 20 usurp
over another class of mon whom they cal slaves,
an authority not delegated by the governed, claim
ing them property, and ranking them as chattes,
at war with every principle "frepub Iican'sh and
natural Justice, and under whatever circumstances,
is a henous sin in the sight of ii eaven that every
person held has perfect right 20 hrs personal
liberty, and that every person so holding "a ieHow
being, is bound immediately to reiinquIsh TINS un'
holy and anti republican relation, and restore hlhh
to his 'inalienabe rights.
Sd. Resolved, That these propositions being
founded in the mmutable principles OF justice and
the law of God, no disastrous consequences Whloh
may be apprehended can justify any master IN
Withholding the immediate emancipation OF ms
slave.
4th Resolved That the experiment now ma
king in the British West Indies conirms beyond all
doubt the truth of the proposition, which nboiIt'
ioniss have always maintained, that the enre lree-
dom of the slave is not only right just but sale fS
in every way expedient, and emlnently conducive
to the best Interests of all classes
5h. Resolved, That the cheering intelligence
Of the emancipation the first of August, OF ooo,-
600 slaves in the British West Indies, by the vol
unary acts Of their colonial legislatures, after wit.
Messing for four years the successful operation of
similar acts on the Islands of Antigua and Bermn-
da, is received by this Convention with heartfelt
gratitude and sincere JOY; evncing the potency OF
public opinion over deep rooted prejudice truly en-
couraging to the friends of freedom throughout the
world and adding another conclusive answer to the
only plausible objection ever urged against the I'M
mediate and unconditional abolition OF slavery-ttS
danrer to the Ices and interests Of the aohtteS.
9th Resolved, That with all the light which
has now been shed upon the execrabie system or
American Slavery, we can no longer regard win
cunplacency the conduct Of the protested christian
at the north who attempts to apologize Tor us eHis-
tonce. or who withholds his decided condemnation
of i, and his active and strenuous oXeIons lor lis
immediate extinction
9TH Resolved. That one Of the most nauspicions
signs of the times is exhibited in the TACT mat SO
MANY protested ministers of the gospel give thei'
influence to support the infamous system OF AIner-
icRn slavery some impiously torturing tthe fioiy
Scriptures to make them speak in It's favor' o,'efs
protesting TO be the enemies of slavery, and yet
refusing 10 urge the duty of undolng ITS heavy Dur
dens, breaking every yoke and letting the oPPleSs
| ed go free.
! 9Th. Resolved, That highly approve the plan
! of establishing A. S. Libraries i'll every town ana
village in the State and urge upon the members o,
this Convention and our friends generally to aVaii
| themselves of the present opportunity afforded 10
procure Libraries from the Anti Slavery depository