The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-08-24
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DEBATES IN THE ANTI-sLAVERY CON-
VENTION

EXeC
utive Committee of the American .Anti-Slaver
Society, and under Public Call from the Com
mittee of Arrangements appointed by the Societ
at its last Annual Meeting, a, convention of tn
friends of the abolition of American Slavery, wa
held in the Fourth Presbyterian church, Albany
on Wednesday, the 3lst of July, 1889.
At 10 o'clock, Mr.. Chaplin nominated Alval
Stewart, Esq, of Utica, as President of the Con
vention, and the question being put he was unan
imousy elected.
MIR. Stewart, in brief address, reminded the
Convention of the important bearing which the
proceedings must necessarily have on the inter
ests of humanity and the cause of the slave. He
recalled their recollection to the fact, that it was
just eghty-fve years ago since the first meeting
was held in these colonies of the British crown
to consider on measures relating to the Cypress
ions of the mother country. There were then bu
about 100000 inhabitants in all the colonies
but the resolutions then passed the first steps
towards the overthrow of slavery, and the enjoy
ment of the blessings of liberty by all the millions
that inhabit this continent and their posterity. In
like manner, the doings of this body, though they
might excite the ridicule of the unthnkng would
tell for veal or woe upon the temporal and eter-
nal interests of thousands yet unborn He exhort-
ed to mutual forbearance and moderaton-admt-
ted the exciting tendency of the subjects to be de-
bated-and enreated his associates to lift their
hearts in duplication to the Great Master of as
semblies, who suffered so much for the benefit of
enslated man. and supplicate Him for wisdom
and guidance at this important crisis of the aboli-
ton cause.
Mr.. Garrison wished to inquire, for his own
satisfaction, what were the reasons fthe Com. of
Arrangements for inviting only "freemen of the
United States to become constituent members of
nd hot tLo oil
had been given in this form.
The President ruled the inquiry to be out of order
inasmuch as the Committee of Arrangements had
received their instructions from the Society," to
whom alone and not to this Convention they were
responsible
Mr.. Garrison observed, that no such instructions
had been given-that the phraseology employed
was unusual, and he would like to know on whose
authority it had been adopted.
The President here stated that it was desra-
bic that the proceedings of every meeting of this
Convention should be introduced with prayer, but
as the Convention contained Christians of many
denominations, and no preference or distinction
could be given, he should forbear calling on any
particular individual. If any brother, however,
was present who felt it duty and privilege to
pray, an opportunity would now be offered.
A prayer was then offered by Rev. j. R. John
son.
Mr. Leavitt, one of the Secretaries of the meet
ing, now requested that all such freemen of the
United States as adopt the principles of the Amer
lean Anti-Savery Society, and were DESTROYS of
being recognized as members Of this Convention,
would send to the chair their names, in writing,
together with their post office address,
Mr.. Garrison said that he readily submitted to
the decision of the chair and if it was not proper
TO ask by what authority the phrase freemen of
IL L. 1 IL. Ill
the Convention, he would ask for the instructions
under which the committee had acted.
The chair decided the inquiry to be out of or
der If the object of it was to introduce dis
cussion Of what v;:s called the woman question,
it might probably occupy the CvSv"ention for two
or three days, and supersede the important bust
ness which had brought them together |
From this decision Mr.. Garrison took an APP
peal. He had no desire TO discuss the woman
question, but as it had always been usual on such
occasions to invite all persons who agreed with
them in sentiment, he saw no reason why that
course should be departed from. If any one
thought that persons DESTROYS to unite their efforts
in getting the slave out of his bondage ought not
to join this Convention, let him say
The President observed that it was his under
standing that the Convention had been called es
pecially and chiefly for political objects.
Alr. ltlSlSlGu tHdI tlllo was
assumption. The object in calling the Conven-
ton was not exclusively POLITICAL bnt it was to
consider the whole question of slavery.
Mr.. Stanton said that they were here under the
call which had been issued. If the terms of that
call were not broad enough, the Convention
couldn't helpit Whoever was DESTROYS to speak
here, must speak under the terms of that call. If
the Committee had neglected, or had transcribed
their duty, it was for the American A. S. Society
to call them to an account
Mr. Garrison wished to know what the Com
tnttee meant by the term free men," The term
was TECHNICAL did it mean legal voters only? did
it include all persons?
The chair pronounced the whole discussion to
be out of order
Il was now suggested by several gentlemen
that the vote upon the appeal could not be taken
until the names of the voters were ascertalned.
After some desultory conversation, the Presi-
dent said that he should assume every man pres
ent In that house to be an American freeman and
as such, entitled to vote. He did not consider the
ladies as free men, and they would therefore abb
stain from voting.
The question being put the decision of the
chair was Susinined,